Wondering if that Costco membership actually saves you money on groceries? With food prices still sky-high across Quebec, we set out to find out just how much you can really save by shopping in bulk — and how Costco compares to other major grocery chains in Montreal.
Since Costco mostly sells food in larger formats, we based our comparison on the same quantities found there. We priced out a basket of 11 everyday grocery staples in person at Costco, then matched those sizes — or the closest possible equivalent — across five other big-name stores: Metro, IGA, Super C, Maxi, and Provigo.
Rather than compare different price tags sizes head-to-head, we calculated each store’s price per kilogram or litre, then used that unit price to determine how much you’d actually pay for the same quantities found at Costco. That way, each store’s total reflects the real cost of an identical grocery haul.
Here’s what was in our cart:
- Carrots – 2.27 kg bag
- Bananas – 1.36 kg
- Red onions – 3.08 kg bag
- Russet potatoes – 6.8 kg bag
- Lean ground beef – 1 kg
- Chicken thighs – 1 kg
- Greek yogurt (0%) – 1.36 kg tub
- Cheddar cheese (old or marble) – 1.15 kg block
- Maple syrup – 1 L
- Cheerios – 1.22 kg box
- White granulated sugar – 4 kg bag
To keep things fair, we selected the largest possible product sizes found in each grocery store. We also stuck to regular, non-organic versions where possible and used house brands or comparable name-brand products.
So, is Costco really the cheapest place to shop? Here’s how Quebec’s largest supermarkets measured up.
Costco – $108.75
This Costco cart comes out to a little under $110.
So yes, buying in bulk pays off — especially for cheese, sugar, and pantry staples. While meat prices weren’t drastically lower than elsewhere, the per-unit savings on yogurt, cereal, and carrots were significant. Real maple syrup still hits the wallet hard, though, even at Costco.
- Carrots – 2.27 kg bag for $5.99 → $2.64/kg
- Bananas – 1.36 kg for $1.99 → $1.46/kg
- Red onions – 3.08 kg bag for $6.99 → $2.27/kg
- Russet potatoes – 6.8 kg bag for $11.99 → $1.76/kg
- Lean ground beef – 1 kg for $12.99 → $12.99/kg
- Chicken thighs – 1 kg for $14.99 → $14.99/kg
- Greek yogurt (0%) – 1.36 kg tub for $8.49 → $6.24/kg
- Cheddar cheese (old or marble) – 1.15 kg block for $14.99 → $13.03/kg
- Maple syrup – 1 L for $14.99
- Cheerios – 1.22 kg box for $9.49 → $7.78/kg
- White granulated sugar – 4 kg bag for $5.89 → $1.47/kg
IGA – $160.67
Known for being one of Quebec’s more upscale grocery chains, IGA didn’t fare too well in our price comparison. While some items like carrots, sugar, and potatoes were competitively priced, meat and dairy drove the total up fast.
A litre of maple syrup alone rang in $5 higher than Costco, and chicken thighs were notably more expensive per kilo. If you’re shopping here, you’re likely paying a bit more for the convenience and store experience.
- Carrots – 2.27 kg bag for $5.99 → $2.64/kg
- Bananas – approx. 280 g each at $0.55/unit → $1.96/kg
- Red onions – approx. 330 g each at $1.81/unit → $5.48/kg
- Russet potatoes – 6.8 kg bag for $14.99 → $2.20/kg
- Lean ground beef – 450 g pack for $9.22 → $20.49/kg
- Chicken thighs – 1 kg pack for $19.99 → $20.00/kg
- Greek yogurt (0%) – 750 g tub for $8.49 → $11.32/kg
- Marble cheddar cheese – 400 g block for $8.29 → $20.73/kg
- Maple syrup – 1 L bottle for $19.99 → $19.99/L
- Cheerios (Honey Nut) – 725 g box for $7.99 → $11.03/kg
- White granulated sugar – 2 kg bag for $3.49 → $1.75/kg
Super C – $117.75
Upon matching the size of certain items, Super C came surprisingly close to Costco’s total.
It offered solid deals on carrots, potatoes, and chicken thighs, though prices climbed when it came to beef and cheese. If you’re skipping the bulk membership and still want solid savings on essentials, Super C holds up well.
- Carrots – 1.36 kg bag for $3.49 → $2.57/kg
- Bananas – 1.36 kg (approx.) for $2.07 → $1.52/kg
- Red onions – 1.36 kg bag for $5.99 → $4.40/kg
- Russet potatoes – 10 lb (4.54 kg) bag for $5.99 → $1.32/kg
- Lean ground beef – 450 g pack for $8.26 → $18.36/kg
- Chicken thighs – 1 kg tray (avg.) for $8.80 → $8.80/kg
- Greek yogurt (0%) – 1.36 kg tub for $8.99 → $6.61/kg
- Cheddar cheese – 400 g block for $5.99 → $14.98/kg
- Maple syrup – 946 mL bottle for $15.99 → $16.90/L
- Cheerios – 1.3 kg jumbo box for $10.79 → $8.30/kg
- White granulated sugar – 2 kg bag for $3.47 → $1.73/kg
Maxi – $130.80
Maxi came in nearly $22 more than an identical haul at Costco. While the President’s Choice house brand help keep some items affordable, the savings are offset by pricier dairy and meat. Cheese, chicken, and maple syrup were all notably more expensive than Costco’s bulk equivalents.
If you’re not picky about brands and like a low-fuss shopping experience, Maxi still delivers decent value overall, but just not quite enough to beat the warehouse giant.
Metro – $142.75
Metro ended up being the second-most expensive option for our standardized grocery basket. Staples like potatoes and sugar remained affordable, but meat and cheese prices were among the highest across all stores. Lean ground beef was especially steep at nearly $8 more per kilo than Costco.
If you’re shopping at Metro without cherry-picking sales, it’s easy to overspend. Still, brand familiarity and store convenience may justify the cost for some.
- Carrots – 907 g (2 lb) bag for $2.69 → $2.96/kg
- Bananas – approx. 1 fruit (280 g) for $0.55 → $1.96/kg
- Red onions – 1.36 kg (3 lb) bag for $5.99 → $4.40/kg
- Russet potatoes – 2.27 kg (5 lb) bag for $4.99 → $2.20/kg
- Lean ground beef – 450 g for $9.22 → $20.48/kg
- Chicken thighs – 400 g tray for $5.72 → $14.31/kg
- Greek yogurt (Skotidakis 2%) – 908 g for $8.99 → $9.90/kg
- Cheddar cheese (Selection mild) – 400 g for $6.99 → $17.48/kg
- Maple syrup (Irrésistible amber) – 946 mL for $16.79 → $1.77/100 mL
- Cheerios (Honey Nut) – 725 g for $6.99 → $0.96/100 g
- White sugar (Redpath) – 2 kg bag for $3.49 → $0.17/100 g
Provigo – $145.83
Provigo didn’t top the charts in cost, but it came close. Yogurt, chicken, cheese, and especially maple syrup made the basket pricey. Some produce was fairly priced, like red onions and potatoes. But it wasn’t enough to offset the hefty cost of protein and pantry items.
In case you’ve lost count by now, here are the final basket prices based on matching Costco’s quantities using each store’s unit prices, ranked from most to least expensive.
- IGA – $160.67
- Provigo – $145.83
- Metro – $142.75
- Maxi – $130.80
- Super C – $117.75
- Costco – $108.75
So what’s the bottom line? Is the occasional parking lot fiasco and huge checkout line really worth the hype?
Well, even with a $65 membership fee, Costco’s savings are pretty hard to dispute. If you’ve got the storage space and don’t mind buying big portions of food, the annual fee can pay for itself pretty quickly. That said, if you prefer smaller stores or going shopping more often, places like Super C or Maxi still offer solid value, and no membership is required.
