As the cost of living keeps climbing in Montreal, nowhere is it felt more directly than at the grocery store checkout
Over the past few months, MTL Blog has been comparing what everyday essentials cost at Quebec’s biggest grocery chains — from a full basket of staples to head-to-head battles between Walmart, Costco, and local grocers.
This time, we’re zeroing in on just one category: meat. From ground beef to chicken breasts to lean ground pork, we checked prices at IGA, Metro, Super C, Provigo, Maxi, and Walmart. And while we can’t speak to the quality differences between stores, the numbers alone show that where you shop can make a big difference on what you pay for the exact same proteins.
Medium ground beef (450 g)
- IGA: $8.55 ($7.92 on sale right now)
- Metro: $8.42
- Super C: $7.43
- Provigo: $8.20
- Maxi: $8.00
- Walmart: $8.28
While it’s a staple in so many meals, the price of ground beef differs from store to store. Super C takes this category, with beef more than a dollar cheaper than IGA’s regular price. Maxi is a close second at $8, while Metro, Walmart, and Provigo all hover around the $8.20–$8.40 range.
Chicken breasts (approx. 400 g, two pieces)
- IGA: $8.80
- Metro: $9.71
- Super C: About $8 (based on per-kilo pricing)
- Provigo: $17.61/kg (~$7.04 for 400 g)
- Maxi: $16.53/kg (~$6.61 for 400 g)
- Walmart: $1.40/100g ( ~$5.60 for 400 g)
Chicken prices vary depending on how stores package them. By the kilo, Walmart undercuts everyone else here, with two chicken breasts coming in at about $5.60. Among the traditional grocers, Maxi and Provigo are the cheapest at around $6–7, while Metro is the most expensive at nearly $10 for the same portion.
Lean ground pork (450 g)
- IGA: $5.85
- Metro: $5.85
- Super C: $5.51
- Provigo: $5.00
- Maxi: $4.29
- Walmart: $5.78
Maxi is the clear winner, selling 450 g of lean pork for just $4.29. Provigo follows at $5 flat, while Super C, Walmart, Metro, and IGA all sell portions for between $5.50 and $5.85.
Which store is cheapest overall?
If you bought all three items (beef, chicken, and pork), here’s what you’d pay without sales and taxes:
- IGA: $23.20
- Metro: $23.98
- Super C: $20.94
- Provigo: $20.24
- Maxi: $18.90
- Walmart: $19.66
Overall winner: Maxi
Maxi edges out everyone else with the lowest combined total, followed closely by Walmart and Provigo. Super C lands in the middle thanks to its cheap beef, while IGA and Metro are the priciest of the bunch.
At the end of the day, no single store dominates across every category. But if you’re willing to compare prices and shop around, you can shave a noticeable chunk off your weekly grocery bill, especially when it comes to staples like meat.
