With food prices still testing everyone’s budget across Quebec, we recently looked at how much you can save by buying in bulk at Costco. But what about Walmart?
Known for its price-matching policies and low-cost reputation, Walmart is often seen as a go-to for affordable groceries. To put that to the test, we’re building another standard grocery cart and comparing it across major Montreal stores
Unlike Costco, where bulk sizes often require you to do the math on whether you’re really saving, Walmart sells most grocery items in standard formats. That means we won’t need to break things down by cost-per-kilo. Instead, we’ll be comparing the actual retail price of identical or near-identical package sizes across each store.
We’ll use the same basket of 11 everyday staples we tested in our Costco story, then match those sizes at Metro, IGA, Super C, Maxi, Provigo, and Costco. Each store’s total will reflect what you’d pay for a straightforward grocery run (before tax).
Here’s what will be in the cart:
- 500g of lean ground beef
- 1kg of bananas
- 400g baguette
- 400g cheddar cheese block (Black Diamond)
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 Roma tomato
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes
As always, we’ll stick to regular, non-organic versions and prioritize house brands or widely available equivalents.
So, is Walmart really the cheapest place to get your groceries, or is that just marketing?
Walmart
- 450g of lean ground beef – $7.98
- 1kg of bananas – $1.50
- 400g baguette – $3.07
- 400g cheddar cheese block (Black Diamond) – $6.64
- 1 English cucumber – $0.94
- 1 Roma tomato – $0.60
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna – $7.47
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes – $4.97
Total: $33.17
At Walmart, this modest grocery haul comes out to $33.17. While the store is known for its low prices, name-brand items like Black Diamond cheese and Rio Mare tuna still add up. That said, produce remains affordable, and staples like ground beef and potatoes are competitively priced.
IGA
- 450g of lean ground beef – $9.22
- 1kg of bananas – $2
- 400g baguette – $2.72
- 400g cheddar cheese block (Cracker Barrel) – $8.29
- 1 English cucumber – $1.29
- 1 Roma tomato – $0.72
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna – $9.79
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes – $4.99
Total: $39.02
The same basket at IGA totals $39.02, about $6 more than Walmart. While some items like the baguette and potatoes are similarly priced, IGA’s meat, cheese, and especially tuna come in noticeably higher. Compared to Walmart, IGA leans pricier overall, even for identical weights and formats.
Metro
- 450g of lean ground beef – $6.44 (on sale)
- 1kg of bananas – $1.96
- 400g baguette – $4.04
- 400g cheddar cheese block (Selection) – $6.99 (on sale)
- 1 English cucumber – $1.99
- 1 Roma tomato – $0.66
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna – $9.79
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes – $4.99
Total: $36.86
The Metro basket comes to $36.86, landing right between Walmart and IGA. Sale prices on ground beef and cheese helped keep the cost down, but that $4 baguette and nearly $2 cucumber pushed it back up. The Rio Mare tuna remains the priciest item, consistent across stores. If you’re shopping smart and catching the right discounts, Metro can be a decent middle ground
Super C
- 450g of lean ground beef – $8.26
- 1kg of bananas – $1.52
- 400g baguette – $1.32
- 400g cheddar cheese block (Selection) – $5.99
- 1 English cucumber – $0.99
- 1 Roma tomato – $0.44
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna – $7.49 (on sale)
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes – $4.99
Total: $31.00
Super C has a reputation for keeping things affordable, and this basket proves it. The total came out to an even $31, making it the cheapest haul in our comparison so far. Standouts include the $1.32 baguette and $0.44 tomato, and with the Rio Mare tuna on sale, you’re even getting brand-name items without the premium price tag. For basic groceries at budget-friendly prices, Super C delivers.
Maxi
- 450g of lean ground beef – $8.50
- 1kg of bananas – $1.52
- 400g baguette – $3.68
- 400g cheddar cheese block (President’s Choice) – $6.79
- 1 English cucumber – $1
- 1 Roma tomato – $0.53
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna – $7.50
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes – $5
Total: $34.52
Maxi landed in the mid-range for our grocery haul. With a total of $34.52, its President’s Choice brand helps keep prices competitive, certain items (like the $3.68 baguette) pushed the bill higher than Super C or Walmart. Still, it’s a solid option for those who want decent prices without sacrificing on brand familiarity.
Provigo
- 450g of lean ground beef – $9
- 1kg of bananas – $1.96
- 400g baguette – $3.44
- 400g cheddar cheese block (President’s Choice) – $6.79
- 1 English cucumber – $1.50 (on sale)
- 1 Roma tomato – $0.79
- 3 x 80g Rio Mare canned tuna – $8.49
- 5 lb bag of russet potatoes – $6
Total: $37.97
Provigo has a reputation for high prices, so it’s no surprise that it came out with the second-most expensive basket in our comparison, ringing in at $37.97. While the cucumber was on sale, other essentials like beef, tuna, and potatoes drove the total up fast.
So, is Walmart really the least-expensive supermarket? Not quite — but it’s close.
Out of the six popular Montreal grocery stores we compared, Super C came out cheapest overall at $31.00, just ahead of Walmart at $33.17. Maxi followed at $34.52, while Metro and Provigo landed in the upper-mid range with totals of $36.86 and $37.97, respectively. IGA was the most expensive, with the same basket costing $39.02.
Of course, this is just one sample basket (prices can vary week to week), but the items we picked are common grocery staples and give a solid snapshot of what you’ll likely pay at each store.
