Trying to figure out which grocery store in Montreal actually has the lowest prices right now? With grocery costs still hitting hard for a lot of Quebecers, knowing where to get the most for your money really matters.
While spots like Dollarama or Liquidation Marie have become go-to options for budget shoppers, most people still count on the big-name supermarkets for their weekly haul. So we set out to answer a simple question: which major grocery chain offers the best deal on the basics?
To find out, we priced out nine everyday items across five of the province's biggest grocery chains: Metro, IGA, Super C, Maxi, and Provigo.
Our test basket included the following items:
- 2L of 2% milk (Québon)
- 12-pack large eggs
- White sandwich bread (Villaggio)
- 410g spaghetti (Barilla)
- 400g cheddar cheese (Cracker Barrel)
- 796 mL canned diced tomatoes
- 1 lb of Granny Smith apples (about 3)
- 454g unsalted butter
- 450g lean ground beef
And yes, we know milk prices are regulated across the board, but it felt wrong to leave it out of the cart.
We also stuck to regular (non-organic) items and did our best to match exact brands across stores — or use near-identical house-brand substitutes when necessary — to keep things fair. All prices were pulled from each store's official website on June 16, 2025 (Costco was excluded since it requires a membership).
Here's how the final bills stacked up before tax:
Metro - $43.05
Shopping at Metro? You're looking at $43.05 for this basic grocery basket — not outrageous, but definitely not the cheapest option in town. Local staples like Québon milk and Selection-brand eggs and butter help keep some costs down, but name brands like Cracker Barrel cheese and Barilla pasta bump the total up.
- 2L of 2% milk (Québon) - $4.51
- 12-pack large eggs (Selection) - $4.09
- White sandwich bread (Villaggio) - $4.59
- 410g spaghetti (Barilla) - $2.99
- 400g mild cheddar cheese (Cracker Barrel) - $8. 29
- 796 mL canned diced tomatoes (Selection) - $2.29
- 1 lb of Granny Smith apples - $2.99
- 454g unsalted butter (Selection) - $4.88
- 450g lean ground beef - $8.42
IGA - $44.31
Despite IGA's reputation as Quebec's bougier, more upscale grocery chain, this basic basket only came out to $44.31 — just a buck or so more than Metro. House-brand items like Compliments eggs, tomatoes, and butter help balance out the premium pricing on things like ground beef and cheese.
If you're brand-loyal (or just enjoy having someone bag your groceries) but still trying to keep costs reasonable, IGA might surprise you.
- 2L of 2% milk (Québon) - $4.51
- 12-pack large eggs (Compliments) - $4.15
- White sandwich bread (Villaggio) - $4.49
- 410g spaghetti (Barilla) - $2.99
- 400g mild cheddar cheese (Cracker Barrel) - $7.99
- 796 mL canned diced tomatoes (Compliments) - $2.29
- 1 lb of Granny Smith apples - $2
- 454g unsalted butter (Compliments) - $6.89
- 450g lean ground beef - $9
Super C - $42.09
Known for their ultra-low prices, Super C delivered one of the cheapest baskets on our list at $42.09. Meat and butter came in cheaper than at IGA, helping shave a couple of bucks off the total. But based on this basket, the difference (a little over $2) isn't huge.
That said, it could mean the difference between adding another item to your cart.
- 2L of 2% milk (Québon) - $4.51
- 12-pack large eggs (Selection) - $4.09
- White sandwich bread (Villaggio) - $3.99
- 410g spaghetti (Barilla) - $2.29
- 400g mild cheddar cheese (Cracker Barrel) - $8.29
- 796 mL canned diced tomatoes (Selection) - $1.79
- 1 lb of Granny Smith apples - $2.99
- 454g unsalted butter (Selection) - $5.88
- 450g lean ground beef - $8.26
Maxi - $42.80
Maxi kept things competitive with a total of $42.80 for the full basket. A sale on Cracker Barrel cheddar knocked the cheese price down to just $6.22, making a noticeable difference. While items like butter and apples were on the pricier side, budget-friendly house brands like No Name and President's Choice helped balance things out.
- 2L of 2% milk (Québon) - $4.51
- 12-pack large eggs (No Name) - $4.09
- White sandwich bread (Villaggio) - $4.50
- 410g spaghetti (Barilla) - $2.19
- 400g mild cheddar cheese (Cracker Barrel) - $6.22
- 796 mL canned diced tomatoes (President's Choice) - $2
- 1 lb of Granny Smith apples - $3
- 454g unsalted butter (President's Choice) - $7.79
- 450g lean ground beef - $8.50
Provigo - $45.69
Coming in at $45.69, Provigo had the priciest basket in our comparison.
While the use of President's Choice and No Name products helped offset costs a bit, high prices on butter and ground beef pushed the total up. It's worth noting that this store used D’Italiano bread instead of Villaggio, which was the closest available match.
Overall, Provigo leans more expensive, even with house brands in the mix.
- 2L of 2% milk (Québon) - $4.51
- 12-pack large eggs (No Name) - $4.23
- White sandwich bread (D'Italiano) - $3.99
- 410g spaghetti (Barilla) - $2.99
- 400g mild cheddar cheese (President's Choice) - $6.49
- 796 mL canned diced tomatoes (President's Choice) - $2
- 1 lb of Granny Smith apples - $3
- 454g unsalted butter (President's Choice) - $8.49
- 450g lean ground beef (President's Choice) - $9.99
In the end, Super C had the cheapest basket and Provigo was the priciest, but the gap between them was only about $3.50.
So, if you've got a go-to grocery store or prefer sticking with certain brands, you're probably not losing out on much. But if every dollar counts (and these days, it usually does), even a small difference like that can add up fast, especially with a full cart.
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