Top 10 Best Places To Buy Grocery In Toronto (Cheap & Budget Friendly)

Like many big cities around the globe, Toronto has a huge selection of grocery store brands and types. Add to that, with the ethnic variety in Toronto besides, the types of food available are just as varied. And of course, you can pay a little or a lot. This article aims to explore the capacity of Toronto to deliver this variety on a budget. Challenge accepted!

Come with me as we explore the biggest city in Canada. On this tour, we will be searching out budget-friendly grocery stores that are worth those hard-earned dollars. And you don’t have to worry that the selection is substandard; Toronto’s grocery stores are as varied as the people. Many cultures, many tastes, and many reasons to shop and save.

Toronto has a wide variety of great stores with friendly staff and appealing stock. Some may not have certain things that other stores do, but most of the time, they have something to make up for that. Today, I’ve listed some of the best stores with great ratings to fit your tastes.

Saving at the Supermarket: How to Find and Use Coupons for Canadian Grocery Shopping

If you’re looking to trim your grocery bill in Canada, using coupons can be an effective strategy. Coupons offer discounts on a wide range of products, from everyday essentials to special treats. In this guide, we’ll explore how to find and use coupons to maximize your savings on Canadian grocery shopping.

1. Finding Coupons

1.1 Print Coupons from Newspapers and Magazines

One of the most traditional ways to find coupons is by checking newspapers and magazines. Look for weekly coupon inserts, often found in the Sunday newspaper. Magazines like “Canadian Living” and “Chatelaine” may also contain coupons.

1.2 Online Coupon Websites

The internet is a treasure trove of coupons. Numerous websites and apps offer Canadian-specific coupons that you can print or load onto store loyalty cards. Some popular coupon websites include:

• SmartSource.ca: Offers printable and digital coupons for a wide range of products.

• Save.ca: Provides digital coupons and the option to receive coupon booklets by mail.

• P&G Everyday: Focuses on Procter & Gamble products, including household brands like Tide and Pampers.

• Checkout 51: Offers cashback on specific grocery items after purchase, which you can claim by uploading your receipt.

1.3 Store Apps and Loyalty Programs

Many Canadian grocery stores have their own apps and loyalty programs that provide exclusive digital coupons and personalized offers. Popular stores like Loblaws (PC Optimum), Sobeys (Air Miles), and Metro (Metro & Moi) have these programs.

1.4 Manufacturer Websites

Check the websites of your favorite brands and manufacturers. Some offer coupons that you can print or request by mail. Sign up for newsletters to receive alerts about new coupons and promotions.

1.5 Coupon Swap Groups and Forums

Online communities and social media groups often share information about the latest coupon deals. Facebook groups dedicated to Canadian couponing and forums like RedFlagDeals can be excellent resources.

2. Using Coupons

2.1 Organize Your Coupons

Once you’ve collected your coupons, it’s essential to keep them organized. Use a coupon organizer, a binder, or even envelopes labeled by category (e.g., dairy, cleaning products) to make them easy to access while shopping.

2.2 Understand Coupon Policies

Different stores have varying coupon policies. Some may allow stacking (using multiple coupons for one item), while others may not. Familiarize yourself with your store’s policies to avoid confusion at checkout.

2.3 Plan Your Shopping List

Before heading to the store, plan your shopping list around the coupons you have. This way, you’ll maximize your savings by matching coupons with items you need.

2.4 Check Expiry Dates

Always check the expiry dates on your coupons. There’s nothing more frustrating than discovering that your coupon has expired at the checkout counter.

2.5 Know the Fine Print

Read the fine print on your coupons carefully. Some may have restrictions on sizes, flavors, or specific varieties. Ensure that your chosen product matches the coupon requirements.

2.6 Use Coupons Strategically

Combine your coupons with store sales to maximize your savings. Many grocery stores offer weekly flyers showcasing their discounted items. Plan your shopping trip around these sales to get the most value.

2.7 Be Patient and Persistent

Couponing can take time and effort. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see significant savings immediately. As you become more experienced, you’ll develop strategies that work best for your needs.

3. Additional Tips

• Double-Check Your Receipt: Verify that the cashier applied all your coupons correctly before leaving the store.

• Stay Organized: Regularly clean out expired coupons from your organizer to make room for new ones.

• Be Ethical: Follow coupon rules and ethics. Avoid copying or using counterfeit coupons, as this can lead to legal issues and harm the couponing community.

• Consider Cashback Apps: In addition to coupons, explore cashback apps like Rakuten and Ibotta that offer cashback on online and in-store purchases.

• Stack Discounts: Whenever possible, stack coupons with cashback offers, store promotions, and loyalty rewards for maximum savings.

Couponing for Canadian grocery shopping can be an effective way to reduce your overall food bill. With a bit of planning, organization, and patience, you can become a savvy shopper, stretching your dollars further while still enjoying your favorite products. Happy couponing!

Quick Peek At The Top 10 Best Places To Buy Grocery In Toronto (Cheap & Budget-Friendly) 

1. No Frills

2. FreshCo

3. Metro 

4. Galleria Supermarket 

5. B.J.Supermarket 

6. Do Rego Supermarket

7. Costco Grocery 

8. Loblaws

9. Walmart Grocery 

10. Sobeys

1. No Frills

First on this list is “No Frills”. If you are from Toronto or already moved here, you should have noticed “No Frills”. It is extremely popular amongst the local residents and the offers are quite as good, if not better.

No Frills is a Canadian discount grocery chain that is owned by Loblaws Companies Limited. It was launched in 1978 with the goal of providing low-priced groceries to Canadian consumers. No Frills stores offer a wide range of products, including fresh produce, dairy, bakery, meat, deli, and pantry staples, at prices that are lower than traditional grocery stores.

The stores are known for their no-frills approach, with a focus on providing basic products at low prices, and for their weekly flyers that highlight their current sales and promotions. No Frills operates in several provinces across Canada, including Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia.

No Frills has less selection, deeper discounts, and spends less on merchandising (presentation, both of the store and the store contents). The actual food is the same, as the suppliers are identical. Produce grading may also be identical between stores, but Loblaws will almost always be more expensive.

The overall look and feel of each store are partly determined by the individual store manager’s preferences and practices; meaning you might have to search for a store that appeals to you within either the Loblaws or No Frills Brands. No Frills is especially popular in the Greater Toronto Area, with seemingly several presents in each town.

It’s budget-friendly but also has enough variety for the average shopper. The produce section presents good eating for the average North American, Caribbean or Asian shopper.

The aisles are stocked with value-priced items (100 teabags for $3 – wow!) and some stretching for non-native food. The freezer section is piled high with convenience foods, seemingly catering to the Canadian lifestyle. 

I wouldn’t rule out some tasty lip-smacking Indian samosas or Jamaican hot patties there, though! It’s typical to find fresh meat packs for about $10; the joy is when you find them for even less!

2. FreshCo

Next on the list is the evergreen and popular “FreshCo”. FreshCo is a Canadian discount grocery chain, owned by Sobeys Inc. It was launched in 2010 with the goal of providing fresh and affordable food options to Canadians. FreshCo stores offer a wide range of products, including fresh produce, dairy, bakery, meat, deli, and pantry staples. The company operates stores in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

Getting fresh food is the joy of shoppers at this supermarket. FreshCo is quite popular, and always busy, or so it seems. One shopper recommends shopping late to avoid crowds; so that’s not a factor keeping him away!

Clean surroundings encourage shoppers to make healthy nutritional choices. Affordability is an obvious draw, and patrons enjoy that in every section. It is often compared to Loblaws but wins over them for the prices.

3. Metro

Third on this list of the Best Places To Buy Grocery In Toronto (Cheap & Budget-Friendly) is “Metro”.

Metro Inc. is a Canadian food and pharmacy retailer. It operates a chain of supermarkets and pharmacies under several banners, including Metro, Metro Plus, Food Basics, and Super C.

The company was founded in 1947 and has grown to become one of the largest grocery chains in Canada, with over 600 stores across the province of Quebec and Ontario. Metro offers a wide range of products, including fresh produce, dairy, bakery, meat, deli, and pantry staples, as well as a selection of prepared meals and other food items.

Often compared to Whole Foods stores, this establishment carries healthy foods alongside those that aren’t typically consumed by health enthusiasts.

But the service and environments are similar, and, I might venture to say, not as pricey. 24-hour shopping is a staple of several North American grocery store chains, and it is with this one.

Often crowded, the self-checkout may provide a faster flow out. Cooked meals and deli sandwiches help you add a ready dinner to the bag if you’d rather spend your evening talking with your family, and not slaving for them. Don’t forget to pick up a bouquet of flowers for the dining table!

4. Galleria Supermarket

Fourth on this list is “Galleria Supermarket”.

Fresh is the word often heard in the reviews for this store.

Fresh meats, fresh produce, and fresh food in the food court are the main draws of its regulars.

Grab-and-go prepared foods are available all day long, and if you go late enough, a $3 prepared meal is happiness in a box!

It’s the same meals they made earlier in the day, just discounted to be rid of them by closing. The selection is about the same all-day sushi, soups, fried chicken, beef, and a variety of Korean appetizers. Asian snacks are also sold in abundant variety.

If you often cook Korean, this is a great place to consistently find ingredients. Helpful and friendly staff keep their regulars coming back.

5. B.J.Supermarket

Fifth on this list is “B.J.Supermarket”.

B.J.Supermarket is extremely popular with the Asian community, especially to the Indian, Chinese, Korean, and Philipino crowd.

This store is stocked with food from Asia and North America. They also stock lots of spices and pastes needed for Indian cooking.

They’ve recently added gluten-free, vegan, and organic varieties of their usual fare (they are quite responsive to the customers’ demands that way). Sweet treats are available fresh and without artificial ingredients. There’s no meat there, but the variety of other foods is still quite extensive.

Price levels are great. With few stores around like it, they aim to stand out and stay relevant.

6. Do Rego Supermarket

Sixth on the list is “Do Rego Supermarket”.

This Portuguese delight is run by a father and son. Produce stands out as the hallmark, but fresh is the order of the day for every section of the store.

They don’t use the convenience-store appeal to charge inflated prices, or their size to skimp on variety. Organic varieties are in short to none supply, but there’s so much to make up for that.

Toronto does not disappoint when it comes to people and food variety. I like shopping for my regular food stock in the heart of downtown Toronto so that I can immerse myself in all I can experience first-hand in my city.

Finding great deals on groceries within this abundance of culture proved not to be a challenge, although the common food selections are Asian and North American. Try the stores suggested here; see if you don’t come across enough to satisfy your palate and your wallet.

7. Costco Grocery

How can we conclude this list without mentioning “Costco”? Costco is premium, wholesale, budget-friendly and extremely popular amongst the residents of Toronto and Canada overall.

Costco is an American membership-based warehouse club that offers a wide range of products, including groceries, electronics, clothing, home goods, and more, at low prices. It was founded in 1983 and has grown to become one of the largest retailers in the world, with over 800 warehouses in several countries.

Costco’s grocery offerings include fresh produce, dairy, bakery, meat, deli, and pantry staples, as well as a selection of prepared meals and other food items. The company is known for its bulk purchasing, which allows it to offer low prices to its members. Costco operates on a membership model, where customers pay an annual fee for the ability to shop at its warehouses.

If you are planning on buying bulk, Costco is the store to be in. You’ll not only end up saving a ton of cash, but the quality is super-premium as well.

For Example – If you end up buying candy in bulk (62oz for $12, vs 15oz for $5 m&m’s) and peanut butter-filled pretzels (4lb for $10 vs 5lb for $4-5). Cheese at Costco is quite cheap and freezes really well. I’ll recommend the 4-flavour pack of sliced deli cheese (freeze each flavour individually and thaw one at a time) or the goat cheese logs.

The other reason you may shop at the local Costco grocery is for fresh fruits. It is a lot cheaper unless it’s the season. Also, the Butter price is always a good dollar less than any other store’s best offer price, baking items like sugar, icing sugar or chocolate chips are half the local grocery store price. Cereals or crackers are usually half grocery store prices too.

Buying in bulk is only good if you use it. I usually shop for a family with teens who entertains frequently, Costco sizes are reasonable for us. Also, you can’t beat rotisserie chicken prices.

8. Loblaws

Next on this list is Loblaws.

When you compare Loblaws with No Frills, No Frills is definitely cheaper. But what about the quality and choice? Here’s where Loblaws wins. It might not be cheap but it is definitely worth checking out. After all, we are talking about groceries here.

Loblaws is a Canadian grocery and food retailer. It was founded in 1919 and has grown to become one of the largest grocery chains in Canada, with over 2,000 stores across the country.

Loblaws operates under several different banners, including Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and others. The company offers a wide range of products, including fresh produce, dairy, bakery, meat, deli, and pantry staples, as well as a selection of prepared meals and other food items.

I personally think Loblaws has more selection, some higher grade items and more variety in stock, but comparing apples to apples, the quality is on par with No Frills. Just that it is more on the expensive side.

Also, the quality between stores varies significantly. I have two No Frills near me and I won’t buy produce at one, but the other is great. In fact, I prefer the one No Frills to my local Sobeys.

No Frills and Loblaws carry the exact same brand for organic packaged products- President’s Choice. Produce-wise, it depends on the individual location.

I’ve seen Produce in poor condition in all major grocery chains. I find that Loblaws has a better range of organic produce, but No Frills has pretty good product quality as well. Honestly, there aren’t major differences between the stores except for decor and lighting.

9. Walmart Grocery

How can we forget Walmart? Walmart’s chain of stores is available in plenty across North America and especially In Toronto and Canada.

Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of discount department stores, grocery stores, and hypermarkets. It was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and has grown to become one of the largest retailers in the world, with over 11,000 stores in 27 countries.

Walmart offers a wide range of products, including groceries, electronics, clothing, home goods, and more, at low prices. The company has a strong focus on sustainability, and has implemented several initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental impact and improving the lives of its employees and communities. In recent years, Walmart has expanded its online shopping offerings, making it easier for customers to purchase products from the comfort of their own homes.

But, wait for a second, what is the experience of shopping for groceries at Walmart? How good is the quality and what about the freshness?

Walmart is very budget-friendly and a one-stop place for all your shopping needs. Be it grocery, medicines, shopping, utilities and so on and so forth. Also, they do the price match which is great. They have recently entered into the online shopping space and delivery services as well.

Fruits and vegetables are always fresh, they support locally grown organic veggies.

Also, the check-out is extremely easy with self-checkout options for less than 12 items. You can shop until 11 PM which is really convenient for everyone.

10. Sobeys

Last on this list of Best Places To Buy Grocery In Toronto (Cheap & Budget-Friendly) is “Sobeys”.

Sobeys is a Canadian grocery and food retailer. It was founded in 1907 and has grown to become one of the largest grocery chains in Canada, with over 1,500 stores across the country. Sobeys operates under several different banners, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Thrifty Foods, FreshCo, and others.

The company offers a wide range of products, including fresh produce, dairy, bakery, meat, deli, and pantry staples, as well as a selection of prepared meals and other food items. Sobeys is committed to providing quality products and excellent customer service, and has a strong focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Pricing at Sobeys is expensive compared to other grocery stores, I don’t find that the quality of the products is any different from others as well.

Their meat department is superior to most grocery stores. When they have prime rib on sale I can ask the butcher for a custom size (typically want bigger than what’s packed) and they’ll trim and tie it.

The Sobeys around us has one of the best cheese selections I’ve seen at a grocery store. Everyone is also always super nice. And it’s clean, it’s really close to our house. And they don’t make me find a loonie for a cart. I never have loonies, it’s really annoying.

Everyone knows they’re going to pay more at Sobeys. I wouldn’t buy a packaged Good there unless I needed it right away or the sale brought it to a reasonable mark.

Final Words

That was the list of the 10 Best Places To Buy Grocery In Toronto (Cheap & Budget-Friendly). I hope you liked the list and the content.

I find all the big grocery stores to be interchangeable. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Go to one place, for one thing, go to a different place for another. They basically fill in each other’s gaps. It also depends on the place you live in Canada and the stores operating near you. Some of them might be really good and others crap.

Let me know your thoughts and comments below. Also, if you found this content helpful do share it on social media and help spread the word. Happy Shopping!