Here's how much 10 key grocery items cost at Loblaws versus other grocers

With Walmart, Loblaws, and Sobeys being some of the most prevalent grocery chains nationwide, we decided to compare their prices.

With over 400 locations, Walmart has a massive presence across Canada. Sobeys Inc., on the other hand, owns Sobeys, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, and other stores, totalling 1,500 locations nationwide. In comparison, Loblaw Companies Ltd., which owns Loblaws, Zehrs, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drugmart, and more, operates over 2,400 stores across the country.

Inflation may have cooled at 1.7 per cent in April, according to Statistics Canada, but food continues to get more expensive — an increase of 3.8 per cent compared to last year. To make matters worse, Loblaw CEO Per Bank warned Canadians that prices of tariff-hit products are set to increase.

So, how much would a grocery trip for 10 essentials like bread, milk, and eggs cost at Canada's leading grocery chains? Wherever possible, we selected the same brands and their regular prices, with all store locations set to Toronto. Read on to see which grocery chain offers you a better bang for your buck.

Milk

Walmart: Sealtest 2 per cent partly skimmed, 4 L bag — $6.25
Loblaws: Nielson 2 per cent partly skimmed, 4 L bag — $6.25
Sobeys: Sealtest 2 per cent partly skimmed, 4 L bag — $6.25

Eggs

Walmart: Great Value large eggs, 12 count — $3.93
Loblaws: No Name large grade A eggs, 12 count — $3.93
Sobeys: Compliments white large eggs, 12 count — $3.93

Cereal

Walmart: Special K Red Berries Cereal, 450g — $6.97
Loblaws: Special K Red Berries Cereal, 450g — $7.99
Sobeys: Special K Red Berries Cereal, 450g — $7.99 (on sale for $5.99)

Pasta

Walmart: Barilla pasta rotini, 410 g — $1.97
Loblaws: Barilla pasta rotini, 410 g — $2.99
Sobeys: Barilla pasta rotini, 410 g — $3.49 (on sale for $2.99)

Rice

Walmart: Tilda pure original basmati rice, 907 g — $6.97
Loblaws: Tilda pure original basmati rice, 907 g — $6.99
Sobeys: Tilda pure original basmati rice, 907 g — $8.79

Bread

Walmart: Dempster's 100 per cent whole wheat sliced bread, 675 g — $3.47
Loblaws: Dempster's 100 per cent whole wheat sliced bread, 675 g — $4.29
Sobeys: Dempster's 100 per cent whole wheat sliced bread, 675 g — $3.99

Ground beef

Walmart: Your Fresh Market lean ground beef, 450 g — $7.98
Loblaws: Lean ground beef, 450 g — $8.99
Sobeys: Lean ground beef, 454 g — $8.99

Chicken breast

Walmart: Maple Leaf boneless skinless chicken breasts, four pieces — $12.94
Loblaws: PC Blue Menu boneless skinless chicken breasts, three pieces — $13
Sobeys: Compliments chicken boneless skinless chicken breasts, three to six pieces — $19.46

Beans

Walmart: Great Value black turtle beans, 540 ml — $1.37
Loblaws: No Name black beans, 540 ml — $1.50
Sobeys: Compliments no salt added canned black beans 540 ml — $2.29

Chips

Walmart: Lay's Classic potato chips, 235 g — $3.87
Loblaws: Lay's Classic potato chips, 235 g — $4.99
Sobeys: Lay's Classic potato chips, 235 g — $4.79

Overall, Walmart offers the most affordable prices for seven grocery staples, including pasta, rice, bread, ground beef, chicken breast, black beans, and chips. While Loblaws had the highest prices for bread, ground beef, and chips, Sobeys emerged as the most expensive overall, with the highest prices for milk, pasta, rice, chicken breast, and black beans.

Wondering how much prices have changed? We also compared prices for the same items in 2024.