Here’s how much the average Canadian family of 4 will have to spend on groceries in 2025

The average Canadian family of four is expected to spend $800 more on groceries this year, according to the latest Canada Food Price Report.

Food prices are expected to increase by three per cent to five per cent in 2025, with the most significant rises projected in the meat category, ranging from four per cent to six per cent.

For a typical family of four, food expenses in 2025 are estimated at $16,833.67, an increase of $801.56 compared to 2024.

Food price increases are expected to differ across provinces, with Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador likely experiencing above-average growth. At the same time, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario are projected to see below-average changes.

Experts say the first step in identifying potential solutions involves evaluating which aisles of the grocery store you spend the most time in. While meats and vegetables will see the highest price gains in 2025, the price of other products is expected to remain relatively stable.

“We will get relief in the sense that prices will no longer increase at the level we’ve seen the last three years. That’s the good news,” said Kelleen Wiseman, Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia.

The report underscores changing consumer behaviours driven by rising costs. Many Canadians are adopting strategies such as hunting for discounts, opting for lower-cost brands, and cutting back on non-essential purchases. Alarmingly, food insecurity in Canada has hit record levels, impacting over 22.9 per cent of households.

Some tips to help your wallet at the grocery store

Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution at Dalhousie University, said dairy and everyday bakery products should be stable this year.

“Of course, cheese, we’re not expecting a huge jump there because their commission decided to reduce the price of farm-made milk and butter fat, which is good news for everyone,” added Charlebois.

Another tip, Wiseman says, involves considering frozen grocery items instead of fresh.

“Fresh seafood, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables — of course, they’re lovely to have. But there are some really good deals to have in the frozen section.”

Another way to search for savings, Wiseman says, is to pull out your cell phone.

“There are a number of [mobile] apps out there that help consumers to find out where particular products that they’re interested in are going on sale or are on sale.”

Experts say a key question is, are you eating all the food you’re buying? According to the Food Waste Index, the average Canadian household wastes about 174 pounds of food yearly. Part of that is tied to ongoing confusion over expiration dates — which, in many cases, are more flexible than you might think.

“When we see ‘best by’ or ‘enjoy by,’ that is just a suggestion of peak freshness; it is not an expiration date for that food,” said Sarah Soteroff with TooGoodToGo. “We don’t want anyone taking any massive risk on food if they don’t feel it’s safe to eat… But we want that empowerment to come back to the consumer.”

While many Canadians made a concerted effort to avoid some big box stores, such as Loblaws, in the spring of 2024, industry insiders say the movement had little impact on prices — or the company’s bottom line.

“The so-called boycott did not work,” added Charlebois. “When you look at the finances, there’s just no evidence that it worked.”