Where to buy products at the lowest prices?

Rising food prices in Canada have forced Calgary residents to look for new ways to save money on everyday purchases. According to a Canadian report on food prices, the total cost of groceries could increase by 3-5% in 2025, making the search for economical shopping options even more relevant for Ukrainian newcomers and other city residents.

Cheapest grocery chains

Giant Tiger

Giant Tiger is recognized as one of the cheapest grocery stores in Calgary. This Canadian discount store chain offers weekly discounts and a GT VIP loyalty program that provides access to exclusive contests, discounts at restaurants, and sporting events. The store has an “Ad Match Guarantee” policy, which means it will match competitors' prices and make them 1 cent cheaper.

No Frills

No Frills offers the cheapest prices on average among all major chains. The store has a “Won't Be Beat” program, which guarantees to match competitors' prices. Shoppers can earn PC Optimum points, where 1,000 points equals $1. This is especially useful for families who want to shop in one place without having to drive to 2-3 stores for the best prices.

Real Canadian Superstore

Superstore is known for its frequent discounts and personalized offers through the PC Optimum program. The store also matches competitors' prices and has its own weekly promotions. According to a 2023 comparison study, a basket of basic groceries at Superstore cost $24.00 compared to $32.21 at Safeway.

Walmart

Walmart continues to be a popular choice thanks to its ongoing promotions such as “2 for $5,” “3 for $6,” or “4 for $10.” While the store no longer matches competitors' prices, it offers the Walmart Rewards Mastercard to accumulate discounts. In a comparative study, Walmart showed a price of $25.13 for a basic basket of groceries.

Save On Foods

Save On Foods is particularly notable for its affordable prices on fresh produce and in-house baked goods. The store offers a 15% discount on the first Tuesday of every month for loyalty card holders. The More Rewards system allows you to earn points on every purchase and receive special offers for cardholders.

Ethnic grocery stores

Independent Central Asian and Indian stores in northeast Calgary offer significantly lower prices on fresh produce and meat. These stores often have better prices due to lower overhead costs and direct deliveries from local farmers.

Sanjha Punjab Grocery Store

A chain with 6 locations in Calgary specializes in South Asian products. The stores offer fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and kitchen supplies at competitive prices. Weekly specials are available through their website.

Basha Foods and other Asian stores

These stores offer “unbeatable prices” on many staple items. Reddit users note that prices at these stores are often significantly lower than traditional chains, especially for spices, rice, legumes, and fresh produce.

Specialty discount grocery stores

Freestone Produce

Located at 2828 32 Ave NE, Freestone Produce is a family-owned produce distributor that has been in business for 8 years. The store offers wholesale prices on fresh produce because it accepts batches of produce that have been rejected by large chains due to minor cosmetic imperfections. Customers report significant savings — for example, 10 avocados for $10.

H&W Produce

Located at 3508 32 Ave NE, H&W Produce offers “the lowest prices on the highest quality produce” with great sales. There are always discounts on purchases over $30. The store updates its special offers weekly — for example, 2 pounds of BC blueberries for $2.98 instead of $4.99.

Calgary Wholesale Cash & Carry

Located at 2828 32 Ave NE, the store serves over 1,000 customers daily through its cash-and-carry, delivery, and redistribution programs. It offers restaurant equipment, food products, packaging, and cleaning supplies at wholesale prices.

Costco and wholesale stores

Costco

Costco requires an annual membership, but often offsets this cost at the end of the year with a rebate check. The store is ideal for families who buy in bulk—meat, Tylenol, Advil, and other items are often less per unit when purchased in multipacks.

Real Canadian Wholesale Club

Wholesale Club offers free delivery for business members on orders over $1,000. The store specializes in large packages and wholesale prices for restaurants and large families.

Mobile apps for saving

Flashfood

The Flashfood app helped Calgarians save $3.8 million in 2024 and prevented 1.4 million pounds of food from going to waste. The app offers discounts of up to 50% on products that are nearing their expiration date. In Calgary, the program works with major chains including Loblaws and Superstore.

Flipp

The Flipp app compiles weekly digital flyers, allowing users to compare prices for the same items at different stores. Users can create a “watch list” to track discounts on their favorite products.

Farmers' markets

Calgary Farmers' Market

Two locations (South and West) offer over 141 local vendors. The South location is open Thursday-Sunday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and the West location is open Wednesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. As an approved Alberta market, it adheres to the “80/20” rule — at least 80% of vendors “make, bake, or grow” their products.

Crossroads Market

Open Friday-Sunday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., offering fresh local produce from Alberta and British Columbia farmers. The market has been operating since 1987 and offers not only produce, but also antiques and prepared foods.

Granary Road Farmers Market

Open May-October, Friday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Offers seasonal vegetable box programs with savings of up to 20% — a full season (June 5-October 11) costs $494, half a season costs $290.

Affordable food programs

Fresh Routes

Fresh Routes delivers fresh and affordable produce to various locations throughout the city. The organization supports the financial and dietary needs of residents, also offering frozen meals for people with limited mobility.

Good Food Box

The Good Food Box program provides discounted produce through a pre-order system. Customers receive a variety of fruits and vegetables without being able to choose specific items, but at significantly lower prices.

Open Market

Fresh Routes' partnership with The Social Impact Lab has created a “pay what you can” market that operates every Thursday at the Meadowlark Community Association from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Strategies for maximum savings

Experts recommend combining several approaches for maximum savings. Using Costco for meat combined with a Calgary Co-op membership for fuel discounts can yield over $250 in savings per year. Shopping at ethnic stores in the northeast part of the city for groceries and spices, using Flashfood for discounted meat and dairy, and visiting farmers' markets for seasonal produce creates a comprehensive savings strategy.

Price matching at No Frills, Superstore, FreshCo, and Save On Foods means that tracking sales at stores you don't visit regularly can still pay off. Using weekly flyers through Flipp and planning purchases around seasonal discounts helps maximize savings with minimal effort.