A new Interac survey finds that grocery costs continue to put pressure on Ontario households, with eight in 10 solo Ontarians (79%) saying the bills keep increasing no matter what they cut from their lists.
Grocery Spending Strains Relationships
The strain has resulted in three in 10 Ontario couples (30%) saying grocery spending has impacted their relationship in the past six months, with the top trigger being that one partner sticks to the list, while the other improvises.
“In the first quarter of 2026, tens of millions of Canadians used Interac Debit to pay for groceries,” said Chris Lee, head of payments at Interac, in a statement. “With our State of the Cart survey, we wanted to better understand the domestic dynamics behind grocery transaction moments. While all Canadians face the common challenge of rising grocery prices, the pressure differs greatly according to whether you live alone or with a partner, your age and stage of life, and even the province you call home.”
Single vs. Shared Household Costs
The poll found single-person households spend an average of $102 per week on groceries, roughly 28% more per person than those who share the cost ($80 per person in a shared household) with almost six in 10 (59%) saying they face disproportionately higher per-person costs than Canadians who split these expenses.
Ontarians living alone say they often miss out on the savings that come with buying in bulk (45%) and struggle to find single-portion ingredients (44%) and a third (30%) say food often goes to waste before they can use it.
Regional and Generational Differences
The survey said only 59% of Ontarians in shared households say they manage their grocery budget well together, while in Quebec, it’s 73% that do so. The divide is sharpest in B.C., where just 58% of those in a shared household say they manage their grocery budget well together, compared with 73% in Quebec.
Among Millennials, nearly four in 10 (39%) say grocery spending is a source of relationship tension, compared with 17% of Boomers.
Cutting Back and Treating Themselves
The poll also found nearly half of Ontarians (46%) have cut back on premium cuts of meat, and 37% have switched to store or no-name brands in the past six months, but half (50%) still buy snacks like chips and chocolate as a personal treat. Nearly one in four (23%) still reach for artisanal bread or pastries.
Ontarians are more likely than Canadians overall to find managing food costs stressful (64% vs. 60% nationally).
Living Alone After a Partner
Among those now living alone after previously living with a partner, seven in 10 (70%) are relieved they can make their own decisions, leaving the tension of shared decision-making behind.
For couples, nearly half (47%) say they approach grocery spending differently from their partner and four in 10 (40%) say friction starts when one partner sticks to the list while the other makes impulse purchases.
Interac commissioned Burson to survey 1,500 adult residents across Canada between May 8 and May 12, and the margin of error is plus or minus 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
