A new Interac survey reveals that rising grocery costs are taking a toll on Ontario households, with three in 10 couples (30 per cent) reporting that grocery spending has negatively impacted their relationship in the past six months. The top trigger: one partner sticks to the list while the other improvises.
Single-person households hit hardest
The poll found that single-person households spend an average of $102 per week on groceries, roughly 28 per cent more per person than those who share the cost ($80 per person in a shared household). Almost six in 10 (59 per cent) say they face disproportionately higher per-person costs compared to Canadians who split these expenses.
“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.”
Provincial differences in budget management
The survey indicates that only 59 per cent of Ontarians in shared households say they manage their grocery budget well together, compared to 73 per cent in Quebec. In British Columbia, the figure drops to 58 per cent, highlighting regional disparities.
Nearly half of Ontarians (46 per cent) have cut back on premium cuts of meat, and 37 per cent have switched to store or no-name brands in the past six months. However, half (50 per cent) still buy snacks like chips and chocolate as a personal treat.
Challenges for those living alone
Ontarians living alone report missing out on bulk-buying savings (45 per cent) and struggling to find single-portion ingredients (44 per cent). A third (30 per cent) say food often goes to waste before they can use it. Among those now living alone after previously living with a partner, seven in 10 (70 per cent) are relieved to make their own decisions, leaving behind the tension of shared decision-making.
Overall, Ontarians are more likely than Canadians overall to find managing food costs stressful: 64 per cent vs. 60 per cent nationally.
Couples and friction over spending
For couples, nearly half (47 per cent) say they approach grocery spending differently from their partner, and four in 10 (40 per cent) say friction starts when one partner sticks to the list while the other makes impulse purchases. The divide is sharpest in B.C., where just 58 per cent of those in a shared household say they manage their grocery budget well together.
