New survey finds single-person households spend $22 more per week on groceries than those sharing costs
A new survey highlights how Canadians are navigating grocery costs in 2026, with those living alone bearing a disproportionate financial burden and couples increasingly clashing over what ends up in the cart.
The State of the Cart report commissioned by Interac and conducted by Burson across 1,500 Canadian adults, reveals that 77% of solo households say their grocery bill keeps rising regardless of what they do.
Nearly six in 10 believe they face higher per-person costs than Canadians who share expenses, and the data backs them up: single-person households spend an average of $102 per week on groceries, against $80 per person in shared households.
Bulk-buying savings are largely out of reach for solo shoppers, and finding ingredients portioned for one remains a persistent problem.
Around 32% say food regularly spoils before they get to use it. Yet for those who previously shared a home with a romantic partner, going solo has a silver lining: 70% say they are relieved to shop without compromise.
Couples, meanwhile, are finding grocery runs a growing source of friction. Nearly half (47%) say they and their partner approach grocery spending differently, while 28% report it has caused relationship strain in the past six months.
The flashpoint, for 40% of couples, is one partner adhering to the list while the other makes impulse buys. Disagreements over what qualifies as a necessary purchase and whether name brands justify the extra cost add to the tension.
"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. "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."
The regional and generational divides are pronounced. In British Columbia, only 58% of shared households say they manage their grocery budget well as a unit, compared to 73% in Quebec. Among Millennials, 39% cite grocery spending as a source of relationship tension, more than double the 17% of Boomers who say the same.
Younger Canadians are also leaning on payment habits to keep tabs on their spending, with 55% of Gen Z adults living with a partner saying debit payments give them a clearer real-time picture of what they are spending on groceries.
What goes into the cart itself is also shifting under cost pressure. Nearly half (48%) of Canadians have cut back on or stopped buying premium cuts of meat, with prepared meals and premium deli items also falling out of favour. Around 38% have switched to store or no-name brands in the past six months.
Small treats, however, are largely holding firm: half of respondents still buy snacks such as chips and chocolate, and nearly one in four still purchase artisanal bread or pastries.
"What stands out in this research is that no matter what is shaping their grocery decisions, Canadians are shopping with more intention and many are using Interac Debit to do so," added Lee. "They are weighing trade-offs more carefully, planning more deliberately and making thoughtful choices about what matters most in their cart."
