With the economic downturn, university students around the world are asking the same question: Is it possible to buy beer and food? We pondered this mystery, and The Ubyssey’s investigative team flooded local supermarkets in search of the best deals on groceries. Here is what we came up with:

Whether you’re looking for produce, bread or dairy, Triple A Market has some of the lowest prices in town.

Your dollar also goes a long way at Tim’s Fresh Produce, on West Broadway, but selection is limited.

For the one-stop grocery shop, Safeway and IGA are comparable; however, you will save more on dairy at Safeway.

Choices beats out both Capers and Stong’s to earn the prize for being most expensive all around.

Organic food markets, such as Drive Organics, are cheaper than the larger chain organic grocery stores, especially for dairy items, but aren’t necessarily a good deal for produce.

The best deals on produce are probably at Everfresh Produce, but all small produce places tend to have good deals.
However, local produce stores often charge more for non-produce items, such as bread and dairy.

After all is said and done, choosing a grocery store is typically a matter of convenience for most students living on or off campus. Accordingly, here are some good general rules to keep in mind:

1 Make sure that you are actually saving money by not dining out.

2 White eggs should not cost more than $2.

3 You should not buy apples for more than $2 a pound (even if they are organic).

4 Milk is frequently $2 a litre, and the smaller the store, the more expensive. The same pricing rules apply for butter.

5 White and whole wheat sandwich bread can be found for less than $2.50 a loaf, and the smaller the grocery store, the cheaper.

So the next time your pocketbook feels a bit light and your stomach a bit empty, shop smart. That way you can buy more beer.

—With files from Lana Mador,
Jenny Tsundu, Larisa Karr, Anita Law, Quin Sheppard, Elise Grieg, Sophie Raider, Kalen-Leech Porter, Catherine Lai & Clayton Weins.

Bread
whole what loaf

Mainly Organic: $2.09
Famous Foods: $2.19
Triple A Market: $2.59
Safeway: $2.69
Norman’s Fruit and Salad: $3.19
East-End Food Co-op: $3.29
Donald’s Market: $3.39
Everfresh Produce: $3.49
Santa Barbara Market: $3.49
Nester’s: $3.69
Choices Market: $3.99
Capers: $3.99
Drive Organics: $3.99

Carrots
per pound

Santa Barbara Market: $0.39
Dollar Grocers: $0.49
Norman’s Fruit and Salad: $0.49
Young Brothers Produce: $0.49
Dunbar Produce: $0.59
Everfresh Produce: $0.59
Stong’s: $0.59
Tim’s Fresh Produce: $0.59
Donald’s Market: $0.69
Famous Foods: $0.79
Safeway: $0.79
Triple A Market: $0.79
Marketplace IGA: $0.89
Nester’s: $0.99

Apples
per pound

Norman’s Fruit and Salad: $0.39
Tim’s Fresh Produce : $0.59
Santa Barbara Market: $0.59
Donald’s Market: $0.69
Triple A Market: $0.79
Dollar Grocers: $0.79
Famous Foods: $0.87
Dunbar Produce: $0.89
Young Brothers Produce: $0.89
Everfresh Produce: $0.89
Stong’s: $0.99
Nester’s: $1.29
Safeway: $1.29
Marketplace IGA: $1.49

Broccoli
per pound

Triple A Market: $0.79
Norman’s Fruit and Salad: $0.99
Young Brothers Produce: $0.99
Everfresh Produce: $1.39
Stong’s: $1.39
Santa Barbara Market: $1.39
Famous Foods: $1.47
Tim’s Fresh Produce: $1.49
Donald’s Market: $1.69
Marketplace IGA: $1.69
Dunbar Produce: $1.89
Dollar Grocers: $1.99
Nester’s: $1.99
Safeway: $2.29

Milk
1L of 2% milk

Dollar Grocers: $1.79
Safeway: $1.81
Stong’s: $1.89
Choices Market: $1.89
Capers: $1.99
East-End Food Co-op: $1.99
Marketplace IGA: $1.99
Tim’s Fresh Produce: $2.19
Dunbar Produce: $2.19
Famous Foods: $2.19
Santa Barbara Market: $2.20
Norman’s Fruit and Salad: $2.20
Donald’s Market: $2.29
Young Brothers Produce: $2.39
Triple A Market: $2.59

Cheese
per 100g of cheddar

Dollar Grocers: $1.59
Norman’s Fruit and Salad: $1.59
Santa Barbara Market: $1.69
Safeway: $1.79
Famous Foods: $1.86
Stong’s: $1.89
Nester’s: $1.99
Donald’s Market: $2.07
Everfresh Produce: $2.09
East-End Food Co-op: $2.10
Triple A Market: $2.10
Mainly Organic: $2.27
Drive Organics: $3.25

Coffee
500g

Santa Barbara Market: $5.89
Dollar Grocers: $7.99
Marketplace IGA: $11.95­­
Stong’s: $12.45
Famous Foods: $12.89
Donald’s Market: $12.99
East-End Food Co-op: $13.99
Drive Organics: $13.99
Nester’s: $14.99

Cheerios
large box (525g)

Santa Barbara Market: $4.59
Choices: $4.79
East-End Food Co-op: $5.69
Marketplace IGA: $5.99
Nester’s: $6.49
Stong’s: $6.99

Addresses of locations used

Capers—2285 W 4th
Choices Market—2627 W 16th
Dollar Grocers—2210 Commercial
Donald’s Market—2279 Commercial
Drive Organics—1045 Commercial
Dunbar Produce—4355 Dunbar
East-End Food Co-Op—1034 Commercial
Everfresh Produce—2970 Main
Famous Foods—1595 Kingsway
Mainly Organic—4348 Main
Marketplace IGA—3535 W 41st
Nester’s—4475 Main
Norman’s Fruit and Salad—1604 Commercial
Safeway—2315 W 4th
Santa Barbara Market—1322 Commercial
Stong’s—4560 Dunbar
Tim’s Fresh Produce—2827 W Broadway
Triple A Market—1626 Commercial
Young Brothers Produce—3151 W Broadway

(+4 rating, 2 votes)

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