What to know
- An Interac survey says that single Canadians spend more on groceries than those in a shared income household.
- Single Canadians believe the cost of groceries might depend on how much you eat, while those in relationships agree a multiple income household can be helpful to alleviate costs.
A recent survey says groceries cost more if you’re single, but Torontonians aren’t so sure if that’s always the case.
Groceries, rent and gas are all expensive price tags that come with living in Toronto, especially when handling it on a single income. New findings from Interac are revealing what managing those expenses look like for those on their own.
The survey reveals nearly eight in 10 (77 per cent) Canadians who live alone say their grocery bill keeps climbing no matter what they do, and almost six in 10 (59 per cent) say they face disproportionately higher per-person costs than Canadians who split these expenses. It further explains that the average single-person household spends approximately $102 per week on groceries, compared to $80 per person in a shared household.
So, Now Toronto hit the streets to ask Toronto residents if they agree with the Interac survey.
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Do Torontonians agree with the survey’s findings?
Toronto resident Shanik T. believes it makes sense.
“Two incomes in the house versus one,” he told Now Toronto.
Though he believes being single does still have its benefits.
“Sometimes when you’re together, you’re going out a lot more, you’re trying to have date nights,” Shanik said.
But single or taken, Shanik can’t shake off the price of berries.
“Anything berry-related is really expensive these days, so strawberries, blueberries, blackberries. All those things are really high now,” he said.
Toronto resident Nick D. agrees with the survey, too.
“As a single person, you’re paying pretty much twice the amount as someone in a partnership and living in the city,” he said.
While being in a relationship means you can share expenses, Nick explained.
“You get to share car expenses, rent, food, everything else,” he said.
Nick echoes Shanik, saying any healthy product such as asparagus is expensive, costing $9 per pound.
Sage B. is a single resident, and says he already pays a lot, but being in a relationship could also be costly.
“Depending on how much your partner eats might be a big factor. For me, I have a pretty big appetite, so if I did have someone else live with me, we’d probably be spending more money on food, to be honest,” he told Now Toronto.
Sage loves powdered bone broth, but said it costs $40. Same with carrot juice, costing $14 for a jar.
“Any type of health-food stuff is crazy,” he said.
