PLATTSBUGH | If you thought you could save money by grocery shopping in the US, think again. During a visit to two supermarkets in Plattsburgh this week The newspaper found that American prices no longer have a significant advantage over Quebec prices as they once did.
For our research, we compared around twenty products with those on our grocery shelves. We have not taken into account applicable taxes and special offers to provide the best possible basis for comparison. We also converted US prices to Canadian dollars for analysis purposes.
With the exception of meat, the chances of achieving significant savings in Uncle Sam’s Land are slim. In total, only 7 of our 20 selected American products are cheaper than in Quebec.
“There are a lot of people who think we can save more in the United States,” says Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Laboratory of Analytical Sciences at Dalhousie University. This applies to some categories such as milk, eggs and poultry. It’s usually cheaper.
“In all other respects, these are the same amounts in US dollars.”
The example that describes this observation well is the pack of four peppers of different colors. Whether north or south of the border, the price is $5.99. When it comes to the exchange rate, we are talking about a difference of two dollars in favor of customers in Quebec.
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“Prices were cheaper as long as the dollar remained the same. This is no longer the case today. In terms of variety, we have some products that we won’t have access to. Production capacity is greater in the United States,” adds Mr. Charlebois.
Which product wins the award for the best offer in our analysis? It’s the chicken. We’re talking a difference of more than $4 in favor of American grocery stores for a package of two boneless breasts.
On the shelves from Quebec
During our visit to the Market 32 store, we came across a product from Quebec in the produce aisle.
We saw carrots from Légunord, a vegetable producer from Saint-Gédéon, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. It was interesting to see a Quebec company competing with American farmers.
The price for the Belle Province product was $2.71 Canadian for a 2 pound bag. Oddly enough, they are cheaper than certain places in Quebec.
The price war
United States Advantage (prices in Canadian dollars)
- Chicken: The discount champion of our 20 products. It costs 3.99/pound (5.42 Canadian dollars) and is not on sale. Ultimately, we are talking about a difference of more than $4 between Quebec and the United States.
- Price Quebec: $12.64
- Price in USA: $8.24
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Strawberries: We were lucky enough to come across a product that can be found on our shelves even in Quebec’s off-season. We got a good deal at $3.99.
- Price Quebec: $5.99
- Price in the US: $5.43
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Avocado: Initially we thought this product would be much cheaper due to the US’s proximity to Mexico. This was not the case.
- Price Quebec: Between $1.79 and $2.99
- Price in USA: $1.70
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Celery: This is a vegetable that attracts a lot of attention in Quebec due to its price. A small difference from American grocery stores.
- Price Quebec: $3.49
- Price in the US: $3.39
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Pork: After poultry, pork is also cheap south of the border. We were able to find several varieties in the refrigerators of the grocery stores we visited.
- Price in Quebec: $6.42 for a 1.43-pound package
- Price in the US: $5.82 for a 1.43 pound package
Photo Mathieu Boulay
Advantage Quebec
- Bag with four peppers in different colors: a big surprise awaited us. The price displayed on both sides of the border was identical.
- Price Quebec: $5.99
- Price in USA: $8.15 with exchange rate
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Muesli: We compared a popular brand of muesli. The weight of our box is not found in Quebec. After a little calculation, we came to the conclusion that the price per 100 grams was cheaper for us.
- Price in Quebec: $1.45 for 100 grams
- Price in USA: $2.28 for 100 grams
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Blueberries: Once again, the price of this product was identical in Quebec and the United States. Of course, because of the exchange rate, we have a better price in Quebec.
- Price in Quebec: $4.99 for a pint
- Price in the US: $6.79 for a pint
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Apples: For the exercise we chose MacIntosh apples. We could have achieved the same result with the other varieties. We were surprised at the amount on the American side per pound ($3.38 after exchange rate). Ultimately, we see a significant gap between the two places.
- Price in Quebec: $13.34 for a 5.36-pound bag
- Price in the US: $18.16 for a 5.36 pound bag
Photo Mathieu Boulay
- Oranges: Although the United States produces oranges, this is not reflected in customers’ bills. In addition to the price, we only find 4 pound bags in the United States, compared to 3 pounds in Quebec.
- Price in Quebec: $7.88 for 4 pounds of oranges
- Price in the US: $9.51 for a 4 pound bag
Photo Mathieu Boulay