By: Ish Theilheimer

  When you see media reports comparing US and Canadian prices and costs of living, they often focus on big ticket items. There may be a big price spread on some pricey and high tech items. But most families don't buy many cell phones, giant TVs, or luxury resort packages. They do buy groceries.

  And if they're Canadian, it appears they often pay less, both at face value and in terms of exchange rate. The research isn't scientific, but there are definite trends. Via the magic of the Internet, we collected data - sometimes within hours from correspondents in seven locations. We asked people to price groceries in comparable locations. We've matched Montreal with New York, Vancouver with Olympia, WA (where grocery prices are similar to those in Seattle), and Pembroke, ON with Northport, MI. We also looked at sales ads from Vero Beach, FL out of sheer interest.
  We don't pretend this is scientific. It's more like a sample or focus group. We know anyone can find better bargains in any of these places, on either side of the border. And we know prices vary wildly from store to store, neighbourhood do neighbourhood, brand to brand, etc. We've tried to show where numbers are most approximate. But the sample has a lot to say:

Item in Cdn and US prices	Montreal	New York
1 quart/litre milk, CDN	1.17	1.44
1 quart/litre milk, US	0.80	0.99
box corn flakes, CDN	2.79	4.34
box corn flakes, US	1.93	2.99
1 box, Kraft dinner, CDN	1.19	-
1 box, Kraft dinner, US	0.82	-
1 lb. cheddar cheese, CDN	5.29	5.78
1 lb. cheddar cheese, US	3.65	3.99
10 fl. oz. can Campbell's tomato soup, CDN	0.75	1.38
10 fl. oz. can Campbell's tomato soup, US	0.51	0.95
7 oz. can of tuna in water, CDN	1.69	2.16
7 oz. can of tuna in water, US	1.16	1.49
240g./8.5 oz. bag of potato chips, CDN	-	2.16
240g./8.5 oz. bag of potato chips, US	-	1.49
1 lb butter, CDN	2.99	-
1 lb butter, US	2.06	-
1/2 lb package sliced ham, CDN	2.95	4.35
1/2 lb package sliced ham, US	2.04	3.00
1 lb chicken legs, CDN	1.49	2.16
1 lb chicken legs, US	1.02	1.49
1 lb T-bone steak, CDN	5.92	-
1 lb T-bone steak, US	4.08	-
1 lb ground beef, CDN	2.63	-
1 lb ground beef, US	1.81	-
1 lb. Macintosh apples, CDN	0.79	2.01
1 lb. Macintosh apples, US	0.54	1.39
1 dozen oranges, CDN	3.98	4.90
1 dozen oranges, US	2.74	3.38
1 head lettuce (iceberg), CDN	1.09	1.87
1 head lettuce (iceberg), US	0.75	1.29
10 lb. bag of potatoes, CDN	3.99	-
10 lb. bag of potatoes, US	2.75	-
6-pack of regular beer, CDN	7.79	8.68
6-pack of regular beer, US	5.37	5.99

Item in Cdn and US prices	Pembroke ON	Northport MI
1 quart/litre milk, CDN	1.79	1.73
1 quart/litre milk, US	1.24	1.19
box corn flakes, CDN	3.99	5.21
box corn flakes, US	2.75	3.59
1 box, Kraft dinner, CDN	0.89	1.43
1 box, Kraft dinner, US	0.61	0.99
1 lb. cheddar cheese, CDN	3.49	4.71
1 lb. cheddar cheese, US	2.40	3.25
10 fl. oz. can Campbell's tomato soup, CDN	0.79	1.29
10 fl. oz. can Campbell's tomato soup, US	0.54	0.89
7 oz. can of tuna in water, CDN	2.69	1.87
7 oz. can of tuna in water, US	1.85	1.29
240g./8.5 oz. bag of potato chips, CDN	1.78	3.19
240g./8.5 oz. bag of potato chips, US	1.22	2.20
1 lb butter, CDN	2.99	2.60
1 lb butter, US	2.06	1.79
1/2 lb package sliced ham, CDN	-	3.26
1/2 lb package sliced ham, US	-	2.25
1 lb chicken legs, CDN	1.29	1.14
1 lb chicken legs, US	0.89	0.79
1 lb T-bone steak, CDN	7.49	8.40
1 lb T-bone steak, US	5.17	5.79
1 lb ground beef, CDN	1.79	2.16
1 lb ground beef, US	1.23	1.49
1 lb. Macintosh apples, CDN	0.80	1.45
1 lb. Macintosh apples, US	0.55	1.00
1 dozen oranges, CDN	3.99	6.36
1 dozen oranges, US	2.75	4.39
1 head lettuce (iceberg), CDN	0.99	1.58
1 head lettuce (iceberg), US	0.68	1.09
10 lb. bag of potatoes, CDN	2.69	4.34
10 lb. bag of potatoes, US	1.85	2.99
6-pack of regular beer, CDN	8.75	6.65
6-pack of regular beer, US	6.04	4.59