Food Affordability in Niagara

The Nutritious Food Basket

In 2023, Niagara Region Public Health collected the cost of nutritious food through the Nutritious Food Basket survey. The results are used to find out if nutritious eating is affordable for individuals and families in Niagara.

The survey collects the lowest cost of 61 basic food items from large chain grocery stores across Niagara to provide an average minimum cost of nutritious eating. Food items are based on Canada's Food Guide, and the eating patterns and behaviours of Canadians.

Food items in the survey fall into the following four categories:

  • Vegetables and fruit
  • Protein foods
  • Whole grains
  • Fats and oils

The survey does not include personal care items (such as personal hygiene products, toilet paper, soap, diapers), processed or convenience foods (such as frozen meals and snack foods), religious or cultural foods, infant food or special diet foods (such as gluten-free).

The survey does not reflect how much someone should spend on food.

Report: Food Affordability in Niagara

The Food Affordability in Niagara Report shares the cost and financial impact of nutritious eating using different income scenarios.

Survey results

  • Weekly cost of food by age and sex in Niagara (2023)
    Group Age Weekly cost of Nutritious Food Basket
    Boys 2 to 3 $42
    Boys 4 to 8 $47
    Males 9 to 13 $61
    Males 14 to 18 $74
    Males 19 to 30 $84
    Males 31 to 50 $79
    Males 51 to 70 $70
    Males Over 70 $65
    Girls 2 to 3 $42
    Girls 4 to 8 $47
    Females 9 to 13 $61
    Females 14 to 18 $61
    Females 19 to 30 $66
    Females 31 to 50 $65
    Females 51 to 70 $60
    Females Over 70 $57
    Pregnant 18 and younger $71
    Pregnant 19-30 $75
    Pregnant 31-50 $74
    Breastfeeding 18 and younger $70
    Breastfeeding 19-30 $75
    Breastfeeding 31-50 $74

    An additional five per cent is added to the total cost of the Nutritious Food Basket to account for meal preparation and cooking needs, such as spices, condiments, coffee / tea. All costs are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  • Weekly cost of food by household type in Niagara (2023)
    Household unit type Weekly cost of Nutritious Food Basket Monthly cost of Nutritious Food Basket

    Family of four

    • 2 adults (male and female) ages 31-50
    • 2 children (male age 14, female age 8)
    		 $279 $1212

    Single parent household

    • 1 adult (female) ages 31-50
    • 2 children (male age 14, female age 8)
    		 $186 $848

    Married couple

    • 2 adults (male and female) ages 31-50
    		 $144 $689

    One person household

    • Male aged 31-50
    		 $79 $414

    One person household (senior)

    • Female over age 70
    		 $57 $299

    An additional five per cent is added to the total cost of the Nutritious Food Basket to account for meal preparation and cooking needs, such as spices, condiments, coffee / tea. All costs are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    • The monthly cost is equal to the weekly cost multiplied by 4.345
    • To calculate food expenses for a family of three, five per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
    • To calculate food expenses for two people living together, 10 per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
    • To calculate food expenses for a person living alone, 20 per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket

Amount of money left over for necessities after paying rent and food (2023)

The Nutritious Food Basket results and average rental prices can be used to find out if household income is enough to cover the costs of rent and food, and how much money is left over for other necessities, such as utilities, transportation, child care, clothing, cell phone, etc.

These finding show that individuals and families in Niagara face challenges in paying for rent, food or other basic necessities due to the high cost of living.

Income scenario Monthly income Average monthly rent (per cent of income needed for rent)

Cost of nutritious eating (per cent of income needed for food)

 Remaining funds

Family of four (two adults, two children), Ontario Works

 $2873

$1366 (48%)

$1212 (42%)

 $295

Family of four (two adults, two children), one full-time minimum wage earner

 $4218

$1366 (32%)

$1212 (29%)

 $1640

Family of four (two adults, two children), two median after tax incomes

 $9329

$1366 (15%)

$1212 (13%)

 $6751

Single parent household, with two children, Ontario Works

 $2636

$1258 (48%)

$848 (32%)

 $530

Married couple, Ontario Disability Support Program

 $1792

$1070 (60%)

$689 (38%)

 $33
One person household, Ontario Works $851

$833 (98%)

$414 (49%)

 $-396
One person household, Ontario Disability Support Program $1387

$1070 (77%)

$414 (30%)

 $-97
One person household, Old age Security / Guaranteed Income $2035

$1070 (53%)

$299 (15%)

 $666

All costs are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  • To calculate food expenses for a family of three, five per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
  • To calculate food expenses for two people living together, 10 per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
  • To calculate food expenses for a person living alone, 20 per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
  • Total monthly income includes income from social assistance or wages as well as applicable provincial and federal income supports, such as Canada Child Benefit, Ontario Child Benefit, HST / GST credit, etc.

Data for income scenarios is based on the 2022 tax year and is current as of June 2023.

The total income across income scenarios does not reflect the more recent increases to the Canada Child Benefit or the introduction of the one-time doubling of the HST / GST credit in the form of the Grocery Rebate for 2023.

Rental costs reflect the average rent paid for occupied units in Niagara and do not reflect the current asking price of vacant units.

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