Here's how grocery prices in the Philippines compare to Walmart Canada

Groceries can be expensive no matter where you are. So we decided to compare prices at Walmart Canada to those of a supermarket in the Philippines.

One Manila resident shared photos during a recent shopping trip at Cash & Carry, a supermarket selling local and international products.

Filipinos can shop at “wet markets,” a popular non-supermarket setting where meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and fruit can be purchased for a lower price. However, to make the shopping experience more easily comparable, we looked at a regular supermarket in the Philippines and Walmart Canada in Toronto.

We also calculated the product’s approximate price per unit and used the C$1 to 40.46 Philippine pesos conversion rate. Here’s how shopping in the Philippines compares.

Fuji apples

Philippines: Fuji apple, 204 pesos/1 kg ($5.04)

Canada: Fuji apple, $5.50/1 kg

Potatoes

Philippines: Potatoes, 210 pesos/1 kg ($5.18)

Canada: Russet potatoes, $3.20/1 kg

Onions

Philippines: White onions, 192 pesos/1 kg ($4.74)

Canada: White onions, $6.10/1 kg

Pears

Philippines: 240 pesos/1 kg ($5.93)

Canada: $6.60/1 kg

Avocado

Philippines: 360 pesos/1 kg ($8.89)

Canada: $1.47 per avocado, so around $7.35/ 1 kg

White bread

Philippines: Gardenia, 85 pesos/600 g ($2.10 — 35 cents/100 g)

Canada: Wonder, $3.27/675 g (49 cents/100 g)

Cereal

Philippines: Nestlé Gold Honey Flakes, 180.50 pesos/370 g ($4.46 — $1.21/100 g)

Canada: Post Honey Bunches of Oats, $3.97/340 g ($1.17/100 g)

Instant coffee

Philippines: Nescafe Gold, 293.50 pesos/100 g ($7.25)

Canada: Nescafe Gold, $8.47/100 g

Evaporated milk

Philippines: Alaska Evaporada evaporated creamer, 35.50 pesos/360 ml (87 cents — 24 cents/100 ml)

Canada: Carnation Evaporated Milk, $2.47/354 ml (70 cents/100 ml)

Heinz ketchup

Philippines: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 313.50 pesos/1.12 litre ($7.74 — $6.91/1 litre)

Canada: Heinz Tomato Ketchup, $5.77/1 litre

Jasmine rice

Philippines: Mrs. Lam Thai jasmine rice, 466.50 pesos/5 kg ($11.52 — $2.30/ 1 kg)

Canada: Delicious Kitchen premium jasmine scented white rice, $18.97/8 kg ($2.37/1 kg)

Tuna

Philippines: Century tuna, 45.50 pesos/180 g ($1.12 — 62 cents/100 g)

Canada: Clover Leaf flaked light tuna, $1.97/120 g ($1.64/100 g)

Yogurt

Philippines: Nestle Greek yogurt, 291 pesos/500 g ($7.19 — $1.44/100 g)

Canada: Liberté Greek yogurt, $6.98/750 g (93 cents/100 g)

Ritz crackers

Philippines: 133 pesos/300 g ($3.28 — $1.09/100 g)

Canada: $3.48/180 g ($1.93/100 g)

Pringles

Philippines: Pringles BBQ flavour potato chips, 110.25 pesos/134 g ($2.72 — $2.03/100 g)

Canada: Pringles BBQ flavour potato chips, $2.97/156 g ($1.90/100 g)

Lay’s potato chips

Philippines: Lay’s Classic potato chips, 151.50 pesos/170 g ($3.74 — 2.20 cents/100 g)

Canada: Lay’s Classic potato chips, $3.97/235 g ($1.69/100 g)

Pasta

Philippines: San Remo elbow pasta, 82.25 pesos, 550 g ($2.03 — 37 cents/100 g)

Canada: Primo elbow pasta, $1.27 (28 cents/100 g)

Laundry detergent

Philippines: Breeze laundry detergent, 518.75 pesos for 3 litres ($12.81 — 43 cents/100 ml)

Canada: Sunlight Morning Fresh laundry detergent, $17.97/4 litres (45 cents/100 ml)

Out of the 18 products featured, around 10 were pricier at Walmart Canada compared to the items sold at Cash & Carry. However, despite the difference, prices of some items in the Philippines were almost on par with prices in Canada. For example, 1 kg of jasmine rice was only seven cents more expensive at Walmart Canada.

Groceries are more expensive at an average supermarket in the Philippines, especially considering the monthly wage. According to a 2022 report by the Occupational Wages Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the average monthly salary of a Filipino worker is 18,423 pesos ($455). Meanwhile, in Canada, the federal minimum wage increased by 2.4 per cent from $17.30/hour to $17.75 per/hour in April.

Inflation eased to 2.1 per cent in the Philippines in February. However, Canadian shoppers continue to feel the pinch at the checkout counter: inflation rose to 2.6 per cent in February, according to Statistics Canada.

What are your thoughts on these prices? Let us know in the comments, or send us an email at trending@dailyhive.com.