If you live in UBC, you have two grocery-shopping options worth comparing: NO FRILLS on Alma Street and Save-On-Foods in Wesbrook Village. But which store offers better prices?

I visited both stores and compared 15 everyday grocery and household items, including fresh produce, drinks, pantry staples, snacks, meat and laundry detergent. I recorded the regular shelf prices and sale prices where available to see how much shoppers might save by choosing one store over the other.

Whether you're a UBC student watching your budget, a faculty member living on campus, or a family considering a move to UBC, grocery prices are one part of the cost of everyday life worth looking at.

NO FRILLS vs. Save-On-Foods: The Price Comparison

Here's how the prices compared during my visits.

Prices are in Canadian dollars and reflect the shelf prices recorded during the visits in October 2026. Sale prices are shown separately from regular prices. Prices and promotions may change.

What Stood Out in the Comparison?

NO FRILLS had lower regular prices on 14 of the 15 items

In this particular comparison, NO FRILLS had the lower regular shelf price on 14 of the 15 items and matched Save-On-Foods on Heinz ketchup. Overall, NO FRILLS offered the better prices across the products compared.

Some of the differences were small. Bananas, for example, were $0.78 per pound at NO FRILLS compared with $0.89 at Save-On-Foods. Broccoli showed a larger difference: $2.99 per pound versus $3.99.

For branded and packaged products, the gaps could be more noticeable. Earth's Own Organic Almond Milk was regularly priced at $4.50 at NO FRILLS and $6.99 at Save-On-Foods. Eco-Max Laundry Detergent was $12.99 at NO FRILLS compared with $17.69 at Save-On-Foods.

These results suggest that NO FRILLS may be the better starting point if your main priority is keeping grocery costs down. However, this is a comparison of a selected group of products, not every item in either store.

Sale prices can make a difference

Promotions changed the picture for several products.

Earth's Own Organic Almond Milk was on sale for $3.50 at NO FRILLS and $4.99 at Save-On-Foods. Listerine Mouthwash was $5.50 at NO FRILLS on sale, compared with $7.99 at Save-On-Foods on sale.

Some Save-On-Foods promotions narrowed the price gap. Coca-Cola, for example, was $3.99 at its regular price but $3.33 on sale. Even at the sale price, it was more expensive than NO FRILLS at $2.79.

For shoppers who are flexible about when they buy certain products, checking weekly promotions can be worthwhile. But it's also important to compare the regular prices of items you buy frequently, rather than assuming a sale always offers the best deal.

A few everyday items add up

The differences may not seem significant when looking at one product at a time. But if you regularly buy bagels, produce, drinks, pantry staples and household supplies, the savings can accumulate.

For example, the regular-price difference for laundry detergent was $4.70, while the difference for Tropicana Orange Juice was $3.00. Those are meaningful amounts when added to a weekly or monthly shopping budget.

The best approach is to pay attention to the products you buy most often. A price comparison is most useful when it reflects your own shopping habits.

A Closer Look at the Products

Fresh produce

Bananas were $0.78 per pound at NO FRILLS and $0.89 at Save-On-Foods. Broccoli was $2.99 per pound at NO FRILLS and $3.99 at Save-On-Foods. For these two common produce items, NO FRILLS had the lower prices during my visits.

Drinks and plant-based milk

Coca-Cola, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice and Tropicana Orange Juice were all less expensive at NO FRILLS at their regular prices. Save-On-Foods did have sale prices for Coca-Cola and cranberry juice, but they remained more expensive than the regular NO FRILLS prices.

The difference in almond milk was also notable. Earth's Own Organic Almond Milk was $4.50 at NO FRILLS before its sale price of $3.50, compared with $6.99 regularly at Save-On-Foods and $4.99 on sale.

Pantry staples and snacks

NO FRILLS had lower regular prices for bagels, soy sauce, potato chips, tuna and sugar. Sale prices provided additional savings on ketchup, chips and tuna at NO FRILLS. Save-On-Foods also had a sale price on Lay's Potato Chips, but at $4.39 it was still higher than NO FRILLS' regular price of $4.00.

Meat and household essentials

Lean Ground Beef was $9.00 for 450 g at NO FRILLS and $9.50 at Save-On-Foods. The difference was relatively small, but it still favoured NO FRILLS.

Laundry detergent and mouthwash showed larger price gaps. Eco-Max Laundry Detergent was $12.99 at NO FRILLS compared with $17.69 at Save-On-Foods. Listerine Mouthwash was $7.99 regularly at NO FRILLS and $9.99 at Save-On-Foods, with sale prices of $5.50 and $7.99, respectively.

These examples are a reminder to compare household essentials as well as food when trying to manage a budget.

What About Convenience for UBC Residents?

Price isn't the only factor when choosing where to shop.

Save-On-Foods is located in Wesbrook Village, making it convenient for many people living in that part of the UBC campus. If you can walk to the store, pick up what you need and return home quickly, that convenience has value.

NO FRILLS on Alma Street is another option for the UBC community. Depending on where you live and how you travel, it may make sense to shop there for a larger grocery run or for products that offer better value.

If you have a car, the cost and time involved in travelling to another store may influence your decision. If you walk, cycle or take transit, the most convenient store may depend on your particular location and the amount you're buying.

You don't necessarily have to choose just one store. Some shoppers may prefer to buy most of their groceries at NO FRILLS and pick up a few items at Save-On-Foods when convenience matters most.

Tips for Grocery Shopping on a Budget at UBC

• Compare regular prices as well as sale prices. A product on promotion isn't automatically cheaper than the same item at another store.

• Check package sizes. Comparing the same brand and size makes it easier to identify the better deal.

• Focus on your regular purchases. The products you buy every week will have the biggest impact on your grocery budget over time.

• Keep an eye on promotions. If you use certain packaged products regularly, a good sale may be worth taking advantage of.

• Consider your travel time. A small saving may not be worthwhile if getting to another store takes significantly longer.

So, Which Grocery Store Offers Better Value?

Based on these 15 products, NO FRILLS came out ahead on regular prices. It was cheaper on 14 items and tied on one in this comparison, although the difference varied by product. Sale prices at both stores offered additional savings, and promotions sometimes narrowed the gap.

For UBC students, residents and families trying to manage household expenses, NO FRILLS looks like a good option to consider for value. Save-On-Foods in Wesbrook Village remains a convenient choice for many campus residents, particularly when proximity matters.

Of course, this is only a snapshot of selected prices on one visit. Prices can change, and a different basket of groceries may produce a different result.

If you live at UBC, where do you usually shop for groceries? Have you noticed certain products that are consistently cheaper at one store? I'd be interested to hear what you've found.

Prices were recorded on October 28, 2026 and may change without notice. This comparison covers selected products and should not be considered a complete survey of either store's prices.