Yellowknife Food Prices

By on November 2, 2009 in Uncategorized

A short while ago I had a couple of people, who stumbled upon YkOnline through Google, ask me about food prices here in Yellowknife, so I thought I would write up this post on the matter.

Having grown up here in Yellowknife, I wasn’t to sure as to how food prices actually compared to down south. I started to ask around to get an idea.

Without going into to much depth about it, yes Yellowknife food prices are slightly more than down south, but not as much as you might think. The areas you would see the biggest difference would be areas that are closest to where most foods are prepared. The one thing that I did hear a lot about was the variety and selection and the freshness of produce. Yellowknife is obviously a long way away from anything, being 1500km north of Edmonton, AB, so when it comes to trucking food up here not only does it take time. Which wastes the “fresh” period of certain foods, but it also means there can only be a certain amount of food because of limited space.

Many people have also told me that, no prices are not that much different and I would agree with them. It depends on where you are coming from. I know the prices and quality of food in Northern BC is very much the same as it is in Yellowknife, but most people who would normally ask the question wouldn’t be from that area. They would generally be from bigger places where quality and quantity are taken for granted.

So what I have done to help those wondering about prices here in Yellowknife is taken photos of basic food items from our 3 grocery stores. This is not to compare the prices between the 3, just to compare with prices south of Yellowknife. If enough people request it, I will go back and get the prices of some fruits and vegetables.

Bread

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Cheese

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Margarine

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4L Jug Milk

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Eggs

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Case of Pop

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UPDATE:

There have been a couple questions about vegetables in the north and their prices so while out at the Grocery Store today I took a few more photos. Remember you can click on them to see a large image.

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Readers it is your turn. How do you find the price of food in Yellowknife, compared to when you’ve gone shopping in a southern city. Did you even notice the difference? And to those currently south of Yellowknife, do you see a difference? Could you manage with the above prices? Keep in mind Yellowknife(NWT) doesn’t have a territorial/provincial sales tax.

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About KyleWith

Kyle is a life long Yellowknifer interested in Yellowknife and technology. He has a strong passion for the city and uses technologies like multimedia blogging and social media to express it. Want to talk about either? Send him an e-mail through the link below. Find him on: Twitter, Facebook, His Blog.
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  • http://leblogecreme.blogspot.com/ Mongoose

    I don’t know about southern cities, but I was surprised to pay $4.69 for 4L of milk when it’s $6.29 in Hay River. On the other hand, a dozen free-run eggs was almost $8, which is crazy, so I had to buy the regular kind. Didn’t find the brand of cheese I like at all so I can’t compare that.

  • http://leblogecreme.blogspot.com Mongoose

    I don’t know about southern cities, but I was surprised to pay $4.69 for 4L of milk when it’s $6.29 in Hay River. On the other hand, a dozen free-run eggs was almost $8, which is crazy, so I had to buy the regular kind. Didn’t find the brand of cheese I like at all so I can’t compare that.

  • April

    I’ve been offered a job in Yellowknife and I’ve been struggling with trying to determine just how much it’s going to cost me to live. My mind is eased knowing that eggs and cheese cost pretty much the same as they do in Halifax. I am curious about how much vegetable costs because I am primarily a vegetarian but I do feel better knowing that I won’t be paying a lot for the basics.

  • April

    I’ve been offered a job in Yellowknife and I’ve been struggling with trying to determine just how much it’s going to cost me to live. My mind is eased knowing that eggs and cheese cost pretty much the same as they do in Halifax. I am curious about how much vegetable costs because I am primarily a vegetarian but I do feel better knowing that I won’t be paying a lot for the basics.

  • Kate

    April,

    The best produce in town by far is found at the Co-op. Costs $60 to join and $1 per week to sustain membership. I am not vegetarian/vegan but am changing my diet to be mainly based on vegetarian options. Prices are comparable or slightly less than it would be in a large Canadian centre. I lived for 7 years on and off in Toronto as a student and prices in downtown groceries there are similar to prices here in YK.

    Also, there is a healthy selection of frozen/canned organics and some organic options in the produce section at the Co-op, but it’s not as extensive as a Whole Foods, say.

  • Kate

    April,

    The best produce in town by far is found at the Co-op. Costs $60 to join and $1 per week to sustain membership. I am not vegetarian/vegan but am changing my diet to be mainly based on vegetarian options. Prices are comparable or slightly less than it would be in a large Canadian centre. I lived for 7 years on and off in Toronto as a student and prices in downtown groceries there are similar to prices here in YK.

    Also, there is a healthy selection of frozen/canned organics and some organic options in the produce section at the Co-op, but it’s not as extensive as a Whole Foods, say.

  • YKguy

    I agree and you don’t have to be a member to shop at the Co-op. Anybody can shop there at anytime!

  • YKguy

    I agree and you don’t have to be a member to shop at the Co-op. Anybody can shop there at anytime!

  • Victoria

    I have been finding that in Edmonton the food prices are a lot cheaper, especially for dairy products. That could just be because I shop pretty carefully though!

  • Victoria

    I have been finding that in Edmonton the food prices are a lot cheaper, especially for dairy products. That could just be because I shop pretty carefully though!

  • ann marie

    first of all i would like to say thank you for taking the time getting the prices for all of us. secondly the cost of what you are paying and what the rest of us are paying is very much the same. i live on the ontario/usa border and a block of cheese here sells for around $10 and a 4l bag of milk sells for 4.99 upwards to 6.29 depends on where you shop. not that big of a difference is there….

  • ann marie

    first of all i would like to say thank you for taking the time getting the prices for all of us. secondly the cost of what you are paying and what the rest of us are paying is very much the same. i live on the ontario/usa border and a block of cheese here sells for around $10 and a 4l bag of milk sells for 4.99 upwards to 6.29 depends on where you shop. not that big of a difference is there….

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  • Jim

    Price makes little difference when you have have the two extra foods stores never having anything on their shelves. The store on Range Lake Road is a disgrace.

  • Jim

    Price makes little difference when you have have the two extra foods stores never having anything on their shelves. The store on Range Lake Road is a disgrace.

  • YKguy

    Why waste your time shopping at Extra. Co-op is the only real grocery store in town.

  • YKguy

    Why waste your time shopping at Extra. Co-op is the only real grocery store in town.

  • Chrys

    I would be interested to see a list of prices for meals in general, what it might cost to make chili or pasta or stir fry. Is meat very expensive, what kinds are the most affordable?

    thanks for the prices listed so far and the helpful visuals with the pictures.

  • Chrys

    I would be interested to see a list of prices for meals in general, what it might cost to make chili or pasta or stir fry. Is meat very expensive, what kinds are the most affordable?

    thanks for the prices listed so far and the helpful visuals with the pictures.

  • Nervous Newcomer

    Where is the Co-op? Is it easy to find? I’m moving to Yellowknife at the end of the month and I must admit, I’m quite nervous. Especially considering I was just told that the ice road closes on Monday and the ferry doesn’t start until mid-May so they said my stuff probably wouldn’t get there until after the ferry opens….

  • rhea

    Are the prices still basically the same now, or has it gone up quite a bit since you posted this?

  • http://kylewith.com/ KyleWith

    They are still fairly accurate.