Best Cheap Grocery Stores in Vancouver: A Local's Store-by-Store Guide (2026)

Introduction

I have been shopping for groceries in Vancouver for years, and I have learned that no single store is the cheapest for everything. The trick to keeping your food budget under control is knowing which store to visit for each category. This guide is based on my real shopping habits, not generic advice.

For newcomers especially, the learning curve is real. You might walk into T&T and assume it is the best for all Asian groceries, but you will overpay for milk and soy milk there. You might think Costco is only for bulk, but its meat strategy can save you more than any other store. I have made these mistakes myself, and I want to help you avoid them.

This guide covers four stores I shop at regularly: T&T (大統華), Walmart, Costco, and Kuo Hua (國華超市). Each has clear strengths and weaknesses. I will tell you exactly what to buy where, and what to skip. If you are looking for cheap eats under $10, check out our guide to Cheap Eats in Vancouver Under $10 for prepared food options.

Quick Answer

Which Store Wins for What?

The best cheap grocery stores in Vancouver depend on what you are buying. For produce variety and Asian ingredients, go to T&T. For the cheapest yam, round-cut salmon, raw shrimp, and household basics like toilet paper, go to Walmart. For meat, especially beef and pork you portion yourself, Costco is the winner. For Taiwanese specialties like guava and stinky tofu kits, go to Kuo Hua.

My verdict is simple: do not be loyal to one store. A smart grocery trip in Vancouver means visiting two or three stores in a week. I buy my meat at Costco and portion it myself. I get produce at T&T for variety and quality, but I avoid stocking up on yam and enoki there because they spoil fast. I grab household basics like toilet paper and kitchen waste bags at Walmart, where the selection is wide and the prices are low. And when I crave a taste of Taiwan, I make a trip to Kuo Hua.

This approach takes a little planning, but it saves real money. If you are new to Vancouver and want to estimate your monthly grocery budget, use our free income tax calculator to see how much you take home after tax. Then you can plan your spending accordingly.

T&T (大統華): Best for Asian Produce and Ingredients, But Not Everything

T&T is the go-to for many Asian households in Vancouver, and for good reason. Its produce section has the widest variety of Asian vegetables and fruits. The fruit quality is consistently good, which matters when you want a ripe mango or a crisp Asian pear.

What to Buy at T&T

I buy most of my produce at T&T. The selection of leafy greens, bok choy, gai lan, and Chinese broccoli is unmatched. The fruit section is also strong, with seasonal offerings like lychee, dragon fruit, and Japanese grapes. For Asian ingredients, T&T is the most complete store in the city. You can find everything from fresh noodles and tofu to frozen scallion pancakes, udon, and dumplings. These frozen items rotate on discount, so I grab them when they are on sale.

Another strength is the kitchenware and cookware section. T&T carries pots, pans, and utensils that suit Chinese cooking habits. I have bought a wok, a bamboo steamer, and a rice cooker there. The rice aisle is also excellent. I buy Japanese sushi rice at T&T because it tastes closer to the Taiwanese Penglai rice I grew up with. The store offers multiple sizes, from small bags to large sacks.

For oil and seasonings, T&T has the best selection. I buy soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and chili oil there. The prices are reasonable, and the brands are familiar.

What to Skip at T&T

T&T is not the cheapest for everything. The produce is not always the lowest-priced option. More importantly, some items spoil quickly. I have found that yam at T&T has a short shelf life. It goes bad faster than the yam I buy at Walmart. The same is true for enoki mushrooms, which tend to get slimy quickly. I do not stock up on these at T&T.

The biggest trap for newcomers is buying milk and soy milk at T&T. The prices are higher than at Costco or Walmart. I learned this the hard way. Now I buy all my milk, soy milk, and soft drinks at Costco or Walmart. The savings add up over a month.

If you are looking for Chinese comfort food to cook at home, check out our guide to Best Chinese Comfort Food for Vancouver's Rainy Season for recipe ideas that use T&T ingredients.

Summary: T&T is the best cheap grocery store in Vancouver for Asian produce variety and fruit quality, plus the widest selection of Asian ingredients, rice, oil, seasonings, and cookware. However, it is not the cheapest for milk, soy milk, or soft drinks. Avoid stocking up on yam and enoki here because they spoil fast. For the best value, buy produce at T&T but get dairy and drinks elsewhere.

Walmart: Best for Household Basics and Certain Proteins

Walmart is my go-to for several specific items. It is not the most exciting grocery store, but it is consistently cheap for the things that matter.

What to Buy at Walmart

The yam at Walmart is a standout. It keeps much longer than the yam at T&T. I slice it thin and air-fry it for a quick snack. The round-cut salmon is another good buy. Walmart sells it at a fair price, and the quality is reliable. I also buy raw white shrimp there, which I find cheaper than at other stores.

For household basics, Walmart is hard to beat. The toilet paper and kitchen waste bag selection is wide, and the prices are low. I buy eggs there too. The milk, soy milk, and soft drinks are priced competitively with Costco, without requiring a membership. If you do not have a Costco card, Walmart is a solid alternative for these items.

Before I got a Costco membership, I bought all my meat at Walmart. The steak, pork loin, and ground pork were all reasonably priced. The quality was fine for everyday cooking. The frozen food section is mostly Western-style items like pizza and frozen dinners. I do not buy much there, but the prices are low if you need them.

What to Skip at Walmart

Walmart is not strong for Asian ingredients. The produce selection is basic. You will not find the variety of leafy greens or exotic fruits that T&T offers. The frozen Asian items are limited and often not great quality. If you want dumplings or scallion pancakes, go to T&T.

For lunch options near a Walmart location, see our Best Asian Lunch Spots in Downtown Vancouver guide.

Summary: Walmart is the best cheap grocery store in Vancouver for yam (longer shelf life than T&T), round-cut salmon, raw white shrimp, eggs, toilet paper, kitchen waste bags, milk, soy milk, and soft drinks. It is a good alternative to Costco for dairy and drinks if you do not have a membership. Skip it for Asian ingredients and specialty produce.

Costco: The Meat Strategy That Saves the Most

Costco is not always the cheapest for every item, but for meat, it is the clear winner. My strategy is simple: buy whole cuts and portion them myself.

The Meat Strategy

I buy a whole beef top-cap at Costco. At home, I cut it into individual steaks and freeze them. When I want a steak, I take two pieces from the freezer and cook them in the air fryer straight from frozen. The air fryer defrosts and sears them in one step. This method is cheaper than buying pre-portioned steaks at any other store. The quality is also better than what I used to get at Walmart.

I also buy the meat-slice boxes at Costco. A box of pork slices costs about CAD $ 23. I repackage it into smaller portions at home and freeze them. Each portion lasts for several meals. The beef slice boxes are similarly priced and just as useful.

For seafood, Costco has a cooked, peeled, and deheaded shrimp box that I buy regularly. The shrimp comes with a garlic sauce that pairs perfectly. It is a convenient protein for quick meals. However, Costco does not sell round-cut salmon. It only has fillet-cut salmon. It also does not sell raw shrimp. For those, I go to Walmart.

What Else to Buy at Costco

I buy milk, soy milk, soft drinks, and eggs at Costco. The prices are the lowest I have found. If you have a membership, these are no-brainer purchases. The bulk sizes mean you need storage space, but the savings are real.

What to Skip at Costco

Costco is not the place for Asian ingredients. The selection is minimal. You will not find the variety of rice, oil, or seasonings that T&T offers. The produce is good quality but limited in variety. If you need specific Asian vegetables, go to T&T.

For late-night food options after a Costco run, see our Best Late-Night Food in Vancouver After 10 PM guide.

Summary: Costco is the best cheap grocery store in Vancouver for meat, especially if you buy whole cuts and portion them yourself. The beef top-cap steak strategy saves more than any other store. The pork slice boxes (about CAD $23) and cooked shrimp boxes are also great value. Buy milk, soy milk, soft drinks, and eggs here too. Skip it for Asian ingredients and round-cut salmon.

Kuo Hua (國華超市): The Taiwanese Specialist

Kuo Hua is a small store in Vancouver's Chinatown that specializes in Taiwanese products. It is not a one-stop shop, but it is essential for certain items.

What to Buy at Kuo Hua

The Taiwanese cabbage is a highlight. When a batch arrives, you need to go grab it quickly because it sells out fast. The same is true for the Taiwanese guava. These are not items you find at T&T or Walmart. Kuo Hua imports them in batches, and they are worth the trip.

For cooking, Kuo Hua has herbal soup packs that Taiwanese home cooks use for stews. These are pre-packaged blends of Chinese herbs for soups like four-herb chicken or ginger duck. The Shenkeng stinky tofu kit is another specialty. It comes with the tofu and the brine, so you can make authentic stinky tofu at home.

The canned goods section is strong. Kuo Hua carries more varieties of Taiwanese canned items than T&T. I buy peanut gluten (土豆麵筋) there, which is a common Taiwanese pantry staple. The oil and seasoning selection is also good, though T&T has a wider range.

What to Skip at Kuo Hua

Kuo Hua is not the place for everyday groceries. The prices are higher than T&T for most items. The store is small, and the selection is limited. Go there for Taiwanese specialties, not for your weekly shop.

Summary: Kuo Hua is the best cheap grocery store in Vancouver for Taiwanese specialties like Taiwan cabbage, Taiwan guava, herbal soup packs, stinky tofu kits, and canned goods like peanut gluten. It is not a one-stop shop. Visit for specific items and be prepared to grab seasonal produce quickly when it arrives.

Newcomer Money-Saving Playbook: Where to Buy What

If you are new to Vancouver, you will make some common mistakes. I made them myself. Here is a playbook to save money from day one.

Common Mistakes Newcomers Make

The biggest mistake is buying milk and soy milk at T&T. The prices are higher than at Costco or Walmart. I used to do this until I compared prices. Now I buy all dairy and drinks at Costco or Walmart.

Another mistake is stocking up on short-shelf-life produce at T&T. The yam and enoki mushrooms spoil fast there. Buy these at Walmart instead, where they keep longer. The same goes for山药 (Chinese yam). Walmart's yam lasts much longer.

A third mistake is buying Western daily goods at T&T. Things like paper towels, cleaning supplies, and packaged snacks are cheaper at Superstore or Walmart. T&T is great for Asian items, but it is not competitive on Western brands.

Buy-This-Here Comparison Table

Wendy's Golden Rule

Always buy meat at Costco and portion it yourself. This single habit saves more money than any other grocery strategy. A whole beef top-cap cut into steaks at home costs less per steak than any pre-portioned option at other stores. The pork slice boxes are similarly cost-effective. If you do not have a Costco membership, consider sharing one with a friend or family member. The savings on meat alone can justify the annual fee.

For more budget-friendly food options, check out our guide to Cheap Eats in Vancouver Under $10 for prepared meals under ten dollars.

Key Takeaway

The best cheap grocery stores in Vancouver are not one store but a strategy: buy produce at T&T, meat at Costco, household basics at Walmart, and Taiwanese specialties at Kuo Hua. Avoid overpaying for milk and soy milk at T&T, and always portion your own meat at Costco for the biggest savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which grocery store is cheapest for produce in Vancouver?

T&T has the widest variety and best fruit quality, but it is not always the cheapest. For specific items like yam, Walmart is cheaper and the yam keeps longer. For everyday produce, compare prices between T&T and Walmart. For Asian vegetables, T&T is usually the best choice.

Is Costco worth it for groceries in Vancouver?

Yes, if you buy meat. The beef top-cap steak strategy saves more than any other store. The pork slice boxes (about CAD $23) and cooked shrimp boxes are also great value. Milk, soy milk, soft drinks, and eggs are cheapest at Costco. If you do not eat much meat, the membership may not pay off.

Where is the cheapest place to buy milk and soy milk in Vancouver?

Costco or Walmart. Do not buy milk or soy milk at T&T, where prices are higher. Both Costco and Walmart offer competitive prices on dairy and plant-based milks.

What should I buy at Walmart for the best value?

Yam (longer shelf life than T&T), round-cut salmon, raw white shrimp, eggs, toilet paper, kitchen waste bags, milk, soy milk, and soft drinks. Walmart is also a good place for Western frozen foods and household basics.

Where can I find Taiwanese groceries in Vancouver?

Kuo Hua (國華超市) in Chinatown is the best source for Taiwanese specialties like Taiwan cabbage, Taiwan guava, herbal soup packs, stinky tofu kits, and canned goods like peanut gluten. Visit for specific items, not for your weekly shop.

How can I save money on meat in Vancouver?

Buy whole cuts at Costco and portion them yourself. A whole beef top-cap cut into steaks at home costs less per steak than pre-portioned options. Pork slice boxes (about CAD $23) can be repackaged and frozen for many meals. This strategy saves more than buying meat at any other store.

What is the biggest grocery mistake newcomers make in Vancouver?

Buying milk and soy milk at T&T, where prices are higher than Costco or Walmart. Another common mistake is stocking up on short-shelf-life produce like yam and enoki at T&T, which spoil faster there than at Walmart.

References

[1] Eater Vancouver, "Restaurant Coverage," 2026. Food media coverage of Vancouver restaurant news, guides, and rankings. https://vancouver.eater.com/

[2] Statistics Canada, "Census Profile: Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area, 2021." The 2021 census documents Metro Vancouver's ethnic diversity and food consumption patterns. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm

[3] City of Vancouver, "Vancouver Food Strategy," 2023. The city's long-term plan for a healthy, sustainable food system. https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/vancouvers-food-strategy.aspx

[4] Destination Vancouver, "Vancouver Restaurants and Dining," 2026. Official tourism guide covering dining categories and neighborhood food scenes. https://www.destinationvancouver.com/restaurants/

[5] Daily Hive Vancouver, "Food Section," 2026. Local news coverage of Vancouver restaurant openings, closures, and food trends. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/food

[6] Vancouver Sun, "Food and Dining," 2026. Coverage of Metro Vancouver's restaurant scene and food culture. https://vancouversun.com/tag/restaurants/