Affordable Food

If you are struggling to provide for yourself or your family, you can access food banks, hampers and meal programs to help you meet your basic needs. For more information on these services and healthy eating on a budget, visit the Food Banks page.

Food insecurity

Did you know that in 2023, 23% of households in Waterloo Region are food insecure? Food insecurity is not having enough money for food.

Research shows that adequate income to purchase nutritious food is critical to maintaining good health. Food insecurity is linked with poorer nutritional intake and multiple chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, as well as poor mental health.

Food insecurity early in life has been linked with poor outcomes related to quality of life. In children, good nutrition is essential for the development of a healthy body and mind.

Ontario Nutritious Food Basket

The Ontario Nutritious Food Basket (ONFB) is a tool used to monitor food affordability. The National Nutritious Food Basket guides this costing and includes food items based on Canada’s Food Guide. The ONFB does not consider dietary restrictions, local foods, is not inclusive for all religious or cultural groups, nor acknowledges traditional Indigenous foods and food procurement practices.

The total cost of the ONFB in Waterloo Region in 2024 was calculated by averaging the lowest available retail prices for the specified food and beverage items. Costs were collected online or in-store from eight food retail stores across the region.

The ONFB can be used to:

  • Compare the cost of healthy eating with income and other basic living expenses
  • Educate on the root cause of food insecurity, which is poverty
  • Support advocacy efforts to address poverty
  • Inform policy decisions

The Cost of the Nutritious Food Basket in Waterloo Region in 2024

In 2024, the cost of eating healthy for a family of four in Waterloo Region is $1,165.65 per month. After paying for housing and household bills, many people receiving social assistance or wages from low-paying jobs do not have enough money to purchase nutritious food.

The following scenarios compare household income to the approximate monthly expenses in Waterloo Region:

Family of 4, receiving Ontario Works
  • Monthly total income*: $2,908.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ:  $2,142.00, 3 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $1,165.65
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: ($-399.65)
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 40%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 74%
Family of 4, minimum-wage earner
  • Monthly total income*: $4,507.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $2,142.00, 3 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $1,165.65
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $1,199.35
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 26%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 48%
Family of 4, median income (after tax)
  • Monthly total income*: $9,685.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $2,142.00, 3 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $1,165.65
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $6,377.35
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 12%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 22%
 Single parent, 2 children (age 6+), receiving Ontario Works
  • Monthly total income*: $2,670.00 
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,658.00, 2 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $870.52
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $141.48
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 33%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 62%
 Single person receiving Ontario Works
  • Monthly total income*: $881.00 
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,164.00, bachelor
  • Foodᵴ: $403.90
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: ($-686.90)
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 46%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 132%
 Single person receiving Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
  • Monthly total income*: $1,465.00

  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,346.00, 1 bedroom

  • Foodᵴ: $403.90
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: ($-284.90)
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 28%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 92%
Single person, over 70 years, receiving Old Age Security or Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
  • Monthly total income*: $2,069.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,346.00, 1 bedroom 
  • Foodᵴ: $290.25
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $432.75
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 14%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 65%
 Married couple receiving Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
  • Monthly total income*: $2,603.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,346.00, 1 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $672.43
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $584.57
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 26%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 52%
 Single pregnant person receiving Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
  • Monthly total income*: $1,505.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,346.00, 1 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $428.77
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: ($-269.77)
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 28%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 89%
Single parent, 2 children, minimum-wage earner
  • Monthly total income*: $4,656.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,658.00, 2 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $682.64
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $2,315.36
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 15%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 36%
Single parent, 2 children (age 0-5), receiving Ontario Works
  • Monthly total income*: $2,863.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,658.00, 2 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $682.64
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $522.36
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 24%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 58%
Family of 4, Refugee claimants, minimum-wage earner
  • Monthly total income*: $3,238.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $2,142.00, 3 bedroom
  • Foodᵴ: $1,165.65
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: ($-69.65)
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 36%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 66%
Single person, part-time precarious employment (gig economy)
  • Monthly total income*: $1,695.00
  • Average monthly rentᶧ: $1,164.00, Bachelor
  • Foodᵴ: $403.90
  • Funds remaining for additional monthly costs‡: $127.10
  • Percent of income required for healthy food: 24%
  • Percent of income required for rent: 69%

* Income includes all income from employment, Basic Allowance (Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program), Maximum Shelter Allowance, Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income, Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System, Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, Ontario Trillium Benefit, Advanced Canada Workers Benefit, Canada Worker Benefit, Canada Carbon Rebate, and Pregnancy/Breast-feeding Nutritional Allowance. Employment Insurance paid and Canada Pension Plan paid are deducted.

ᶧ Rent costs calculated using Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rental Market Reports, Oct 2023, and may or may not include heat/hydro.

ᵴ Food costs calculated using Ontario Nutritious Food Basket Data Results May 2024 for Region of Waterloo, including family size adjustment factors.

‡ Additional monthly expenses include but are not limited to transportation, childcare, phone bills, clothing, household and personal care items.

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