The cost of eating healthy

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The cost of eating healthy in KFL&A in 2025

Everyone deserves the right to adequate, healthy, safe, affordable and culturally appropriate food. People who live with food insecurity cannot afford to buy the food they want and need for good health.

Request your PDF copy of the Cost of Eating Healthy report

One in four households

In 2024, about one in four households in the Southeast Public Health region lived with food insecurity

Food insecure households are likely to:

Worry about running out of food
Compromise their food quality
Reduce their food intake
Experience disrupted eating patterns

Food insecurity negatively affects health:

Children who are hungry are more likely to develop depression and asthma later in life.
Adults who are food insecure have poorer physical and mental health, and are more likely to have chronic conditions such as depression, diabetes and heart disease.
Food insecure adults with chronic conditions have more difficulty managing their conditions.

Food insecurity is highest among:

Indigenous Peoples and racialized Canadians
Households making low wages or on social assistance
Single mothers
People who rent their home.

Households on low incomes are often forced to compromise healthy eating to pay for other expenses.

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Amount of money left after paying for the rent and Nutritious Food Basket for a family of four on Ontario Works

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Amount of money left after paying for rent and the Nutritious Food Basket for a lone male on Ontario Works

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Amount of money left after paying for rent and the Nutritious Food Basket for a lone male on the Ontario Disability Support Program

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Amount of money left after paying for rent and the Nutritious Food Basket for a lone pregnant person on the Ontario Disability Support Program

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Remaining monthly funds after the rent represents funds available for food and basic expenses, such as: heat, hydro, childcare, transportation, clothing, eye care, dental care, and personal care.

2025: Cost of Eating Healthy, Income Scenarios

Scenario 1 – Median Ontario income, family of four (after tax)

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	$10,575	$10,575
Basic allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Maximum shelter allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Trillium Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	$-155	$-155
Canada Pension Plan paid	$-555	$-555
Canada Carbon Rebate	not applicable	not applicable
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total income	$9,865	$9,865

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent - Three bedroom (may or may not include heat and hydro)	$2,251	$1,497
Food	$1,266	$1,266
Total monthly expenses	$3,517	$2,763
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies etc.)	$6,348	$7,102
Percentage of income required for rent	23 percent	15 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	13 percent	13 percent

Scenario 2 - Full-time minimum wage earner, family of four, refugee claimants

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	$2,981	$2,981
Basic allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Maximum shelter allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$87	$87
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$189	$189
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	$84	$84
Canada Worker Benefit	$168	$168
Employment Insurance paid	$-49	$-49
Canada Pension Plan paid	$-160	$-160
Income tax paid	$-58	$-58
Canada Carbon Rebate	$93	$112
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$3,335	$3,354

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent - Three bedroom (may or may not include heat and hydro)	$2251	$1,497
Food	$1,266	$1,266
Total monthly expenses	$3,517	$2,763
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-182	$591
Percentage of income required for rent	67 percent	45 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	38 percent	38 percent

Scenario 3 - Full-time minimum wage earner, one person

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	$2,236	$2,236
Basic allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Maximum shelter allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$43	$43
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$84	$84
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	$63	$63
Canada Worker Benefit	$127	$127
Employment Insurance paid	$-37	$-37
Canada Pension Plan paid	$-116	$-166
Income Tax paid	$-169	$-169
Canada Carbon Rebate	$47	$56
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$2,278	$2,287

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	Bachelor: $1,064	One bedroom: $1,022
Food	$469	$469
Total monthly expenses	$1,533	$1,491
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$745	$796
Percentage of income required for rent	47 percent	45 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	21 percent	21 percent

Scenario 4 - Old Age Security or Guaranteed Income Supplement, one person

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Maximum shelter allowance	not applicable	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	$1,815	$1,815
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	$87	$87
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$43	$43
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$128	$128
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$47	$56
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$2,120	$2,219

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	Bachelor $1,064	One bedroom $1,022
Food	$312	$312
Total monthly expenses	$1,376	$1,334
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$744	$795
Percentage of income required for rent	50 percent	48 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	15 percent	15 percent

Scenario 5 - Ontario Works, family of four

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	$494	$494
Maximum shelter allowance	$756	$756
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$1,375	$1,375
GST/HST credit	$87	$87
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$189	$189
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$93	$112
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total income	$2,994	$3,013

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent - Three bedroom (may or may not include heat and hydro)	$2,251	$1,497
Food	$1,266	$1,266
Total monthly expenses	$3,517	$2,763
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-523	$250
Percentage of income required for rent	75 percent	50 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	42 percent	42 percent

Scenario 6 - Ontario Works, lone parent with two school-age children

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	$360	$360
Maximum shelter allowance	$697	$697
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$1,375	$1,375
GST/HST credit	$87	$87
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$159	$159
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$82	$98
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$2,760	$2,776

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent - Three bedroom (may or may not include heat and hydro)	$2,251	$1,497
Food	$942	$942
Total monthly expenses	$3,193	$2,439
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-433	$337
Percentage of income required for rent	82 percent	54 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	34 percent	34 percent

Scenario 7 - Ontario Works, lone parent with two preschool-age children

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	$360	$360
Maximum shelter allowance	$697	$697
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$1,578	$1,578
GST/HST credit	$87	$87
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$153	$153
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$82	$98
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$2,957	$2,973

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent - Two bedroom (may or may not include heat and hydro)	$1,676	$1,264
Food	$738	$738
Total monthly expenses	$2,414	$2,002
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$544	$972
Percentage of income required for rent	57 percent	43 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	25 percent	25 percent

Scenario 8 - Ontario Works, one person

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	$343	$343
Maximum shelter allowance	$390	$390
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$28	$28
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$84	$84
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$47	$56
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$892	$901

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	Bachelor: $1,064	One bedroom: $1,022
Food	$442	$442
Total monthly expenses	$1,506	$1,464
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-614	$-563
Percentage of income required for rent	119 percent	113 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	50 percent	49 percent

Scenario 9 - Ontario Disability Support Program, one person

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	$786	$786
Maximum shelter allowance	$582	$582
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$35	$35
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$84	$84
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$47	$56
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	not applicable	not applicable
Total Income	$1,534	$1,543

Monthly expenses
Expense	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	Bachelor: $1,064	One bedroom: $1,022
Food	$442	$442
Total monthly expenses	$1,506	$1,464
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$28	$79
Percentage of income required for rent	69 percent	66 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	29 percent	29 percent

Scenario 10 - Ontario Disability Support Program, lone pregnant person

Monthly income
Income source	Kingston	Napanee
Income from employment	not applicable	not applicable
Basic allowance	$786	$786
Maximum shelter allowance	$582	$582
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$35	$35
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$84	$84
Advanced Canada Workers Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Worker Benefit	not applicable	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable	not applicable
Canada Carbon Rebate	$47	$56
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (non-lactose intolerant)	$40	$40
Total Income	$1,574	$1,583

Monthly expenses
Expenses	Kingston	Napanee
Average monthly rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	Bachelor: $1,064	One bedroom: $1,022
Food	$469	$469
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,533	$1,491
Funds remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$41	$92
Percentage of income required for rent	68 percent	65 percent
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	30 percent	30 percent

Determining the cost of eating healthy in our community

KFL&A Public Health determines the cost of eating healthy by costing food items from the National Nutritious Food Basket. The 61 foods costed reflect a healthy eating pattern from Canada’s Food Guide.

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KFL&A Public Health surveyed seven grocery stores in May. The lowest available price in each store is recorded for each food item. The prices from all the stores are then averaged. An extra five percent is added to the total food cost to account for additional food items such as spices, seasonings, condiments, baking supplies, soups, coffee, and tea.

What items are not included in this food costing?

Processed convenience foods
Popular snack foods
Special dietary foods
Infant foods
Religious or cultural foods
Soap, shampoo, toilet paper and other personal care items

This also does not include costs associated with eating out at restaurants and extra costs for inviting company to share a meal.

How do these food costing results compare with previous years?

Comparing 2025 food costs to years prior to 2022 is not appropriate due to the change in food items costed and methodology (i.e., online costing). Comparing 2025 food costs to 2022 and later would require adjustments due to changes to dietary requirements and how food costs are calculated. Making cost comparisons may also put focus on the cost of food, not the affordability of basic needs for many households.

What else should you know about this food costing?

It assumes that most people have the necessary time, food skills, and equipment to create meals from low-cost food staples and ingredients.
It assumes that the consumer has access to quality food stores and the means of transportation to comparison shop.

What can you do?

Learn

Learn more about why food insecurity is a serious public health problem.
Read these facts sheets about food insecurity.
Learn more about why income solutions are needed to reduce food insecurity.

Spread the word

Talk about the problem of food insecurity at your dinner table or at social gatherings.
Share the Cost of Eating Healthy report with your peers, colleagues, and partner agencies.

Ask for action

Talk to your local political leaders to act on income-based solutions to food insecurity, listed in the Cost of Eating Healthy report.
Write letters to urge elected officials to act on food insecurity by implementing policy interventions that improve income security, listed in the Cost of Eating Healthy report.

Scenario references

Scenario 1

Two adults (male and female 31 to 50 years of age), two children (girl eight years of age, boy 14 years of age) living in a three-bedroom accommodation; median Ontario income.

Note: Income from employment is based on median after-tax income for couples with children with both parents working with a 65%/35% split; however, EI and CPP contributions are calculated using median total income for couples with children.

Scenario 2

Two adults (male and female 31 to 50 years of age), two children (girl eight years of age, boy 14 years of age) living in a three-bedroom accommodation; family arrived in Canada as refugee claimants in 2022, with both adults having valid work permits; income is based on one minimum wage earner.

Scenario 3

One adult (male 31 to 50 years of age) living in a one-bedroom accommodation; full-time minimum wage earner.

Scenario 4

One adult (female 72 years of age) living in a bachelor accommodation in Kingston CMA and a one-bedroom accommodation in Greater Napanee, OW; income based on Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) and Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS).

Scenario 5

Two adults (male and female 31 to 50 years of age), two children (girl eight years of age, boy 14 years of age), living in a three-bedroom accommodation; Ontario Works (OW).

Scenario 6

One adult (female 31 to 50 years of age), two children (girl eight years of age, boy 14 years of age) living in a three-bedroom accommodation; Ontario Works (OW).

Scenario 7

One adult (female 31 to 50 years of age), two children (girl three years of age, boy four years of age) living in a two-bedroom accommodation; Ontario Works (OW).

Scenario 8

One adult (male 31 to 50 years of age) living in a bachelor accommodation in Kingston CMA and a one-bedroom accommodation in Greater Napanee; Ontario Works (OW).

Scenario 9

One adult (male 31 to 50 years of age) living in a bachelor accommodation in Kingston CMA and a one-bedroom accommodation in Greater Napanee; Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Scenario 10

One adult (female pregnant 19 to 30 years of age) living in a bachelor accommodation in Kingston CMA and a one-bedroom accommodation in Greater Napanee; Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Rental costs are based on averages from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Rental Market Survey. The survey is conducted during the first two weeks of October in urban areas with populations of 10,000 or more and the results reflect market conditions at that time. The survey includes both new and existing units in privately initiated structures with at least three rental units. The cost for a new tenant would likely be higher, as current tenants are protected from large annual increases by Ontario’s residential rent increase guideline. Utility costs (e.g., heat, electricity, hot water) may or may not be included in the rental amounts.

In 2025, apartment sizes changed for four scenarios to align with the National Occupancy Standard: Scenarios 4, 9 and 10 (one-person household) apartment size changed from one-bedroom to bachelor, and Scenario 6 (1 adult, boy 14 years of age, girl 8 years of age) apartment size changed from two-bedroom to three-bedroom.

CMHC did not report on rental rates for one-bedroom and three-bedroom accommodations in Napanee, and three-bedroom accommodations in Kingston, due to unreliable data. Therefore, an inflation adjustment using the Canada Price Index for shelter has been applied to estimate rental costs for these accommodations in 2024.