The Cost of Getting By in Canada: 2026 survey findings
Nearly half of respondents to Spergel’s 2026 Cost of Getting By Survey said they are carrying more debt than they were 12 months ago because of everyday living expenses.
Among the 325 people surveyed, 50% have also delayed paying a bill because they needed the money for groceries or other necessities. Meanwhile, 48% said their household at least occasionally struggles to cover all its regular monthly expenses.
The findings reveal how everyday costs are affecting household debt, savings, food choices, and financial wellbeing.
Key findings from the 2026 Cost of Getting By survey
Our research identified three clear areas of financial pressure:
- Everyday expenses are contributing to debt: 50% of respondents are carrying more debt because of ordinary living costs.
- Grocery costs are forcing difficult choices: 76% said groceries have become harder to afford and 52% have worried about running out of food.
- Many households have limited financial resilience: 51% would need to borrow, finance or be unable to cover an unexpected $500 expense.
The survey is descriptive of its respondents and is not presented as a probability estimate for the Canadian population. Full methodology information is included below.
What is making it harder for Canadians to get by?
Groceries were the most commonly reported source of financial pressure, with 76% of respondents saying they had become harder to afford over the past year.
When respondents could select all the expenses that had become harder to afford, transportation ranked second (46%), followed by rent or mortgage payments (38%) and utilities (37%).
In a separate question, respondents were asked to choose only the one expense placing the greatest pressure on their household budget. Groceries again ranked first at 38%, while rent or mortgage payments ranked second at 22%.
The results show that the pressure is not confined to one part of the household budget. Transportation, housing, utilities, and existing debt payments are all becoming harder for a significant proportion of respondents to manage.
For a breakdown of typical expenses across the country, read our guide to the average cost of living in Canada.
How are grocery prices affecting Canadian households?
A combined 73% of respondents said groceries were somewhat or much more difficult to afford than they had been 12 months earlier.
Most commonly, respondents switched to lower-cost brands or bought more items only when they were on sale. Others changed where they shopped, purchased discounted food or reduced the amount of meat, fresh fruit, and vegetables they bought.
For some respondents, the changes were more serious. Almost one in five reported skipping meals, while 17% had reduced portion sizes.
Overall, 70% said grocery prices had sometimes or frequently caused them to compromise the nutritional quality or variety of their food. Exactly 52% had often or sometimes worried about running out of food before they had enough money to buy more.
Spergel’s earlier 2026 grocery research also found that households were delaying bills, changing their food choices, and borrowing to afford groceries. Although the two surveys used different samples and questions and should not be treated as a continuous tracking study, both identify food affordability as a persistent source of household pressure.
Is the cost of getting by causing people to take on more debt?
Among respondents, 50% said they were carrying more debt because of everyday living expenses than they had been 12 months earlier. This included 21% carrying significantly more debt and 29% carrying somewhat more.
Using credit does not necessarily mean someone has an unmanageable debt problem. Regularly borrowing to pay for groceries, utilities or other necessities, however, can create a difficult cycle of debt.
When today’s expenses are paid using future income, less money is available for next month’s bills. Interest and minimum payments can then add further pressure to an already stretched budget.
“The issue isn’t simply that households are spending too much,” says Gillian Goldblatt, Partner and Licensed Insolvency Trustee at Spergel. “When ordinary necessities consistently cost more than household income can absorb, people begin using credit and savings to close the gap. That can work temporarily, but it isn’t sustainable indefinitely.”
Are households using savings to cover living expenses?
Everyday costs are also affecting respondents’ ability to build and maintain savings.
A total of 45% have reduced or stopped contributions to general savings, while 34% have cut their emergency savings contributions. Another 31% have used savings to cover regular household expenses.
Using savings can prevent an immediate missed payment, but it may leave a household more exposed when an unexpected cost arises.
Only 14% of respondents said they could pay an unexpected $500 expense from their regular income without difficulty. A further 18% would use savings.
In contrast, 51% would need to finance the expense, borrow money or be unable to pay it. This included using a credit card carried over time, a line of credit or overdraft, short-term borrowing, or help from family and friends. More than one in five said they simply could not cover the cost.
Having to borrow for one unexpected expense does not automatically indicate insolvency. It can, however, be a warning that there is very little flexibility left in the household budget.
How is financial pressure affecting mental health?
The cost of getting by is not only affecting respondents’ bank balances.
More than half said financial pressure had negatively affected their mental health or mood, while 52% said it had affected their sleep. Respondents also reported effects on their social lives, physical health, and relationships with partners and family members.
These findings reflect a connection we explored in our 2025 Debt Load and the Impact to Psychological Wellbeing study. The research we carried out examined how debt can contribute to anxiety, depression, sleep issues, isolation, and relationship strain, as well as the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.
Money worries can be difficult to separate from other areas of life. Concern about bills may interfere with sleep, while cutting back on social activities can increase isolation. Financial pressure can also create tension between partners and family members.
Seeking advice early can provide a clearer understanding of the available financial options and help people feel less alone. Download our report for further research, practical guidance, and mental health support resources.
When does the cost of getting by become a debt problem?
Some common warning signs include:
- Regularly using credit to buy groceries or necessities
- Carrying credit card balances from one month to the next
- Using savings to pay ordinary household expenses
- Delaying one bill to pay another
- Using one form of debt to repay another
- Being unable to rebuild emergency savings
- Experiencing persistent stress or losing sleep because of money
You do not need to wait until you have stopped making payments before asking for help.
The right approach will depend on your income, expenses, assets, and the types of debt you owe. Possible options may include budgeting or credit counselling, debt consolidation, a consumer proposal or bankruptcy.
A Licensed Insolvency Trustee can review your financial situation and explain the costs and consequences of each option. Speaking to a trustee does not commit you to a formal debt solution.
Book a free consultation with Spergel to understand which options may be available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is making it harder for respondents to get by?
Groceries were the most frequently reported pressure. A total of 76% said groceries had become harder to afford, while 38% identified them as the single greatest pressure on their household budget.
How many respondents are taking on more debt because of everyday expenses?
A total of 50% said they were carrying somewhat or significantly more debt than they had been 12 months earlier because of everyday living expenses.
Could most respondents cover an unexpected $500 expense?
Only 32% could cover the expense directly through regular income or savings. A combined 51% would need to finance it, borrow money or be unable to pay.
When should someone seek help with debt?
Consider seeking advice if you regularly rely on credit for necessities, delay bills, make only minimum payments, use one form of debt to repay another or cannot see a realistic way to repay what you owe.
Survey methodology
Our 2026 Cost of Getting By Survey included 325 respondents across Canada’s 10 provinces.
Current and former Spergel clients were excluded. Respondents were recruited through a paid research panel.
The survey is descriptive of the people who participated and is not presented as a probability estimate of the Canadian population. Percentages in this article refer to survey respondents unless otherwise stated.
What to read next
Living paycheque to paycheque: how to break the cycle
Are you living within your means?
How to reduce your current bills: tips to save money
Debt Load and the Impact to Psychological Wellbeing