Is homemade cheese more cost-effective?

Let’s be honest—food prices have gone up significantly in recent years in Québec and across Canada. Inflation is real, especially when it comes to the grocery bill.

That’s why we decided to compare the price of homemade cheese with the cost of industrial cheese you buy at the store. Saving a bit of money on your favourite food never hurts!

A block of store-bought mozzarella doesn’t really compare to freshly made mozzarella balls. There’s simply nothing fresher or tastier than cheese you’ve just made at home. Plus, you know exactly what goes into your homemade cheese (no unpronounceable ingredients here!).

On top of that, learning to make cheese unlocks a new level of culinary knowledge and satisfaction. Just imagine the pride and the reaction around the table when you say: “I made it myself!”

Of course, we’re not comparing apples to apples here—the quality of your homemade cheese is far superior to anything mass-produced in a supermarket.

 

(Lucien P.’s homemade mozzarella)

Our Approach:

We updated this analysis on April 10, 2025, using the current prices of milk and cheese in Québec and Canada.

For the cost of homemade cheese and yogurt, we divided the total price (including taxes) by the number of batches you can make with our kits:

• Deluxe Kit – 8 Cheeses (30 cheeses of 500g each), and

• Feta & Greek Yogurt Kit (12 cheeses of 500g and 8 yogurts of 500g).

We then added the cost of the milk needed to make 500g of cheese or 500ml of yogurt (based on supermarket prices).

From there, we calculated the cost per 100g of homemade cheese and compared it to the cost of 100g of store-bought cheese (from Maxi, Metro, IGA, Walmart, etc.).

This allowed us to determine the average percentage of savings for each type of cheese and yogurt.

Results:

Here are the savings when making cheese at home compared to the average price of cheese sold in Québec grocery stores.

 

Homemade cheese is significantly more cost-effective, with savings ranging from 9% to 55% depending on the cheese or yogurt.

On average, you save 32% by making your own delicious cheese at home.

The only thing missing is ricotta. In fact, homemade ricotta is about 20% more expensive than supermarket ricotta. That said, homemade ricotta and commercial ricotta don't have the same taste or texture at all.

 

(Rachel M.'s Homemade Ricotta with Fresh Basil)

In fact, store-bought ricotta is often made with milk powder, which explains its bland flavour and grainy texture—as well as its lower price.

We didn’t include paneer and queso blanco in this analysis (though they’re part of our Deluxe Kit), since they’re not commonly available in grocery stores across Québec.

So, by crafting your own artisanal cheese at home, you’re not only working magic in your kitchen—you’re also saving an average of 32% compared to buying cheese at the store!

(Sandra's homemade mozzarella)

How to Save Even More:

Once you’ve purchased your kit, continuing to make cheese at home becomes even more economical. You already have the tools and recipes—just restock a few affordable ingredients. That’s when the savings really start to add up!

Already have everything you need? You can order ingredients here.

 

In the end, making cheese at home is a smart way to save money on this essential food—but above all, it’s a fun, rewarding, and delicious experience! 

(Marilyne Ouellet's homemade cheese curds)

(Isabelle A.'s homemade mascarpone)

(Sandra S.'s Caprese Salad with Homemade Mozzarella)

Ready to get started? Make your own delicious cheese at home with our Deluxe Kit – 8 Cheeses!

Good cheeses!

U MAIN – proudly helping you make homemade cheese with our cheese making kits since 2015.