Family of 4 here, we are in s. Ontario, and we get by on $500/month groceries etc, which includes a frou frou $100 organic csa...The key is to simplify !
I made a two week seasonal menu that we rotate through and I can change the veggies around depending on sales, what's in season etc. I have a mental list of all the staple foods we eat and stock-up when on sale. For example, when cheese goes on sale for 1.20$ or less/100g I buy lots, like five or six bars. They will happily chill at the bottom of the fridge for months perfectly fine. Butter, when it's a loss leader at 2.88/lb at food basics I buy a dozen and freeze them...Chicken 3.49/lb, Ground beef 2.99/lb and so forth. Buy in bulk and freeze. My favourite canadian website to see all the weekly flyers is smartcanucks, it takes a few minutes a week to peruse the flyers and make a sales list 😊 I shop so different now from the way I used to, and save more too. I may be the crazy lady with 2 dozen cans of diced tomatoes in her cart, but when I only pay .88/can, i'm okay with that.
Since you are up north, do you have any hunter friends or access to wild meat? That could save you quite a bit in the long run.
Homemade cleaners are super simple, baking soda for scouring, and vinegar in a spray bottle for everything else, add essential oils if desired. I just soak orange peels in white vinegar for a few weeks, strain and use. When I need extra cleaning power I buy a little container of comet and mix with baking soda and borax. A drop of dish soap in warm water with vinegar works great for floors, fridges, or pretty much everything.
Try teksavvy for phone/net if it's available, we've been very happy with them. DH uses virgin for his cell at $50/month..
Comparing prices to those in the US kills me too sometimes, their organic milk is the same price as what i pay for my regular milk, ergh! And their internet and cellular prices are unbelievable, but I always tell myself that paying a bit more for stuff is the 'canada tax', it's the price we have to pay to live in such a beautiful and awesome country!!
Keep in mind too, that prices vary widely by location. You probably will always have higher grocery bills up north than someone down south. When I moved from lower mainland BC, to ON, I couldn't believe how cheap everything was here comparatively..
Good luck!