Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Quebec City Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Quebec City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $1,992 in Quebec City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $2,880 in Quebec City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,769 in Quebec City.

Living in Calgary is roughly 24% more expensive than in Quebec City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Quebec City 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$16.88 CA$23.67

8.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$65.8 CA$92.2

6.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$11.01 CA$15.44

-0.54%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$3.78 CA$5.30

-1.06%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 CA$2.86

$2.05 CA$2.87

-0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.45 CA$2.04

15.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$6.05 CA$8.49

-14.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$6.17 CA$8.65

8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.12 CA$2.97

6.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$3.25 CA$4.56

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$4.48 CA$6.28

-27.90%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.06 CA$4.29

12.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$12.95 CA$18.16

11.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$10.90 CA$15.28

18.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$14.15 CA$19.84

12.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$3.94 CA$5.53

9.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.68 CA$2.36

-20.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$4.23 CA$5.93

-8.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$4.10 CA$5.75

3.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$1.88 CA$2.64

35.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.43 CA$3.41

7.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.69 CA$3.77

4.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.59 CA$2.24

22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$12.92 CA$18.12

15.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$11.46 CA$16.07

21.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$3.18 CA$4.46

-8.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$3.94 CA$5.53

-0.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$2.68 CA$3.76

2.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$68.4 CA$95.9

28.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$3.79 CA$5.31

-5.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$2.27 CA$3.18

-42.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$30.73 CA$43.08

-6.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.20 CA$1.69

-6.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$24.8K CA$34.8K

2.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$20.0K CA$28.0K

8.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$213 CA$299

$87.5 CA$123

143.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.96 CA$57.4

$38.52 CA$54.0

6.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$44.83 CA$62.8

29.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$42.10 CA$59.0

28.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

$14.71 CA$20.62

265.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$11.00 CA$15.42

14.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$874 CA$1,226

$821 CA$1,151

6.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$6,164 CA$8,641

157.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$60.5 CA$84.8

-3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$53.9 CA$75.6

-12.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$113 CA$158

-24.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$127 CA$178

-15.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$900 CA$1,261

53.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$823 CA$1,154

40.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$1,496 CA$2,098

55.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$1,193 CA$1,673

59.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$5,673 CA$7,954

-33.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$2,809 CA$3,938

25.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

$2,803 CA$3,929

4.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.87

-16.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $900 in Quebec City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $66.0 in Quebec City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $374 per month, with Quebec City cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Calgary vs Quebec City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $900 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Quebec City – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $1,992 in Quebec City – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Quebec City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Quebec City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.