Cost of Living Comparison Between Downey, CA and Quebec City Cost of Living Comparison Between Downey, CA and Quebec City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,866 in Downey, CA versus $1,992 in Quebec City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,506 in Downey, CA versus $2,880 in Quebec City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,145 in Downey, CA versus $3,769 in Quebec City.

Living in Downey, CA is roughly 44% more expensive than in Quebec City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Downey, CA 115% above, Quebec City 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.80 $19.80

$16.88 CA$23.67

17.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.4 $83.4

$65.8 CA$92.2

26.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.41 $14.41

$11.01 CA$15.43

30.88%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$3.78 CA$5.30

36.24%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.05 CA$2.87

32.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.45 CA$2.04

35.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.05 CA$8.49

16.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.17 CA$8.65

28.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.12 CA$2.97

-46.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.25 CA$4.56

26.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.48 CA$6.28

3.57%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.06 CA$4.29

58.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$12.95 CA$18.15

-17.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.03 $13.03

$10.90 CA$15.28

19.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$14.15 CA$19.84

2.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.94 CA$5.53

-6.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.68 CA$2.36

2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.23 CA$5.93

-3.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.10 CA$5.75

38.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.88 CA$2.64

67.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.43 CA$3.41

31.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.69 CA$3.77

-42.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.59 CA$2.24

36.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.13 $11.13

$12.92 CA$18.11

-13.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.46 CA$16.07

30.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.18 CA$4.46

-39.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.94 CA$5.53

-9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.68 CA$3.76

-23.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 CA$95.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 $6.45

$3.79 CA$5.31

70.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.27 CA$3.18

-24.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.34 $29.34

$30.73 CA$43.08

-4.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.20 CA$1.69

6.67%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$24.8K CA$34.8K

-2.56%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$20.0K CA$28.0K

20.73%

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

$160 $160

$87.5 CA$123

82.39%

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

$47.33 $47.33

$38.52 CA$54.0

22.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 $60.8

$44.83 CA$62.8

35.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 $34.34

$42.10 CA$59.0

-18.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 CA$20.62

Cinema Ticket

$14.11 $14.11

$11.00 CA$15.42

28.27%

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

$1,185 $1,185

$821 CA$1,151

44.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$6,164 CA$8,640

283.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$60.5 CA$84.7

-5.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.15 $34.15

$53.9 CA$75.6

-36.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 $83.6

$113 CA$158

-26.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$127 CA$178

-19.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,764 $1,764

$900 CA$1,261

96.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,710 $1,710

$823 CA$1,154

107.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,662 $3,662

$1,496 CA$2,097

144.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,365 $3,365

$1,193 CA$1,672

182.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,746 $5,746

$5,673 CA$7,953

1.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,622 $5,622

$2,809 CA$3,937

100.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,150 $4,150

$2,803 CA$3,929

48.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.87

-3.35%

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

Last update for Downey, CA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,764 in Downey, CA and $900 in Quebec City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Downey, CA pays 48% 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: $83.0 in Downey, CA vs $66.0 in Quebec City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 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

Downey, CA vs Quebec City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 48% higher in Downey, CA, 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: $1,764 in Downey, CA versus $900 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Downey, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,866 per month in Downey, CA versus $1,992 in Quebec City – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,866 in Downey, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Downey, CA. 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.

Safety-wise, Downey, CA and Quebec City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Quebec City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Downey, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.