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: $2,881 in Downey, CA versus $1,960 in Quebec City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,508 in Downey, CA versus $2,898 in Quebec City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,135 in Downey, CA versus $3,837 in Quebec City.

Living in Downey, CA is roughly 47% more expensive than Quebec City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Downey, CA 115% above, Quebec City 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.68 $19.68

$16.70 CA$23.12

17.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$65.4 CA$90.5

31.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.56 $14.56

$11.15 CA$15.44

30.58%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$3.79 CA$5.25

41.42%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.04 CA$2.83

34.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.46 CA$2.02

34.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.93 CA$8.22

20.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.28 CA$8.70

26.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$2.11 CA$2.92

-49.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.31 CA$4.58

19.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.27 CA$5.91

8.67%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$3.11 CA$4.30

49.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$12.79 CA$17.71

-15.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.17 $13.17

$10.80 CA$14.96

21.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 $14.30

$14.15 CA$19.59

1.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.98 CA$5.51

-10.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.68 CA$2.32

3.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.22 CA$5.84

-2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$4.11 CA$5.68

38.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.89 CA$2.61

74.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.51 CA$3.48

31.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.64 CA$3.66

-42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.58 CA$2.19

36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$12.86 CA$17.81

-15.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$11.59 CA$16.05

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.13 CA$4.34

-38.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.92 CA$5.42

-10.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.82 CA$3.90

-31.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.9 CA$95.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.57 $6.57

$3.78 CA$5.24

73.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.26 CA$3.13

-24.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.98 $28.98

$31.35 CA$43.41

-7.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.24 CA$1.72

3.23%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$24.9K CA$34.5K

-4.46%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$19.7K CA$27.3K

20.57%

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

$160 $160

$86.9 CA$120

84.53%

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

$45.72 $45.72

$38.53 CA$53.4

18.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$44.57 CA$61.7

35.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.61 $34.61

$42.03 CA$58.2

-17.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.63 CA$20.26

Cinema Ticket

$13.98 $13.98

$10.88 CA$15.07

28.49%

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

$1,195 $1,195

$845 CA$1,170

41.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$6,217 CA$8,609

275.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$61.4 CA$85.0

-8.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 $35.35

$53.6 CA$74.2

-34.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$113 CA$156

-23.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$128 CA$178

-21.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 $1,781

$905 CA$1,253

96.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,675 $1,675

$829 CA$1,148

101.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,651 $3,651

$1,505 CA$2,083

142.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,361 $3,361

$1,157 CA$1,602

190.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,767 $5,767

$5,881 CA$8,142

-1.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,767 $5,767

$2,842 CA$3,934

102.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 $4,294

$2,832 CA$3,921

51.65%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,781 in Downey, CA and $905 in Quebec City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Downey, CA pays 52% 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: $86.0 in Downey, CA vs $65.0 in Quebec City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $373 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 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Downey, CA pays 52% more on average, 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: $1,781 in Downey, CA versus $905 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Downey, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,881 per month in Downey, CA versus $1,960 in Quebec City – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,881 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 47% less than in Downey, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.