Cost of Living Comparison Between Erie, PA and Quebec City Cost of Living Comparison Between Erie, PA and Quebec City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,140 in Erie, PA versus $1,916 in Quebec City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,032 in Erie, PA versus $2,897 in Quebec City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,924 in Erie, PA versus $3,878 in Quebec City.

Living in Erie, PA is roughly 12% more expensive than in Quebec City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Erie, PA 56% above, Quebec City 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.47 $22.47

$18.22 CA$25.32

23.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$65.4 CA$90.9

14.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$10.98 CA$15.26

-7.47%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$3.62 CA$5.03

34.53%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$2.15 CA$2.99

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.50 CA$2.08

26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.70 CA$7.92

-29.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.79 CA$8.05

-31.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$2.04 CA$2.84

-62.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.02 CA$4.19

16.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$4.02 CA$5.59

-48.26%

Eggs

$2.88 $2.88

$3.22 CA$4.47

-10.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 $10.48

$8.86 CA$12.31

18.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$10.89 CA$15.14

-30.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 $15.25

$10.70 CA$14.87

42.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.44 CA$6.17

-11.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.49 CA$2.07

-18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$3.88 CA$5.39

34.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.01 CA$5.57

16.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.91 CA$4.04

-11.34%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.96 CA$4.11

37.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.85 CA$3.96

-28.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.52 CA$2.11

41.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.93 $11.93

$15.25 CA$21.19

-21.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 $9.90

$11.37 CA$15.81

-12.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$3.03 CA$4.22

-42.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.42 CA$4.75

-16.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.82 CA$3.92

-43.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.4 $51.4

$73.1 CA$102

-29.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.88 CA$4.00

-12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.49 CA$2.08

23.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.71 $20.71

$35.87 CA$49.85

-42.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.30 CA$1.80

-20.00%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$28.9K CA$40.1K

2.84%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$21.4K CA$29.7K

21.93%

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

$143 $143

$101 CA$141

41.64%

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

$38.44 $38.44

$31.98 CA$44.44

20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 $70.3

$46.54 CA$64.7

50.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.95 $27.95

$37.95 CA$52.7

-26.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.22 $9.22

$15.32 CA$21.28

-39.82%

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 $12.09

$11.37 CA$15.80

6.33%

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

$1,344 $1,344

$696 CA$968

92.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$9,397 CA$13.1K

206.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.21 $40.21

$56.1 CA$78.0

-28.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.38 $33.38

$52.9 CA$73.5

-36.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 $84.7

$91.3 CA$127

-7.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 $87.1

$105 CA$146

-17.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$761 $761

$1,019 CA$1,416

-25.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$984 $984

$780 CA$1,085

26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$1,533 CA$2,130

-18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 $1,406

$1,272 CA$1,768

10.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,582 $1,582

$5,312 CA$7,382

-70.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 $1,576

$2,848 CA$3,958

-44.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 $3,035

$3,183 CA$4,424

-4.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.15

4.45

38.20%

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

Last update for Erie, PA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $761 in Erie, PA and $1,019 in Quebec City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quebec City pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Erie, PA vs $65.0 in Quebec City. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $348, with Erie, PA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Erie, PA vs Quebec City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Quebec City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $761 in Erie, PA versus $1,019 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Quebec City runs roughly 42% less than in Erie, PA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,344 in Erie, PA versus $696 in Quebec City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,916 in Quebec City versus $2,140 in Erie, PA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Erie, PA. 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, Erie, PA 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 12% less than in Erie, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.