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: $2,357 in Erie, PA versus $1,960 in Quebec City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,258 in Erie, PA versus $2,898 in Quebec City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,158 in Erie, PA versus $3,837 in Quebec City.

Living in Erie, PA is roughly 20% more expensive than Quebec City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Erie, PA 76% above, Quebec City 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.87 $19.87

$16.70 CA$23.12

18.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.6 $59.6

$65.4 CA$90.5

-8.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 $9.77

$11.15 CA$15.44

-12.38%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$3.79 CA$5.25

33.51%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$2.04 CA$2.83

12.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.46 CA$2.02

32.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.93 CA$8.22

-26.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$6.28 CA$8.70

-36.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.11 CA$2.92

-43.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.31 CA$4.58

23.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$4.27 CA$5.91

-56.44%

Eggs

$2.90 $2.90

$3.11 CA$4.30

-6.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.86 $14.86

$12.79 CA$17.71

16.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.88 $13.88

$10.80 CA$14.96

28.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.02 $17.02

$14.15 CA$19.59

20.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.98 CA$5.51

25.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.68 CA$2.32

-14.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.22 CA$5.84

27.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.11 CA$5.68

28.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.89 CA$2.61

37.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.51 CA$3.48

49.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.64 CA$3.66

-7.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.58 CA$2.19

40.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.84 $7.84

$12.86 CA$17.81

-39.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.97 $9.97

$11.59 CA$16.05

-13.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.13 CA$4.34

-43.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.92 CA$5.42

-34.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.82 CA$3.90

-41.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.5 $51.5

$68.9 CA$95.5

-25.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.78 CA$5.24

2.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.26 CA$3.13

-19.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.23 $21.23

$31.35 CA$43.41

-32.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.24 CA$1.72

-20.16%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$24.9K CA$34.5K

-4.69%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$19.7K CA$27.3K

26.37%

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

$219 $219

$86.9 CA$120

152.53%

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

$38.63 $38.63

$38.53 CA$53.4

0.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$44.57 CA$61.7

51.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.90 $27.90

$42.03 CA$58.2

-33.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.91 $8.91

$14.63 CA$20.26

-39.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.17 $12.17

$10.88 CA$15.07

11.86%

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

$1,293 $1,293

$845 CA$1,170

52.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.7K $34.7K

$6,217 CA$8,609

458.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.55 $41.55

$61.4 CA$85.0

-32.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 $34.84

$53.6 CA$74.2

-35.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 $70.2

$113 CA$156

-37.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 $80.2

$128 CA$178

-37.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 $657

$905 CA$1,253

-27.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 $1,129

$829 CA$1,148

36.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 $1,196

$1,505 CA$2,083

-20.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$1,157 CA$1,602

18.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,559 $1,559

$5,881 CA$8,142

-73.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,583 $1,583

$2,842 CA$3,934

-44.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,099 $3,099

$2,832 CA$3,921

9.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.87

-6.11%

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

Last update for Erie, PA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Erie, PA and $905 in Quebec City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erie, PA pays 9% 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: $60.0 in Erie, PA vs $65.0 in Quebec City. Groceries flip the comparison at $404 vs $373, with Quebec City 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Erie, PA pays 9% 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: $657 in Erie, PA versus $905 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 34% less than in Erie, PA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,293 in Erie, PA versus $845 in Quebec City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,357 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 20% less than in Erie, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.