🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,916 in Quebec City versus $2,531 in Auckland.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,897 in Quebec City versus $3,571 in Auckland.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,878 in Quebec City versus $4,612 in Auckland.
🌍Living in Quebec City costs roughly 24% less than in Auckland, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Quebec City39% above, Auckland84% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.22CA$25.32
$14.84NZ$25.17
22.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4CA$90.9
$70.1NZ$119
-6.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.98CA$15.26
$9.90NZ$16.79
10.91%
Cappuccino
$3.62CA$5.03
$3.46NZ$5.87
4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15CA$2.99
$2.12NZ$3.60
1.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50CA$2.08
$1.81NZ$3.06
-17.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.70CA$7.92
$7.31NZ$12.41
-22.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79CA$8.05
$7.07NZ$11.99
-18.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04CA$2.84
$1.99NZ$3.37
2.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02CA$4.19
$2.38NZ$4.04
26.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.02CA$5.59
$2.04NZ$3.45
97.06%
Eggs
$3.22CA$4.47
$6.63NZ$11.25
-51.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.86CA$12.31
$8.87NZ$15.04
-0.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.89CA$15.14
$10.17NZ$17.25
7.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.70CA$14.87
$16.90NZ$28.67
-36.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.44CA$6.17
$3.10NZ$5.25
43.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49CA$2.07
$2.22NZ$3.77
-32.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88CA$5.39
$3.13NZ$5.31
23.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01CA$5.57
$5.70NZ$9.67
-29.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91CA$4.04
$2.43NZ$4.12
19.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96CA$4.11
$1.71NZ$2.90
73.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85CA$3.96
$2.02NZ$3.42
41.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52CA$2.11
$1.18NZ$2.01
28.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.25CA$21.19
$28.56NZ$48.44
-46.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.37CA$15.81
$10.62NZ$18.01
7.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03CA$4.22
$3.10NZ$5.26
-2.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42CA$4.75
$3.55NZ$6.02
-3.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82CA$3.92
$2.71NZ$4.60
4.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.1CA$102
$131NZ$222
-44.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88CA$4.00
$2.38NZ$4.04
21.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49CA$2.08
$2.08NZ$3.53
-28.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.87CA$49.85
$33.99NZ$57.7
5.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30CA$1.80
$1.98NZ$3.35
-34.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KCA$40.1K
$26.2KNZ$44.4K
10.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KCA$29.7K
$24.0KNZ$40.7K
-10.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101CA$141
$198NZ$335
-48.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.98CA$44.44
$28.39NZ$48.15
12.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.54CA$64.7
$53.0NZ$89.8
-12.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.95CA$52.7
$47.45NZ$80.5
-20.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.32CA$21.28
$18.04NZ$30.60
-15.08%
Cinema Ticket
$11.37CA$15.80
$14.39NZ$24.42
-20.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696CA$968
$1,196NZ$2,028
-41.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,397CA$13.1K
$21.0KNZ$35.6K
-55.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1CA$78.0
$81.9NZ$139
-31.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9CA$73.5
$44.86NZ$76.1
17.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3CA$127
$91.0NZ$154
0.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105CA$146
$117NZ$198
-9.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,019CA$1,416
$1,366NZ$2,317
-25.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$780CA$1,085
$1,274NZ$2,161
-38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,533CA$2,130
$2,373NZ$4,025
-35.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272CA$1,768
$1,829NZ$3,102
-30.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,312CA$7,382
$7,752NZ$13.1K
-31.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,848CA$3,958
$5,208NZ$8,835
-45.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quebec City
Auckland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,183CA$4,424
$3,192NZ$5,414
-0.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.45
5.39
-17.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quebec City: August 30, 2026
Last update for Auckland: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,019 in Quebec City and $1,366 in Auckland. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Auckland pays 0% 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: $65.0 in Quebec City vs $70.0 in Auckland for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $353 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
Quebec City vs Auckland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quebec City or Auckland?
Quebec City wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Auckland. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Quebec City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Quebec City or in Auckland?
On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Auckland. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Quebec City compared to Auckland?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,019 in Quebec City versus $1,366 in Auckland. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Quebec City and in Auckland?
Childcare runs $696 in Quebec City versus $1,196 in Auckland. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Quebec City or in Auckland?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Auckland. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Quebec City or in Auckland?
At $1,916 in Quebec City versus $2,531 in Auckland, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Auckland. The gap between the two cities makes Quebec City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quebec City or Auckland?
Both work as nomad bases, but Quebec City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,916 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Quebec City hard to pass up.
How safe is Quebec City compared to Auckland?
Safety-wise, Quebec City and Auckland are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Quebec City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Auckland. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Quebec City vs other spots: cost of living compared