Cost of Living Comparison Between Quebec City and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Quebec City and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,523 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,898 in Quebec City versus $3,652 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,837 in Quebec City versus $4,780 in Calgary.

Living in Quebec City costs roughly 22% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Quebec City 46% above, Calgary 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.70 CA$23.12

$18.59 CA$25.74

-10.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.4 CA$90.5

$70.0 CA$97.0

-6.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.44

$10.96 CA$15.17

1.73%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.25

$3.73 CA$5.17

1.61%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$1.99 CA$2.75

2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.72 CA$2.39

-15.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.22

$5.01 CA$6.94

18.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.28 CA$8.70

$6.50 CA$9.01

-3.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 CA$2.92

$2.22 CA$3.08

-4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 CA$4.58

$2.67 CA$3.69

23.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.91

$3.26 CA$4.52

30.98%

Eggs

$3.11 CA$4.30

$3.35 CA$4.64

-7.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.79 CA$17.71

$14.50 CA$20.07

-11.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 CA$14.96

$12.95 CA$17.93

-16.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.59

$16.15 CA$22.36

-12.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.51

$4.32 CA$5.98

-7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.32

$1.35 CA$1.88

24.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.84

$3.83 CA$5.30

10.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$4.18 CA$5.79

-1.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 CA$2.61

$2.65 CA$3.67

-28.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.48

$2.74 CA$3.79

-8.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.76 CA$3.82

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.19

$1.95 CA$2.70

-18.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.86 CA$17.81

$14.98 CA$20.74

-14.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 CA$16.05

$14.67 CA$20.31

-21.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 CA$4.34

$2.84 CA$3.94

10.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CA$5.42

$4.02 CA$5.56

-2.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$2.80 CA$3.88

0.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.9 CA$95.5

$86.2 CA$119

-20.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 CA$5.24

$3.60 CA$4.99

5.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$1.32 CA$1.82

71.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.35 CA$43.41

$29.01 CA$40.17

8.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.12 CA$1.55

10.71%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

0.18%

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

$19.7K CA$27.3K

$22.0K CA$30.4K

-10.30%

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

$86.9 CA$120

$217 CA$301

-60.01%

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

$38.53 CA$53.4

$41.55 CA$57.5

-7.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.57 CA$61.7

$58.1 CA$80.4

-23.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.03 CA$58.2

$54.7 CA$75.8

-23.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.63 CA$20.26

$52.8 CA$73.1

-72.30%

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 CA$15.07

$12.77 CA$17.68

-14.80%

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

$845 CA$1,170

$874 CA$1,210

-3.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,217 CA$8,609

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-61.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 CA$85.0

$58.8 CA$81.5

4.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 CA$74.2

$46.47 CA$64.4

15.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$156

$87.2 CA$121

29.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 CA$178

$109 CA$151

18.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 CA$1,253

$1,414 CA$1,957

-35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 CA$1,148

$1,172 CA$1,623

-29.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 CA$2,083

$2,319 CA$3,211

-35.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 CA$1,602

$1,886 CA$2,612

-38.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,881 CA$8,142

$3,892 CA$5,389

51.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,842 CA$3,934

$3,503 CA$4,851

-18.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,832 CA$3,921

$3,149 CA$4,360

-10.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

5.71

20.32%

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

Last update for Quebec City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Quebec City and $1,414 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 11% 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 Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $397 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 Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Calgary earns 11% less. 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: $905 in Quebec City versus $1,414 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Quebec City – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,960 per month in Quebec City versus $2,523 in Calgary – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Calgary. 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.

Expats usually find Quebec City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.