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: $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,880 in Quebec City versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,769 in Quebec City versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Quebec City costs roughly 19% less than in Calgary, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Quebec City 49% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.88 CA$23.67

$18.33 CA$25.70

-7.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.2

$69.9 CA$98.0

-5.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.44

$10.95 CA$15.35

0.55%

Cappuccino

$3.78 CA$5.30

$3.74 CA$5.24

1.07%

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

$2.05 CA$2.87

$2.04 CA$2.86

0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.67 CA$2.34

-13.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.49

$5.20 CA$7.29

16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 CA$8.65

$6.71 CA$9.41

-8.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.97

$2.25 CA$3.15

-5.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.56

$2.75 CA$3.85

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.28

$3.23 CA$4.53

38.70%

Eggs

$3.06 CA$4.29

$3.45 CA$4.83

-11.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.16

$14.40 CA$20.19

-10.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 CA$15.28

$12.89 CA$18.07

-15.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.84

$15.86 CA$22.24

-10.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$4.30 CA$6.02

-8.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$1.34 CA$1.88

25.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.93

$3.85 CA$5.40

9.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 CA$5.75

$4.25 CA$5.97

-3.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$2.55 CA$3.57

-26.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$2.62 CA$3.68

-7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.80 CA$3.92

-3.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$1.95 CA$2.73

-18.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.92 CA$18.12

$14.97 CA$20.99

-13.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 CA$16.07

$13.90 CA$19.49

-17.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 CA$4.46

$2.92 CA$4.10

8.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$3.91 CA$5.48

0.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.76

$2.74 CA$3.84

-2.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 CA$95.9

$87.8 CA$123

-22.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 CA$5.31

$3.60 CA$5.04

5.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 CA$3.18

$1.30 CA$1.82

74.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.73 CA$43.08

$28.70 CA$40.24

7.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.69

$1.12 CA$1.57

7.14%

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

$24.8K CA$34.8K

$25.5K CA$35.7K

-2.61%

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

$20.0K CA$28.0K

$21.7K CA$30.5K

-8.06%

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

$87.5 CA$123

$213 CA$299

-58.92%

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

$38.52 CA$54.0

$40.96 CA$57.4

-5.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.83 CA$62.8

$57.9 CA$81.2

-22.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.10 CA$59.0

$54.2 CA$76.0

-22.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 CA$20.62

$53.8 CA$75.4

-72.63%

Cinema Ticket

$11.00 CA$15.42

$12.63 CA$17.71

-12.91%

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

$821 CA$1,151

$874 CA$1,226

-6.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,164 CA$8,641

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-61.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.8

$58.6 CA$82.2

3.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 CA$75.6

$47.01 CA$65.9

14.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$158

$85.1 CA$119

32.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CA$178

$108 CA$151

17.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 CA$1,261

$1,380 CA$1,935

-34.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$823 CA$1,154

$1,159 CA$1,625

-28.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 CA$2,098

$2,324 CA$3,259

-35.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 CA$1,673

$1,905 CA$2,670

-37.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,673 CA$7,954

$3,786 CA$5,308

49.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,809 CA$3,938

$3,511 CA$4,922

-20.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,803 CA$3,929

$2,940 CA$4,121

-4.66%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Quebec City and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 5% 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: $66.0 in Quebec City vs $70.0 in Calgary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $396 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Calgary. 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: $900 in Quebec City versus $1,380 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 $66.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,992 per month in Quebec City versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,462 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 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.