Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quebec City and Downey, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Quebec City: $1,854 a month against $3,035 in Downey, CA, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

91

Cost of Living Index in Quebec City
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Quebec City Living Index
148

Cost of Living Index in Downey, CA
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Downey, CA Living Index

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Quebec City

🇨🇦 Canada

$1,854

/mo nomad

Downey, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,035

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quebec City and in Downey, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Quebec City and in Downey, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,854 in Quebec City versus $3,035 in Downey, CA.

Quebec City $1,854
Downey, CA $3,035

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,819 in Quebec City versus $4,713 in Downey, CA.

Quebec City $2,819
Downey, CA $4,713

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,784 in Quebec City versus $6,391 in Downey, CA.

Quebec City $3,784
Downey, CA $6,391

Living in Quebec City costs roughly 39% less than in Downey, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Quebec City 37% above, Downey, CA 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 CA$29.20

$24.83 $24.83

-16.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 CA$93.5

$80.2 $80.2

-17.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.98 CA$15.52

$15.21 $15.21

-27.81%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.29

$5.66 $5.66

-33.92%

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

$2.06 CA$2.92

$3.16 $3.16

-34.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.98

$2.34 $2.34

-40.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 CA$7.71

$7.38 $7.38

-26.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 CA$7.97

$9.36 $9.36

-39.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 CA$2.86

$1.12 $1.12

80.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 CA$4.01

$4.10 $4.10

-30.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.99

$4.70 $4.70

-9.79%

Eggs

$3.04 CA$4.29

$4.67 $4.67

-34.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 CA$12.58

$12.90 $12.90

-31.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 CA$15.32

$13.40 $13.40

-19.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.24 CA$14.48

$15.25 $15.25

-32.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 CA$5.80

$4.70 $4.70

-12.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.14

$1.65 $1.65

-7.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.22

$4.13 $4.13

-10.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.52

$5.48 $5.48

-28.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 CA$4.12

$3.71 $3.71

-21.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 CA$4.04

$3.08 $3.08

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.80

$2.03 $2.03

32.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$2.23 $2.23

-33.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.76 CA$20.86

$11.68 $11.68

26.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 CA$15.67

$14.98 $14.98

-25.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 CA$4.33

$2.01 $2.01

52.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.59

$4.20 $4.20

-22.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.87 CA$4.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.6 CA$99.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 CA$3.97

$6.34 $6.34

-55.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.75 CA$49.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.78

$1.47 $1.47

-14.29%

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

$27.3K CA$38.6K

$37.7K $37.7K

-27.57%

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

$21.1K CA$29.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

-17.95%

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

$97.4 CA$138

$170 $170

-42.78%

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

$31.01 CA$43.84

$66.6 $66.6

-53.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.26 CA$62.6

$72.3 $72.3

-38.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 CA$48.58

$34.92 $34.92

-1.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.13 CA$21.39

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 CA$15.29

$15.11 $15.11

-28.39%

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

$678 CA$958

$1,188 $1,188

-42.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,045 CA$12.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 CA$81.3

$58.6 $58.6

-1.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.94 CA$70.6

$45.89 $45.89

8.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 CA$126

$92.0 $92.0

-2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$148

$144 $144

-27.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 CA$1,424

$1,946 $1,946

-48.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 CA$1,077

$1,693 $1,693

-55.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 CA$2,171

$3,725 $3,725

-58.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 CA$1,777

$3,383 $3,383

-62.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,735 CA$6,694

$5,755 $5,755

-17.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,669 CA$3,773

$5,766 $5,766

-53.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,961 CA$4,186

$4,178 $4,178

-29.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

6.39

-30.52%

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

Last update for Quebec City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Downey, CA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Quebec City

$762 41.1%

Downey, CA

$1.7K 55.8% 122% $931

Groceries & Markets

Quebec City

$340 18.4%

Downey, CA

$419 13.8% 23.2% $79

Eating Out

Quebec City

$295 15.9%

Downey, CA

$390 12.8% 31.9% $94

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Quebec City

$173 9.3%

Downey, CA

$309 10.2% 79% $137

Clothing & Footwear

Quebec City

$136 7.3%

Downey, CA

$153 5.1% 12.9% $18

Getting Around

Quebec City

$92 5%

Downey, CA

$6.3 * 0.2% 93.1% $86

Sport & Entertainment

Quebec City

$56 3%

Downey, CA

$65 2.2% 16.3% $9.1

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,008 in Quebec City and $1,946 in Downey, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Downey, CA pays 41% 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 $80.0 in Downey, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $419 per month, with Quebec City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Quebec City

🇺🇸 Downey, CA

🕒 Local time

13:35 1:35 PM

10:35 10:35 AM

3 h behind Quebec City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

530,168

114,355

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Quebec City Downey, CA 4,150 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Quebec City
Downey, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Downey, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Downey, CA. 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: $1,008 in Quebec City versus $1,946 in Downey, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Downey, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,854 per month in Quebec City versus $3,035 in Downey, CA – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,854 in Quebec City versus $3,035 in Downey, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Downey, CA. 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, Quebec City and Downey, CA 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 64% less than in Downey, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.