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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,992 per month in Quebec City vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,880 per month in Quebec City vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,769 per month in Quebec City vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Quebec City is about 4% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quebec City and Montreal sit above the global median – Quebec City by 49%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.88 CA$23.67

$16.52 CA$23.16

2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.2

$74.0 CA$104

-11.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.44

$10.94 CA$15.34

0.64%

Cappuccino

$3.78 CA$5.30

$3.84 CA$5.39

-1.56%

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

$2.05 CA$2.87

$2.14 CA$2.99

-4.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.45 CA$2.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.49

$6.13 CA$8.60

-1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 CA$8.65

$6.73 CA$9.44

-8.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.97

$2.35 CA$3.30

-9.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.56

$3.34 CA$4.68

-2.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.28

$3.74 CA$5.25

19.79%

Eggs

$3.06 CA$4.29

$3.39 CA$4.76

-9.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.16

$16.30 CA$22.85

-20.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 CA$15.28

$11.81 CA$16.56

-7.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.84

$15.64 CA$21.93

-9.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$3.69 CA$5.18

6.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$1.70 CA$2.39

-1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.93

$4.11 CA$5.76

2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 CA$5.75

$4.41 CA$6.18

-7.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$2.79 CA$3.91

-32.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$2.64 CA$3.70

-7.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.29 CA$3.21

17.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$1.78 CA$2.50

-10.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.92 CA$18.12

$13.17 CA$18.47

-1.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 CA$16.07

$10.64 CA$14.92

7.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 CA$4.46

$2.99 CA$4.19

6.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$3.44 CA$4.82

14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.76

$2.81 CA$3.94

-4.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 CA$95.9

$72.8 CA$102

-6.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 CA$5.31

$3.52 CA$4.93

7.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 CA$3.18

$1.45 CA$2.04

56.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.73 CA$43.08

$34.29 CA$48.08

-10.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.69

$1.22 CA$1.72

-1.64%

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

$24.8K CA$34.8K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-1.75%

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

$20.0K CA$28.0K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

-9.69%

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

$87.5 CA$123

$76.5 CA$107

14.37%

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

$38.52 CA$54.0

$35.60 CA$49.91

8.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.83 CA$62.8

$42.96 CA$60.2

4.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.10 CA$59.0

$43.39 CA$60.8

-2.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 CA$20.62

$16.83 CA$23.60

-12.60%

Cinema Ticket

$11.00 CA$15.42

$11.09 CA$15.55

-0.81%

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

$821 CA$1,151

$625 CA$876

31.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,164 CA$8,641

$5,896 CA$8,266

4.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.8

$63.1 CA$88.5

-4.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 CA$75.6

$44.50 CA$62.4

21.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$158

$103 CA$144

9.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CA$178

$118 CA$166

7.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 CA$1,261

$1,207 CA$1,692

-25.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$823 CA$1,154

$965 CA$1,353

-14.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 CA$2,098

$2,031 CA$2,848

-26.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 CA$1,673

$1,577 CA$2,211

-24.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,673 CA$7,954

$5,085 CA$7,129

11.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,809 CA$3,938

$3,783 CA$5,304

-25.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,803 CA$3,929

$2,890 CA$4,051

-3.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

5.01

37.13%

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

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $900 in Quebec City versus $1,207 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Montreal, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Quebec City versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $395 – making Quebec City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 5% more than Quebec City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,987 per month in Quebec City and $3,127 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quebec City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Quebec City and $74.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quebec City, where all-in costs run around $1,992, than in Montreal at $2,085. In Quebec City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quebec City costs $1,992 versus $2,085 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Quebec City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.