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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,992 in Quebec City versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,880 in Quebec City versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,769 in Quebec City versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Quebec City is roughly 59% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Quebec City is 49% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.88 CA$23.67
$4.55 ฿153
270.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 CA$92.2
$46.18 ฿1,550
42.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.01 CA$15.44
$8.84 ฿297
24.55%
Cappuccino
$3.78 CA$5.30
$3.06 ฿103
23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.87
$0.73 ฿24.36
180.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.04
$0.40 ฿13.37
262.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.05 CA$8.49
$2.43 ฿81.6
148.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 CA$8.65
$3.78 ฿127
63.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 CA$2.97
$2.26 ฿75.8
-6.19%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 CA$4.56
$1.81 ฿60.8
79.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 CA$6.28
$2.25 ฿75.7
99.11%
Eggs
$3.06 CA$4.29
$2.25 ฿75.4
36.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 CA$18.16
$19.51 ฿655
-33.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.90 CA$15.28
$3.65 ฿122
198.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.15 CA$19.84
$13.05 ฿438
8.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 CA$5.53
$3.23 ฿109
21.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 CA$2.36
$1.62 ฿54.3
3.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.23 CA$5.93
$2.38 ฿80.0
77.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 CA$5.75
$2.03 ฿68.0
101.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 CA$2.64
$1.53 ฿51.5
22.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.41
$1.50 ฿50.4
62.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.69 CA$3.77
$0.98 ฿32.85
174.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 CA$2.24
$0.52 ฿17.36
205.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.92 CA$18.12
$4.44 ฿149
190.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.46 CA$16.07
$18.32 ฿615
-37.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.46
$1.86 ฿62.6
70.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 CA$5.53
$2.68 ฿90.0
47.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.68 CA$3.76
$1.41 ฿47.37
90.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.4 CA$95.9
$11.70 ฿393
484.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.79 CA$5.31
$3.11 ฿104
21.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 CA$3.18
$1.04 ฿35.00
118.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.73 CA$43.08
$14.11 ฿474
117.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.69
$1.31 ฿44.02
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.8K
$27.8K ฿933.8K
-10.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.0K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-39.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.5 CA$123
$122 ฿4,110
-28.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.52 CA$54.0
$13.59 ฿456
183.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.83 CA$62.8
$18.70 ฿628
139.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.10 CA$59.0
$60.5 ฿2,031
-30.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.71 CA$20.62
$16.98 ฿570
-13.37%
Cinema Ticket
$11.00 CA$15.42
$9.07 ฿305
21.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$821 CA$1,151
$706 ฿23.7K
16.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,164 CA$8,641
$15.8K ฿530.5K
-61.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5 CA$84.8
$58.6 ฿1,965
3.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.9 CA$75.6
$35.36 ฿1,187
52.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 CA$158
$115 ฿3,876
-2.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 CA$178
$83.7 ฿2,811
51.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 CA$1,261
$626 ฿21.0K
43.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 CA$1,154
$445 ฿14.9K
84.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 CA$2,098
$2,040 ฿68.5K
-26.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 CA$1,673
$1,492 ฿50.1K
-20.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,673 CA$7,954
$3,483 ฿116.9K
62.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,809 CA$3,938
$2,577 ฿86.5K
9.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quebec City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,803 CA$3,929
$500 ฿16.8K
460.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.87
5.33
28.89%

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

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Quebec City and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quebec City pays 461% 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 $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Quebec City?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quebec City or Phuket?
Average pay runs 461% higher in Quebec City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Quebec City and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $900 in Quebec City versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $821 in Quebec City versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Quebec City and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Quebec City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quebec City or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,992 in Quebec City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Quebec City. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Quebec City or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Quebec City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Quebec City or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Quebec City and Phuket 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Quebec City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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