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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,811 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,898 in Quebec City versus $4,130 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,837 in Quebec City versus $5,449 in Toronto.

Living in Quebec City costs roughly 30% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Quebec City 46% above, Toronto 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.70 CA$23.12

$18.71 CA$25.90

-10.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.4 CA$90.5

$81.9 CA$113

-20.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.44

$10.83 CA$14.99

2.95%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.25

$3.89 CA$5.38

-2.57%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$2.22 CA$3.07

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.65 CA$2.28

-11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.22

$6.05 CA$8.38

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.28 CA$8.70

$6.58 CA$9.11

-4.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 CA$2.92

$2.73 CA$3.77

-22.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 CA$4.58

$2.72 CA$3.76

21.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.91

$3.54 CA$4.90

20.62%

Eggs

$3.11 CA$4.30

$3.50 CA$4.84

-11.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.79 CA$17.71

$13.53 CA$18.73

-5.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 CA$14.96

$13.09 CA$18.12

-17.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.59

$16.96 CA$23.49

-16.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.51

$4.16 CA$5.76

-4.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.32

$1.18 CA$1.63

42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.84

$3.25 CA$4.50

29.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$4.12 CA$5.70

-0.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 CA$2.61

$2.50 CA$3.47

-24.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.48

$2.88 CA$3.98

-12.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.35 CA$3.25

12.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.19

$2.00 CA$2.77

-21.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.86 CA$17.81

$14.58 CA$20.19

-11.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 CA$16.05

$14.18 CA$19.63

-18.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 CA$4.34

$2.80 CA$3.88

11.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CA$5.42

$3.25 CA$4.51

20.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$2.40 CA$3.32

17.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.9 CA$95.5

$114 CA$158

-39.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 CA$5.24

$3.76 CA$5.20

0.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$1.41 CA$1.95

60.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.35 CA$43.41

$25.53 CA$35.34

22.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.10 CA$1.52

12.73%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

-1.34%

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

$19.7K CA$27.3K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

-6.44%

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

$86.9 CA$120

$120 CA$166

-27.38%

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

$38.53 CA$53.4

$37.54 CA$52.0

2.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.57 CA$61.7

$54.5 CA$75.5

-18.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.03 CA$58.2

$55.5 CA$76.9

-24.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.63 CA$20.26

$21.15 CA$29.28

-30.83%

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 CA$15.07

$11.56 CA$16.00

-5.88%

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

$845 CA$1,170

$1,129 CA$1,564

-25.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,217 CA$8,609

$18.0K CA$24.9K

-65.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 CA$85.0

$56.9 CA$78.8

7.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 CA$74.2

$39.96 CA$55.3

34.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$156

$89.7 CA$124

25.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 CA$178

$114 CA$158

12.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 CA$1,253

$1,849 CA$2,561

-51.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 CA$1,148

$1,560 CA$2,159

-46.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 CA$2,083

$2,925 CA$4,051

-48.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 CA$1,602

$2,470 CA$3,420

-53.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,881 CA$8,142

$9,085 CA$12.6K

-35.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,842 CA$3,934

$7,036 CA$9,742

-59.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,832 CA$3,921

$3,572 CA$4,946

-20.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

5.16

33.14%

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

Last update for Quebec City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Quebec City and $1,849 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 26% 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 $82.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 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 Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Quebec City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Toronto earns 26% 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 $1,849 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,960 per month in Quebec City versus $2,811 in Toronto – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quebec City runs roughly 65% less than in Toronto. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,811 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Toronto. 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 43% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.