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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,906 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,880 in Quebec City versus $4,209 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,769 in Quebec City versus $5,513 in Vancouver.

Living in Quebec City costs roughly 31% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Quebec City 49% above, Vancouver 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.88 CA$23.67

$18.62 CA$26.10

-9.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.2

$77.9 CA$109

-15.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.44

$10.84 CA$15.20

1.57%

Cappuccino

$3.78 CA$5.30

$3.93 CA$5.51

-3.82%

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

$2.05 CA$2.87

$2.24 CA$3.15

-8.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.75 CA$2.45

-17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.49

$6.05 CA$8.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 CA$8.65

$7.30 CA$10.23

-15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.97

$2.30 CA$3.23

-7.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.56

$3.07 CA$4.31

5.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.28

$3.77 CA$5.28

18.83%

Eggs

$3.06 CA$4.29

$4.32 CA$6.06

-29.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.16

$12.57 CA$17.63

3.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 CA$15.28

$13.74 CA$19.27

-20.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.84

$15.99 CA$22.41

-11.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$4.26 CA$5.98

-7.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$1.52 CA$2.13

10.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 CA$5.93

$3.92 CA$5.50

7.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 CA$5.75

$5.08 CA$7.13

-19.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$3.20 CA$4.48

-41.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$3.09 CA$4.33

-21.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.60 CA$3.64

3.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$1.88 CA$2.64

-15.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.92 CA$18.12

$15.45 CA$21.66

-16.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 CA$16.07

$14.89 CA$20.88

-23.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 CA$4.46

$3.12 CA$4.37

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.53

$3.80 CA$5.33

3.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.76

$2.42 CA$3.39

10.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 CA$95.9

$83.0 CA$116

-17.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 CA$5.31

$3.76 CA$5.27

0.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 CA$3.18

$1.48 CA$2.08

53.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.73 CA$43.08

$26.97 CA$37.81

13.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.69

$1.30 CA$1.82

-7.69%

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

$24.8K CA$34.8K

$25.2K CA$35.3K

-1.50%

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

$20.0K CA$28.0K

$20.6K CA$28.8K

-2.77%

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

$87.5 CA$123

$91.8 CA$129

-4.72%

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

$38.52 CA$54.0

$39.34 CA$55.2

-2.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.83 CA$62.8

$60.6 CA$85.0

-26.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.10 CA$59.0

$44.58 CA$62.5

-5.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 CA$20.62

$15.88 CA$22.27

-7.37%

Cinema Ticket

$11.00 CA$15.42

$12.18 CA$17.07

-9.69%

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

$821 CA$1,151

$1,185 CA$1,661

-30.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,164 CA$8,641

$18.5K CA$26.0K

-66.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.8

$62.5 CA$87.6

-3.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 CA$75.6

$42.38 CA$59.4

27.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$158

$95.0 CA$133

18.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 CA$178

$115 CA$161

10.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 CA$1,261

$1,979 CA$2,775

-54.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$823 CA$1,154

$1,644 CA$2,304

-49.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 CA$2,098

$3,577 CA$5,015

-58.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 CA$1,673

$2,782 CA$3,901

-57.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,673 CA$7,954

$8,754 CA$12.3K

-35.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,809 CA$3,938

$7,087 CA$9,936

-60.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,803 CA$3,929

$3,380 CA$4,739

-17.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

5.61

22.46%

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

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Quebec City and $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 21% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $414 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 Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Vancouver. 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, salaries run 21% lower in Vancouver. 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 $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,992 per month in Quebec City versus $2,906 in Vancouver – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quebec City runs roughly 21% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,906 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quebec City but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. 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 46% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.