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: $1,886 in Quebec City versus $2,735 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,916 in Quebec City versus $3,984 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,947 in Quebec City versus $5,234 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 38% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.07 CA$28.08

$17.82 CA$24.93

12.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.0 CA$93.7

$72.4 CA$101

-7.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 CA$16.02

$10.93 CA$15.30

4.76%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.32

$4.19 CA$5.86

-9.31%

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

$2.17 CA$3.04

$2.22 CA$3.11

-2.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.64 CA$2.29

-8.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.18

$5.89 CA$8.23

-0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.79 CA$8.10

$6.51 CA$9.11

-11.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CA$3.04

$2.12 CA$2.96

2.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 CA$4.03

$2.64 CA$3.69

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.75

$4.44 CA$6.21

-7.43%

Eggs

$3.18 CA$4.45

$4.21 CA$5.89

-24.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.15 CA$12.80

$12.04 CA$16.85

-24.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.88 CA$15.22

$13.91 CA$19.46

-21.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.48 CA$14.66

$20.62 CA$28.85

-49.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.08

$4.29 CA$6.00

1.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.15

$1.34 CA$1.88

14.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.27

$3.88 CA$5.43

-2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.68

$4.08 CA$5.70

-0.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$2.88 CA$4.03

3.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 CA$4.08

$2.93 CA$4.09

-0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$2.63 CA$3.68

7.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.05

$1.70 CA$2.38

-14.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.16 CA$21.21

$15.66 CA$21.91

-3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.73 CA$16.41

$14.23 CA$19.91

-17.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$2.78 CA$3.89

14.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 CA$4.88

$3.05 CA$4.27

14.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.11

$2.53 CA$3.54

16.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.3 CA$101

$85.5 CA$120

-15.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 CA$4.09

$2.67 CA$3.73

9.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.61 CA$2.25

-9.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.17 CA$49.19

$32.34 CA$45.24

8.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.40 CA$1.96

-7.14%

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

$28.9K CA$40.4K

$28.6K CA$40.0K

1.06%

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

$21.7K CA$30.4K

$19.8K CA$27.7K

9.55%

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

$102 CA$142

$78.8 CA$110

28.83%

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

$32.20 CA$45.05

$35.70 CA$49.94

-9.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.88 CA$64.2

$51.1 CA$71.5

-10.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.94 CA$51.7

$42.37 CA$59.3

-12.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 CA$21.38

$13.04 CA$18.24

17.18%

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 CA$15.53

$11.68 CA$16.34

-4.97%

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

$707 CA$990

$1,108 CA$1,549

-36.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,276 CA$13.0K

$19.9K CA$27.8K

-53.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 CA$85.6

$57.0 CA$79.7

7.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 CA$73.4

$35.01 CA$48.98

49.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 CA$128

$88.0 CA$123

4.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$154

$91.2 CA$128

20.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,030 CA$1,440

$1,843 CA$2,579

-44.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 CA$1,081

$1,530 CA$2,140

-49.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 CA$2,226

$3,156 CA$4,415

-49.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 CA$1,800

$2,476 CA$3,464

-48.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,225 CA$7,309

$8,675 CA$12.1K

-39.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,758 CA$3,859

$6,528 CA$9,132

-57.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,054 CA$4,272

$3,726 CA$5,213

-18.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.45

4.21

5.70%

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

Last update for Quebec City: September 13, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,030 in Quebec City and $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 22% 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: $67.0 in Quebec City vs $72.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $409 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 45% 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 22% 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: $1,030 in Quebec City versus $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,886 per month in Quebec City versus $2,735 in Vancouver – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quebec City runs roughly 18% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,886 in Quebec City versus $2,735 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 45% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.