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: $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,898 in Quebec City versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,837 in Quebec City versus $5,630 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 46% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.70 CA$23.12

$18.26 CA$25.28

-8.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.4 CA$90.5

$77.8 CA$108

-16.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.44

$10.85 CA$15.02

2.76%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.25

$3.98 CA$5.51

-4.77%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$2.12 CA$2.93

-3.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.78 CA$2.46

-17.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.22

$5.77 CA$7.99

2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.28 CA$8.70

$7.56 CA$10.46

-16.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 CA$2.92

$2.32 CA$3.21

-9.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 CA$4.58

$3.10 CA$4.29

6.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.91

$3.89 CA$5.38

9.77%

Eggs

$3.11 CA$4.30

$4.53 CA$6.27

-31.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.79 CA$17.71

$12.92 CA$17.88

-1.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 CA$14.96

$14.14 CA$19.58

-23.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 CA$19.59

$15.74 CA$21.80

-10.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.51

$4.26 CA$5.89

-6.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.32

$1.47 CA$2.03

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.84

$4.02 CA$5.57

4.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$5.06 CA$7.01

-18.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 CA$2.61

$3.02 CA$4.18

-37.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.48

$2.95 CA$4.09

-14.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.60 CA$3.60

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.19

$1.88 CA$2.60

-15.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.86 CA$17.81

$15.20 CA$21.04

-15.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 CA$16.05

$14.30 CA$19.80

-18.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 CA$4.34

$3.07 CA$4.26

1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CA$5.42

$3.74 CA$5.18

4.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$2.44 CA$3.37

15.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.9 CA$95.5

$84.9 CA$118

-18.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 CA$5.24

$3.74 CA$5.18

1.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$1.50 CA$2.08

50.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.35 CA$43.41

$27.43 CA$37.98

14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.34 CA$1.86

-7.46%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.1K CA$34.8K

-0.83%

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

$19.7K CA$27.3K

$20.7K CA$28.7K

-4.90%

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

$86.9 CA$120

$91.8 CA$127

-5.35%

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

$38.53 CA$53.4

$39.42 CA$54.6

-2.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.57 CA$61.7

$61.1 CA$84.6

-27.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.03 CA$58.2

$44.89 CA$62.2

-6.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.63 CA$20.26

$15.68 CA$21.71

-6.70%

Cinema Ticket

$10.88 CA$15.07

$12.37 CA$17.12

-12.05%

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

$845 CA$1,170

$1,180 CA$1,634

-28.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,217 CA$8,609

$18.8K CA$26.0K

-66.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 CA$85.0

$62.7 CA$86.8

-2.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 CA$74.2

$43.13 CA$59.7

24.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 CA$156

$94.7 CA$131

19.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 CA$178

$118 CA$164

8.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 CA$1,253

$1,995 CA$2,762

-54.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 CA$1,148

$1,629 CA$2,256

-49.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 CA$2,083

$3,589 CA$4,969

-58.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 CA$1,602

$2,769 CA$3,834

-58.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,881 CA$8,142

$9,246 CA$12.8K

-36.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,842 CA$3,934

$7,086 CA$9,811

-59.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,832 CA$3,921

$3,474 CA$4,810

-18.49%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Quebec City and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 23% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $415 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 44% 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, Vancouver earns 23% 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 $1,995 in Vancouver. 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 $2,831 in Vancouver – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Quebec City runs roughly 23% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,960 in Quebec City versus $2,831 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 44% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.