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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,788 in Toronto versus $1,992 in Quebec City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,110 in Toronto versus $2,880 in Quebec City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Toronto versus $3,769 in Quebec City.

Living in Toronto is roughly 40% more expensive than in Quebec City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 109% above, Quebec City 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$25.96

$16.88 CA$23.67

9.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$65.8 CA$92.2

27.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.38

$11.01 CA$15.44

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.59

$3.78 CA$5.30

5.56%

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

$2.11 CA$2.96

$2.05 CA$2.87

2.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.37

$1.45 CA$2.04

16.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.30

$6.05 CA$8.49

-2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.08

$6.17 CA$8.65

5.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$2.12 CA$2.97

27.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.00

$3.25 CA$4.56

-12.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$4.99

$4.48 CA$6.28

-20.54%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.96

$3.06 CA$4.29

15.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.59

$12.95 CA$18.16

2.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.29

$10.90 CA$15.28

19.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.51

$14.15 CA$19.84

18.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.77

$3.94 CA$5.53

4.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.68 CA$2.36

-32.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.76

$4.23 CA$5.93

-19.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.64

$4.10 CA$5.75

-1.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$1.88 CA$2.64

29.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$2.43 CA$3.41

20.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.47

$2.69 CA$3.77

-8.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.69

$1.59 CA$2.24

20.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.01

$12.92 CA$18.12

16.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.10

$11.46 CA$16.07

25.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$3.18 CA$4.46

-14.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.38

$3.94 CA$5.53

-20.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.44

$2.68 CA$3.76

-8.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$158

$68.4 CA$95.9

65.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.08

$3.79 CA$5.31

-4.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$2.27 CA$3.18

-40.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.82

$30.73 CA$43.08

-16.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.55

$1.20 CA$1.69

-7.50%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$24.8K CA$34.8K

1.86%

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

$21.8K CA$30.5K

$20.0K CA$28.0K

8.89%

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

$117 CA$164

$87.5 CA$123

33.38%

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

$37.60 CA$52.7

$38.52 CA$54.0

-2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.3

$44.83 CA$62.8

19.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.1

$42.10 CA$59.0

35.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.24

$14.71 CA$20.62

41.81%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.20

$11.00 CA$15.42

5.09%

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

$1,125 CA$1,577

$821 CA$1,151

37.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$6,164 CA$8,641

199.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.4

$60.5 CA$84.8

-5.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$54.8

$53.9 CA$75.6

-27.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$113 CA$158

-22.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$127 CA$178

-10.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,582

$900 CA$1,261

104.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,146

$823 CA$1,154

85.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,101

$1,496 CA$2,098

95.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,508

$1,193 CA$1,673

109.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.2K

$5,673 CA$7,954

53.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,628

$2,809 CA$3,938

144.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,842

$2,803 CA$3,929

23.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

6.87

-24.89%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,842 in Toronto and $900 in Quebec City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto 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: $84.0 in Toronto vs $66.0 in Quebec City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $374 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

Toronto vs Quebec City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quebec City wins on cost – living expenses run 40% 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.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Toronto, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,842 in Toronto versus $900 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,788 per month in Toronto versus $1,992 in Quebec City – a 40% 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 $1,992 in Quebec City versus $2,788 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 40% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.