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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,735 in Vancouver versus $1,886 in Quebec City.

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

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

Living in Vancouver is roughly 45% more expensive than in Quebec City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 100% above, Quebec City 38% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.82 CA$24.93

$20.07 CA$28.08

-11.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.4 CA$101

$67.0 CA$93.7

8.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 CA$15.30

$11.45 CA$16.02

-4.54%

Cappuccino

$4.19 CA$5.86

$3.80 CA$5.32

10.26%

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

$2.22 CA$3.11

$2.17 CA$3.04

2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.29

$1.50 CA$2.10

9.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 CA$8.23

$5.85 CA$8.18

0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 CA$9.11

$5.79 CA$8.10

12.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.96

$2.17 CA$3.04

-2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 CA$3.69

$2.88 CA$4.03

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.21

$4.11 CA$5.75

8.03%

Eggs

$4.21 CA$5.89

$3.18 CA$4.45

32.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.04 CA$16.85

$9.15 CA$12.80

31.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.91 CA$19.46

$10.88 CA$15.22

27.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.62 CA$28.85

$10.48 CA$14.66

96.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.29 CA$6.00

$4.35 CA$6.08

-1.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.54 CA$2.15

-12.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.43

$3.77 CA$5.27

2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 CA$5.70

$4.06 CA$5.68

0.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.03

$2.99 CA$4.19

-3.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.09

$2.92 CA$4.08

0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 CA$3.68

$2.84 CA$3.97

-7.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.38

$1.46 CA$2.05

16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.66 CA$21.91

$15.16 CA$21.21

3.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.91

$11.73 CA$16.41

21.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 CA$3.89

$3.17 CA$4.43

-12.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 CA$4.27

$3.49 CA$4.88

-12.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 CA$3.54

$2.94 CA$4.11

-13.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 CA$120

$72.3 CA$101

18.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 CA$3.73

$2.92 CA$4.09

-8.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 CA$2.25

$1.45 CA$2.03

11.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.34 CA$45.24

$35.17 CA$49.19

-8.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CA$1.96

$1.30 CA$1.82

7.69%

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

$28.6K CA$40.0K

$28.9K CA$40.4K

-1.05%

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

$19.8K CA$27.7K

$21.7K CA$30.4K

-8.72%

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

$78.8 CA$110

$102 CA$142

-22.38%

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

$35.70 CA$49.94

$32.20 CA$45.05

10.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 CA$71.5

$45.88 CA$64.2

11.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.37 CA$59.3

$36.94 CA$51.7

14.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 CA$18.24

$15.28 CA$21.38

-14.66%

Cinema Ticket

$11.68 CA$16.34

$11.10 CA$15.53

5.23%

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

$1,108 CA$1,549

$707 CA$990

56.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K CA$27.8K

$9,276 CA$13.0K

114.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 CA$79.7

$61.2 CA$85.6

-6.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 CA$48.98

$52.5 CA$73.4

-33.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 CA$123

$91.7 CA$128

-4.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 CA$128

$110 CA$154

-16.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,843 CA$2,579

$1,030 CA$1,440

79.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,530 CA$2,140

$773 CA$1,081

97.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,156 CA$4,415

$1,591 CA$2,226

98.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 CA$3,464

$1,287 CA$1,800

92.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,675 CA$12.1K

$5,225 CA$7,309

66.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,528 CA$9,132

$2,758 CA$3,859

136.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,726 CA$5,213

$3,054 CA$4,272

22.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

4.45

-5.39%

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

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,843 in Vancouver and $1,030 in Quebec City. 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: $72.0 in Vancouver vs $67.0 in Quebec City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $349 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

Vancouver vs Quebec City: 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.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Vancouver, 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: $1,843 in Vancouver versus $1,030 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,735 per month in Vancouver versus $1,886 in Quebec City – 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.