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

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

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

Living in Vancouver is roughly 44% more expensive than Quebec City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 111% above, Quebec City 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.37

$16.70 CA$23.20

9.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$65.4 CA$90.8

19.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.08

$11.15 CA$15.50

-2.69%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.53

$3.79 CA$5.26

5.01%

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

$2.12 CA$2.94

$2.04 CA$2.84

3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.46 CA$2.02

21.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$5.93 CA$8.24

-2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.50

$6.28 CA$8.73

20.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$2.11 CA$2.93

9.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.30

$3.31 CA$4.59

-6.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$4.27 CA$5.93

-8.90%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.29

$3.11 CA$4.32

45.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.95

$12.79 CA$17.77

1.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.65

$10.80 CA$15.01

30.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.87

$14.15 CA$19.66

11.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.91

$3.98 CA$5.52

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.68 CA$2.33

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$4.22 CA$5.86

-4.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$4.11 CA$5.70

23.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$1.89 CA$2.62

59.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.51 CA$3.49

17.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$2.64 CA$3.67

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.61

$1.58 CA$2.20

18.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.12

$12.86 CA$17.87

18.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.86

$11.59 CA$16.11

23.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$3.13 CA$4.35

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.92 CA$5.44

-4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$2.82 CA$3.91

-13.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$68.9 CA$95.8

23.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.19

$3.78 CA$5.26

-1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$2.26 CA$3.15

-33.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.11

$31.35 CA$43.56

-12.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.24 CA$1.73

8.06%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

0.84%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$19.7K CA$27.4K

5.15%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$86.9 CA$121

5.65%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$38.53 CA$53.5

2.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$44.57 CA$61.9

37.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$42.03 CA$58.4

6.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.79

$14.63 CA$20.33

7.18%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.18

$10.88 CA$15.12

13.69%

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

$1,180 CA$1,640

$845 CA$1,175

39.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$6,217 CA$8,638

201.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$61.4 CA$85.3

2.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$59.9

$53.6 CA$74.5

-19.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$113 CA$157

-16.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$128 CA$178

-7.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,771

$905 CA$1,258

120.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,264

$829 CA$1,152

96.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,986

$1,505 CA$2,090

138.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,848

$1,157 CA$1,608

139.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.8K

$5,881 CA$8,171

57.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,845

$2,842 CA$3,948

149.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,827

$2,832 CA$3,934

22.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.87

-18.34%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Quebec City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Vancouver and $905 in Quebec City. 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: $78.0 in Vancouver vs $65.0 in Quebec City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $373 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 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.

Vancouver pays 23% more on average, 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: $1,995 in Vancouver versus $905 in Quebec City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,831 per month in Vancouver versus $1,960 in Quebec City – 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.