Cost of Living in Québec City (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Québec City? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed flat, Montcalm, Saint-Roch or Vieux-QuébecCAD 1,200–1,650 / month

One-bed flat, Limoilou, Sainte-Foy or LévisCAD 950–1,300 / month

Utilities and internet, one personCAD 110–190 / month, more in winter on electric heat

Groceries, one personCAD 400–550 / month

Monthly RTC transit passCAD 95–105 / month

Good to know

Population

≈560,000 in the city; ≈850,000 across the metropolitan area

Languages

French — around 95% of the metro speaks it as a first language, and English is genuinely limited outside tourism, the university and a few tech employers

Currency

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Time zone

EST/EDT (GMT−5/−4) — same as Montreal, Toronto and New York

Power plug

Type A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz

Climate

Humid continental — roughly 300 cm of snow a season, January lows near −25 °C, and short humid summers reaching 30 °C

Driving side

Right

Sales tax

5% federal GST plus 9.975% Quebec QST, added at the till rather than shown on the label

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Québec City checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.