Cost-of-living comparator
Compare two cities or scenarios line by line to see which leaves more money in your pocket. To build out a single budget in detail, see the monthly budget calculator.
Rent is usually the biggest difference between cities. Look up average rents by city in the CMHC rental market report.
City B
$185
cheaper per month
$2,220 / year
Author's note: before moving for a better salary, run this comparison. A higher salary in Montreal can leave less money than a more modest one in Quebec City or the regions once rent is paid. The real gain is what's left at the end of the month — not the number on the contract.
What this calculator includes
- Two cities or two scenarios compared item by item
- Rent, groceries, transport, utilities and more
- Monthly and annual differences
- Your own prices, entered once and reused
Sources and references
| CMHC — average rents by area (data tables) | cmhc-schl.gc.ca |
| Hydro-Québec — residential rates (uniform across the province) | hydroquebec.com |
This tool compares the amounts you enter; it doesn't impose any per-city price, because rents vary too much by neighbourhood and year. Use CMHC average rents for reliable benchmarks.
Keep going
What to do next
Three useful next steps:
Grocery Stores in Quebec: A Practical Guide
Grocery shopping in Quebec: comparing IGA, Metro, Maxi and Super C, how to save money, and where to find international products.
4 min · Audio · PDFMonthly budget calculator
Plan a realistic monthly budget for life in Quebec.
Free · No signup
Leases in Quebec: Rules, Subletting and Assignment
Signing a lease in Quebec: the standard TAL lease, your rights, what a landlord cannot ask, and how subletting and lease assignment work.
11 min · Audio · PDFFrequently Asked Questions
Your questions about this tool
Answers to the questions readers ask most often about this calculator — what it computes, the figures used, and how to use it.
Open the full FAQ →