In Quebec, most employees are paid every two weeks (26 pay cheques per year), and not once a month like in many countries. They can even be paid every week in some cases.
Usually, the amount received is “net”, meaning that the employer has already deduced fixed amounts according to tax regulations (including a percentage used to pay income taxes).
Other deductions are applied, including:
Federal:
Provincial:
The median annual income for a couple is $90,900 after taxes. This is higher than the Canadian median annual income.
86 900 $
86 700 $
94 400 $
90 900 $
95 300 $
83 100 $
| Type de ménage | Revenu après impôt ($ CA) |
|---|---|
| Economic families and persons not in an economic family | $65,500 |
| Couples | $90,900 |
| Couples with children | $115,100 |
| Couples with other relatives | $124,800 |
| Persons not in an economic family (living alone) | $36,000 |
Each year, you will need to file an income tax return and pay taxes in your province of residence on December 31 of the taxation year, even if you arrived that year.
Although salaried workers generally receive a net pay (meaning that the employer has already deduced fixes amounts based on taxation regulations), it is still mandatory in the province of Quebec to file two tax returns each year:
Do not hesitate to get help from an expert for your first income tax return!
In Quebec, students’ income is often below the tax threshold, which means that they do not have to pay income tax. However, if you work during your studies, you will still need to report your income to the federal and provincial governments.
Free health care, affordable tuition (or free until secondary school), competitive current consumption fees... All these factors make Québec City a very nice and affordable place to live.
When planning your immigration, do not only consider the salary: take all variables into account!
One key factor to keep in mind is how much money you will have after you have paid all your expenses and income taxes.
Purchasing power refers to your disposable income compared to the cost of living. For example, if your disposable income is higher than the cost of living, your purchasing power will be higher. Purchasing power varies based on inflation.
| Ville | Available income per capita in major Canadian CMAs in 2021 (Can$) |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 40 792 $ |
| Toronto | 38 061 $ |
| Québec | 34 973 $ |
| Montréal | 33 427 $ |
Even though the cost of living in Québec City is relatively low compared to other big cities in North America, it is important to plan enough money to get settled.
| Total expenditure | $79,639 |
| Current consumption | $58,208 |
| Food | $9,847 |
| Shelter | $15,821 |
| Household operations | $4,398 |
| Household furnishings and equipment | $2,100 |
| Clothing and accessories | $3,014 |
| Transportation | $10,492 |
| Health care | $2,964 |
| Personal care | $1,236 |
| Recreation | $3,776 |
| Reading materials and other printed matter | $138 |
| Education | $936 |
| Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages | $1,894 |
| Games of chance | $173 |
| Miscellaneous expenditures | $1,421 |
| Income taxes | $15,030 |
| Personal insurance payments and pension contributions | $5,186 |
| Gifts of money and contributions | $1,215 |