Québec City is safer than Montréal on Statistics Canada’s main measure: in 2025 the Québec metro area’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) was 55.0, about 10% below the Montréal metro area’s 61.3, and its crime rate was 3,493 incidents per 100,000 people against Montréal’s 3,641. The gap has narrowed sharply over ten years, from 19.3 points in 2015 to 6.3 in 2025, because Québec’s index rose while Montréal’s stayed roughly flat.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index and clearance rates (Table 35-10-0026-01) and incidents by violation (Table 35-10-0177-01). Figures are for the Montréal and Québec census metropolitan areas (CMAs). Ratios, gaps and rankings that are not in the release are our own calculation from Statistics Canada data. Updated 19 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Québec CMA’s Crime Severity Index was 55.0 in 2025, compared with 61.3 for the Montréal CMA, 61.6 for the province of Quebec and 75.0 for Canada (Statistics Canada).
- Montréal’s violent CSI (92.0) was about 14% higher than Québec’s (81.0), even though the two metros had similar violent crime rates (our calculation).
- Montréal’s motor vehicle theft rate (197 per 100,000) was about 2.4 times Québec’s (83), and its robbery rate about 3.4 times higher.
- The Montréal CMA recorded 52 homicide victims in 2025 (1.12 per 100,000); the Québec CMA recorded 4 (0.45).
- Québec’s CSI has risen about 30% since 2015, while Montréal’s is almost unchanged (our calculation).
- Among Canada’s 41 metro areas, Québec had the 7th-lowest CSI in 2025 and Montréal the 14th-lowest (our ranking).
Is Québec City safer than Montréal?
Québec City is safer than Montréal on Statistics Canada’s 2025 data: the Québec CMA’s Crime Severity Index of 55.0 was 6.3 points below Montréal’s 61.3, and Québec also had lower rates of homicide, robbery, car theft, break-ins and shoplifting. The Crime Severity Index is a measure of police-reported crime that gives more weight to serious offences; Canada’s 2006 level equals 100. Both metros are well below the national average.
| Measure (2025) | Montréal CMA | Québec CMA | Montréal vs Québec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 61.3 | 55.0 | +11% | 75.0 |
| CSI change vs 2024 | −5% | −1% | — | −5% |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 92.0 | 81.0 | +14% | 97.2 |
| Non-violent Crime Severity Index | 49.5 | 45.0 | +10% | 66.8 |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 3,641 | 3,493 | +4% | 5,585 |
| Criminal Code incidents (excl. traffic) | 169,180 | 30,946 | — | 2,326,077 |
| Weighted clearance rate | 40.1 | 39.9 | — | 36.6 |
Montréal vs Québec column: our calculation from Statistics Canada data. Better value in bold.
The Montréal CMA has roughly 4.6 million residents and the Québec CMA roughly 890,000, based on the population implied by Statistics Canada’s counts and rates (our calculation). Both have crime rates among the lowest of Canada’s large metros. For all 41 metros, see our crime rate in Canada by city table.
How do violent crime and homicide compare?
Violent crime is about as common in Québec City as in Montréal but less serious: the Québec CMA recorded 1,312 violent incidents per 100,000 people in 2025 and the Montréal CMA 1,277, a gap of about 3%, but Montréal’s violent Crime Severity Index of 92.0 was about 14% higher than Québec’s 81.0 (Statistics Canada; percentages our calculation). The difference comes from the more serious offences, homicide and robbery in particular.
| Violent offence, rate per 100,000 (2025) | Montréal CMA | Québec CMA | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| All violent crime | 1,277 | 1,312 | 1,443 |
| Homicide (victims) | 1.12 | 0.45 | 1.61 |
| Robbery | 68 | 20 | 55 |
| Extortion | 33 | 41 | 29 |
Rates are incidents per 100,000 people (homicide: victims per 100,000). Lower value in bold. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01, 2025.
Montréal’s homicide rate (1.12) was about 2.5 times Québec’s (0.45) in 2025, our calculation, though both are below the national 1.61. Québec’s robbery rate of 20 per 100,000 was less than half the national rate of 55. The two cities moved in different directions in 2025: Montréal’s violent CSI fell about 2%, while Québec’s rose about 1%. For more on extortion trends, see extortion in Canada.
Which city has more car theft and property crime?
Car theft is far more common in Montréal than in Québec City: the Montréal CMA’s motor vehicle theft rate was 197 per 100,000 in 2025, about 2.4 times Québec’s 83, even after falling about 29% in a year (Statistics Canada; ratio our calculation). Break-ins and shoplifting are close; fraud is higher in Québec.
| Offence, rate per 100,000 (2025) | Montréal CMA | Québec CMA | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle theft | 197 | 83 | 201 |
| Breaking and entering | 213 | 205 | 262 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 193 | 174 | 502 |
| Fraud | 339 | 432 | 426 |
Lower value in bold. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01, 2025.
- Car theft: Montréal’s rate fell from 277 to 197 per 100,000 in 2025 and is now just below the national rate; Québec’s fell about 14% to 83. Prevention tips are in our car theft protection guide.
- Shoplifting: both cities have rates below 40% of the national 502 per 100,000, among the lowest of any large metro (our calculation).
- Fraud: the one major offence where Québec is clearly higher, by about 28% (our calculation).
Is crime going up in Québec City?
Crime severity in Québec City has risen over the past decade but levelled off: the Québec CMA’s CSI rose from 42.2 in 2015 to a peak of 55.5 in 2024, then edged down 1% to 55.0 in 2025, according to Statistics Canada. Montréal’s CSI fell 5% in 2025 to 61.3, almost exactly its 2015 level of 61.5.
| Year | Montréal CMA CSI | Québec CMA CSI | Gap (points) | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 61.5 | 42.2 | 19.3 | 70.4 |
| 2017 | 59.1 | 48.2 | 10.9 | 73.6 |
| 2019 | 57.9 | 43.7 | 14.2 | 79.7 |
| 2021 | 59.3 | 42.8 | 16.6 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 61.9 | 47.5 | 14.4 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 64.1 | 53.8 | 10.3 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 64.4 | 55.5 | 8.9 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 61.3 | 55.0 | 6.3 | 75.0 |
Gap = Montréal CSI minus Québec CSI, our calculation. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
Québec’s index jumped about 13% in 2023 alone, and the gap with Montréal has narrowed every year since 2021. In 2025 it was the smallest in the 2015–2025 series (our calculations). Québec City is still below the provincial CSI of 61.6; for the rest of the province, see safest cities in Quebec and most dangerous cities in Quebec.
How to check crime near an address in Montréal or Québec City
- Montréal: the SPVM publishes every reported crime as open data, mapped by street segment. Our Montréal crime map guide explains it, and our monthly Montréal crime report summarizes the latest figures (in French: criminalité à Montréal).
- Québec City: the Service de police de la Ville de Québec does not publish a public crime map; our Quebec City crime map guide explains what is available instead.
- Compare like with like: the same offence types over the same period for the area you are considering and one you know.
- Visit at different times: nightlife districts, transit hubs and malls record more incidents than most residential streets.
Our guide how to check crime in your neighbourhood works for any Canadian city.
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Montréal vs Québec City crime FAQ
Is Québec City safer than Montréal?
Yes, on Statistics Canada’s 2025 data. The Québec CMA’s Crime Severity Index was 55.0 against Montréal’s 61.3, and its crime rate was 3,493 per 100,000 against 3,641.
Is crime increasing in Québec City?
Québec’s CSI rose about 30% between 2015 and 2025, peaking at 55.5 in 2024, and edged down 1% in 2025.
Does Montréal have more car theft than Québec City?
Yes. Montréal’s motor vehicle theft rate was 197 per 100,000 in 2025, about 2.4 times Québec’s 83.
How many homicides were there in Montréal and Québec City in 2025?
The Montréal CMA had 52 homicide victims (1.12 per 100,000) and the Québec CMA 4 (0.45 per 100,000), according to Statistics Canada.
Which is the safest big city in Quebec?
Among Quebec’s metro areas, Saguenay (CSI 49.3) and Sherbrooke (50.3) had the lowest crime severity in 2025, followed by Québec (55.0).
Related: is Montréal safe? · is Québec City safe? · Toronto vs Montréal vs Vancouver crime · is Gatineau safe? · crime rate in Canada by city · criminalité à Québec. In an emergency call 911.