Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Afghanistan and Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $555 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $21,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Afghanistan
Canada
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
$555
/mo nomad
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,310
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Afghanistan and in Canada

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Afghanistan and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $555 per month in Afghanistan vs $2,310 in Canada, rent included.

  • Afghanistan $555
  • Canada $2,310

A couple spends around $745 per month in Afghanistan vs $3,356 in Canada, rent included.

  • Afghanistan $745
  • Canada $3,356

A family of three spends $934 per month in Afghanistan vs $4,403 in Canada, rent included.

  • Afghanistan $934
  • Canada $4,403

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in Afghanistan ($24–$504), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Afghanistan is roughly 76% lower than in Canada on average.

Afghanistan sits 59% below the global median, while Canada is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25 ؋146
$18.16 CA$25.52
-87.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78 ؋700
$71.2 CA$100
-84.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.76 ؋244
$10.81 CA$15.19
-65.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 ؋132
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.61 ؋494
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.97 ؋62.8
$3.78 CA$5.31
-74.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ؋31.23
$2.11 CA$2.97
-77.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ؋11.04
$1.66 CA$2.33
-89.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.62 CA$7.89
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.72 CA$8.04
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 ؋52.9
$2.17 CA$3.06
-62.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.28 ؋18.33
$2.60 CA$3.66
-89.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ؋120
$3.65 CA$5.13
-49.32%
Eggs
$1.67 ؋109
$3.63 CA$5.10
-53.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.69 ؋305
$10.76 CA$15.12
-56.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 ؋239
$11.90 CA$16.72
-68.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.44 ؋418
$15.42 CA$21.67
-58.24%
Apples (1kg)
$0.68 ؋44.45
$4.03 CA$5.66
-83.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ؋65.7
$1.38 CA$1.95
-26.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 ؋66.2
$3.88 CA$5.44
-73.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 ؋37.37
$4.08 CA$5.74
-85.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 ؋36.01
$2.57 CA$3.61
-78.60%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 ؋28.35
$2.48 CA$3.48
-82.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 ؋23.49
$2.65 CA$3.72
-86.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 ؋24.46
$1.71 CA$2.41
-77.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.90 ؋123
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ؋45.21
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ؋66.0
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ؋154
$14.32 CA$20.12
-83.45%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.49 CA$18.95
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.84 CA$3.99
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30 CA$4.64
-
🚌 Getting Around
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ؋21.03
$2.55 CA$3.59
-87.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.55 ؋945
$71.9 CA$101
-79.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ؋92.2
$3.18 CA$4.47
-55.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 ؋28.82
$1.54 CA$2.16
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.72 ؋112
$26.69 CA$37.50
-93.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ؋72.1
$1.24 CA$1.75
-10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,359 ؋542.8K
$27.9K CA$39.2K
-70.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ؋2.3M
$21.1K CA$29.6K
65.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.1 ؋3,709
$147 CA$207
-61.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.94 ؋905
$41.80 CA$58.7
-66.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$165 ؋10.7K
$60.2 CA$84.6
173.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.77 ؋699
$39.01 CA$54.8
-72.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.05 ؋263
$19.06 CA$26.78
-78.75%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66 ؋173
$11.21 CA$15.75
-76.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$20.34 ؋1,321
$721 CA$1,013
-97.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,292 ؋83.9K
$14.8K CA$20.9K
-91.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.49 ؋876
$55.3 CA$77.7
-75.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.97 ؋1,167
$38.95 CA$54.7
-53.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.87 ؋2,849
$87.4 CA$123
-49.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.87 ؋2,070
$101 CA$142
-68.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 ؋7,586
$1,290 CA$1,813
-90.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$89.7 ؋5,827
$1,130 CA$1,588
-92.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 ؋13.1K
$2,036 CA$2,861
-90.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 ؋7,332
$1,731 CA$2,432
-93.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$664 ؋43.1K
$4,769 CA$6,700
-86.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$347 ؋22.6K
$3,730 CA$5,240
-90.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$261 ؋17.0K
$3,070 CA$4,313
-91.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.22
4.87
274.13%

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

Last update for Afghanistan: October 27, 2026

Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
$236
Canada
$249 5.7% $14
Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
$102
Canada
$371 264% $269
Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
$90
Canada
$1.1K 1159% $1K
Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
$48
Canada
$127 164% $79
Eating Out
Afghanistan
$43
Canada
$278 539% $234
Getting Around
Afghanistan
$19
Canada
$93 377% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
$16
Canada
$61 282% $45

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $89 in Afghanistan vs $1,250 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $122 in Kabul and $1,434 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $228 in Afghanistan vs $2,968 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1304% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 482% more in Canada.

Public transport is 288% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are about 13 times higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

Good to know
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇨🇦 Canada
🕒 Local time
04:43 4:43 AM
20:13 8:13 PM
8 h 30 min behind Afghanistan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
41,454,761
36,991,981
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to AFN – Afghanistan Afghani Converter

Afghanistan Afghani exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 64.94 AFN (100 AFN = 1.54 USD). 1 EUR = 72.39 AFN (100 AFN = 1.38 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.712 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Afghanistan Canada 10,450 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Afghanistan
  • Canada

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Afghanistan vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Afghanistan or Canada?
Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 76% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Afghanistan or in Canada?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $89 in Afghanistan.
How do daily expenses compare in Afghanistan vs Canada?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Afghanistan, adding to the overall 316% price gap.
Which country is better for expats: Afghanistan or Canada?
Afghanistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Afghanistan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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