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.
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
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25؋146
$18.16CA$25.52
-87.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78؋700
$71.2CA$100
-84.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.76؋244
$10.81CA$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
$3.78CA$5.31
-74.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48؋31.23
$2.11CA$2.97
-77.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17؋11.04
$1.66CA$2.33
-89.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.62CA$7.89
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.72CA$8.04
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81؋52.9
$2.17CA$3.06
-62.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28؋18.33
$2.60CA$3.66
-89.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85؋120
$3.65CA$5.13
-49.32%
Eggs
$1.67؋109
$3.63CA$5.10
-53.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.69؋305
$10.76CA$15.12
-56.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.69؋239
$11.90CA$16.72
-68.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.44؋418
$15.42CA$21.67
-58.24%
Apples(1kg)
$0.68؋44.45
$4.03CA$5.66
-83.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01؋65.7
$1.38CA$1.95
-26.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02؋66.2
$3.88CA$5.44
-73.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58؋37.37
$4.08CA$5.74
-85.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55؋36.01
$2.57CA$3.61
-78.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44؋28.35
$2.48CA$3.48
-82.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36؋23.49
$2.65CA$3.72
-86.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38؋24.46
$1.71CA$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
$14.32CA$20.12
-83.45%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$13.49CA$18.95
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.84CA$3.99
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30CA$4.64
-
🚌 Getting Around
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32؋21.03
$2.55CA$3.59
-87.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.55؋945
$71.9CA$101
-79.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42؋92.2
$3.18CA$4.47
-55.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44؋28.82
$1.54CA$2.16
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72؋112
$26.69CA$37.50
-93.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11؋72.1
$1.24CA$1.75
-10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,359؋542.8K
$27.9KCA$39.2K
-70.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K؋2.3M
$21.1KCA$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
$147CA$207
-61.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.94؋905
$41.80CA$58.7
-66.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$165؋10.7K
$60.2CA$84.6
173.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.77؋699
$39.01CA$54.8
-72.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.05؋263
$19.06CA$26.78
-78.75%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66؋173
$11.21CA$15.75
-76.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$20.34؋1,321
$721CA$1,013
-97.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,292؋83.9K
$14.8KCA$20.9K
-91.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.49؋876
$55.3CA$77.7
-75.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.97؋1,167
$38.95CA$54.7
-53.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.87؋2,849
$87.4CA$123
-49.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.87؋2,070
$101CA$142
-68.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117؋7,586
$1,290CA$1,813
-90.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$89.7؋5,827
$1,130CA$1,588
-92.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202؋13.1K
$2,036CA$2,861
-90.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113؋7,332
$1,731CA$2,432
-93.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$664؋43.1K
$4,769CA$6,700
-86.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$347؋22.6K
$3,730CA$5,240
-90.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Afghanistan
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$261؋17.0K
$3,070CA$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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
$236 42.5%
Canada
$249 10.8% ↑ 5.7%$14
🛒Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
$102 18.4%
Canada
$371 16.1% ↑ 264%$269
🏠Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
$90 16.2%
Canada
$1.1K 48.9% ↑ 1159%$1K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
$48 8.7%
Canada
$127 5.5% ↑ 164%$79
🍽Eating Out
Afghanistan
$43 7.8%
Canada
$278 12% ↑ 539%$234
🚌Getting Around
Afghanistan
$19 3.5%
Canada
$93 4% ↑ 377%$74
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
$16 2.9%
Canada
$61 2.7% ↑ 282%$45
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Afghanistan
$250 26.8%
Canada
$291 6.6% ↑ 16.6%$41
🛒Groceries & Markets
Afghanistan
$248 26.6%
Canada
$847 19.2% ↑ 241%$599
🏠Accommodation & Living
Afghanistan
$113 12.1%
Canada
$1.7K 39.3% ↑ 1433%$1.6K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Afghanistan
$107 11.5%
Canada
$283 6.4% ↑ 164%$176
🍽Eating Out
Afghanistan
$140 15%
Canada
$918 20.9% ↑ 555%$778
🚌Getting Around
Afghanistan
$40 4.2%
Canada
$191 4.3% ↑ 382%$152
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Afghanistan
$36 3.9%
Canada
$142 3.2% ↑ 291%$106
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.
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