😐A single person spends $2,211 per month in Canada vs $577 in Barbados, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,243 per month in Canada vs $1,081 in Barbados, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,275 per month in Canada vs $1,584 in Barbados, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Canada is about 283% higher than in Barbados on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Canada sits 61% above the global median, while Barbados is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.87CA$24.63
$22.26BBD 44.53
-19.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.7CA$100
$102BBD 203
-28.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01CA$15.16
$9.83BBD 19.66
12.00%
Cappuccino
$3.89CA$5.36
$4.88BBD 9.75
-20.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09CA$2.88
$1.95BBD 3.91
7.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.35
$1.43BBD 2.85
19.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67CA$7.82
$2.47BBD 4.94
129.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61CA$7.73
$3.97BBD 7.94
41.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.30CA$3.16
$3.63BBD 7.26
-36.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75CA$3.79
$2.80BBD 5.61
-1.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.15
$3.92BBD 7.83
-4.59%
Eggs
$3.60CA$4.97
$5.49BBD 10.99
-34.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.96CA$15.10
$7.35BBD 14.69
49.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.30CA$16.94
$10.60BBD 21.20
16.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.73CA$21.68
$9.90BBD 19.80
58.89%
Apples(1kg)
$4.22CA$5.82
$4.70BBD 9.41
-10.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48CA$2.04
$3.35BBD 6.70
-55.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00CA$5.51
$5.92BBD 11.85
-32.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.97CA$5.47
$6.33BBD 12.66
-37.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.63CA$3.63
$5.33BBD 10.67
-50.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58CA$3.56
$3.82BBD 7.63
-32.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65CA$3.65
$2.81BBD 5.61
-5.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.39
$2.50BBD 4.99
-30.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22CA$19.59
$9.05BBD 18.11
57.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.68CA$18.85
$15.82BBD 31.65
-13.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97CA$4.09
$1.98BBD 3.96
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23CA$4.45
$3.11BBD 6.22
3.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.59CA$3.56
$1.79BBD 3.58
44.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.1CA$105
$13.39BBD 26.79
468.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.24CA$4.46
$9.66BBD 19.31
-66.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54CA$2.12
$3.71BBD 7.43
-58.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.44CA$37.81
$40.56BBD 81.1
-32.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20CA$1.65
$2.00BBD 3.99
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KCA$38.7K
$37.3KBBD 74.5K
-24.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0KCA$27.6K
$38.3KBBD 76.5K
-47.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155CA$214
$174BBD 348
-10.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.30CA$58.3
$50.8BBD 102
-16.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1CA$84.2
$78.1BBD 156
-21.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.39CA$58.4
$77.1BBD 154
-45.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.20CA$27.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.71CA$16.13
$10.07BBD 20.15
16.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$770CA$1,062
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KCA$20.2K
$5,001BBD 10.0K
192.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2CA$76.0
$51.5BBD 103
7.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.34CA$55.6
$39.74BBD 79.5
1.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3CA$124
$95.4BBD 191
-5.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$147
$70.2BBD 140
51.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,285CA$1,771
$872BBD 1,745
47.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148CA$1,582
$833BBD 1,665
37.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034CA$2,803
$1,812BBD 3,624
12.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,767CA$2,434
$1,923BBD 3,846
-8.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,750CA$6,545
$3,491BBD 6,981
36.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,845CA$5,298
$3,474BBD 6,949
10.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,958CA$4,076
$1,471BBD 2,941
101.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
8.39
-41.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: August 15, 2026
Last update for Barbados: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,227 in Canada vs $236 in Barbados. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,461 in Ottawa and $1,056 in Bridgetown.
💰Average salary: $2,960 in Canada vs $2,018 in Barbados. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 420% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 61% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 2850% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 47% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Barbados.
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
Canada vs Barbados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Barbados and Canada compare in cost of living?
Barbados is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 99% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Barbados and Canada?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Barbados or Canada?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Barbados, contributing to the overall 99% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $3,000 go in Barbados compared to Canada?
$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Barbados, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Barbados and in Canada?
Barbados is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.