Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Ethiopia Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Ethiopia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,316 per month in Canada vs $786 in Ethiopia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Canada vs $1,185 in Ethiopia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,436 per month in Canada vs $1,584 in Ethiopia, rent included.

Canada costs about 195% more than Ethiopia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Canada sits 73% above the global median, while Ethiopia is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44 CA$25.53
$4.40 ETB 693
319.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 CA$103
$35.21 ETB 5,548
111.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 CA$15.07
$6.64 ETB 1,046
63.86%
Cappuccino
$3.90 CA$5.39
$1.16 ETB 183
236.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$2.99
$0.60 ETB 94.4
260.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.40
$0.46 ETB 73.0
276.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 CA$7.94
$1.02 ETB 160
462.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 CA$8.37
$2.03 ETB 321
198.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CA$3.05
$1.42 ETB 224
54.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.81
$1.29 ETB 203
113.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.07
$1.68 ETB 264
117.86%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.03
$2.48 ETB 391
46.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.72 CA$16.22
$7.22 ETB 1,138
62.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.28 CA$17.01
$12.54 ETB 1,976
-2.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.88 CA$20.60
$13.08 ETB 2,062
13.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 CA$5.73
$6.25 ETB 985
-33.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.01
$0.98 ETB 155
47.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.25
$2.30 ETB 363
64.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 CA$5.66
$0.85 ETB 134
381.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 CA$3.78
$0.64 ETB 100
326.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 CA$3.83
$1.88 ETB 296
47.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 CA$3.62
$0.73 ETB 115
258.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CA$2.59
$0.67 ETB 106
179.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.79 CA$20.48
$3.92 ETB 618
277.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.08 CA$18.11
$5.37 ETB 847
143.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03 CA$4.19
$0.84 ETB 133
260.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 CA$4.72
$1.84 ETB 290
85.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 CA$3.49
$0.27 ETB 42.41
833.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 CA$108
$12.42 ETB 1,957
526.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 CA$4.83
$1.48 ETB 233
135.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.04
$0.31 ETB 49.27
377.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.25 CA$39.12
$1.96 ETB 308
1341.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.59
$1.25 ETB 197
-8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.2K
$53.3K ETB 8.4M
-52.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K CA$28.6K
$53.3K ETB 8.4M
-61.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 CA$214
$135 ETB 21.2K
14.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.76 CA$63.4
$11.93 ETB 1,880
283.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 CA$86.1
$155 ETB 24.4K
-59.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.67 CA$60.5
$62.1 ETB 9,791
-29.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$25.11
$36.89 ETB 5,813
-50.83%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 CA$15.76
$5.12 ETB 807
122.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$798 CA$1,104
$77.2 ETB 12.2K
933.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K CA$16.8K
$39.8K ETB 6.3M
-69.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 CA$78.7
$48.27 ETB 7,607
17.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.19 CA$58.4
$76.6 ETB 12.1K
-44.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 CA$122
$98.9 ETB 15.6K
-11.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$147
$117 ETB 18.4K
-8.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 CA$1,882
$682 ETB 107.4K
99.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 CA$1,667
$379 ETB 59.8K
217.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 CA$2,957
$1,406 ETB 221.6K
51.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,860 CA$2,575
$891 ETB 140.4K
108.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,642 CA$6,427
$1,790 ETB 282.1K
159.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,852 CA$5,333
$1,005 ETB 158.4K
283.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Ethiopia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,029 CA$4,194
$203 ETB 32.0K
1390.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
17
-62.76%

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

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ethiopia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $212 in Ethiopia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,500 in Ottawa and $758 in Addis Ababa.

Average salary: $2,972 in Canada vs $184 in Ethiopia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 504% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 240% more in Canada.

Public transport is 1525% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 1515% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.

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 Ethiopia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 219% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Ethiopia, contributing to the overall 219% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Canada or Ethiopia?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Ethiopia, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Ethiopia?
Ethiopia 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.

Canada vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries