For one person, living is cheaper in Saudi Arabia: $1,284 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Canada and in Saudi Arabia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Canada and in Saudi Arabia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,310 per month in Canada vs $1,284 in Saudi Arabia, rent included.
Canada $2,310
Saudi Arabia $1,284
A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Canada vs $1,916 in Saudi Arabia, rent included.
Canada $3,356
Saudi Arabia $1,916
A family of three spends $4,403 per month in Canada vs $2,549 in Saudi Arabia, rent included.
Canada $4,403
Saudi Arabia $2,549
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in Saudi Arabia ($674–$1,738), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Canada is about 80% higher than in Saudi Arabia on average.
📊
Canada sits 70% above the global median, while Saudi Arabia is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16CA$25.40
$6.74SAR 25.28
169.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2CA$99.6
$40.36SAR 151
76.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81CA$15.12
$8.14SAR 30.53
32.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.99SAR 7.46
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.12SAR 7.95
-
Cappuccino
$3.78CA$5.28
$3.78SAR 14.19
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11CA$2.96
$0.75SAR 2.83
181.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66CA$2.32
$0.27SAR 1.02
514.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62CA$7.86
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CA$8.00
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CA$3.04
$1.70SAR 6.39
27.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60CA$3.64
$1.11SAR 4.17
134.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.11
$2.21SAR 8.30
65.16%
Eggs
$3.63CA$5.07
$2.67SAR 10.01
35.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76CA$15.06
$7.68SAR 28.79
40.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.90CA$16.64
$7.86SAR 29.48
51.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.42CA$21.57
$13.44SAR 50.4
14.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.03CA$5.63
$2.16SAR 8.10
86.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38CA$1.94
$1.79SAR 6.70
-22.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88CA$5.42
$1.73SAR 6.48
124.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08CA$5.71
$1.69SAR 6.34
141.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.57CA$3.59
$1.31SAR 4.91
96.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.48CA$3.46
$1.33SAR 4.99
86.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65CA$3.70
$1.27SAR 4.76
108.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.40
$0.62SAR 2.32
175.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.07SAR 15.25
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.64SAR 6.16
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.18SAR 8.17
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32CA$20.03
$7.32SAR 27.44
95.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.49CA$18.86
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84CA$3.97
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30CA$4.62
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55CA$3.57
$1.10SAR 4.12
131.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.9CA$101
$38.07SAR 143
88.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18CA$4.45
$2.74SAR 10.26
16.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54CA$2.15
$2.70SAR 10.12
-42.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.69CA$37.33
$13.49SAR 50.6
97.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CA$1.74
$0.60SAR 2.26
106.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KCA$39.0K
$30.4KSAR 114.2K
-8.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KCA$29.5K
$21.5KSAR 80.5K
-1.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147CA$206
$97.9SAR 367
50.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.80CA$58.5
$31.85SAR 119
31.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2CA$84.2
$67.1SAR 252
-10.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.01CA$54.6
$79.8SAR 300
-51.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06CA$26.66
$39.07SAR 147
-51.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21CA$15.68
$13.92SAR 52.2
-19.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721CA$1,009
$458SAR 1,718
57.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8KCA$20.8K
$8,896SAR 33.4K
66.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3CA$77.3
$48.43SAR 182
14.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95CA$54.5
$56.7SAR 213
-31.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4CA$122
$89.5SAR 336
-2.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$142
$86.3SAR 324
17.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,290CA$1,805
$641SAR 2,404
101.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,130CA$1,581
$460SAR 1,726
145.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,036CA$2,848
$1,008SAR 3,781
102.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,731CA$2,421
$699SAR 2,623
147.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,769CA$6,670
$2,013SAR 7,551
136.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,730CA$5,217
$1,252SAR 4,696
197.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,070CA$4,293
$1,864SAR 6,992
64.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
5.4
-9.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026
Last update for Saudi Arabia: 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.1K 48.9%
Saudi Arabia
$460 35.8% ↓ 59.3%$670
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$371 16.1%
Saudi Arabia
$206 16.1% ↓ 44.4%$165
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$278 12%
Saudi Arabia
$128 10% ↓ 54%$150
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$249 10.8%
Saudi Arabia
$197 15.3% ↓ 21.1%$53
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127 5.5%
Saudi Arabia
$126 9.9% ↓ 0.7%$0.9
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$93 4%
Saudi Arabia
$59 4.6% ↓ 36.9%$34
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$61 2.7%
Saudi Arabia
$108 8.4% ↑ 75.3%$46
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.7K 39.3%
Saudi Arabia
$699 27.5% ↓ 59.6%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$847 19.2%
Saudi Arabia
$505 19.8% ↓ 40.3%$342
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$918 20.9%
Saudi Arabia
$461 18.1% ↓ 49.8%$458
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$291 6.6%
Saudi Arabia
$229 9% ↓ 21.5%$63
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$283 6.4%
Saudi Arabia
$281 11% ↓ 0.7%$2
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$191 4.3%
Saudi Arabia
$120 4.7% ↓ 37.4%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$142 3.2%
Saudi Arabia
$254 10% ↑ 79.3%$113
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,250 in Canada vs $556 in Saudi Arabia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,434 in Ottawa and $1,149 in Riyadh.
💰Average salary: $2,968 in Canada vs $1,949 in Saudi Arabia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 125% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 60% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 74% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 52% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saudi Arabia.
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
Canada vs Saudi Arabia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 44% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $556 in Saudi Arabia.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Saudi Arabia – part of why living there is about 44% cheaper overall.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Saudi Arabia?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.