Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Sierra Leone Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Sierra Leone

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,320 per month in Canada vs $1,970 in Sierra Leone, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,377 per month in Canada vs $1,723 in Sierra Leone, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,433 per month in Canada vs $1,475 in Sierra Leone, rent included.

Canada costs about 18% more than Sierra Leone on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Canada and Sierra Leone are pricier than the global median – Canada by 73%, Sierra Leone by 47%.

Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,320$3,077) than Sierra Leone ($1,970$1,970), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.77 CA$26.22
$2.96 SLL 67.3K
534.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 CA$104
$32.79 SLL 744.5K
126.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.25 CA$15.71
$9.89 SLL 224.7K
13.75%
Cappuccino
$3.86 CA$5.39
$1.71 SLL 38.8K
125.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 CA$3.06
$0.97 SLL 22.0K
125.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$0.79 SLL 18.0K
113.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 CA$8.32
$1.52 SLL 34.5K
292.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 CA$8.25
$2.78 SLL 63.2K
112.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.29 CA$3.19
$2.47 SLL 56.0K
-7.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 CA$3.85
$0.69 SLL 15.8K
300.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.03
$1.35 SLL 30.6K
166.67%
Eggs
$3.50 CA$4.89
$2.06 SLL 46.8K
69.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 CA$16.01
$7.21 SLL 163.6K
59.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.38 CA$17.30
$7.46 SLL 169.4K
65.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.97 CA$20.90
$5.38 SLL 122.1K
178.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.90
$3.95 SLL 89.7K
6.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 CA$2.10
$1.97 SLL 44.8K
-23.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.45
$0.73 SLL 16.5K
434.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.73
$5.01 SLL 113.9K
-17.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 CA$3.90
$2.06 SLL 46.8K
35.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.66
$1.66 SLL 37.6K
57.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.66 CA$3.72
$0.98 SLL 22.4K
171.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 CA$2.53
$1.42 SLL 32.3K
28.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.71 CA$20.55
$1.87 SLL 42.5K
686.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.87 CA$17.98
$7.57 SLL 172.0K
70.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.02 CA$4.21
$1.44 SLL 32.7K
109.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 CA$4.74
$2.12 SLL 48.0K
59.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.59 CA$3.62
$0.47 SLL 10.7K
451.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.1 CA$109
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 CA$4.97
$0.73 SLL 16.6K
387.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.05
$1.28 SLL 29.0K
14.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.11 CA$40.65
$4.91 SLL 111.6K
492.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.63
$1.35 SLL 30.7K
-13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$34.4K
$12.2K SLL 276.9M
101.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K CA$28.6K
$24.6K SLL 559.4M
-16.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 CA$215
$145 SLL 3.3M
6.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.20 CA$64.5
$17.83 SLL 404.9K
159.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.1 CA$88.1
$75.7 SLL 1.7M
-16.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.87 CA$59.9
$51.0 SLL 1.2M
-15.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.61 CA$24.60
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 CA$16.00
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 CA$1,136
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K CA$17.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 CA$78.6
$9.90 SLL 224.8K
468.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.36 CA$57.8
$7.97 SLL 181.0K
418.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 CA$124
$20.39 SLL 462.9K
336.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$149
$49.29 SLL 1.1M
115.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 CA$1,927
$808 SLL 18.3M
70.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 CA$1,651
$1,250 SLL 28.4M
-5.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,125 CA$2,968
$2,093 SLL 47.5M
1.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 CA$2,638
$98.3 SLL 2.2M
1822.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,826 CA$6,740
$1,106 SLL 25.1M
336.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,896 CA$5,441
$1,098 SLL 24.9M
254.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Sierra Leone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,947 CA$4,115
$1,319 SLL 29.9M
123.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
0
-

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

Last update for Canada: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sierra Leone: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,279 in Canada vs $832 in Sierra Leone. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,500 in Ottawa and $832 in Freetown.

Average salary: $2,945 in Canada vs $1,327 in Sierra Leone. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 54% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 113% more in Canada.

Salaries are 122% 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 Sierra Leone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 12% 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 Sierra Leone, contributing to the overall 12% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or Sierra Leone?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sierra Leone, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone 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.

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