For one person, living is cheaper in Timor-Leste: $1,598 a month against $2,317 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Canada and in Timor-Leste
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 Timor-Leste actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,317 per month in Canada vs $1,598 in Timor-Leste, rent included.
Canada $2,317
Timor-Leste $1,598
A couple spends around $3,358 per month in Canada vs $2,482 in Timor-Leste, rent included.
Canada $3,358
Timor-Leste $2,482
A family of three spends $4,399 per month in Canada vs $3,366 in Timor-Leste, rent included.
Canada $4,399
Timor-Leste $3,366
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($884–$3,722) than in Timor-Leste ($1,619–$1,619), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Canada is about 45% higher than in Timor-Leste on average.
📊
Both Canada and Timor-Leste are pricier than the global median – Canada by 71%, Timor-Leste by 18%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.00CA$25.44
$5.11$5.11
252.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6CA$99.8
$35.38$35.38
99.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.78CA$15.24
$6.57$6.57
64.08%
Cappuccino
$3.74CA$5.29
$3.95$3.95
-5.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03CA$2.86
$1.80$1.80
12.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.42
$2.88$2.88
-40.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.56CA$7.87
$2.97$2.97
87.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64CA$7.98
$3.89$3.89
44.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26CA$3.19
$2.28$2.28
-0.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66CA$3.76
$2.42$2.42
9.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.50CA$4.94
$0.97$0.97
260.82%
Eggs
$3.64CA$5.14
$2.64$2.64
37.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.82CA$15.29
$1.94$1.94
457.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.82CA$16.71
$9.62$9.62
22.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.48CA$21.88
$15.83$15.83
-2.21%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14CA$5.85
$3.28$3.28
26.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43CA$2.02
$1.86$1.86
-23.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.84CA$5.43
$2.49$2.49
54.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.11CA$5.81
$2.31$2.31
77.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60CA$3.67
$1.20$1.20
116.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44CA$3.45
$1.20$1.20
103.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54CA$3.60
$0.86$0.86
195.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.42
$1.02$1.02
67.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.03CA$19.83
$3.03$3.03
363.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.34CA$18.85
$11.86$11.86
12.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92CA$4.13
$2.29$2.29
27.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18CA$4.50
$2.81$2.81
13.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42CA$3.43
$0.24$0.24
908.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.1CA$103
$42.44$42.44
72.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17CA$4.49
$3.60$3.60
-11.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45CA$2.05
$3.63$3.63
-60.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.76CA$37.83
$19.61$19.61
36.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23CA$1.74
$1.42$1.42
-13.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCA$38.9K
$20.1K$20.1K
36.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KCA$29.9K
$18.0K$18.0K
17.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146CA$207
$147$147
-0.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.95CA$60.7
$26.97$26.97
59.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3CA$82.4
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.50CA$57.3
$74.1$74.1
-45.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.38CA$27.40
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.17CA$15.79
$6.06$6.06
84.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$771CA$1,090
$1,527$1,527
-49.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KCA$20.5K
$15.9K$15.9K
-9.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9CA$76.2
$61.1$61.1
-11.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.89CA$55.0
$29.83$29.83
30.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3CA$125
$79.4$79.4
11.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$143
$59.1$59.1
71.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,262CA$1,784
$830$830
52.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,139CA$1,610
$745$745
52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,060CA$2,913
$2,689$2,689
-23.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,730CA$2,445
$1,533$1,533
12.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,554CA$6,438
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,933CA$5,560
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,050CA$4,312
$4,866$4,866
-37.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
5.37
-9.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: October 20, 2026
Last update for Timor-Leste: October 18, 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 49.2%
Timor-Leste
$745 46.6% ↓ 34.6%$394
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$372 16.1%
Timor-Leste
$274 17.2% ↓ 26.2%$97
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$275 11.9%
Timor-Leste
$149 9.3% ↓ 45.8%$126
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$248 10.7%
Timor-Leste
$174 * 10.9% ↓ 29.5%$73
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127 5.5%
Timor-Leste
$103 6.5% ↓ 18.7%$24
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$93 4%
Timor-Leste
$65 4.1% ↓ 30.1%$28
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$63 2.7%
Timor-Leste
$86 5.4% ↑ 37.2%$23
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.7K 39.3%
Timor-Leste
$1.5K 45.5% ↓ 11.4%$197
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$850 19.3%
Timor-Leste
$635 18.9% ↓ 25.2%$215
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$910 20.7%
Timor-Leste
$464 13.8% ↓ 49.1%$446
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$290 6.6%
Timor-Leste
$201 * 6% ↓ 30.7%$89
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$282 6.4%
Timor-Leste
$229 6.8% ↓ 18.7%$53
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$191 4.4%
Timor-Leste
$131 3.9% ↓ 31.6%$61
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$145 3.3%
Timor-Leste
$172 * 5.1% ↑ 18.9%$27
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,207 in Canada vs $815 in Timor-Leste. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,437 in Ottawa and $815 in Dili.
💰Average salary: $2,936 in Canada vs $3,531 in Timor-Leste. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 48% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 28% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 90% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 20% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
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 Timor-Leste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 45% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,207 versus $815 in Timor-Leste.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Timor-Leste, adding to the overall 45% price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Timor-Leste?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Timor-Leste, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste 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.