🙂A single person spends $792 per month in Ethiopia vs $2,319 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,183 per month in Ethiopia vs $3,378 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,573 per month in Ethiopia vs $4,437 in Canada, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Ethiopia is roughly 66% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Ethiopia sits 41% below the global median, while Canada is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52ETB 717
$18.63CA$26.11
-75.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26ETB 5,589
$74.0CA$104
-52.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.37ETB 1,010
$10.92CA$15.31
-41.67%
Cappuccino
$1.20ETB 191
$3.76CA$5.28
-68.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63ETB 99.1
$2.19CA$3.07
-71.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46ETB 73.7
$1.74CA$2.43
-73.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.97ETB 154
$5.93CA$8.31
-83.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99ETB 315
$5.95CA$8.35
-66.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43ETB 227
$2.28CA$3.20
-37.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25ETB 198
$2.67CA$3.74
-53.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68ETB 266
$3.78CA$5.30
-55.56%
Eggs
$2.41ETB 381
$3.50CA$4.90
-31.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.97ETB 1,105
$11.70CA$16.40
-40.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.59ETB 1,995
$12.30CA$17.24
2.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.17ETB 2,087
$15.44CA$21.65
-14.70%
Apples(1kg)
$6.19ETB 981
$4.28CA$6.00
44.63%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98ETB 155
$1.45CA$2.04
-32.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30ETB 364
$4.01CA$5.62
-42.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86ETB 136
$4.27CA$5.98
-79.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67ETB 106
$2.69CA$3.77
-75.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90ETB 301
$2.65CA$3.71
-28.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69ETB 109
$2.64CA$3.70
-73.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62ETB 98.8
$1.89CA$2.65
-67.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96ETB 628
$14.77CA$20.71
-73.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.13ETB 813
$13.32CA$18.67
-61.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83ETB 132
$2.96CA$4.15
-71.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80ETB 285
$3.28CA$4.59
-45.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27ETB 42.30
$2.62CA$3.67
-89.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.55ETB 1,989
$78.1CA$110
-83.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48ETB 235
$3.42CA$4.79
-56.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31ETB 49.29
$1.50CA$2.10
-79.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.95ETB 309
$29.07CA$40.76
-93.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26ETB 200
$1.20CA$1.68
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.5KETB 8.5M
$25.5KCA$35.7K
109.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.5KETB 8.5M
$20.6KCA$28.8K
160.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131ETB 20.7K
$152CA$212
-13.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.13ETB 1,923
$46.70CA$65.5
-74.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$159ETB 25.3K
$61.8CA$86.7
157.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.4ETB 9,884
$43.36CA$60.8
43.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.87ETB 5,845
$18.05CA$25.31
104.27%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07ETB 803
$11.51CA$16.13
-55.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$78.5ETB 12.4K
$806CA$1,130
-90.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.7KETB 6.4M
$12.1KCA$17.0K
234.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.76ETB 7,412
$55.4CA$77.6
-15.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.5ETB 12.0K
$41.80CA$58.6
80.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9ETB 15.5K
$89.7CA$126
9.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120ETB 19.0K
$106CA$149
13.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689ETB 109.1K
$1,329CA$1,864
-48.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$378ETB 59.9K
$1,207CA$1,692
-68.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,366ETB 216.4K
$2,112CA$2,961
-35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$869ETB 137.7K
$1,833CA$2,570
-52.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,785ETB 282.9K
$4,639CA$6,503
-61.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,009ETB 159.8K
$3,849CA$5,396
-73.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ethiopia
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$203ETB 32.2K
$2,948CA$4,133
-93.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
6.33
168.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ethiopia: July 14, 2026
Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $206 in Ethiopia vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $732 in Addis Ababa and $1,481 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $182 in Ethiopia vs $2,904 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 522% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 240% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 1525% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 1496% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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
Ethiopia vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 213% 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 213% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to 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.