🙂A single person spends $962 per month in Maldives vs $2,320 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,569 per month in Maldives vs $3,377 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,175 per month in Maldives vs $4,433 in Canada, rent included.
🙂Maldives is roughly 59% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Maldives sits 28% below the global median, while Canada is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Both countries show comparable internal variation: Maldives spans $43.00–$1,521, Canada spans $1,320–$3,077. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.11MVR 94.3
$18.77CA$26.22
-67.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.93MVR 755
$74.2CA$104
-34.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.46MVR 146
$11.25CA$15.71
-15.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.57MVR 70.5
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09MVR 93.9
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13MVR 48.23
$3.86CA$5.39
-18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MVR 21.43
$2.19CA$3.06
-36.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MVR 4.89
$1.69CA$2.36
-81.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.96CA$8.32
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.91CA$8.25
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69MVR 26.02
$2.29CA$3.19
-26.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56MVR 24.04
$2.76CA$3.85
-43.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16MVR 17.96
$3.60CA$5.03
-67.78%
Eggs
$1.62MVR 25.01
$3.50CA$4.89
-53.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.76MVR 120
$11.47CA$16.01
-32.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32MVR 97.5
$12.38CA$17.30
-48.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.66MVR 149
$14.97CA$20.90
-35.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98MVR 61.4
$4.22CA$5.90
-5.69%
Banana(1kg)
$3.82MVR 58.9
$1.51CA$2.10
152.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79MVR 58.4
$3.90CA$5.45
-2.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56MVR 54.9
$4.11CA$5.73
-13.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47MVR 22.73
$2.79CA$3.90
-47.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22MVR 18.86
$2.62CA$3.66
-53.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41MVR 37.23
$2.66CA$3.72
-9.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MVR 9.51
$1.82CA$2.53
-65.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$11.19MVR 173
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76MVR 42.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09MVR 125
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.98MVR 123
$14.71CA$20.55
-45.75%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.87CA$17.98
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.02CA$4.21
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.39CA$4.74
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maldives
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62MVR 9.62
$2.59CA$3.62
-76.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.15MVR 434
$78.1CA$109
-63.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.99MVR 30.66
$3.56CA$4.97
-44.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90MVR 29.28
$1.47CA$2.05
29.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.10MVR 125
$29.11CA$40.65
-72.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98MVR 15.05
$1.17CA$1.63
-16.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KMVR 497.1K
$24.6KCA$34.4K
30.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMVR 463.3K
$20.5KCA$28.6K
46.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114MVR 1,763
$154CA$215
-25.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.80MVR 645
$46.20CA$64.5
-9.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6MVR 1,089
$63.1CA$88.1
11.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.9MVR 1,185
$42.87CA$59.9
79.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.52MVR 548
$17.61CA$24.60
101.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18MVR 141
$11.46CA$16.00
-19.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171MVR 2,638
$813CA$1,136
-78.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,357MVR 51.8K
$12.2KCA$17.1K
-72.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.07MVR 649
$56.3CA$78.6
-25.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1MVR 772
$41.36CA$57.8
21.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.9MVR 1,262
$89.0CA$124
-8.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.2MVR 820
$106CA$149
-50.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maldives
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$979MVR 15.1K
$1,380CA$1,927
-29.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689MVR 10.6K
$1,182CA$1,651
-41.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,666MVR 25.7K
$2,125CA$2,968
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,395MVR 21.5K
$1,889CA$2,638
-26.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,607MVR 40.2K
$4,826CA$6,740
-45.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$843MVR 13.0K
$3,896CA$5,441
-78.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$799MVR 12.3K
$2,947CA$4,115
-72.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.4
6.33
95.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maldives: June 7, 2026
Last update for Canada: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $642 in Maldives vs $1,279 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $949 in Male and $1,500 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $741 in Maldives vs $2,945 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 99% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 353% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 442% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 297% 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
Maldives vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Maldives?
Maldives is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 181% 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 Maldives, contributing to the overall 181% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or Maldives?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Maldives, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Maldives?
Maldives 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.