Cost of Living Comparison Between Maldives and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Maldives and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$6.11 MVR 94.3
$18.77 CA$26.22
-67.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.93 MVR 755
$74.2 CA$104
-34.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.46 MVR 146
$11.25 CA$15.71
-15.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.57 MVR 70.5
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 MVR 93.9
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13 MVR 48.23
$3.86 CA$5.39
-18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MVR 21.43
$2.19 CA$3.06
-36.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 MVR 4.89
$1.69 CA$2.36
-81.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.96 CA$8.32
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.91 CA$8.25
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 MVR 26.02
$2.29 CA$3.19
-26.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 MVR 24.04
$2.76 CA$3.85
-43.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 MVR 17.96
$3.60 CA$5.03
-67.78%
Eggs
$1.62 MVR 25.01
$3.50 CA$4.89
-53.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.76 MVR 120
$11.47 CA$16.01
-32.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.32 MVR 97.5
$12.38 CA$17.30
-48.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.66 MVR 149
$14.97 CA$20.90
-35.47%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 MVR 61.4
$4.22 CA$5.90
-5.69%
Banana (1kg)
$3.82 MVR 58.9
$1.51 CA$2.10
152.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.79 MVR 58.4
$3.90 CA$5.45
-2.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 MVR 54.9
$4.11 CA$5.73
-13.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 MVR 22.73
$2.79 CA$3.90
-47.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 MVR 18.86
$2.62 CA$3.66
-53.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 MVR 37.23
$2.66 CA$3.72
-9.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 MVR 9.51
$1.82 CA$2.53
-65.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$11.19 MVR 173
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 MVR 42.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 MVR 125
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.98 MVR 123
$14.71 CA$20.55
-45.75%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.87 CA$17.98
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.02 CA$4.21
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.39 CA$4.74
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maldives
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 MVR 9.62
$2.59 CA$3.62
-76.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.15 MVR 434
$78.1 CA$109
-63.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 MVR 30.66
$3.56 CA$4.97
-44.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 MVR 29.28
$1.47 CA$2.05
29.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.10 MVR 125
$29.11 CA$40.65
-72.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 MVR 15.05
$1.17 CA$1.63
-16.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K MVR 497.1K
$24.6K CA$34.4K
30.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K MVR 463.3K
$20.5K CA$28.6K
46.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 MVR 1,763
$154 CA$215
-25.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.80 MVR 645
$46.20 CA$64.5
-9.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 MVR 1,089
$63.1 CA$88.1
11.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 MVR 1,185
$42.87 CA$59.9
79.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.52 MVR 548
$17.61 CA$24.60
101.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 MVR 141
$11.46 CA$16.00
-19.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 MVR 2,638
$813 CA$1,136
-78.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,357 MVR 51.8K
$12.2K CA$17.1K
-72.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.07 MVR 649
$56.3 CA$78.6
-25.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 MVR 772
$41.36 CA$57.8
21.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.9 MVR 1,262
$89.0 CA$124
-8.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.2 MVR 820
$106 CA$149
-50.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maldives
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MVR 15.1K
$1,380 CA$1,927
-29.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$689 MVR 10.6K
$1,182 CA$1,651
-41.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 MVR 25.7K
$2,125 CA$2,968
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 MVR 21.5K
$1,889 CA$2,638
-26.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,607 MVR 40.2K
$4,826 CA$6,740
-45.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$843 MVR 13.0K
$3,896 CA$5,441
-78.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$799 MVR 12.3K
$2,947 CA$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.

Maldives vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries