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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $967 per month in Maldives vs $2,320 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,566 per month in Maldives vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,165 per month in Maldives vs $4,432 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Maldives is roughly 58% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Maldives sits 27% below the global median, while Canada is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Cost ranges are similar: Maldives spans $44.00$1,550, Canada $1,313$3,141. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07 MVR 93.6
$18.11 CA$25.38
-66.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.95 MVR 755
$73.9 CA$104
-33.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 MVR 152
$11.22 CA$15.72
-11.94%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.84 MVR 74.7
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99 MVR 92.3
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.11 MVR 47.94
$3.78 CA$5.30
-17.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MVR 21.56
$2.16 CA$3.03
-35.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MVR 5.27
$1.76 CA$2.46
-80.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.87 CA$8.22
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.90 CA$8.27
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MVR 26.29
$2.20 CA$3.08
-22.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 MVR 23.06
$2.79 CA$3.92
-46.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 MVR 18.07
$3.64 CA$5.10
-67.86%
Eggs
$1.57 MVR 24.19
$3.52 CA$4.94
-55.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.16 MVR 126
$11.44 CA$16.02
-28.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.07 MVR 93.6
$12.51 CA$17.53
-51.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.09 MVR 156
$15.01 CA$21.04
-32.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 MVR 61.8
$4.21 CA$5.91
-4.75%
Banana (1kg)
$3.71 MVR 57.2
$1.43 CA$2.00
159.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.73 MVR 57.5
$3.94 CA$5.52
-5.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 MVR 55.0
$4.14 CA$5.81
-14.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 MVR 21.93
$2.77 CA$3.88
-48.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 MVR 18.08
$2.77 CA$3.89
-57.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 MVR 38.81
$2.55 CA$3.58
-1.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 MVR 9.95
$1.86 CA$2.61
-65.05%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$11.46 MVR 177
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 MVR 40.85
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.21 MVR 127
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78 MVR 120
$14.58 CA$20.43
-46.64%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.23 CA$18.54
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.94 CA$4.11
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.27 CA$4.58
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maldives
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MVR 9.66
$2.61 CA$3.65
-75.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.53 MVR 440
$78.3 CA$110
-63.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 MVR 30.26
$3.51 CA$4.92
-44.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 MVR 30.96
$1.55 CA$2.17
29.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 MVR 125
$28.70 CA$40.22
-71.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 MVR 14.22
$1.20 CA$1.68
-23.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K MVR 501.7K
$24.6K CA$34.5K
32.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K MVR 469.6K
$20.6K CA$28.8K
48.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 MVR 1,790
$155 CA$217
-25.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.88 MVR 630
$46.34 CA$64.9
-11.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.9 MVR 1,093
$63.5 CA$89.0
11.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.7 MVR 1,198
$42.90 CA$60.1
81.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.00 MVR 540
$17.87 CA$25.04
95.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 MVR 140
$11.50 CA$16.11
-21.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 MVR 2,630
$815 CA$1,142
-79.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,328 MVR 51.3K
$12.0K CA$16.9K
-72.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.24 MVR 651
$55.7 CA$78.0
-24.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.74 MVR 767
$42.56 CA$59.6
16.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.2 MVR 1,268
$88.2 CA$124
-6.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.1 MVR 835
$108 CA$151
-49.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maldives
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MVR 15.1K
$1,332 CA$1,866
-26.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 MVR 10.5K
$1,177 CA$1,649
-41.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 MVR 25.1K
$2,194 CA$3,074
-25.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 MVR 21.6K
$1,888 CA$2,645
-25.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,622 MVR 40.4K
$4,592 CA$6,435
-42.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$757 MVR 11.7K
$3,805 CA$5,332
-80.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maldives
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$779 MVR 12.0K
$2,913 CA$4,081
-73.27%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Canada: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $651 in Maldives vs $1,283 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $961 in Male and $1,468 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $732 in Maldives vs $2,911 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 97% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 353% more in Canada.

Public transport is 442% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 298% 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
Maldives vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Maldives?
Maldives is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 179% 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 179% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to 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

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