Cost of Living Comparison Between Portugal and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Portugal and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,638 per month in Portugal vs $2,323 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,407 per month in Portugal vs $3,377 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,176 per month in Portugal vs $4,431 in Canada, rent included.

Portugal is roughly 29% cheaper than Canada on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Portugal and Canada are pricier than the global median – Portugal by 22%, Canada by 73%.

Both countries show comparable internal variation: Portugal spans $1,043$2,441, Canada spans $1,344$3,069. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80 €10.07
$18.33 CA$24.93
-35.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.9 €44.24
$72.4 CA$98.4
-28.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.28 €7.92
$10.87 CA$14.78
-14.63%
Cappuccino
$2.14 €1.82
$3.72 CA$5.06
-42.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.68
$2.10 CA$2.85
-6.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.68 CA$2.29
-18.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 €2.53
$5.99 CA$8.14
-50.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 €2.92
$5.73 CA$7.79
-40.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 €0.91
$2.22 CA$3.02
-52.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 €1.34
$2.80 CA$3.81
-43.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 €1.38
$3.66 CA$4.98
-55.74%
Eggs
$3.14 €2.68
$3.52 CA$4.79
-10.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.98 €10.22
$11.33 CA$15.42
5.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.62 €6.50
$12.52 CA$17.03
-39.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.38 €12.27
$15.15 CA$20.60
-5.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.96
$4.25 CA$5.79
-46.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 €1.29
$1.51 CA$2.05
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 €1.54
$3.96 CA$5.38
-54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.14
$4.19 CA$5.70
-40.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 €1.44
$2.75 CA$3.74
-38.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 €1.64
$2.73 CA$3.72
-29.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 €1.39
$2.57 CA$3.49
-36.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 €0.69
$1.87 CA$2.54
-56.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34 €5.41
$14.67 CA$19.95
-56.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.77 €4.92
$13.25 CA$18.02
-56.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.12
$2.91 CA$3.96
-54.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 €2.14
$3.33 CA$4.53
-24.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Portugal
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 €1.93
$2.64 CA$3.58
-14.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.87 €39.98
$77.7 CA$106
-39.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 €3.36
$3.37 CA$4.58
16.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 €0.86
$1.47 CA$2.00
-31.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.18 €14.66
$28.78 CA$39.14
-40.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.64
$1.15 CA$1.56
66.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.3K
$24.9K CA$33.9K
37.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K €34.0K
$20.3K CA$27.6K
96.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 €116
$156 CA$212
-13.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19 €18.07
$46.08 CA$62.7
-54.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.83 €36.53
$62.4 CA$84.8
-31.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.53 €37.99
$43.98 CA$59.8
1.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86 €14.38
$17.92 CA$24.38
-5.92%
Cinema Ticket
$8.76 €7.48
$11.43 CA$15.55
-23.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$508 €433
$815 CA$1,108
-37.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K €10.6K
$12.3K CA$16.7K
1.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3 €78.7
$55.9 CA$76.0
65.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.96 €33.23
$41.52 CA$56.5
-6.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 €76.3
$88.7 CA$121
0.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 €89.8
$109 CA$148
-3.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portugal
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 €929
$1,379 CA$1,876
-21.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$862 €735
$1,212 CA$1,649
-28.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,840 €1,569
$2,160 CA$2,938
-14.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 €1,128
$1,866 CA$2,537
-29.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 €3,408
$4,998 CA$6,797
-20.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,873 €2,451
$4,001 CA$5,441
-28.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,351 €1,152
$3,031 CA$4,123
-55.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.83
6.33
-23.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Portugal: April 28, 2026

Last update for Canada: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $936 in Portugal vs $1,283 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,475 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $1,328 in Portugal vs $3,008 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 37% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 42% more in Canada.

Public transport is 61% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 127% 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
Portugal vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Portugal?
Portugal is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 27% 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 Portugal, contributing to the overall 27% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Canada or Portugal?
$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Portugal, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Portugal?
Portugal 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.

Portugal vs other spots: cost of living compared

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