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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,684 per month in Portugal vs $2,215 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,485 per month in Portugal vs $3,237 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,285 per month in Portugal vs $4,258 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Portugal is roughly 24% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Portugal and Canada are pricier than the global median – Portugal by 23%, Canada by 62%.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($906$3,718) than in Portugal ($1,066$2,296), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.67 €11.92
$17.71 CA$24.77
-22.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 €45.53
$71.1 CA$99.4
-26.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.29 €8.97
$10.90 CA$15.25
-5.60%
Cappuccino
$2.13 €1.86
$3.82 CA$5.34
-44.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.80
$2.12 CA$2.97
-2.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.25
$1.75 CA$2.45
-18.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 €2.56
$5.77 CA$8.07
-49.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$5.72 CA$8.00
-39.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$2.27 CA$3.18
-52.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 €1.47
$2.60 CA$3.63
-35.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 €1.40
$3.57 CA$4.99
-55.18%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.05
$3.64 CA$5.09
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.92 €10.39
$11.03 CA$15.43
8.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.69 €6.70
$12.02 CA$16.82
-36.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.38 €13.41
$15.70 CA$21.97
-2.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.01
$4.18 CA$5.84
-44.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 €1.32
$1.40 CA$1.96
8.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$3.80 CA$5.31
-51.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.23
$3.98 CA$5.57
-35.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 €1.50
$2.65 CA$3.71
-35.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$2.54 CA$3.55
-19.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$2.64 CA$3.70
-43.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.72
$1.79 CA$2.50
-54.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59 €5.75
$14.23 CA$19.91
-53.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.77 €5.03
$13.22 CA$18.49
-56.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.17
$2.98 CA$4.17
-54.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.99
$3.20 CA$4.48
-28.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Portugal
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.47 CA$3.45
-7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €39.97
$73.5 CA$103
-37.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.45
$3.26 CA$4.56
21.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.54 CA$2.15
-29.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.14 €14.94
$27.66 CA$38.69
-38.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.81
$1.20 CA$1.67
72.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €30.0K
$28.0K CA$39.1K
22.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K €34.9K
$19.4K CA$27.1K
106.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 €122
$151 CA$212
-7.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.69 €18.03
$43.37 CA$60.7
-52.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.48 €36.16
$59.8 CA$83.6
-30.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.02 €38.37
$40.88 CA$57.2
7.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.04 €13.98
$19.81 CA$27.71
-19.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48 €8.27
$11.39 CA$15.93
-16.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$514 €448
$783 CA$1,095
-34.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.4K
$14.6K CA$20.5K
-18.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3 €79.6
$55.1 CA$77.1
65.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.73 €35.51
$39.66 CA$55.5
2.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 €78.4
$89.3 CA$125
0.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 €89.8
$103 CA$145
-0.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portugal
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 €913
$1,299 CA$1,817
-19.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$849 €740
$1,157 CA$1,618
-26.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,830 €1,595
$2,025 CA$2,833
-9.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 €1,178
$1,779 CA$2,489
-24.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,072 €3,549
$4,679 CA$6,545
-12.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,928 €2,553
$3,883 CA$5,432
-24.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portugal
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,346 €1,173
$3,043 CA$4,257
-55.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.75
4.86
-22.84%

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

Last update for Portugal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $989 in Portugal vs $1,221 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,493 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $1,321 in Portugal vs $2,963 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 23% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 33% more in Canada.

Public transport is 54% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 124% 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
Portugal vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Portugal?
Portugal is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 38% 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 38% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to 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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