Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Rico and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Rico and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,415 per month in Puerto Rico vs $2,217 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,178 per month in Puerto Rico vs $3,254 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,941 per month in Puerto Rico vs $4,291 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Puerto Rico is roughly 36% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Puerto Rico and Canada are pricier than the global median – Puerto Rico by 3%, Canada by 61%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.97 $13.97
$18.28 CA$25.41
-23.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$71.2 CA$99.0
13.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$10.96 CA$15.23
-9.22%
Cappuccino
$3.35 $3.35
$3.95 CA$5.49
-15.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.07 CA$2.88
-19.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.74 CA$2.42
-20.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 $3.05
$5.93 CA$8.24
-48.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 $3.91
$5.69 CA$7.91
-31.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.23 CA$3.10
-2.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.71 CA$3.77
18.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 $2.30
$3.72 CA$5.17
-38.17%
Eggs
$5.74 $5.74
$3.61 CA$5.02
59.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.63 $10.63
$10.81 CA$15.02
-1.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 $8.54
$12.22 CA$16.99
-30.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.25 $12.25
$15.68 CA$21.80
-21.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$4.25 CA$5.90
9.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.43 CA$1.98
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$4.02 CA$5.59
13.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$4.09 CA$5.69
13.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$2.68 CA$3.73
31.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$2.45 CA$3.41
28.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.67 CA$3.71
7.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.80 CA$2.51
0.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.14 $12.14
$14.46 CA$20.10
-16.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.46 $15.46
$13.58 CA$18.88
13.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.84 CA$3.95
-18.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.26 CA$4.53
5.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.46 CA$3.42
-50.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.13 $30.13
$75.2 CA$104
-59.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.15 CA$4.38
-19.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.54 CA$2.15
-1.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.24 $41.24
$27.55 CA$38.30
49.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.16 CA$1.61
-16.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K $39.6K
$28.4K CA$39.4K
39.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$19.5K CA$27.1K
55.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 $292
$155 CA$215
88.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$43.47 CA$60.4
58.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$60.4 CA$84.0
21.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.51 $32.51
$41.15 CA$57.2
-21.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.14 $14.14
$19.79 CA$27.51
-28.55%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 $10.10
$11.53 CA$16.02
-12.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$686 $686
$786 CA$1,092
-12.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K $11.4K
$14.8K CA$20.6K
-22.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$55.0 CA$76.4
-1.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3 $52.3
$41.25 CA$57.4
26.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 $91.3
$88.1 CA$122
3.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$106 CA$147
-3.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,021 $1,021
$1,295 CA$1,801
-21.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$689 $689
$1,168 CA$1,623
-40.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,005 $2,005
$2,044 CA$2,841
-1.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$1,779 CA$2,473
-28.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,873 $5,873
$4,786 CA$6,654
22.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,408 $2,408
$3,973 CA$5,523
-39.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Rico
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,684 $2,684
$3,078 CA$4,279
-12.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
4.86
32.92%

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

Last update for Puerto Rico: September 5, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $376 in Puerto Rico vs $1,228 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,809 in San Juan and $1,496 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $2,383 in Puerto Rico vs $2,981 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 227% higher in Canada.

Public transport is 757% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 25% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Puerto Rico.

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
Puerto Rico vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 107% 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 Puerto Rico, contributing to the overall 107% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Puerto Rico?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Puerto Rico, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico 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.

Puerto Rico vs other spots: cost of living compared

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