Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saudi Arabia and Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in Saudi Arabia: $1,284 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saudi Arabia
Canada
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,284
/mo nomad
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,310
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saudi Arabia and in Canada

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saudi Arabia and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,284 per month in Saudi Arabia vs $2,310 in Canada, rent included.

  • Saudi Arabia $1,284
  • Canada $2,310

A couple spends around $1,916 per month in Saudi Arabia vs $3,356 in Canada, rent included.

  • Saudi Arabia $1,916
  • Canada $3,356

A family of three spends $2,549 per month in Saudi Arabia vs $4,403 in Canada, rent included.

  • Saudi Arabia $2,549
  • Canada $4,403

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in Saudi Arabia ($674–$1,738), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Saudi Arabia is roughly 44% lower than in Canada on average.

Saudi Arabia sits 6% below the global median, while Canada is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.74 SAR 25.28
$18.16 CA$25.40
-62.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.36 SAR 151
$71.2 CA$99.6
-43.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.14 SAR 30.53
$10.81 CA$15.12
-24.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 SAR 7.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SAR 7.95
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.78 SAR 14.19
$3.78 CA$5.28
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 SAR 2.83
$2.11 CA$2.96
-64.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 SAR 1.02
$1.66 CA$2.32
-83.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.62 CA$7.86
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.72 CA$8.00
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SAR 6.39
$2.17 CA$3.04
-21.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 SAR 4.17
$2.60 CA$3.64
-57.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 SAR 8.30
$3.65 CA$5.11
-39.45%
Eggs
$2.67 SAR 10.01
$3.63 CA$5.07
-26.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.68 SAR 28.79
$10.76 CA$15.06
-28.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.86 SAR 29.48
$11.90 CA$16.64
-33.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.44 SAR 50.4
$15.42 CA$21.57
-12.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 SAR 8.10
$4.03 CA$5.63
-46.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 SAR 6.70
$1.38 CA$1.94
29.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 SAR 6.48
$3.88 CA$5.42
-55.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 SAR 6.34
$4.08 CA$5.71
-58.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 SAR 4.91
$2.57 CA$3.59
-49.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 SAR 4.99
$2.48 CA$3.46
-46.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 SAR 4.76
$2.65 CA$3.70
-52.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 SAR 2.32
$1.71 CA$2.40
-63.74%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.07 SAR 15.25
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 SAR 6.16
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 SAR 8.17
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.32 SAR 27.44
$14.32 CA$20.03
-48.88%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.49 CA$18.86
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.84 CA$3.97
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30 CA$4.62
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 SAR 4.12
$2.55 CA$3.57
-56.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.07 SAR 143
$71.9 CA$101
-47.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 SAR 10.26
$3.18 CA$4.45
-13.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.70 SAR 10.12
$1.54 CA$2.15
75.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.49 SAR 50.6
$26.69 CA$37.33
-49.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.26
$1.24 CA$1.74
-51.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K SAR 114.2K
$27.9K CA$39.0K
9.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K SAR 80.5K
$21.1K CA$29.5K
1.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.9 SAR 367
$147 CA$206
-33.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.85 SAR 119
$41.80 CA$58.5
-23.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 SAR 252
$60.2 CA$84.2
11.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.8 SAR 300
$39.01 CA$54.6
104.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.07 SAR 147
$19.06 CA$26.66
104.98%
Cinema Ticket
$13.92 SAR 52.2
$11.21 CA$15.68
24.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$458 SAR 1,718
$721 CA$1,009
-36.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,896 SAR 33.4K
$14.8K CA$20.8K
-40.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.43 SAR 182
$55.3 CA$77.3
-12.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 SAR 213
$38.95 CA$54.5
45.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 SAR 336
$87.4 CA$122
2.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 SAR 324
$101 CA$142
-14.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 SAR 2,404
$1,290 CA$1,805
-50.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 SAR 1,726
$1,130 CA$1,581
-59.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 SAR 3,781
$2,036 CA$2,848
-50.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$699 SAR 2,623
$1,731 CA$2,421
-59.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,013 SAR 7,551
$4,769 CA$6,670
-57.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,252 SAR 4,696
$3,730 CA$5,217
-66.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,864 SAR 6,992
$3,070 CA$4,293
-39.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.4
4.87
10.88%

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

Last update for Saudi Arabia: October 26, 2026

Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saudi Arabia
$460
Canada
$1.1K 146% $670
Groceries & Markets
Saudi Arabia
$206
Canada
$371 79.8% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saudi Arabia
$197
Canada
$249 26.7% $53
Eating Out
Saudi Arabia
$128
Canada
$278 117% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Saudi Arabia
$126
Canada
$127 0.7% $0.9
Sport & Entertainment
Saudi Arabia
$108
Canada
$61 43% $46
Getting Around
Saudi Arabia
$59
Canada
$93 58.5% $34

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $556 in Saudi Arabia vs $1,250 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,149 in Riyadh and $1,434 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $1,949 in Saudi Arabia vs $2,968 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 125% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 60% more in Canada.

Public transport is 74% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 52% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saudi Arabia.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇨🇦 Canada
🕒 Local time
05:27 5:27 AM
22:27 10:27 PM
7 h behind Saudi Arabia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
33,000,000
36,991,981
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.267 USD). 1 EUR = 4.18 SAR (1 SAR = 0.239 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saudi Arabia Canada 10,290 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Canada

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Saudi Arabia vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 44% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $556 in Saudi Arabia.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Saudi Arabia – part of why living there is about 44% cheaper overall.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Saudi Arabia?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Saudi Arabia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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