Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,734 per month in Sierra Leone vs $2,217 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,429 per month in Sierra Leone vs $3,254 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,124 per month in Sierra Leone vs $4,291 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Sierra Leone is roughly 22% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Sierra Leone and Canada are pricier than the global median – Sierra Leone by 26%, Canada by 61%.

The regional cost range is wider in Sierra Leone ($1,734$1,734) than in Canada ($912$3,779), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 SLL 46.0K
$18.28 CA$25.35
-89.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.80 SLL 908.4K
$71.2 CA$98.8
-44.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 SLL 249.1K
$10.96 CA$15.20
-0.46%
Cappuccino
$2.34 SLL 53.4K
$3.95 CA$5.47
-40.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 SLL 29.1K
$2.07 CA$2.88
-38.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SLL 16.5K
$1.74 CA$2.42
-58.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 SLL 41.9K
$5.93 CA$8.23
-68.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 SLL 76.4K
$5.69 CA$7.89
-41.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.41 SLL 55.0K
$2.23 CA$3.09
8.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 SLL 14.5K
$2.71 CA$3.76
-76.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 SLL 29.2K
$3.72 CA$5.16
-65.59%
Eggs
$1.83 SLL 41.8K
$3.61 CA$5.01
-49.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.01 SLL 160.0K
$10.81 CA$14.99
-35.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 SLL 231.3K
$12.22 CA$16.95
-17.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.17 SLL 118.0K
$15.68 CA$21.75
-67.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 SLL 89.4K
$4.25 CA$5.89
-7.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 SLL 46.1K
$1.43 CA$1.98
41.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 SLL 16.7K
$4.02 CA$5.57
-81.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.15 SLL 117.5K
$4.09 CA$5.67
25.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 SLL 44.6K
$2.68 CA$3.72
-27.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 SLL 37.5K
$2.45 CA$3.40
-33.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.67 CA$3.70
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 SLL 30.3K
$1.80 CA$2.50
-26.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03 SLL 69.2K
$14.46 CA$20.05
-79.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 SLL 169.3K
$13.58 CA$18.84
-45.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 SLL 27.1K
$2.84 CA$3.94
-58.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 SLL 47.9K
$3.26 CA$4.52
-35.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 SLL 10.1K
$2.46 CA$3.41
-82.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$75.2 CA$104
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 SLL 11.0K
$3.15 CA$4.37
-84.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 SLL 11.9K
$1.54 CA$2.14
-66.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$27.55 CA$38.21
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 SLL 29.0K
$1.16 CA$1.61
9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K SLL 275.8M
$28.4K CA$39.3K
-57.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K SLL 580.1M
$19.5K CA$27.0K
30.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.2 SLL 1.4M
$155 CA$215
-61.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.49 SLL 399.2K
$43.47 CA$60.3
-59.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3 SLL 1.1M
$60.4 CA$83.8
-16.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.15 CA$57.1
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.79 CA$27.45
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.53 CA$15.98
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$786 CA$1,089
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K CA$20.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.12 SLL 230.9K
$55.0 CA$76.3
-81.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.79 SLL 177.8K
$41.25 CA$57.2
-81.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$20.03 SLL 457.3K
$88.1 CA$122
-77.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.1 SLL 1.1M
$106 CA$147
-52.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$922 SLL 21.1M
$1,295 CA$1,797
-28.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 SLL 29.0M
$1,168 CA$1,619
8.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,464 SLL 79.1M
$2,044 CA$2,835
69.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,779 CA$2,467
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,100 SLL 25.1M
$4,786 CA$6,638
-77.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,079 SLL 24.6M
$3,973 CA$5,510
-72.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sierra Leone
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,347 SLL 30.7M
$3,078 CA$4,270
-56.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.86
-

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

Last update for Sierra Leone: September 8, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $939 in Sierra Leone vs $1,228 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $939 in Freetown and $1,496 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $1,337 in Sierra Leone vs $2,981 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 31% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 69% more in Canada.

Salaries are 123% 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
Sierra Leone vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 35% 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 Sierra Leone, contributing to the overall 35% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Sierra Leone?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sierra Leone, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone 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.

Sierra Leone vs other spots: cost of living compared

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