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