Cost of Living Comparison Between Timor-Leste and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Timor-Leste and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,553 per month in Timor-Leste vs $2,214 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,403 per month in Timor-Leste vs $3,247 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Timor-Leste vs $4,279 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Timor-Leste is roughly 30% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Timor-Leste and Canada are pricier than the global median – Timor-Leste by 13%, Canada by 61%.

The regional cost range is wider in Timor-Leste ($1,553$1,553) than in Canada ($891$3,752), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96 $4.96
$17.99 CA$24.83
-72.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.07 $42.07
$71.3 CA$98.4
-40.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 $7.88
$10.91 CA$15.06
-27.77%
Cappuccino
$4.20 $4.20
$3.88 CA$5.35
8.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 $1.64
$2.17 CA$3.00
-24.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.67 CA$2.31
42.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 $2.49
$5.80 CA$8.01
-57.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$5.81 CA$8.02
-20.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.19 CA$3.03
5.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.75 CA$3.80
-10.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$3.69 CA$5.10
-74.53%
Eggs
$2.69 $2.69
$3.68 CA$5.08
-26.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$10.83 CA$14.96
-81.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 $9.32
$12.20 CA$16.84
-23.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 $15.87
$15.58 CA$21.51
1.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.18 CA$5.77
-18.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.42 CA$1.96
26.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.02 CA$5.55
-37.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$4.17 CA$5.76
-44.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$2.73 CA$3.77
-56.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$2.54 CA$3.51
-53.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 $0.86
$2.57 CA$3.54
-66.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.72 CA$2.37
-40.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 $2.97
$14.43 CA$19.92
-79.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.11 $12.11
$13.62 CA$18.80
-11.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.90 CA$4.00
-24.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.26 CA$4.50
-11.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 $0.26
$2.48 CA$3.42
-89.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.18 $43.18
$74.9 CA$103
-42.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.11 CA$4.29
9.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.48 CA$2.04
140.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.35 $20.35
$27.37 CA$37.78
-25.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.17 CA$1.62
27.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K $19.6K
$28.1K CA$38.8K
-30.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K $18.4K
$20.0K CA$27.6K
-7.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 $149
$154 CA$213
-3.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.28 $27.28
$43.31 CA$59.8
-37.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$60.3 CA$83.3
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.32 $49.32
$41.22 CA$56.9
19.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.08 CA$27.71
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 $6.03
$11.64 CA$16.07
-48.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$782 CA$1,080
91.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K $16.0K
$14.8K CA$20.5K
7.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 $59.8
$54.9 CA$75.8
8.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.47 $30.47
$39.73 CA$54.9
-23.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$90.3 CA$125
-11.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.2 $61.2
$107 CA$147
-42.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$831 $831
$1,317 CA$1,818
-36.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 $768
$1,136 CA$1,568
-32.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,761 $2,761
$2,089 CA$2,883
32.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,501 $1,501
$1,809 CA$2,498
-17.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,846 CA$6,690
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,928 CA$5,422
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timor-Leste
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,030 $5,030
$2,998 CA$4,138
67.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.37
4.86
10.49%

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

Last update for Timor-Leste: August 29, 2026

Last update for Canada: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $824 in Timor-Leste vs $1,225 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $824 in Dili and $1,501 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $3,634 in Timor-Leste vs $2,968 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 49% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 57% more in Canada.

Public transport is 97% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 22% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.

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
Timor-Leste vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 49% 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 Timor-Leste, contributing to the overall 49% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Timor-Leste?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Timor-Leste, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste 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.

Timor-Leste vs other spots: cost of living compared

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