Moving to Afghanistan from Canada

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Canada to Afghanistan — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Canada to Afghanistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kabul averages 67°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Afghanistan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Canada and Afghanistan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CA
2.0
AF
4.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CA
4.7
AF
24.1

Canada performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CA
$7,646
AF
$330
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

CA
28.2
AF
3.2

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CA
8.0
AF
143.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CA
14.0t
AF
0.3t

Canada generally does better on environment, though Afghanistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CA
42.5
AF
0.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CA
3.7%
AF
54.8%

Canada performs better than Afghanistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
6.9%
AF
13.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$55,698
AF
$417

Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Afghanistan leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CA
82.1 yrs
AF
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CA
4.7
AF
48.3

Canada performs better than Afghanistan across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2008–2020), Canada Revenue Agency (2016), Afghanistan Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kabul Rain: 12.3 in/yr (312 mm)
67° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ottawa Kabul
Jan–Mar 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) 76°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 88°/56°F (31°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Ottawa Kabul
Jan 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C)
Feb 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C)
Mar 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C)
Apr 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
May 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C)
Jun 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C)
Jul 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C)
Aug 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C)
Sep 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C)
Oct 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C)
Nov 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C)

Data: Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and Afghanistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Afghanistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Afghanistan's immigration authority.

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Afghanistan

Visa Required
Canada passport holders need a visa to enter Afghanistan.
Afghanistan passport

Afghanistan passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
Afghanistan passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Afghanistan?

With 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Afghanistan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Canada and Afghanistan.

Is Afghanistan safe for expats?

Canada performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Afghanistan is 4.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.0 in Canada.

How is healthcare in Afghanistan compared to Canada?

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Afghanistan, compared to 28.2 in Canada. Afghanistan scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).

What's the weather like in Afghanistan compared to Canada?

The average high temperature in Kabul is 67°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Kabul receives around 12.3 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.

What language do they speak in Afghanistan?

The official languages in Afghanistan are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.

Share this

At a Glance

CA AF
Population 41,651,653 43,844,111
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$) Afghan Afghani (AFN)
Languages English, French Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +93
Time zones 6 1
Emergency number 911 —