Moving to Maldives from Canada
What to Expect
Considering a move from Canada to Maldives? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Canada to Maldives, you would find that Maldives is 26.4% cheaper than Canada overall. A CA$110,000 salary in Canada would need to be roughly MVR884,000 in Maldives to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Maldivian. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Maldives cheaper than Canada?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 49.7% less
Groceries
pay 22.4% less
Transportation
pay 16.2% less
Housing
pay 21.1% less
Childcare
pay 76.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.8% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Maldives?
What does your salary buy?
CA$110,000 → MVR884,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Maldives
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Maldives
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Canada to Maldives.
Who's moving to Maldives?
Top countries of origin for Maldives's foreign-born residents.
- 40,390
- 14,596
- 7,383
- 991
- 329
- 325
- · · ·
-
14.101
Canada
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Maldives compared to Canada.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Maldives performs significantly better than Canada across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Maldives generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Canada generally does better on environment, though Maldives leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Canada performs better than Maldives across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Maldives generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Canada generally does better on family life, though Maldives leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2008). How we calculate this
Can you move from Canada to Maldives?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and Maldives. To live, work, or study long-term in Maldives, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Maldives's immigration authority.
Canada passport holder visiting Maldives
Visa on Arrival
Maldives passport holder visiting Canada
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Maldives than Canada?
On average Maldives is about 26% less expensive than Canada, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Maldives?
Budget about MVR221,000 for 3 months in Maldives (based on a CA$110,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Maldives?
Connectivity is usually fine (Maldives: 19.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Maldives offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Maldives safe for expats?
Maldives performs significantly better than Canada across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Maldives is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.0 in Canada.
How is healthcare in Maldives compared to Canada?
Maldives generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 22.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Maldives, compared to 28.2 in Canada. Maldives scores 61 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).
What language do they speak in Maldives?
The official language in Maldives is Maldivian. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
