Compare countries · Australia vs Canada
Australia vs Canada
Australia(Oceania)·
Canada(North America)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Australia leads on 5, Canada on 6, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Australia cheaper than Canada?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Australia at 67.9 and Canada at 63.0. Canada is about 7% cheaper overall.
Is Australia or Canada safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Australia scores 1.60 and Canada scores 1.52. Canada ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Australia or Canada?
On the UN Human Development Index, Australia scores 0.958 and Canada scores 0.939. Australia scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Australia compared to Canada?
GNI per capita runs $64,120 in Australia against $56,420 in Canada; people live 83.1 years on average against 82.1; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 69. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
67.9
Worse than 87% of countries
Canada
63.0
Worse than 84% of countries
Canada: 7% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
33.7
Worse than 92% of countries
Canada
31.5
Worse than 90% of countries
Canada: 7% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Australia
1.60
Better than 88% of countries
Canada
1.52
Better than 92% of countries
Canada: more peaceful (1.52 vs 1.60).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Australia
52.5
Worse than 57% of countries
Canada
54.4
Around the global middle
Canada: higher perceived safety (54.4 vs 52.5).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Australia
0.958
Better than 96% of countries
Canada
0.939
Better than 92% of countries
Australia: higher human development (0.958 vs 0.939).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Australia
$71,934
Better than 88% of countries
Canada
$66,746
Better than 87% of countries
Australia: 8% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Australia
83.1 yrs
Better than 91% of countries
Canada
82.1 yrs
Better than 85% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Australia
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Canada
68.6
Better than 65% of countries
Australia: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 68.6).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Australia
157 Mbps
Better than 69% of countries
Canada
278 Mbps
Better than 93% of countries
Canada: 77% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Australia
75/100
Better than 81% of countries
Canada
79/100
Better than 89% of countries
Canada: freer press (79 vs 75 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Australia
6.92
Better than 90% of countries
Canada
6.74
Better than 83% of countries
Australia: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.92 vs 6.74).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Australia
700
Better than 94% of countries
Canada
700
Better than 94% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Australia
91.9
Better than 80% of countries
Canada
54.9
Worse than 92% of countries
Australia: more pleasant climate rating (91.9 vs 54.9).
Deciding between Australia and Canada for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Australia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Canada profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.