The US 2012 election is expected to have cost over $6 billion when all is said and done.[1] Canada's election cost $45 million.[2] The difference is 90% less per captia. Americans spend a lot more proportionally.

[1] http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/10/2012-election-spendi... [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_political_financing_in_...