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Cost of living in Canada for International Students

cost-of-living-in-canada

When you have decided to study in a foreign country, it is the adventure of a lifetime. In this article let us learn about the cost of living in Canada—Canada is one of the second largest countries in the world. As a student when you want to go in for your higher education, you need to consider the cost of living in Canada.  

Canada is a vast country. There are different provinces and territories within this beautiful country. When discussing the cost of living in this gorgeously beautiful country, the following are the pointers that need to be noted.

  • The average cost of living in various cities in the provinces also varies with each other.
  • The cost of living depends on individual perspective. A person coming from a socially affluent background might feel the cost of living is affordable in Canada.
  • A person's lifestyle and expectation also determines the cost of living in the city. If a person can manage to go through public transportation or if you are interested in a store being cheap. 

Living Expenses in Canada for International Students

The cost of living is the amount you spend to maintain a living style in a particular place. It needs to cover some basic expenses such as housing, food, and healthcare The cost of living in Canada comprises the following list.

Accommodation

Accommodation is the place that you have taken up to live regularly. This depends on the lifestyle and the place you have rounded in for yourself. This cost will always differ when you have decided to live in an on-campus, or off-campus accommodation. The average cost of living in Canada in terms of accommodation expenses in various regions and parts of Canada are as follows:

Accommodation Type

Average Monthly Cost of Living (in CAD)

On-Campus

200 CAD to 600 CAD

Off-Campus

400 CAD to 700 CAD

1- BHK within the city limits

1500 CAD

1-BHK outside the city limits

1200 CAD

3-BHK within the city limits

2800 CAD

3-BHK outside the city limits

2400 CAD

The following table lists the city-wise expenditure in terms of the accommodation type you want to take.

Region

Rent for an Apartment Within the City (in CAD)

Rent for an Apartment Outside the City (in CAD)

Rent in a PG Accommodation (in CAD)

Toronto

1800-2500

1400-2000 CAD

600-1000 CAD

Vancouver

1800-2500

1400-2000 CAD

600-1000 CAD

Montreal

1300-1800

1000-1400 CAD

500-800 CAD

Ottawa

1200-1800

1000-1400 CAD

500-800 CAD

Calgary

1200-1800

900-1300 CAD

500-800 CAD

Edmonton

1000-1500

800-1200 CAD

450-750 CAD

Food and Groceries

Groceries are the food and edible items you purchase to cook for yourself. The cost of groceries again varies depending on the place you reside, your dietary habits, and the type of food you purchase. The average cost of living in Canada in terms of groceries in Canada is as follows:

Food & Groceries

Cost

Milk (1 litre)

2.98 CAD

Rice  (1 kg)

5.47 CAD

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (675 grams)

3 CAD

Eggs (12)

3.87 CAD

Apple

4.81 CAD

Cheese

15.2 CAD

Whole Fat Milk

3.06 CAD

Good Quality Red Table Wine

18 CAD

Transportation

Transportation cost amounts to the expenditure that you incur while travelling from one place to another. The cost of living in terms of transportation expenses is listed below:

Types of Transportation

Average Monthly Cost

Subway

65 CAD to 100 CAD

Buses

100 CAD to 150 CAD

Taxis

2 CAD

Taxi (1-Hour Waiting)

34 CAD

One-Way Ticket

3.25 CAD

Gasoline 

2 CAD

Personal Care

Personal care is based on individual preferences. This preference means the individual lifestyle, toiletries, grooming expenses, and personal hygiene products. The cost of living concerning personal care products is listed as follows:

Products

Expenditure (in CAD)

Lotions

10 C$ to 20 C$

Hair Dyes

Salon Price 75 C$ to 200 C$
At Home from 5 C$ to 30 C$

Cosmetics

100 C$ to 200 C$

Shampoos

20 C$ to 30 C$

Perfumes

25 C$ to 75 C$

Utilities

Utilities expenditure consists of power consumption, heating, water consumption, garbage disposal, etc. The average cost of living in Canada concerning utilities expenditure are as follows:

Products

Expenditure (in CAD)

Power

150 C$ to 250 C$

Heaters

100 C$ to 140 C$

Water

50 C$ to 80 C$

Mobile Bills

50 C$ to 70 C$

Gas Connection

50 C$ to 100 C$

The expenditure that is listed is for a small-sized apartment that comes with some basic amenities. The cost can again vary when you go to larger apartments. Cost also varies depending on the efficiency of the appliances that are being provided. This expenditure does not constitute internet, cable or telephone services.

Clothing And Shoes

The cost of clothing and shoes in Canada varies greatly depending upon the choice of outfits and your lifestyle. The average cost of living in Canada concerning clothing and shoes is listed below:

Types of Clothing

Expenditure (in CAD)

Jeans

80 CAD to 100 CAD

Summer Dress

60 CAD to 80 CAD

Sports Shoes

120 CAD to 150 CAD

Men’s Leather Shoes

150 CAD to 170 CAD

T-Shirts

10 CAD to 100 CAD

Sweaters

25 CAD to 100 CAD

Winter Clothing (Coat, Gloves, Hat, Shoes)

80 CAD to 150 CAD

These figures have been drawn keeping in mind when you are a person with a moderate lifestyle. It can increase in case if you have the habit of purchasing frequently and going in for bigger brands. Again the amount can vary depending on the winter outfits you go in for like the coats, boots, etc.

Sports And Leisure

Leisure costs include your spending on sports clubs, gym memberships, and other recreational activities. It again depends on the city, type of activities, and your personal preferences.

Products

Expenditure (in CAD)

Sports Club

50 CAD to 100 CAD

Gym Membership

20 CAD to 200 CAD

Recreational Activity

20 CAD to 50 CAD

OTT Subscriptions

60 CAD to 100 CAD

Healthcare

Healthcare expenditure in Canada varies from one place to another. This is because health care is been taken care of at the provincial level. However, the essential medical services will be the same throughout all the places in Canada. Dental care, medicines based on prescriptions, and private health insurance can change from place to place. The cost of living in Canada based on various healthcare expenses is listed below:

Health Service

Expenditure (in CAD)

Over the Counter Medicines

50 CAD to 100 CAD

Dentistry

150 CAD to 300 CAD

Doctor’s Visit

Covered under Health Insurance

Optometry

80 CAD to 130 CAD

Health Insurance

400 CAD to 1500 CAD

Cost of Living City Wise Ranking in Canada

Canada is one of the top destinations for study abroad courses for students. The main reasons include the cultural diversity, warm and welcoming people, and the high quality of life available out there. The average cost of living in Canada matches that of USA. Every province is different and they are ruled by its government and has its taxes. The list of cities to study in Canada along with their rankings based on living expenses are listed below: 

Cities in Canada

Global Ranking

Regional Ranking

Toronto

15

1

Montreal

24

2

Vancouver

29

3

Quebec

84

4

Hamilton

109

5

Ottawa

122

6

Calgary

125

7

Cost of Living in Different Canadian Cities 

Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of area. There are a total of 10 provincial states in Canada. The cost of living in Canada for international students varies between various cities. The following table lists the cities in Canada along with their average cost of living.

City

Average Cost of Living (in CAD)

Toronto

2600 CAD to 3600 CAD

Vancouver

2500 CAD to 3500 CAD

Montreal

1900 CAD to 2700 CAD

Ottawa

2000 CAD to 2800 CAD

Calgary

1800 CAD to 2600 CAD

Edmonton

1600 CAD to 2400 CAD

Cost of Studying in Canada for International Students

Canada is one of the popular destinations for international education. It has a lot of world-renowned universities and friendly and welcoming people. There are a lot of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees that are available for international students. It has some of the world-renowned universities. Some of the courses offered by these universities are listed below:

University

Degree

Expenditure (in CAD)

University of Toronto

Bachelor in Business Administration

C$60,510

Masters in Business Administration

C$67600

University of British Columbia

Bachelors of Science (B.S) Computer Science 

C$46,300

Masters in Science (M.S) Statistics 

C$9,500

McGill University

Bachelors of Engineering (Software Engineering)

C$59,700

Masters of Engineering (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 

C$19,800

University of Montreal

Bachelors of Arts (B.A) History

C$27,200

Masters of Science (M.A) Psychology

C$17,800

Factors Affecting the Cost of Living

When a student decides to move into a country like Canada, multiple factors affect the cost of living in Canada. The following are some of the factors that affect the student's cost of living in Canada.

  • Place: The city where you reside also determines the cost of living. Major cities like Toronto, and Vancouver have a higher cost of living when compared to remote locations.
  • Accommodation Expenses: When you rent an apartment in Canada, it proves to be dearer, especially in popular cities.
  • Transportation Expenses: Bigger cities like Toronto will have an efficient transportation facility when compared to rural areas. In rural areas, you need to arrange for your transportation in the form of a car.
  • Groceries and Food: The groceries and food items expenses will be almost more or less the same throughout the country. But again it is subjective to the place you have decided to stay.
  • Education Cost: Private schools are expensive
  • LifeStyle Expenses: Personal preferences in terms of the clothes you wear, entertainment, and dining expenses affect lifestyle expenses.

Tips for Managing the Cost of Living in Canada

As a student, you should choose wisely between your expenditures. Savings will always help you in terms of financial adversity. The following are some of the tips to save money and maintain the lowest cost of living in Canada.

1. Create a Plan:
You need to keep a financial plan for your expenses at the beginning of every month. Restrict yourself within the stipulated amount. Give priority to savings and keep these savings in a separate bank account. This will be your haven in times of adversity.

2. Make use of Scholarships:
Many universities offer in-house scholarships for many of their students. Availing them will reduce your tuition expenses to a great extent.

3. Use Public Transportation:
Using public transportation is one of the best ways to reduce expenditure. Discounts can be availed in the form of student passes.

4. Part-Time Jobs:
You can manage the expenses in Canada by getting yourself a part-time job. Using the student visa, international students can secure part-time jobs on campus. Once they have studied at a university for more than six months, they can get part-time jobs outside the campus as well.

5. Students Card:
The Student card that an international student can use to avail discounts in various bookstores, departmental stores, etc. 

Living Expenses in Canada vs Other Countries

The living expenses in Canada vary between countries. Before choosing a particular country for further studies, you need to make a proper comparison between the cost of expenses in these countries. Each country has a different accommodation cost, education cost, etc.

Country

Cost of Living (Monthly Basis in C$ )

Canada

1000 to 2200

USA

1500 to 2000

UK 

2000 to 2500

Germany

1200 to 2800

Australia

1200 to 2200

Canada is a country that has a lot of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for many students. When students decide to pursue any of these courses, the cost of meeting their expenses is a challenge for them. We have listed the cost of living in Canada for international students including the various accommodation, food, groceries, and transportation expenditures. You can get in touch with any of our AECC counsellors who will be able to provide you with guidance regarding the best universities available in Canada.

FAQs

1.What is the average cost of rent in Canada?

The average cost of a single-bedroom apartment in the city is around $700 to $1500.

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