While Canada is growing to become one of the most desirable destinations for higher studies and work, the cost of living in Canada is an essential and decisive factor that has to be considered when planning a career abroad. With the surge in the number of residents, the cost of living has been increasing constantly over the last few years. The cost of living also tends to differ from one city to another, and hence it is best to plan out your city of stay and study to get a good idea of how much it costs to live, study or work in Canada.
Perhaps an important factor to consider when looking into the cost of living in Canada would be the currency’s exchange rate. For example,
1 CAD = 58.7 INR
You will also have to assess the different types of expenditure to gauge and manage your finances while living in Canada. The exchange rate becomes a crucial factor in managing income and finances if your source of income exists in the currency of your home. If you are still wondering how expensive it can be to live in Canada, continue reading this article.
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Average Cost of Living in Canada
The cost of living in Canada primarily depends upon a few essential expenses. These include the likes of monthly accommodation rent, food, groceries, transportation, tuition fees, and insurance. The following is a list of the average costs and expenditures that one may have to incur while living in Canada:
- Rent: The Cost of accommodation can range from CAD 1100 – 1300 per month.
- Food: While food costs can vary depending on where you choose to eat, on average, it can cost around CAD 1100 per month.
- Transportation: The cost of taking public transport to commute between places on a monthly basis is around CAD 90 – 100.
- Internet Cost: The cost for network and internet facilities can range from CAD 70 – 100 per month.
- Utility Services: Basic supply connections for electricity, water, etc., can cost around CAD 150 – 200 per month.
- Healthcare: Health Insurance for an individual can cost around CAD 2000 per annum.
Cost of Living in Canada for Indian Students
Canada is an attractive destination for Indian students who aspire to pursue higher studies and work there. The average cost of living in Canada for Indian students is around 183% costlier than living in India. It is essential to be aware of how much different things cost while living in Canada. A single person can be estimated to have a monthly expenditure of around INR 65,785 per month, excluding rent from the equation.
Here is a list of average expenses while living in Canada for Indian students:
- Average Flight Expense: INR 1,00,000 – INR 2,00,000 per flight per person
- Student Visa/Study Permit: INR 11,123 / CAD 150
- Work Visa/Work Permit: INR 11,493 / CAD 155
- IELTS Test Fees: INR 14,700
- Accommodation: INR 2.67L – INR 5.4L per annum
- Food: INR 17,508 per month
- Entertainment: INR 43,770 per month
- Health Insurance: INR 17,000 – INR 44,000 per annum
Here is a table of average tuition fees for different courses for Indian students in Canada:
| Course | Fees |
| MBA | INR 14, 75, 000 |
| Executive MBA | INR 30,31, 000 |
| MS | INR 9,57,000 |
| M.Eng | INR 9,57,000 |
| M.A.Sc | INR 9,57,000 |
Check Out: Masters in Canada
Cost of Living in Canada for International Students
While Studying in Canada is an excellent choice to grow one’s career and improve one’s exposure to the outside world, it is undeniable that it comes at a price that could be considered expensive. International students must plan their finances and expenses well in advance and must also learn to spend wisely while living in the country. The cost of living in Canada is considerably more expensive for international students as they have to shell out more tuition fees in addition to their living expenses. In most cases, International students will be required to show proof of having sufficient money and funds before immigrating to Canada.
On Average, an international student is expected to have to spend around CAD 10,000 per annum, which can go up to CAD 15,000 per annum if one has others living with them. These costs are usually spent in various categories such as food, transport, accommodation, books, clothing, etc. It is important to note that this amount does not cover the tuition fees that one will be required to pay their university.
Here is a list of average expenses while living in Canada for International students:
- Average Flight Expense: CAD 1,000 – CAD 3,000 per flight per person
- Student Visa/Study Permit: CAD 150
- Work Visa/Work Permit: CAD 155
- IELTS Test Fees: CAD 310
- Accommodation: CAD 5,000 – CAD 10,000 per annum
- Food: CAD 300 – 400 per month
- Entertainment: CAD 750 per month
- Health Insurance: CAD 300 – 800 per annum
Here is a table of average tuition fees for different courses for International students in Canada:
Check Out: Best MBA colleges in Canada
Cost of Living in Canada with Rent
Housing and rent costs are by far the greatest expense that one has to bear as a student while living in Canada. These include not only the rent but also the cost of utility and basic amenities services. These, on top of other living expenses and tuition fees, can stack up to be quite a large amount that requires proper planning of funds ahead of time. In comparison, the rent costs are about 533% higher in Canada as compared to India. These costs tend to vary depending on what kind of accommodation one chooses.
There are primarily 4 kinds of accommodations possible while staying in Canada:
- On-Campus hostel dorm accommodation
- Bachelor style designed apartments for 1 person
- 2 or 3 Bedroom Apartments designed for 2 to 4 people
- Single Family detached houses for a group of 4 or more people
The cost of accommodation scales up with the size of the house or room one chooses:
For example,
Bachelor style apartments have an average monthly rent of around CAD 1000
2 bedroom apartments have an average monthly rent of around CAD 1517
3 bedroom apartments have an average monthly rent of around CAD 1850
While these are all the off-campus accommodation facilities available, on-campus university accommodations are also available at considerably cheaper rates. The Average cost to choose to have one’s residence within the university’s campus or dormitory is about CAD 250 – 650 per month.
Cost of Living in Toronto
The average cost of living in Toronto is about CAD 37,000 per year.
The largest expense one will have to incur while staying in Toronto will be the housing and rent costs, which will be around CAD 2,070 per month.
Here is a table of costs for living in Toronto:
| Type of Expense | Cost |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 156 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 (+ CAD 30 if waiting charges apply) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.33 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 166.92 per month |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.36 |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 75 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 15 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 80 – 100 per month |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 20 – 80 per meal |
Cost of Living in Ottawa
The average cost of living in Ottawa is about CAD 1200 per month without rent.
The largest expense one will have to incur while staying in Ottawa will be the housing and rent costs, which will be around CAD 1000 – 1500 per month.
Here is a table of costs for living in Toronto:
| Type of Expense | Cost |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 123 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 (+ CAD 24 if waiting charges apply) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.27 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 151.07 per month |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.28 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 75 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 15 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 90 – 100 per month |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 20 – 80 per meal |
Cost of Living in Vancouver
The average cost of living in Vancouver is about CAD 1170 per month without rent.
The largest expense one will have to incur while staying in Ottawa will be the housing and rent costs, which will be around CAD 1200 – 1800 per month.
Here is a table of costs for living in Toronto:
| Type of Expense | Cost |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 107 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 (+ CAD 34 if waiting charges apply) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.59 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 88 per month |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.35 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 88 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 15 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 105 – 120 per month |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 20 – 80 per meal |
Cost of Living in Quebec City
The average cost of living in Quebec City is about CAD 1035 per month without rent.
The largest expense one will have to incur while staying in Ottawa will be the housing and rent costs, which will be around CAD 660 – 1500 per month.
Here is a table of costs for living in Toronto:
| Type of Expense | Cost |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 90 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 1.75 (+ CAD 39 if waiting charges apply) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.26 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 87 per month |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.40 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 66.95 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 13 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 80 – 100 per month |
Cost of Living in Montreal
The average cost of living in Montreal is about CAD 1095 per month without rent.
The largest expense one will have to incur while staying in Ottawa will be the housing and rent costs, which will be around CAD 700 – 1000 per month.
Here is a table of costs for living in Toronto:
| Type of Expense | Cost |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 88.50 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 1.75 (+ CAD 39 if waiting charges apply) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.40 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 98.50 per month |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.36 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 63.81 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 13.50 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 90 – 110 per month |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 15 – 80 per meal |
Cheapest Cost of Living in Canada
If we were to compare the cost of living in different cities and provinces of Canada, we would find that Quebec province would be one of the cheapest places to live in overall. Cities like Quebec City and Montreal are, in fact, considered to be some of the most affordable places to live in the world. They are considered to have the cheapest cost of living in Canada based on the cost of housing, basic facilities, amenities, food, transport, etc.
Average cost = CAD 1075 per month without rent
Average Rent = CAD 600 – 800 per month
Cost of Living in Canada versus other Countries
It is also helpful to understand the differences between Canada and other countries regarding the cost of living to get a reasonable estimate of which country is best suited for one’s budget and financial constraints. The following sections will discuss at length the difference in cost of living between Canada, the USA, the UK, Australia, and India.
Cost of Living in Canada vs USA
The following table lists the comparative differences in costs and expenses between USA and Canada:
| Type of Expense | Cost in Canada | Cost in USA |
| Rent | CAD 1,100 – CAD 1,800 | CAD 1,700 – CAD 2,200 |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 90 | CAD 82 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 ( +CAD 34 per hour of waiting) | CAD 2 ( +CAD 38 per hour of waiting) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.2 per litre | CAD 0.8 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 166.5 per month | CAD 212.5 |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.33 per minute | CAD 0.18 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 79.6 per month | CAD 84.13 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 14 per person | CAD 15 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 90 | CAD 100 |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 18 – 75 | CAD 19 – 76 |
Cost of Living in Canada vs UK
The following table lists the comparative differences in costs and expenses between UK and Canada:
| Type of Expense | Cost in Canada | Cost in UK |
| Rent | CAD 1,100 – CAD 1,800 | CAD 1,000 – CAD 2,000 |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 90 | CAD 110 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 ( +CAD 34 per hour of waiting) | CAD 2 ( +CAD 29 per hour of waiting) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.2 per litre | CAD 2.15 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 166.5 per month | CAD 261.17 |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.33 per minute | CAD 0.17 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 79.6 per month | CAD 52.38 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 14 per person | CAD 17 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 90 | CAD 60 – 80 |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 18 – 75 | CAD 21 – 85 |
Check Out: Cost of living in Australia
Cost of Living in Canada vs. Australia
The following table lists the comparative differences in costs and expenses between Australia and Canada:
| Type of Expense | Cost in Canada | Cost in Australia |
| Rent | CAD 1,100 – CAD 1,800 | CAD 1,100 – CAD 2,500 |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 90 | CAD 137 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 ( +CAD 34 per hour of waiting) | CAD 2 ( +CAD 47 per hour of waiting) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.2 per litre | CAD 1.34 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 166.5 per month | CAD 196.58 |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.33 per minute | CAD 0.36 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 79.6 per month | CAD 70.63 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 14 per person | CAD 16.5 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 90 | CAD 70 – 80 |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 18 – 75 | CAD 18 – 86 |
Cost of Living in Canada vs. India
The following table lists the comparative differences in costs and expenses between India and Canada:
| Type of Expense | Cost in Canada | Cost in India |
| Rent | CAD 1,100 – CAD 1,800 | CAD 200 – CAD 500 |
| Transportation Monthly Pass | CAD 90 | CAD 10 |
| Taxi Per Kilometer | CAD 2 ( +CAD 34 per hour of waiting) | CAD 0.27 ( +CAD 1.7 per hour of waiting) |
| Gasoline | CAD 1.2 per litre | CAD 1.54 per litre |
| Utilities (Electricity, Water, etc.) | CAD 166.5 per month | CAD 49.56 per month |
| Mobile Call Tariffs per minute | CAD 0.33 per minute | CAD 0.02 per minute |
| Internet and Data Charges | CAD 79.6 per month | CAD 13.1 per month |
| Movie Ticket | CAD 14 per person | CAD 4.26 per person |
| Groceries | CAD 90 | CAD 40 – 70 |
| Food (Meal) | CAD 18 – 75 | CAD 2 – 20 |
FAQs
Ans. Yes! In fact, the average mean salary of most Canadians themselves is not as high as 5000 dollars per month. Barring from an extraordinarily fancy and lavish lifestyle, one can live a happy and comfortable life in Canada with 5000 dollars a month. Although, you might need up to 10000 dollars a month if you are planning to settle and support a family in Canada.
Ans. On average, you would need around 1500 dollars a month apart from rent to live in Canada if you were staying as a single resident. If you were looking to settle as a family of 4 or 5, then the average cost of living would be around 4400 dollars a month without considering rent.
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