To be able to calculate your cost of living in Canada, you’ll have to take into account some variables that can notably increase or decrease the total:
Canada is a very large country with urban centers of all kinds. Generally, renting a room in the center of a large metropolis like Vancouver will be more expensive than in a remote town. Even so, big cities have many advantages in terms of work, education, and social life. So often, living in a large city means investing more in housing but saving in other aspects, like transport.
Because it’s not the same to live in the trendiest neighborhood of the city as it is to live in the outskirts. Of course, each place has its charm. In the city center, you’ll pay more for smaller rooms, but you’ll be close to everything.
And if you choose the outskirts, maybe you’ll be able to afford a little house for the same price, but it might take you 30 minutes to get to work by public transport.
In Canada, there is a wide range of accommodation designed for international students. The price range is also very varied, with shared rooms being the most affordable option. And the more “luxuries” you add—like having a room to yourself, a private bathroom, more amenities in your building—the higher the price goes
Sometimes, it might be worth paying more for accommodation simply because it allows you to save in other areas. If you have cheap supermarkets near your home, you’re likely to save money on groceries. If you live within walking distance from your school or job, you’ll probably save on transport. So before deciding anything, grab a pen and paper and make your own list of pros and cons.
The best way to reduce the cost of living is… by generating income!
In Canada, there are several ways to work legally, like coming with a Work and Holiday Visa or a student visa (as long as you’re not doing a language course).
It’s not the same to see your savings go down every day as it is to get a job that lets you earn money in Canadian dollars to cover your daily expenses. Also, if you work in the hospitality sector, your job may include a meal or two, depending on your shifts. Say yes to free food!
If you want to know what possibilities you have for combining studies and work in Canada, don’t hesitate to read our page with everything you need to know about working in Canada.
Finally, one of the variables that will help you figure out how much money you’ll need each month is your lifestyle. No one knows your must-haves better than you. For example, if you smoke, like shopping now and then, love the theatre or are a party animal.
If, for example, you’re someone who loves staying home on weekends, organizing dinners with friends and playing board games, then your weekend budget will likely be lower than someone whose ideal weekend involves shopping, going to the movies, dining out, grabbing drinks, and taking a taxi back home.
Having an honest view of what you like to do and how you want to experience life in Canada will help you set a much more accurate budget to move to the country.
Time to look at your savings account! To start your adventure in Canada, you’ll need to use your savings to arrive in the country and settle in. Your initial investment will need to cover:
Plane ticket: Depends on your country of origin and the time of year, but the price is around $500 CAD.
The good thing about living in a country with a high cost of living is that salaries are also high. Canada’s quality of life will reflect in your bank account at the end of each month, since the minimum wage in Canada ranges from $11.32 CAD to $15 CAD.
This means that with a 20-hour-per-week job you’ll earn between $905.60 CAD and $1,200 CAD.
As we mentioned, this is the minimum wage. It’s common to be paid a bit more per hour, especially if you do a skilled job and have a good level of English. In those cases, the hourly wage can range from $25 CAD to $60 CAD, so your monthly income would be much higher.
Keep in mind that if you come with a Student Visa, you can only work part-time (20 hours per week) during the course, but full-time (40 hours) during vacations and, if you’re doing a Co-Op program, during your internship periods.
This means there will be times of the year when you can work more and save some money to live more comfortably during class months or to go on a trip and get lost around the Great Lakes… each to their own priorities.
The main cities in Canada are very diverse, both in lifestyle and in cultural or leisure offerings. But for you, the expenses will always be more or less the same, since we all need accommodation, a phone with internet, or a means of transportation to go to work or on a trip. So here we’re going to see how much it would cost to live your life in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
In general, grocery shopping in Canada is a bit expensive. On average, in Toronto it costs around $350 CAD to fill the fridge for the whole month.
If you’re picky or a bit of a foodie, this price will increase.
Using public transport in Toronto costs $3.25 CAD per ride, and the advantage is that, with a single ticket, you can make all the transfers you want for an hour and a half.
If you want to forget about buying a ticket every day, you also have the option of getting a transport pass. A weekly pass in Toronto costs $43.25 CAD and a monthly one costs $146.25 CAD.
The price varies depending on whether you share a flat, live alone, or live with a local family.
Toronto stands out for its leisure and cultural activity offerings. Some of the prices you’ll find are:
On average, in Vancouver you’ll need about $400 CAD for your monthly groceries.
In Vancouver, biking or walking is very normal, since the city is designed for that and has numerous bike lanes and wide pedestrian paths. And it’s free!
If you need to move around by metro, bus, tram, or ferry, you can do so by buying individual tickets or a monthly pass. The price of the passes varies depending on the included zones.
And in many of these options, the community fees, water, and gas are included in the price.
In Vancouver there are many free leisure options. Still, it’s true that we all like to go out for dinner or see a movie. To give you an idea, here are some prices for leisure in Vancouver:
A basic, no-frills grocery shop that lasts the whole month in Montreal costs $300 CAD.
In Montreal, transport is interconnected and with the same ticket you can use the entire metro and bus network. The prices are:
To give you an idea, the average expense of a person who uses transportation to go to work or school is $80 CAD.
In Montreal, there is an accommodation option for every budget and every situation, whether you are traveling, studying, or working.
In Montreal there are loads of plans you can do, many of them free. Still, if you feel like going out for dinner, to the movies, visiting a museum, or seeing a show, you’ll need to prepare your wallet.
On average, a person who goes out a couple of weekends a month spends around $200 CAD.
Although living in Canada can be a bit expensive, there are always a thousand ways to save money. And most of them have nothing to do with staying home doing nothing, but with knowing how to organize yourself and, above all, with learning to be happy with less. To start practicing this minimalist philosophy, we’ve prepared for you a series of the best tips you can start applying right now so that when you’re in Canada, they’re already part of your lifestyle!
As you can see, the cost of living in Canada is high, but there are also many ways to make money to support yourself and save in some areas so you can invest it in living adventures in Canada. If you want to know more or start the process to come study and work in Canada, get in touch with us!
We’ll be happy to advise you so you know what your options are, and then we’ll help you carry out all the visa and other paperwork. Meanwhile, you can start practicing batch cooking or browsing Craigslist in search of bargains to furnish your future home in Canada.
If you are thinking about moving to Canada to study and work for a season, you have come to the right place. We will tell you everything you need to know: advantages, visas, requirements, tips, and more.
Amanda De Mingo, Events Manager at Dingoos, shares how every activity she organizes turns your international adventure into a unique experience filled with fun, learning, and friendships that last forever.
