Cost Of Living In Canada: A Complete Guide For International Students

This blog covers students’ anticipated living costs in Canada and money-saving tips.

Canada is a great place to build a profession and settle down. Canada attracts international students with its top colleges, cultural diversity, and nice people. Canada is pricey, but its amazing experience is worth it. Canada’s tuition and lifestyle are affordable for students. International students have numerous questions about living costs in Canada, therefore we answer them all here.

An Overview of Living Expenses in Canada for International Students

If you budget well, international students in Canada can live affordably. Student living costs in Canada range from 15,000 to 20,000 CAD, depending on lifestyle. Canadian provinces vary. Most Canadian universities charge tuition under 15,000 CAD. Without rent, a single student in Canada spends 880 CAD per month.

The living cost in Canada for international students is summarized below:

• Accommodation (400 CAD – 600 CAD)
• Food (200 CAD – 300 CAD)
• Transportation (100 CAD – 250 CAD)
• Internet (30 CAD – 50 CAD)
• Miscellaneous (600 CAD – 700 CAD)

Many variables contribute to the overall cost of living in Canada. With this information, you should have a better understanding of the cost of living in Canada. Let us now go over some of the most important living expenses for international students in Canada:

1. Cost of Accommodation in Canada

How much does it cost to live in Canada? The monthly cost of living in Canada for international students is heavily influenced by the kind of accommodation chosen. There are five types of popular student housing alternatives in Canada.

• Student Residence- Dormitories and Townhouses

Most Canadian colleges and universities offer on-campus or adjacent student housing. Townhouses host three to six students, whereas dorms hold numerous. Both have cafeterias or food courts for regular meals. Both alternatives may offer discounted utilities like heat, hot water, and internet.

• Off-Campus Shared Apartment or Condominium

Off-campus shared apartments or condominiums provide students with a single room in a living space with one or more other roommates. Like townhomes, they often have a single-occupancy bedroom or living space with a shared kitchen, bathroom, dining, and living room area.

• Furnished or Unfurnished Apartment Rentals

There are numerous options for finding temporary furnished apartment rentals before travelling in Canada to study. You can get similar information on websites like as Airbnb, Craigslist, HouseTrip, and Wimdu. Typically, these are furnished private apartment rentals. Check out the reviews and ratings, and ask for feedback from prior guests.

The living cost in Canada for different residences can be summarized below:

• Dormitories (350 CAD – 600 CAD)
• Townhouses (250 CAD – 650 CAD)
• Shared Apartment (400 CAD – 800 CAD)
• Unfurnished Apartment Rentals (300 CAD – 500 CAD)

2. Transport and Travel in Canada

Canadian public transit is reliable and safe. Public transport can reduce monthly expenses for Indian and international students in Canada. Other options include biking or walking to college, depending on where you reside. Canada has buses, trains, subways, and light-rail trains. Student I-Cards get you discounts on certain public transit. This reduces Canadian living costs.

International students in Canada can estimate transportation costs to determine monthly costs:

• Buses (100 CAD – 150 CAD)
• Subway [65 CAD – 99 CAD (Monthly Pass)]
• Taxis [(1 km) 40 CAD – 50 CAD]

3. Food in Canada

Food is an essential component of international students’ living expenses in Canada. The monthly average cost of living in Canada for international students is often between CAD 200 and CAD 300, excluding accommodation. Refer to the table below for more information on food costs in Canada.

• Milk [(1 litre) 2.46 CAD]
• Rice [(1kg) 3.74 CAD]
• Water [(1.5 liter) 1.84 CAD]
• Apple [(1 kg) 4.24 CAD]
• Eggs [(12 Nos) 3.63 CAD]
• Cheese [(1 kg) 12.99 CAD]
• Chicken [(1 kg) 13.44 CAD]

4. Health Insurance in Canada

Health insurance is another key component of international students’ living costs in Canada. Certain provinces provide free or low-cost government health insurance to international students. International students are normally needed to apply to their respective provinces in these circumstances. Where provincial health insurance is not accessible, a private health insurance must be purchased.

Some popular private medical insurance plans and their costs are discussed below:

• iMED 225 CAD for 3 months
• BC MSP Program 74 CAD for 1 month

   

• AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan 176.42 CAD for 8 months

According to the Canada Insurance Plan, the typical yearly premium for obtaining health insurance ranges between 500 CAD and 700 CAD. Manulife Financial, Alliance Global, Sun Life, Green Shield, and other well-known insurance companies are popular among international students. Insurance costs are an inescapable element of the expense of studying in Canada.

Money-Saving Tips for International Students in Canada

Whatever your living expenses in Canada for Indian students are, you can live independently by knowing how to spend wisely. We frequently try to minimize costs and save money, but the key is to be smart with our money. There are methods for dealing with and minimizing the expense of living for International students in Canada. Among them are:

1. Scholarships in Canada

In Canada, there are over 800 scholarships available to international students. The scholarships provide a stipend as well as tuition, housing, travel expenses, and health insurance. The cost of living in Canada for students can be greatly reduced if they obtain a scholarship to pay and support their education and stay in Canada.

2. Student Cards in Canada

Canada prioritizes its students. Canada gives International  students daily discounts to lower their living costs. This requires showing an I-card or student ID at checkout. Department stores, bookstores, restaurants, and public transportation provide these discounts.

3. Part-Time Jobs in Canada

Part-time jobs in Canada are a great option for Indian students to lower their monthly living expenses in Canada. Student visas allow campus part-time work. Apply for an off-campus employment permit after six months of education. International students with Canadian student visas can work 20 hours per week.

Cost of Living in Canada for Students: A Comparison of Cities

Canada is the world’s second-largest country in terms of land area, with ten provinces. The cost of living in Canada for international students varies by province and city. Some well-known metropolitan cities in Canada are rich in natural beauty and flora. The average cost of living in Canada for international students in various cities is detailed below.

• Toronto – 22,000 CAD
• Montreal – 15,000 CAD
• Vancouver – 17,000 CAD
• Ottawa – 15,000 CAD
• Quebec – 17,000 CAD

Canada is one of the most cost-effective options for overseas students. When compared to other well-known foreign study places such as Australia and the United States, the overall cost of living in Canada for international students is slightly lower, with tuition costs being the major contributor.