Cost of Living in the Canada

Whenever we travel abroad, we have to make elaborate arrangements, so proper planning becomes essential when planning to move abroad for studies. Till now, you might not have cared much about managing your finances, but the average monthly expenses in Canada are way too high than India or any other Asian country. The cost of food, transportation cost, house rent, etc., is some of the expenses you have to pay for every month and will be a part of your average expenditure in Canada.
Certain expenses will be an integral part of your average monthly cost of living in Canada, and it will not be possible to make amends to these bills. At the same time, there are expenses which you can take care of if you use money wisely and in a planned manner. Most of the students have a similar living cost in Canada per month, but it’s the management of the resources making all the difference. Taking a part-time job or choosing a place of shared residence in an affordable neighborhood can help you in saving a lot on your monthly living expenses in Canada.

Canada has some really good places to live with a moderate cost of living in Canada for Indian students. Canada offers world-class healthcare for free with ultra-modern amenities in most of its town that helps students with their living expenses in Canada. In addition, it has some of the best institutions with great job opportunities for students wanting to settle in Canada.
Quebec is one of the most affordable states for students owing to its low cost of rent and lower living costs in Canada per month. This helps students in getting world-class education without taking a toll on their finances. The rent for a 1BHK within the city is 475 CAD, and for outside of the city, the rent is usually around 405 CAD. The cost of transportation is also around 40 CAD. The grocery cost is around 250 CAD.
New Brunswick is another state with loads of opportunities for you without putting a load on your average monthly expenses in Canada. The place has a lot to offer for budding entrepreneurs and has been a top location for business-related activities. The rents are 734 CAD and 642CAD for locations within and outside the city. The transportation and grocery expenses aren’t too high and have one of Canada’s most affordable average expenditures. The cost of transportation and grocery are 65 CAD and 240CAD, respectively.
Ontario is the third most affordable place to live in Canada. Residents of Ontario have one of the lowest average monthly expenses in Canada. The place also has Lakehead University, making it one of the most sought locations for students. The rents for within and outside the city are 925 CAD and 818.75 CAD. The grocery cost for a month is estimated to be around 250 CAD making it an ideal place for students to live a comfortable life without spending a hefty amount on living expenses in Canada. The cost of transportation is around 90 CAD per month.

You must have heard about the cities mentioned above and great institutions over there, but there is a huge downside to it in terms of average expenses in Canada when it comes to living in these cities. Your average monthly cost of living in Canada can be a pricey affair if you have chosen a university in any of these cities. Therefore, you must consider all the living expenses in Canada before taking the final call on admission.
As mentioned above, if you are planning to live in a city like Ottawa, the chances are very likely that you will end up spending more than 600 CAD on grocery alone, and the rent is as high as 1550 CAD (starting rent) within the city and 1250 CAD(starting rent) outside the city. Thus, the living standard is high; thus, miscellaneous expenses like outing and dinner at a restaurant will cost more than in other low-budget cities.
Similarly, Victoria is one such town wherein you will have to pay a high rent of 1600 CAD for accommodation within the city and 1400 outside the city. The cost of living in Canada for Indian students is a thing of concern, and in a city like Victoria, the cost of lunch can be around 80 CAD in a mid-range restaurant. The transportation via cabs can cost you around 3.50 CAD.
Montreal is another town that once had the distinction of being the cheapest metro city in Canada. However, with the rise in living costs in Canada per month, the place has become expensive, with rents soaring up to 1800 CAD. In a city like Montreal, where the average cost of internet for a 60mbps plan is 65 CAD, it can be expensive for those concerned about their Cost of living in Canada.

Tuition fee changes from one university to another and also varies as per the course. There is no uniformity per se in the fee structure, but you should thoroughly compare the fees of different universities. Unlike your average expense in Canada, the fee has to be paid every year, and it can’t be altered or reduced. Also, if you choose an institution with a high fee structure, you have to overly compromise on your average monthly cost of living in Canada. It’s always in your best interest to strike a balance between the fee and the city where the institution is located.
The course fee for certain courses like Medicine, Engineering, MBA can be a bit higher than other courses. Students take up courses depending on their employability post completion of the course. It will prove to be beneficial to choose a course with more demand in the market and incline with your field of interest. You shouldn’t compromise on the field of interest even if the fee is a bit high, there are multiple NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) offering loans for different courses, so there isn’t a dearth of financing.
Certainly, there are some fields like Medicine and Engineering where prospects are higher than others, but that shouldn’t limit your scope. The education cost in Canada is relatively less than in many other western countries. But you should also note that the monthly living expenses in Canada have seen an upward trend owing to a large number of immigrations. Therefore one should always take help from experts, the internet, and consultation from friends and family living in Canada. They can help you get the real picture of Canada’s living expenses and job prospects in different courses offered at the universities in Canada.

The on-campus accommodation cost is anywhere around INR 1,50,000 to 4,50,000 per annum, while the off-campus accommodation will cost you around INR 7,00,000 per annum. The transportation cost is roughly around INR 4000-7000. Apart from these monthly living expenses in Canada, there will be miscellaneous expenses that can be around INR 15,000-20,000 per month.
In a country like Canada, where there is a huge diversity of resources and standard of living, the cost of living in Canada is both cheap and expensive depending on the place where you choose to study. For instance, cities like Montreal and Ottawa have high average expenditure in Canada. While places like Ontario and Quebec have a relatively moderate cost of living in Canada for Indian students. Students have different priorities in their minds and different financial statuses, so there is no blanket rule to select a city for further studies.
However, the average expense in Canada is definitely higher than in Asian countries, and you may consider educational institutions based on the living cost in Canada per month. People tend to live in big cities as there comes a package of opportunities, right from top companies to better-living standards, but financial feasibility must be considered, and accordingly, the University should be selected.

There are multiple accommodation options available in Canada, and they must be chosen with your needs in the mind. The average monthly cost of living in Canada can vary vastly from one place to another, and living on the campus might be a better option in the first year of studies. However, once you get to know the place and feasibility of living outside of campus on a shared basis, it will be much cheaper than the on-campus accommodation. On average, a shared arrangement will cost you around 1000 CAD/ month, including all your expenses, provided you are ready to live a normal life and ready to make cuts on extravagant expenses.
The on-campus accommodation usually costs around 4000-8000 CAD/ annum. But having a shared arrangement outside the city center will definitely help you manage your finances and reduce the average expense in Canada.

The cost of food in Canada will not take a toll on your average monthly cost of living in Canada. The variety of food is quite wide, and people can have food from all the regions of the world. The cost of living in Canada for Indian students isn’t affected much by the food prices. If you are ready to make cuts on an excessive outing and extravagant lunches, food cost is way within the affordable limit. The price of the usual breakfast is anywhere between 10-15 CAD.
If you are ready to cook food at home, then Canada’s living expenses will have the least impact on the food bills. An average food cost for students is around 500-700 CAD per annum. Also, there are community kitchens run by the Indian diaspora, wherein you can enjoy quality food for free on an occasional outing.

The cost of transportation is high in big cities like Vancouver and Victoria, while it is cheaper in Quebec City. The average cost of a monthly travel pass is between 70-135 CAD. The public transportation system in Canada is robust, and you can go pretty much everywhere with it. Owning a pre-used car is also an option for you if you are ready to spend around INR 2,00,000 and more. If you are doing a part-time job, you can easily buy a pre-used car, and the petrol cost is around INR70/liter.
The cost of the taxi is also around INR 120/ Km, which is high than what you might have seen in an Indian city. So the best way is to use public transport or own a pre-used car. You must choose your mode of travel in line with your average expenditure in Canada.

The size of other expenses can be expanded or contracted based on your ability to increase or decrease the average monthly expenses in Canada. However, some expenses are common to all, and there is no exception to them. For example, the cost of stationery, internet, and phone bills, occasional outing, health insurance charges, etc., can’t be eliminated from your living expenses in Canada.
For a 60mbps plan, you will have to pay around 60 CAD per month. The cost of books and stationery, which is mostly a one-time expense, will cost you anywhere between 300-600 CAD, but it may vary from one course to another. For instance, the cost of stationery may go up for medicine, law, and engineering courses. The cost of health insurance varies, and some states even provide free health insurance to students. A part-time job can help you in managing your average expenditure in Canada.

One of the best things about Canadian cities is their robust network of metro and bus services. The public transport system will help you in cutting down on your cost of living in Canada.

The food cost varies from one city to another, and in a city like Ottawa or Toronto, a mid-range restaurant may charge you 100 CAD, for a meal. However, in places like Quebec City, you can comfortably get a meal at 60 CAD. Accordingly, the cost of grocery items also varies. The higher the city’s cost of living, the more will be your average monthly expenses in Canada.