Canada is one of the most popular destinations for students and immigrants. What is the average cost of living in Canada? Did you know that renting a furnished apartment in an expensive residential area could cost around 2,500 Canadian dollars?
A meal at a fast food chain like McDonald’s or Subway would cost you somewhere around 10-15 CAD.
In this article, we discuss the average cost of living in Canada in terms of:
- Accommodation
- Utility charges
- Food and grocery
- Healthcare fee
- Entertainment
- Public transportation
Read: How To Get A Work Permit To Canada?
Canada – What Attracts Immigrants To Canada
Before we discuss the average monthly cost of living in Canada, let us know a bit about the country. The country is known for its beautiful geographical features and acceptance of diversity. This nation also happens to be one of the most multicultural countries in the world.
The landscape is varied in nature with beautiful and serene lakes and rivers, glorious mountains, valleys covered in forests and rolling hills and plains. It indeed is a perfect destination for anyone who wants to live in a great country.
Besides, this nation is well known for its government that is socially progressive, universal health care programmes, high quality of life, and for its kind and friendly people.
No wonder this country happens to be one of the top destinations in the world that people consider migrating to in spite of the extremely cold temperatures in the winters.
If you are planning to move to Canada one of the first things to consider is how much it will cost you to move to that place and the cost of living in Canada. You could be moving to Canada as a student or an employee.
You could also be moving there as a permanent resident. Whatever your reason to migrate to Canada, you need to have a clear understanding of the cost of living in this nation.
Let’s take a look at how much it would cost a person to live in Canada.
Read: In-Demand Jobs For Immigrants In Canada
Cost Of Living In Canada – The Most Expensive Cities
Given below is the list of the most expensive cities to live in Canada.
- Toronto in Ontario
- Vancouver in British Columbia
- Victoria in British Columbia
- Hamilton-Burlington in Ontario
- Calgary in Alberta
Cost Of Living In Canada – The Cheapest Places
When you choose to live in a place outside the major cities of Canada you can cut down on your cost of living. Some of the cheapest places to live in Canada are given below.
- Abbotsford in British Columbia
- St. Catherine’s in Ontario
- Moncton in New Brunswick
- The province of Quebec (Any place
can be chosen)
Cost Of Living In Canada – Rent And Housing
Just like any other country, the residential costs and rent happen to be the major portion of the cost of living in Canada. Toronto in Ontario and Vancouver in British Columbia are the most popular cities in Canada chosen by people to migrate.
Hence, these two remain the most expensive cities in Canada when it comes to buying a place to live. Renting a furnished apartment in an expensive residential area could come up to at least 2,500 Canadian dollars.
Choosing to live in cities like Ottawa, Montreal, or Calgary could bring down the costs of housing and rent slightly. The rent could come around 2,000 Canadian dollars for a furnished apartment in these places. You could also enjoy a high-quality life in these cities, just like you would in Vancouver.
If you are looking for a much quieter and peaceful life you could skip the cities for a smaller town or a remote area. The housing costs and rent in such places are much cheaper than what you pay in the cities.
You could find a one-room furnished apartment for less than 1,000 Canadian dollars. Let’s take a look at the rental charges for houses in some of the major cities in Canada in 2019.
| City | Rent - 1 Bedroom Houses | Rent - 2 Bedroom Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 2,100 | 3,200 |
| Toronto | 2,300 | 2,900 |
| Montreal | 1,500 | 1,800 |
| Ottawa | 1,300 | 1,550 |
| Victoria | 1,400 | 1,750 |
| Burnaby | 1,600 | 2,250 |
| Calgary | 1,100 | 1,350 |
Note: Price in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Cost Of Living In Canada: Utility Charges
Besides rental charges a person living in Canada has to pay a monthly charge for utilities like electricity, water, heating, and gas. On average, a person living in Canada pays around 90-95 CAD (Canadian Dollars) per month as utility charges.
If you are single or a student, you can save on housing charges by sharing a flat. Students can also consider applying for university accommodation to cut down housing charges.
| City | Utility Charges |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 116 |
| Toronto | 126 |
| Montreal | 117 |
| Ottawa | 132 |
| Victoria | 138 |
| Burnaby | 110 |
| Calgary | 193 |
Note: Price in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Cost Of Food And Groceries In Canada
Even though the cost of groceries and food in Canada is not considered too expensive, the prices could be slightly higher than the cost of food in countries like the USA.
This is because a large portion of the food and groceries you get in Canada is imported due to the country’s extremely cold weather. However, if you compare the prices to many of the European nations, the cost of food is cheaper in Canada.
Going out for a meal or dinner would be expensive in cities like Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. It is much cheaper when you dine at a hotel in a remote town or a small city.
It could cost you between 110 and 120 CAD at inexpensive restaurants in one of the major cities. Costs may drop to 65-75 CAD at mid-range restaurants.
A meal at a fast food chain like McDonald’s or Subway would be much cheaper. It could cost you somewhere around 10-15 CAD. A soft drink could cost 2- 2.50 CAD, and a beer could go up to a maximum of 7 or 8 CAD.
| City | Food And Groceries - 1 Month | Cost Of A Basic Meal | Meal At A Fast Food Chain | Fine Dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 310-410 | 18 | 10 | 55-125 |
| Toronto | 400-520 | 17 | 10 | 55-150 |
| Montreal | 200-220 | 16 | 11 | 45-125 |
| Ottawa | 200-215 | 19 | 10 | 65-120 |
| Victoria | 250-400 | 19 | 10 | 46-110 |
| Burnaby | 350-420 | 18 | 10 | 35-100 |
| Calgary | 220-320 | 19 | 9 | 55-110 |
Note: Price in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Cost Of Healthcare In Canada
Canada does have a free health care system for its citizens and permanent residents. It is a basic healthcare plan funded by the government through taxes collected from taxpayers.
This basic health care plan could vary depending on the province you live in. It is important to keep in mind that there are several things that are not covered in a basic health care plan. To get everything covered when it comes to health care purchasing of additional coverage would be necessary.
If you are a student or do not have health coverage in Canada, medical costs can be quite expensive. A short consultation with a doctor would cost around 100 CAD.
Even though the charges for medicines are considered reasonable in Canada, it could seem high if you are a student or if you moved to the country recently on a long-term visa. Antibiotics could cost around 18-20 Canadian dollars.
| City | Doctor’s Fee | Antibiotics | Medicine For Cold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 101 | 24 | 10 |
| Toronto | 106 | 25 | 11 |
| Montreal | 124 | 17 | 10 |
| Ottawa | 93 | 25 | 10 |
| Victoria | 80 | 33 | 9 |
| Burnaby | 100 | 25 | 10 |
| Calgary | 65 | 23 | 10 |
Note: Price in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Cost Of Transportation In Canada
In Canada, you have access to public transportation only in urban areas. So most Canadians rely on their own vehicles. The cost of public transportation is quite high in Canada.
Hence, the majority of people prefer to buy a vehicle for themselves to reduce travel costs. Fuel prices in Canada are on the higher side compared to the prices in the US. If you have to drive a long way to work or college it’s going to cost you much more when it comes to your living expenses in Canada.
The per-kilometer taxi fare in some major Canadian cities, such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, can range from 1.70 CAD to 2.0 CAD.
Gasoline charges per liter could be between 1.30 and 1.50 CAD in these cities. Tickets for public transportation (one-way charges) could be anywhere between 2.85 and 3.25 CAD.
You could save money on public transportation by choosing a monthly pass.
| City | Public Transportation Charges |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 110 |
| Toronto | 145 |
| Montreal | 82 |
| Ottawa | 115 |
| Victoria | 83 |
| Burnaby | 125 |
| Calgary | 104 |
Note: Price in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Cost Of Fitness And Entertainment In Canada
Canada offers a variety of entertainment options for its people. It is a perfect destination for people who seek adventure and love nature.
Hiking, trekking, sightseeing, and photography are quite popular in Canada owing to its beautiful landscape, nature, and architectural wonders. The fees for each activity could vary from province to province.
A traditional mode of entertainment like a public cinema could cost you between 13-15 CAD, depending on the place you live in, like Toronto, Montreal, or Ottawa.
To get a membership in a fitness club, you’ll have to pay somewhere between 40 and 57 CAD.
| City | Gym Membership | Movie Tickets For 2 | Theatre Tickets For 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 61 | 27 | 135 |
| Toronto | 61 | 29 | 233 |
| Montreal | 51 | 26 | 143 |
| Ottawa | 59 | 26 | 125 |
| Victoria | 57 | 26 | 198 |
| Burnaby | 48 | 27 | 135 |
| Calgary | 83 | 30 | 196 |
Note: Price in Canadian Dollars (CAD)
The cost of living in Canada depends largely on where you choose to live. Living in the countryside or a rural area could help you save a lot of money, as it is much cheaper. The cost of living could also vary depending on the province, too.
If you have the freedom to choose a place to live in, comparing the prices of the nearby locations before making a final decision would be a good idea.
If you are looking for city life, be ready to pay more for your living costs. Once you decide on the exact place you want to live in Canada, it will be easier for you to decide on a budget for your living expenses.