Home to one of the world’s best education systems and immigration options, Canada is an excellent country to develop one’s career and settle permanently in the long run. The world-class universities, cultural diversity, and friendly people make Canada a popular study destination for students across the world. Canada is known to be an expensive country, but the exquisite experience that it offers is worth every penny. With a decent tuition fee and lifestyle, Canada living expenses for students come under a reasonable budget. There have been many speculations about living cost in Canada for international students, and therefore, we bring the answers to all queries in one place.
In this blog, we have covered all the estimated living expenses in Canada for Indian students, along with some money-saving hacks to balance your cost of living in Canada.
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An Overview of Living Expenses in Canada for International Students
What is the cost of living in Canada? International students' living costs in Canada are affordable and manageable if you are wise enough with your expenses. The average cost of living in Canada as a student can be anywhere between 15,000 CAD - 20,000 CAD/ INR 9,03,999 - 12,05,332, depending on one’s lifestyle and preferences. This varies in different provinces across Canada. To talk about tuition fees, most of the academic institutions in Canada offer courses with tuition fees that fit within 15,000 CAD/ INR 9,03,999. Besides, the cost of living in Canada per month for a single student is 880 CAD/ INR 53,034 without rent.
The living cost in Canada for Indian students and other international students is summarised below:
|
Factors |
Average Cost of Living in Canada Per Month |
|
Accommodation |
400 CAD - 600 CAD/ INR 24,106 - 36,159 |
|
Food |
200 CAD - 300 CAD/ INR 12,053 - 18,079 |
|
Transportation |
100 CAD - 250 CAD/ INR 6,026 - 15,066 |
|
Internet |
30 CAD - 50 CAD/ INR 1,808 - 3,013 |
|
Miscellaneous |
600 CAD - 700 CAD/ INR 36,159 - 42,186 |
Cost of Studying in Canada for International Students
The overall cost of living in Canada is the sum total of many factors. With this information, you must have gotten an idea about Canada living cost for indian students. Let us now go into detail on some of the most essential living expenses in Canada for international students:
1. Cost of Accommodation in Canada
How much is the cost of living in Canada? The monthly cost of living in Canada for international students has a lot to do with the type of accommodation you opt for. Popular accommodation options in Canada for students come into 5 categories.
- Student Residence- Dormitories and Townhouses
Most of the colleges and universities in Canada provide student residence on-campus or nearby the campus. Dormitories are larger buildings housing many students, while townhouses are detached, usually catering to three to six students. Apart from the in-house food, both have a cafeteria or food court where you can have your regular meals. Both options might include utilities, such as heat, hot water, and internet, offering them at a reduced fee.
- 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 many ways to find temporary furnished apartment rentals before arriving to study in Canada. You may refer to websites like Airbnb, Craigslist, HouseTrip or Wimdu for the same. These are usually furnished private apartment rentals. Do check the reviews and ratings or ask for feedback from the ones who previously stayed there.
The living cost in Canada for different residences can be summarised below:
|
Dormitories |
350 CAD - 600 CAD/ INR 21,093 - 36,159 |
|
Townhouses |
250 CAD - 650 CAD/ INR 15,066 - 39,173 |
|
Shared Apartment |
400 CAD - 800 CAD/ INR 24,106 - 48,213 |
|
Unfurnished Apartment Rentals |
300 CAD - 500 CAD/ INR 18,079 - 30,133 |
2. Transport and Travel in Canada
Public transportation in Canada are well-connected efficient, and safe. To cut down on monthly expenses in Canada for Indian students and international students, one may opt for public transport. Apart from that, cycling or walking to your college, depending on where you live, are also good ideas. Canada has multiple modes of public transportation, like buses, trains, subways, and light-rail trains. You can avail of student discounts while using these public transports by showing your student I-Card. This is a great way to cut your monthly living expenses in Canada.
An estimated expense of transportation to plan monthly cost in Canada for international students is discussed below:
|
Factors |
Average Cost Per Month |
|
Buses |
100 CAD - 150 CAD/ INR 6026 - 9039 |
|
Subway |
65 CAD - 99 CAD (Monthly Pass)/ INR 3,917 - 5,966 |
|
Taxis (1 km) |
40 CAD - 50 CAD/ INR 2,410 - 3,013 |
3. Food in Canada
Food is an essential part of living expenses in Canada for international students. The monthly average cost of living in Canada for international students is usually between CAD 200 and CAD 300/ INR 12,053 to 18,079 for food and other daily expenses, excluding accommodation. To know more about the food expenses in Canada refer to the table below:
|
Milk (1 litre) |
2.46 CAD/ INR 148.26 |
|
Rice (1kg) |
3.74 CAD/ INR 225.40 |
|
Water (1.5 liter) |
1.84 CAD/ INR 110.89 |
|
Apple (1 kg) |
4.24 CAD/ INR 255.53 |
|
Eggs (12 Nos) |
3.63 CAD/ INR 218.77 |
|
Cheese (1 kg) |
12.99 CAD/ INR 782.86 |
|
Chicken (1 kg) |
13.44 CAD/ INR 809.98 |
4. Health Insurance in Canada
Health insurance is another important part of living cost in Canada for international students. Certain provinces offer provincial health coverage to international students, either for free or for a premium. In these cases, international students are usually required to apply to their respective provinces. In places where provincial health insurances aren’t available, one has to purchase a private one.
Some popular private medical insurance plans and their costs are discussed below:
|
Name of the Plan |
Approximate Costs |
|
iMED |
225 CAD/ INR 15,367 for 3 months |
|
BC MSP Program |
74 CAD/ INR 4,459 for 1 month |
|
AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan |
176.42 CAD/ INR 10,632 for 8 months |
According to the Canada Insurance Plan, the average annual premium for acquiring health insurance is around 500 CAD to 700 CAD/ INR 30,133 - 42,186. International students mostly go for some popular insurance firms: Manulife Financial, Alliance Global, Sun Life, Green Shield, etc. Insurance bills are an unavoidable part of the cost of living in Canada as a student.
How to Finance your Studies in Canada?
So that was all about your living expenses in Canada. Let us now look at some tips to cut your Canada living cost.
Money-Saving Tips for International Students in Canada
No matter how much the living expenses in Canada for Indian students are, you may live self-sufficiently by knowing to spend well. Many a time, we try to cut costs and save money, but the trick is to be wise while handling our finances. As far as the cost of living for Indian students in Canada is concerned, there are ways to handle and minimise it. Some of them are:
1. Scholarships in Canada
There are around 800 scholarships for international students in Canada. The scholarships cover a stipend and/ or cover tuition fees, accommodation, travel allowance, and health insurance. Students' cost of living in Canada can be optimised to a great extent if one acquires any scholarship to fund and support his/her studies and stay in Canada.
2. Student Cards in Canada
Canada is a country that values and pays special interest to its student population. In order to minimise the cost of living in Canada for Indian students, the country has the provision of offering discounts to students on day to day basis. For this, one has to produce his/her I-card or student card during the time of purchase or payment. These discounts are available in departmental stores, bookstores, restaurants or while using any public transportation.
3. Part-Time Jobs in Canada
One of the best ways of reducing the cost of living in Canada for Indian students per month is to opt for part-time jobs in Canada. The student visa grants permission to take up different on-campus part-time jobs. After completing six months of study, you may also apply for an off-campus employment permit. A Canadian student visa permits 20 hours per week of part-time jobs in Canada for international students.
Intakes and Deadlines in Canada
Next, let’s check the monthly expenses in Canada with rent and other expenses in different cities of Canada.
Cost of Living in Canada for Students: A Comparison of Cities
Canada is the second-largest country in the world in terms of an area that consists of 10 provinces. The cost of living in Canada for Indian students and other international students varies across cities of all provinces. Canada has some well-known metropolitan cities that are rich in natural beauty and greenery. A vivid idea of the average cost of living in Canada for international students in different cities is discussed below.
|
City |
Average Cost of Living Per Month |
|
Toronto |
22,000 CAD/ INR 13,25,865 |
|
Montreal |
15,000 CAD/ INR 9,03,999 |
|
Vancouver |
17,000 CAD/ INR 10,24,532 |
|
Ottawa |
15,000 CAD/ INR 9,03,999 |
|
Quebec |
17,000 CAD/ INR 10,24,532 |
Best Cities to Study in Canada
Now you know the average monthly cost of living in Canada in different cities. When it comes to studying abroad, Canada is one of the most economical choices for international students. The overall cost of living in Canada for international students, with tuition fees being the largest contribution, is slightly lower when compared to other well-known foreign study locations like Australia and USA.
For further guidance on living and studying in Canada as an international student, get in touch with our expert counsellors by subscribing to Yocket premium.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cost of Living in Canada for Students
Ques. Is Canada an expensive country to live in?
Ans. Given the fact that Canada is still a first-world country, however, it’s definitely not among one of the cheapest places to live globally, yet it is manageable and affordable if you are wise with your expenses.
Ques. How much does it cost to live in Canada in rupees? What is the average cost of living in Canada for Indian students?
Ans. So, far as Indian students are concerned, the estimated cost of living in Canada in Rupees is 10,50,000 INR. The actual cost would vary on the grounds of the type of lifestyle that one chooses in Canada.
Ques. Which are the most expensive cities in Canada for Indian students?
Ans. The living expenses in Canada for Indian students are the most in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver. However, one can still manage to cover the expenses in those cities by optimising their costs and preferences.
Ques. What are the cheapest cities in Canada for students?
Ans. Although the cost of living in Canada for students in big cities is high, cities like Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, etc, are far cheaper while offering a pleasant experience of staying and studying.
Ques. What are the general monthly expenses in Canada for students?
Ans. The monthly expenses in Canada for Indian students include utilities like rent (400-600 CAD/ INR 24,106-36,159), food (200-300 CAD/ INR 12,053-18,079), stationery (150-200 CAD/ INR 9,039-12,053), transportation costs (100-250 CAD), etc.
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