USA vs Canada: Cost of Living in Canada vs USA

Both the US, and Canada are good options for studying abroad. Both the countries are highly preferred by study abroad aspirants. Based on different parameters, and one’s priorities, both Canada and the US are equally at par with each other.

Canada vs USA for international students can only be distinguished based on parameters like student visa process, cost of living, top universities, employment opportunities, etc, which have been discussed in the sections below.

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Before we delve into the question: Is Canada better than US for international students, let us first learn why both these countries are a preferred study destination for millions of students.

• The United States has been the ultimate study abroad destination for students from ages especially for MS in US and other master’s programs. It has established its reputation as a global leader in tech and research, which attracts students wanting to pursue high-quality education. Other than this, factors including excellent R & D opportunities, state of the art infrastructure, technological advancements, booming industries, etc. have added to its appeal as the penultimate study abroad destination.
• In recent times, Canada has emerged as a frontrunner in attracting international students to the Canadian universities, marching ahead of countries including the UK, Australia, US, etc. This has been mainly because of the lenient immigration policies, high-quality education that is relatively cheaper, good work-related opportunities, speedy processing times for study permits, wide availability of scholarships etc. These along with a good quality of life is making Canada a favourite amongst foreign students.

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The first thing a student has to consider while going abroad is language of communication. Apart from this a favourable environment is also desirable.

Key takeaway: Both the countries provide Foundation courses to students before under graduation and graduation to help them adapt to university environment, the culture, language improvements and develop a strong base for the course ahead.

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While answering the question, USA or Canada which is better to study, the most important thing one must consider is the quality of education.

• The US as we all know is definitely the torchbearer of quality education. The quality of its programs has stood the test of time and the higher education standards provided here are unparalleled. Most US universities have a strong foundation in research, which makes it the perfect for students willing to indulge in breakthrough research projects. Apart from this, the US offers a wide range of courses in a wide array of upcoming fields which makes it even more lucrative.
• Canada is also not far behind when it comes to the quality of education . Although Canada has been recognised worldwide for its outstanding quality of education at all levels, in the last several years, the universities have also upped their game. As a result of this their universities like University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia are constantly being featured in the list of best Universities in the world.

Key takeaway: While the quality of education is very good in both countries, the US definitely wins: “USA or Canada: which is better to study?“ race by a small margin. Some examples are pre-MBAs, pre-med courses, pre nursing programmes, pre law degrees, pre-Masters in psychology, pre-economics studies, finance preparation courses, business foundation degrees, among others.

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There are similar types of educational institutions in both counties. However, the nature of these institutions may vary.

• In Canada, universities grant degrees, while colleges grant certificates and diplomas. Therefore, for bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees you should look for a university in Canada, not a college.
• In the United States, the term college can imply any degree-granting institution. A university is just a bigger institution that offers more options and programs. Therefore, the terms college and university are used interchangeably in the US.

Key takeaway: The nature of the education system in the US differs from Canada. Also, while the US has a number of institutions to choose from, in Canada, this choice is limited. The US offers a variety of courses as it has many mid-level educational institutions. These range from core courses related to STEM to interdisciplinary programs.

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Talking about studying in US after 12th vs Canada, let’s now talk about admission requirements. The admission requirements may vary between the type of institution and between the courses.

USA Admission Requirements

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Canada Admission Requirements

Key takeaway: Studying in Canada requires a better profile in terms of academic, technical skills and research skills. Most Canadian Institutions do not emphasise on GRE unlike the US.

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In the US and Canada both, the students need to apply to individual universities or colleges for admission. However, the difference lies in the procedure.

While admission to Canadian colleges and universities are mainly based on grades, in US colleges may require a set of essays, statements of purpose (SOP), or Letters of recommendations as a part of the application process.

Key takeaway: The admission and application process is simpler in Canada when compared to the US. However, the number of universities is limited in Canada and hence it becomes challenging to get an admit.

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After having understood the intricacies of studying in USA vs Canada, let us now look at the visa process in both the countries.

Key takeaway: In the U.S, the visa application process is extremely lengthy and complicated. In comparison, the Canadian student visa application process is relatively simpler and shorter.

Universities in both the US and Canada have made it to the top university rankings. According to World QS Rankings 2021, following are the top universities in the United States and Canada.Top 10 Universities in the US

The US is home to the world renowned Ivy league institutions and some of the best institutions of higher education are located in the country. Given below is the comparison of Canadian and American universities.

Top 10 Universities in US

Top 10 Universities in Canada

Canada is not far behind when it comes to high quality educational institutions. In fact, the ranks of its universities are increasing year over year.

Key takeaway: US universities have better worldwide ranks compared to Canadian universities.

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Both the US and Canada are known for their high quality education. Here is a look at the top streams in both these countries:

Key takeaways: Both provide a range of programs and courses. However, they differ when compared on which ones are the top courses.

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Taking the discussion Canada vs USA for international students, we compare the tuition fee of the two countries. We find that the cost of pursuing education in Canada is relatively less when compared to the US, and hence answers the question-”Is studying in Canada cheaper than US?”

An important thing to remember is that the amount of tuition fees varies from university to university and from program to program.

Given below is a comparison between tuition fees in the two countries:

Key takeaway: Canadian institutions are much more affordable compared to US universities both at undergraduate and graduate levels.

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Another factor that contributes to the total expenses in a foreign country is the cost of living. We have also added the costs in INR for those looking into Canada vs USA for Indian students.

Please note that the figures in the table above are tentative and depend on one’s lifestyle and the city.

Suggested: Cost of Living in Canada

Let us also compare the cost of living in the most famous cities of the US and Canada to get a clear picture of small expenses an international student would incur.

Key takeaway: In terms of accommodation, Canada is cheaper. The average cost of living in the US is greater compared to Canada.

The cost of education in both the US and Canada is quite high. However, the good thing is that they both offer a number of Scholarships and other forms of financial aid to international students.

These scholarships can be university-specific, Government Funded or Private Scholarships or from the country you are applying from. Some of the top scholarships provided by the two countries are:

Key takeaway: Both the countries offer financial aid for students at different levels.

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A lot of students studying abroad wish to take up some sort of part time jobs to support themselves financially. So, let’s see which one is better when it comes to part time work conditions:

Key takeaway: It is easier to find part -time jobs or on campus jobs as an international student in Canada compared to the US.

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There are many students who study Electronics and then want to do their Masters in Computer Science or switch to Aeronautics for Masters after a Mechanical Engineering undergrad.

Since Canada is strict about academic scores, it is less accepting of change of undergrad stream than the US which looks at the overall profile of a student including his/her projects, internships and extra-curricular.

Key takeaway: Due to a more open education system, the US is more likely to accept international students applications who look for changing their stream for Masters after undergrad than Canada.

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After admission to an institution in Canada or the US, an international student may wish to change their Masters stream due to a variety of reasons such as shift of interest or other requirements.

For applying to their university, one may have to get involved in a lot of formalities.

Key takeaway: Canada has a relatively easier set of formalities compared to the US when it comes to switching the Master’s program in Canada after admission.

According to QS Graduate Employability (GE) Rankings 2020, the universities in the US rank better than Canadian institutions. Also, Graduates with a degree in Computer Science from US universities earn more than 52,272 USD. For careers in Computer Science, the average salary in Canada is 58,469 CAD but the starting salary may go to 30,000 CAD.

Key takeaway: Average starting salary after graduation may be higher in the US than in Canada. However, it is a factor of university, city, type of course and employer. Also, the US offers more employment opportunities than Canada and is not limited to STEM fields.

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An essential part of the university and college experience is to experience a student's social life. Both the US and Canada provide a variety of experiences and opportunities to the students in this regard.

• The US is known for its vibrant student and campus culture. There are multiple clubs, on campus activities, which give students ample opportunities of forming connections. Since most students live on campus, they have access to multiple university activities.
• Staying in Canada has its own set of advantages for students. Canada is comparatively safer and considered more tolerant to international students. Also, since international students make up nearly one fifth of Canada’s university population, there are more chances of cultural exchanges.

Key takeaway: Both the US and Canada provide immense opportunities for students to grow and learn.

After completing your course, you might wish to stay back in the country to get some work experience. Both US and Canada do allow students to stay back but the process differs significantly.

Key takeaway: In the US, after completing graduation, if you have not exhausted all your part time work limit (12 months in general except for STEM students for whom it is 36 months) under OPT, you can stay back only for 90 days. However, in Canada, you get a time till 180 days to apply for a PGWP and stay for up to 3 years depending on the length of your program irrespective of whether the course is a STEM or not.

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While permanent residency can be obtained in both countries, they vary in terms of the ease and time taken.

While in the US the process is long and slow, in Canada it is relatively easier.

Key takeaway: In the US, citizenship can be obtained after 5 years of residence through employment. In Canada, one of the PR options called Canadian Experience Class allows international graduates to become permanent residents after 1 year of skilled occupation.

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If you are considering settling down in the US after completing your education, a comparison between the two will be helpful.

Key takeaway: Taxes are lower in the US but cost of living is on a higher side compared to Canada as well. Social benefits such as maternity leaves and health care costs make Canada a highly sought after nation for settling.

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When comparing Canada vs USA for Indian students, an important factor that comes up is climate. Here’s a quick look at the two:

Key takeaway: For some study abroad aspirants, climate has been a major dampener in Canada.

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There is nothing called a perfect country. As an international student aspiring to study abroad you need to assign weight to each factor these countries offer according to your preferences. Pursuing an international degree is a demanding process right from choosing a university to looking for job opportunities, and if you are confused, our Yocket Counsellors are available right at your service!