Cost Of Living In Canada For International Students

 "A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for" - John A Shedd

There is a big world out there for you to explore, learn and celebrate. This planet has an ocean of experiences and only a few have seen the depth of it. International experience gives you a lot more to experience, educate and cultivate your knowledge to a greater extent and none can match the level of adventure an abroad education yields. Moving to a new country is a great thing but the cost matters a lot if you are moving in for the first time. Because international experiences and education come with expenses too. Don't get scared at the earliest, with proper planning and guidance you can manage your abroad education like a PRO. The cost of living in Canada for International students includes education fees, accommodation, transportation, food, and miscellaneous costs. 

What are the Average Cost Of Living In Canada for International Students?

Canada is like a home for many because the country offers many opportunities and benefits, thanks to Canadian immigration programs. Immigration is becoming so popular and supportive to most international students contributing more to the 1.2 million immigrant goals which are targeted by the year 2023 by the Canadian government. Canada is one of the biggest economies in the world and also proves to continue its throne to become more superiors with ever-growing opportunities.

Canada is in greater need of professionals in healthcare, technology, engineering, and biotechnology leading to more students enrolling in the same departments. This average cost of living in Canada article gives you a fair idea of how the price ranges according to different places inside of Canada. Here are the 10 cities examples for the average cost of living in Canada for students that you can use for understanding the cost aspect involved. 

Accommodation Cost In Canada For International Students

Students' major money contributions in terms of living expenses are spent on accommodation. Affording accommodation consumes 50% of your cost of living expenses in Canada. Sometimes it can carry more than the expected value because of the change of real estate values across the country.

The right way of choosing accommodation could be finding space nearby your college or applying for the university on-campus accommodation. University accommodations are very nearer arrangements to the university, you will be within a walkable distance to the campus facility from your stay. Also, the food and other conveniences will be taken care of. This reduces major expenses created by travel, groceries, and cleaning expenses. University accommodations are affordable but compared to the private facilities, on-campus facilities are a little higher in cost, because of their maintenance cost and other involvements.

Meanwhile, most of the abroad students prefer off-campus facilities over on-campus facilities because of their flexibility and convenience. Students are preferring the freedom of space and privacy over university accommodations. But the cost associated with off-campus accommodation is less and you can reduce it further by restricting some of the unnecessary costs. The price involved in major cities is inevitable, because of its real estate values and the number of opportunities it provides. You can compare the approximate cost involved in the different provinces around Canada for international students.

Following table is having the data of Median rents for 1 BHK homes available across Canadian cities in CAD 

Cost Of Healthcare In Canada

All international students are required to have a mandatory health insurance policy provided by the Canadian government for the time duration they stay in the country for their studies. Because healthcare costs in Canada are skyrocketing and it would be difficult for any student to afford such when they are away from home. This healthcare cost varies from one province to another province depending on the health ministry policies. Not every province offers a healthcare policy for the international student but, either way you can apply for a private health insurance plan. To make it more convenient, major universities in Canada offer health care packages along with the curriculum fees so that you don't need to take much worry about the same. You'll find all the necessary help and information from AECC about your study abroad education process and healthcare-related support.

Below here is the list of international student health insurance costs and requirements to qualify the minimum eligibility: 

Transportation Cost In Canada

Off-campus students either need to take their private vehicles to the college or students can use the metro for their daily commute. For students and working professionals, the Canadian government has announced a monthly subscription pass system for transportation that allows you to travel anywhere inside of the province.

Among all the provinces Toronto has the maximum cost compared to others, so let's take the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) for an example to understand the monthly expenses on transportation:

Students can go for a yearly pass to save money from monthly pass subscriptions. Monthly pass subscriptions are comparatively cheaper than other modes but a year pass can save you 152 CAD per year.

Also, let us compare the cost difference in different cities in Canada which allows you to estimate the cost of transportation anywhere you move post studies or during your diploma courses in Canada project.

The Transportation Cost Difference Between Different Cities of Canada

Low-cost Cities in Canada

The larger cities are indeed costlier cities in terms of their cost. Each province has a costlier city but it doesn't mean that you cannot afford to live there. Most big cities have their nearby cities which are most affordable and cost-effective, which leads to more savings. If students are living off-campus it is better to avail accommodation in a smaller city helps them save a lot in costs involved. Here we are listing out the lower-cost cities in Canada for international students reference:

• Becancour, Quebec
• Quesnel, British Columbia
• Cornwall, Ontario
• Timmins, Ontario
• Saint-Georges, Quebec
• Rimouski, Quebec
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Rouyn-Noranda, Québec
• Saint-Marie, Quebec

Plan your accommodation with our advice and counsel. AECC will assist you throughout your journey.