Living Expenses in Canada for Indian Students
Having sufficient knowledge and understanding about living expenses in Canada is always good. There are a lot of differences in the socio-economic culture of India and Canada, which creates a wide gap between the cost of living in both countries.
Living in Canada can be easy if we have the information about accommodation rent, meal expenses, travelling costs, health insurance premiums, etc., covered in this blog.
- Average Living Expenses in Canada
- Living Expenses in Canada for International Students: Top Cities
- Average Rent in Canada for Indian Students
- Cost of Study in Canada for International Students
- Afforadable Cities in Canada for Indian Students
- Health Insurance for Indian Students in Canada
- Tips to Cut Living Expenses in Canada
- GIC Update: 1 January 2024
- Conclusion
Average Living Expenses in Canada
The average living expenses in Canada for international students range between CAD 1,040 and 2,810 or INR 63,000-1.71 Lakh per month to sustain in Canada while studying. In addition to these costs, tuition fees are also considered when estimating the total expenditure. Below is the table that showcases the average living expenses in Canada for an Indian student.
| Type of Expenses | Cost of Expenditure (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | CAD 500-2.000 |
| Meals | CAD 240-480 |
| Transportation | CAD 80-150 |
| Amusement | CAD 120 |
| Utility Services (internet, phone, electricity, water etc.) | CAD 100-180 |
| Total | CAD 1,040-2,810 |
Living Expenses in Canada for International Students: Top Cities
The average living expenses in Canada for international students in some of the top cities range from CAD 1,760-3,129 or INR 1.07 Lakh-1.91 Lakh per month, depending on the city, locality, living standards, usage of amenities, etc. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, etc., are some of the typical expensive cities in Canada.
| Expenses | Toronto | Vancouver | Montreal | Ottawa | Winnipeg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | CAD 1,100-2,700 | CAD 1,500-2,500 | CAD 1,700-2,100 | CAD 1,300-2,340 | CAD 1,300-2,464 |
| Meals | CAD 340-400 | CAD 350-650 | CAD 150-350 | CAD 90-400 | CAD 50-350 |
| Transportation | CAD 70-128 | CAD 100-185 | CAD 90-120 | CAD 70-125 | CAD 70-115 |
| Amusement | CAD 100-150 | CAD 80-150 | CAD 100-150 | CAD 50-70 | CAD 70-100 |
| Utility Bills | CAD 150-200 | CAD 50-180 | CAD 60-100 | CAD 100-180 | CAD 60-100 |
| Total | CAD 1,760-3,578 | CAD 2.080-3,665 | CAD 2,100-2,820 | CAD 1,610-3,115 | CAD 1,550-3,129 |
Average Rent in Canada for Indian Students
Accommodation in Canada for Indian students is provided by designated academic institutions in which applicants have been admitted and also private landlords. The on-campus average rent in Canada ranges from CAD 600-1,200 or INR 36,000-73,000 per month. It may vary depending on the chosen course or university. Below is a brief description of average off-campus housing expenses.
| Type of Accommodation | Average Rent (per month) |
|---|---|
| Shared apartment or condominium | CAD 700-1,500 |
| Private apartments | CAD 1,700-2,900 |
| Homestay with locals | CAD 500-1,000 |
Cost of Study in Canada for International Students
While estimating the living expenses in Canada, cost of study should also be considered to make the right decision. Here, we have given the cost of study both course wise and university wise to help students make their budget for living expenses in Canada.
Course Wise Tuition Fees
The average tuition fees for undergraduate Indian students in Canada is CAD 7,000-22,000 or INR 4 Lakh-13 Lakh per year. Whereas the average tuition fees for postgraduate international students is CAD 13,000-30,000 or INR 7 Lakh-18 Lakh per year.
| Streams | Bachelor’s Average Tuition Fee (Per Year) | Master’s Average Tuition Fee (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering & Computer Science | CAD 37,000 | CAD 23,000 |
| Business Management | CAD 6,800 | CAD 27,397 |
| Humanities | CAD 7,600 | CAD 30,000 |
| Medicine & Allied Health Sciences | CAD 14,162-21,717 | CAD 12,500-30,000 |
University Wise Tuition Fees
Below are the top Canadian universities, along with their QS world university ranking for 2025 and the cost of study in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
| University | Annual Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | CAD 77,800 |
| McGill University | CAD 10,159 |
| University of British Columbia | CAD 54,732 |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | CAD 22,581 |
| University of West Ontario | CAD 7,696 |
| Thomson Rivers Univerisity | CAD 21,606 |
| Carleton University | CAD 27,691 |
| University of Guelph | CAD 42,000 |
Afforadable Cities in Canada for Indian Students
The average living expenses for an Indian student in affordable Canadian cities are listed below.
| Cities | Average Cost of Living (Per Month) |
|---|---|
| Abbotsford, British Columbia | CAD 1,100-1,650 (INR 67,230-1 Lakh) |
| Moncton, New Brunswick | CAD 1,500-1,800 (INR 91,000-1.10 Lakh) |
| Kingston, Ontario | CAD 927-1,385 (INR 56,000-84,000) |
| St. Catharines, Ontario | CAD 1,400-2,300 (INR 85,500-1.40 Lakh) |
| Laval, Quebec | CAD 1,500-1,900 (INR 91,000-1.16 Lakh) |
| Sherbrooke, Quebec | CAD 1,800-2,100 (INR 1.10-1.28 Lakh) |
Health Insurance for Indian Students in Canada
Canada allows international students to purchase health insurance from universities or private establishments. If a student wants to get a healthcare package from their pursuing university, the average cost may vary between CAD 74-100 or INR 4,500-6,100 per term. However, such healthcare packages may contain very limited benefits. On the other hand, private establishments like Manulife, Sun Life Financial, etc., offer their health insurance scheme, which might range between CAD 600-800 or INR 36,000-48,000 per term.
Tips to Cut Living Expenses in Canada
Pursuing academic courses in Canada for Indian students might be expensive because of the high costs of accommodation, transportation, meals, and utility bills. However, students can follow these steps to manage their living expenses in Canada.
- Rather than choosing a personal room, sharing accommodation can heavily reduce the rent.
- Instead of spending money on outside eateries, learning cooking can provide benefit Indian students as they can have a meal of their choice in less amount.
- Using bicycles or public transport services like buses, trams, or metro can help international students save on transportation expenses.
- International students should learn to prepare a budget and keep a record to track monthly expenses.
GIC Update: 1 January 2024
GIC stands for Guaranteed Income Certificate disbursed by the Government of Canada, under which international students fly to Canada for academic purposes. This is one of the important eligibility criteria to obtain a study visa for Canada. Minimum financial requirement has increased from CAD 10,000 to CAD 20,635 on January 1st, 2024, to reflect the cost of living.
Additionally, bank charges ranging from CAD 150-CAD 200 or INR 9,100-12,224 is also applicable.
Conclusion
To conclude, the living expenses in Canada for Indian students vary according to city, province, tuition fee, and preference of living standards. Canada is a student-friendly country that welcomes thousands of international students from all over the world every year. It assists students so that they can meet their academic goals without any worry. Overseas students must keep track of their monthly living expenses as it can help them manage their funds intelligently.
FAQs
What modes of transport are available in Canada for students to commute within the country?
Metro trains and buses are two major modes of transportation available in Canada, which students can afford easily. Different cities in Canada have their transport system, such as ferries, bike taxis, sharing seabuses, etc.,
which students can opt for depending upon the city where they live.
How much money will be needed to purchase groceries in Canada if a student is accommodated off-campus?
On average, an international student will require around CAD 75 or INR 4,500 per month to purchase groceries in Canada, depending on the province and city.
What is the cost of expenditure on having meals in Canadian restaurants?
Meals in Canadian restaurants, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, will cost around CAD 11-20 per person.
Can I live in Canada after completing my master’s degree?
From February 2024, international students who have obtained a master’s degree of less than 2 years are eligible for a 3-year post-graduate work visa program. The length of PGWP depends on the level and duration of the study program.
How much money do you need to move to Canada as a student?
Indian students are required to demonstrate CAD 20,635 or INR 12.61 for Lakh for a year in their bank account to cover living expenses in Canada.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
