Cost of Living in Canada: complete guide for 2025

Darshan Shah

13 Jul 2024

Planning your studying abroad journey to Canada? While it is understandable to get attracted to the country like 660,230 other international students due to the high-end education facilities, scenic places, and an opportunity to experience and work with cultures from across the globe, it is important that you get an idea about the living expenses in Canada. Read our complete guide on cost of living in Canada, to gain insights on topics such as the monthly expenses in Canada with rent, average cost of living in Canada, minimum cost of living in Canada, and much more!

What is the Cost of Living in Canada?

First of all, the minimum cost of living in Canada varies from person to person depending on the city they live in and their lifestyle choices. Larger cities in Canada such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are known to be much more expensive as compared to smaller towns such as Quebec, Halifax, and Winnipeg. Don’t worry, we’ll dive into all of that in detail below. Therefore, the living cost typically includes your accommodation costs, food and transportation costs, healthcare, and education costs.  

Average Cost of Living in Canada: 

for International Students

If you exclude tuition fees, on an average international students end up spending from CAD 10,000 to 15,000 per year on their daily living expenses:

Cost of Living in Canada : for Families & Students

While you get to know about the cost of living in Canada as an international student, many of you plan to someday obtain a PR in Canada and remain there. So is that option good for you financially? You can compare using our data that shows the living expenses in Canada for a family of four in a month. In total, a family might have to spend anywhere between 4,000 to 5,000 CAD per month. This amount includes the housing, food, and utility costs. Here’s the complete data by division:

Cost of Living in Canada : Accommodation

This is the expense where you can’t cut short more than the minimum rental that goes on in your city and the type of housing you choose. Below are some common options available to you for accommodation as an international student in Canada:

Cost of Living in Canada : 

City-wise Rental on Average

The rents differ based on the city you choose to live in. Here is a list of the most chosen cities by international students and their respective monthly rent on average in 2025:

Cost of Living in Canada : Travel Expenses

Travel expenses will typically include using public transportation, taxis, and any trains or flights that you may take sometimes. Most cities have a very efficient public transportation system and as a student, it will be an affordable option for you to travel to your university everyday using public transport.

Cost of Living in Canada: Food Expenses

You can save on food by cooking at home and on groceries by shopping smartly. The average cost of living in Canada when it comes to food expenses ranges from 200 to 400 CAD for one person. Which is equal to 12,200 to 24,400 INR for one person monthly.

Education System in Canada

The education in Canada is no doubt one of the best among top countries like the USA and the UK. Canada ranks 3rd most chosen destination for studying abroad by international students. This could be due to the quality of its education, and the credibility of degrees from Canadian universities to be recognized and appreciated worldwide. For Canadian residents, the tuition fees are dramatically less as compared to those for international students. So, studying in Canada to obtain a PR may result in a more affordable higher education in the country in the years to come.

Cost of Living in Canada: Education Cost

This is the only cost that we cannot give you a definite number for. Education cost refers to the amount of money you’ll be spending on your university’s fees. This totally depends on the university and the program that you choose. However, for international students fees can range anywhere from 7,000 to 29,000 CAD per year for undergraduate programs, and from 16,000 to 35,000 CAD for postgraduate degree programs.

University Tuition Fees in Canada

Below are the University Tuition Fees for some typically chosen programs in Canada ranging depending on the university and the city that its located in:

Cost of Living in Canada: Health Insurance

International students in Canada mandatorily need to have health insurance. The cost for this varies depending upon the city you choose to live in Canada. But generally, it ranges from 600 to 900 CAD per year. This equals to 36,586 to 54,879 INR per year. Some provinces cover its international students under their provincial public health insurance, while others do not and students will need to get health insurance from a private company. 

Cost of Living in Canada : Taxes

It is also important to understand what the taxing system in Canada is, otherwise managing living expenses will become blindfold. The Goods and Services Tax or (GST) is 5% in Canada, and additionally Provincial Sales Tax (PST), and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) [where applicable] varies by province. Likewise, there are variations in the income tax rates by province too. Refer the below tables for accurate data as of 2025:

Income Tax Rates in Canada in 2025:

Average Cost of Living in Canada: City-wise

Here’s a city-wise comparison of the cost of living in Canada:

Tips for Students to Save Money in Canada

By building some smart financial habits, you can save money in Canada and manage your finances as an international student. Here are some tips you can follow to help you save money while studying in Canada:

1. Budgeting: Make a budget and stick to it. This will help you to keep a track of your expenses.
2. Accommodation: To reduce the amount of rent you pay, opt for sharing housing with other international students. This will also help you to feel surrounded by people when you first enter the country to study all by yourself.
3. Food: Limit dining out whenever possible. You can do so every once in a while but not everyday. Instead, learn to cook food at home and you’ll be able to save a lot of money!
4. Public Transport: While taxis may be a comfortable choice when it comes to travel, use them only in times of emergencies. Regularly, travel using public transport and manage your time accordingly.
5. Student Discounts: There are discounts available for students on travel, food, and entertainment. Utilize these and take the advantage in order to save some extra bucks.

Is the Cost of Living in Canada for 

Indian Students Quite High or Expensive?

It is natural to feel that the cost of living in Canada is high when we compare it to the living expenses in India. Monthly expenses in Canada with rent can be however handled with a good budgeting plan and some smart financial planning. Compared to countries like the USA and the UK, the cost of living in Canada is quite affordable. Also, there are options available to aid you financially such as scholarships and part-time jobs. As an international student, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week as an international student. But this limit will go up to 24 hours per week after September 2025. Thus, your cost of living in Canada can be easily managed through part time work. Refer to our article on Minimum Wage in Canada for a detailed insight on what you will get paid per hour for part-time work in Canada.

Canada Cost of Living:

Canadian Housing Expenses Global Comparison

The housing rates in Canada are moderate as compared to the rates going on globally in 2025. Some cities are indeed more expensive, such as Toronto and Vancouver. But these are still more affordable as compared to New York and London.

Final Thoughts

At last, we’ve curated a comprehensive guide that covers all of the data you need to know about the cost of living in Canada in one place. By understanding the minimum cost of living in Canada, you will be able to better plan your moving period and study in Canada. Sometimes, expenses can be a bit high and especially in the major cities, but effective finance management will help you to live and experience Canada in an effortless and enjoyable experience. All in all, our guide covers all the living expenses from accommodation to food that you as an international student need to bear regularly. If you have any more questions related to the cost of living in Canada or need some personalized guidance, feel free to reach out to our expert consultants at D-Vivid, who’ve helped thousands of students achieve their dream to study abroad in Canada. Contact us @ 75750 20920.