Cost of living in Canada for Immigrants

Foreign nationals who are planning to study in Canada or move permanently to stay with their families are always concerned about the accurate information concerning the cost of living in Canada. Canada is a well-developed country which offers its residents world-class amenities.

Furthermore, the country is considered the best in the world and welcomes immigrants from all nations annually. Because of all these, people consider Canada to be one of the most luxurious and expensive places on the planet. However, one cannot base evaluations on the living cost in Canada based on numbers.

Since you want to find out the cost of living in Canada, then you must be among those many dreamers and achievers who want to provide themselves with the best possible can of lifestyle. In terms of culture, lifestyle, and economy, indeed Canada is a place to live.

Average Cost of Living in Canada

In terms of quality of life and economic power, Canada is one of the top ranking countries in the world. Due to the quality of life and economic power of the nation, thousands of people immigrate to the country annually. Moreover, Canada can be said to relatively reasonable in terms of living cost when compared to other countries like the UK, US, Japan, Switzerland and other developed nations of Europe and the Americas.

The average cost of living in Canada depends on whether you are staying as an individual or with your family. Usually, the family set-up in Canada is mostly nuclear with total family members between 2 to 4 persons. Below is the estimated average cost of living in Canada:

Monthly cost of living for a single person (excluding rent): $1,245
Monthly cost of living for a single student (excluding rent): $880
Monthly cost of living for a two-person family (excluding rent): over $2,500
Monthly cost of living for a family of four (excluding rent): $5,000
Private housing for students in a month: $625
Cost of dormitory on campus for a month: $800

Primarily, the cost of living in Canada is high due high tax rates in the country. The Canadian government sets a high tax rate so as to be able to provide residents with free healthcare, secondary education, social protection, police as well as military services.

In 2021, the average cost of living in Canada is approximated at CAD 2,730. However, one should note that this cost is subject to change due to one or two factors.

Cost of Accommodation

Are you looking for a place to stay? Then this section gives you a rough estimate on how much you should estimate for a descent accommodation that best suits your kind of lifestyle and needs.

Apartment	CA$
Buying an Apartment in City Centre (Price per Square Meter)	8,912.89
Buying an Apartment Outside of Centre (Price per Square Meter)	6,466.28
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre	1,571.06 (per month)
1 bedroom Apartment Outside of Centre	1,322.19 (per month)
3 bedroom Apartment in City Centre	2,572.90 (per month)
3 bedroom Apartment Outside of Centre	2,227.50 (per month)

Cost of Groceries in Canada

For a new person living in Canada, you need basic grocery i8norder to survive. The list below gives the essential grocery items that you may regularly need to purchase and the approximate cost of each of the grocery items.

On the average, food cost (including groceries and retail purchases) is approximately $300. If you are looking for a cheap alternative for your shopping needs, please check Wal-Mart stores.

Groceries	CA$
Milk (1 liter)	2.60
Loaf of bread (500g)	3.07
Rice (1kg)	4.00
Eggs (12)	3.91
Cheese (1kg)	14.40
Apples (1kg)	4.26
Potato (1kg)	3.01
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.22
Cigarettes 20 pack(Marlboro)	16.00

Cost of Restaurant Food in Canada

If you are the type that wants to eat out, then you will need to know the cost of restaurant food in Canada. For a three-course meal, you are to spend an average of $65. Eating alone, you will spend approximately $25. The table below is a summary of food prices in Canadian restaurants:

Dining Out	CA$
Meal for one (cheap restaurant)	20.00
Three-course meal for two (mid-range restaurant)	85.00
Combo Meal at McDonalds (or Equivalent)	12.00
Cappuccino (regular)	6.50
Coke/Pepsi (bottle 330ml)	4.56
Water (bottle 330ml)	2.39

Transportation Costs

If you want to enjoy living in Canada, then you will have to move round and explore many of the tourist attraction sites that the city has to offer. The table below shows the transportation tariffs in Canada:

Transportation	CA$
One-way ticket (local transport)	3.25
Monthly pass (regular price)	100.00
Taxi Start (normal tariff)	4.00
Taxi per 1km (normal tariff)	2.00
Taxi 1 hour waiting (normal tariff)	34.00
Gasoline (1 liter)	2.01

Bills and Utilities

On average, you are expected to spend about $168 monthly for cooling, power, garbage and other basic utilities for a one- or two-bedroom apartment. For an internet service with speed of 60 Mbps and above, you are expected to budget almost $80 monthly.In addition, you should set aside a budget for entertainment, club as well as fitness memberships. For this one, $150 in a month can do.

Prices of Clothes

It is good to always cover your body with some fine apparel. The cost of apparel for men and women when buying from top models is between $45 and $130. Below is a summary of the basic prices of clothes in Canada:

Clothing	CA$
One pair of jeans	67.49
A summer dress	46.63
One pair of Nike running shoes (mid-range)	105.49
One pair of men’s leather business shoes	131.96

Child Care

Maybe you are intending moving to Canada with your family, then you should consider what you need to spend on your children’s education in this case. Canada has one of the best education systems in the world.

The table below gives a summary of the cost of educating your child in Canada:

Childcare	CA$
Preschool (or Kindergarten) Private, for one child per month	1,094.31
International Primary School, (for one child annually)	17,350.52

Conclusion

There are so many incentives of living in Canada that one should definitely not miss. Many individuals wish to visit Canada due to the fact that the government is progressive, in addition to favorable geography, and a kind reputation.

Canada is not lagging behind when it comes to anything. Living in Canada, you will no doubt enjoy and have access to the latest technologies as well basic necessities of life.