Living Expenses For International Students Studying In Canada

Many students from around the world still seek to study abroad, outside the borders of their home country, most often for better opportunities, higher quality, lower tuition fees, lower cost of living, better climate, and a favorable learning environment.

Studying abroad, especially in Canada, is a dream come true for some international students. Canada, with its diverse opportunities, experience, beautiful environment, and world-renowned certificate, is a popular destination for students seeking access to a top-notch education.

What It Takes To Study In Canada

Canadian citizens pay relatively lower tuition fees than international students living in Canada. But compared to other countries such as the UK, London, the US, and Australia, Canadian universities pay lower tuition fees.

Although tuition and living costs are lower than in many neighbouring countries, it is still quite expensive to study in Canada.

In fact, when a person applies for a student visa at a Canadian embassy, the main criteria and consideration is that the student is financially sound, i.e. can afford to pay all university expenses in Canada, including housing.

You should also keep in mind that tuition fees vary depending on the institution or program of study, for example, medical and engineering courses are quite expensive, they also depend on the city and the standard of living of a particular environment.

What do I have to pay and what do I get for free? As mentioned earlier in this article, Canadian citizens who are students pay less for their education, whether it is undergraduate or graduate.

The figures range from $6,500 to $7,200 per year, not including miscellaneous fees.

International undergraduates spend about $20,000 to $26,000 per year and graduate students about $30,000 to $35,000 per year.

These annual fees cover housing, food, tuition, health insurance, transportation, and cell phone (basic package). Below are details of some of these expenses, starting with you.

Obtaining your visa:

To study in Canada, international students must obtain a study permit, which allows them to live and study in Canada legally for the duration of their studies.

The application fee for a study permit is approximately $150 CAD (~$115 USD). If you are an international student from a developing country, the application fee may be waived.

Most students, whether international or local, prefer to stay off-campus, which gives them some freedom. But the fact is, you can actually save more money by living on campus.

You will most likely share a dorm with another student, sharing the bathroom, kitchen, social space, and clean bathroom with other students, which will help you save money.

On-campus housing costs between $3,000 and $7,500 per year.

Housing.

Housing costs for students who wish to stay off-campus vary from city to city.

Below are the average costs in Canadian dollars to live in a 3-bedroom apartment in different cities in Canada:

• Vancouver: $1,950 CAD
• Ottawa: $1,300 CAD
• Edmonton: $1,500 CAD
• Toronto: $1,900 – $1,900 CAD
• Calgary: $1,600 – $1,600 CAD
• Montreal: C$1,050

The price of some food and grocery items may vary, but on average, the items below cost

• Milk (1L): $1.77 CDN
• 1 loaf of bread: $2.57 CDN
• Rice (one bag): $3.07 CDN 12 eggs: $3.17 CDN
• Boneless chicken breasts (1Kg): $12.47 CAD
• Potatoes (1Kg bag): $1.98 CAD
• Water (1L bottle): $1.63 CAD, etc.
• Transportation

Toronto has the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) which is a double bus and subway around the city. They charge about CA$99.75 per month.

The price of transportation also varies from city to city.

Health Insurance

International undergraduate and graduate students coming to Canada must have health insurance for the period they intend to stay. However, some regions such as Newfoundland, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Labrador, and Great Britain offer health insurance coverage to international students as part of their regional plans. But it usually depends on the length of the program.