Cost of Living | Study in Canada
Have you always dreamt of studying in the world’s second-largest country? If yes, then you’re on the right page. Not only is Canada the best study destination for international students, but the country also measures a total of 9.984 million square kilometres which makes it a beautiful place that you can rejoice exploring. 3 Canadian cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, made the list on the top 50 student cities according to the QS World University Rankings for the excellent quality of life. Extra benefit! As an international student, you are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week during school terms and full-time up to 30 hours per week during breaks like your term-end vacations.
According to the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) they offer a useful online tool which allows any international student to quickly calculate the cost of studying at different universities in Canada. This tool also gives the student with guidance on the documents that they need to provide. But before you depart from Malaysia for your study journey, ensure that you consider expenses like tuition fee, accommodation, transportation, food and grocery when calculating the estimated cost of studying in Canada.
Sounds tiring? Well, you don’t have to worry about all that because we are here to help you! To make things easier for you, we have come up with a list that assists you in planning your budget more effectively. Keep reading to learn more about it.
Tuition Fee
The expenditure on your tuition fee depends on the type of qualification and institution you apply for. With over 642,000 international students, Canada is now ranked 3rd globally in the foreign student attraction list. According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) research, it shows that international students choose to study in Canada due to the country’s strong quality of education, as well as for its reputation as a multicultural society. The Canadian universities tuition fee is relatively lesser in comparison to most developed countries.
Average international student undergraduate and postgraduate student fees by the field of study 2019-20.
Source – Statistics Canada
| Field of study | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
| Education | $20,875 | $15,764 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, and Communications Technologies | $25,127 | $14,737 |
| Humanities | $28,676 | $13,667 |
| Social and behavioural sciences, and legal studies | $27,647 | $15,032 |
| Law | $33,192 | $17,237 |
| Business, management and public administration | $28,680 | $24,693 |
| Physical and Life Sciences and Technologies | $31,536 | $15,421 |
| Mathematics, computer and information sciences | $33,012 | $16,647 |
| Engineering | $33,703 | $19,301 |
| Architecture | $26,457 | $23,992 |
| Agriculture, natural resources and conservation | $26,208 | $14,452 |
| Dentistry | $56,621 | $22,472 |
| Nursing | $21,922 | $16,168 |
| Pharmacy | $40,960 | $12,876 |
| Veterinary medicine | $63,323 | $10,099 |
| Other health, parks, recreation and fitness | $24,626 | $18,551 |
Accommodation
The accommodation cost varies depending on the city you live in. Majority of universities and colleges in Canada offer residences for international students, particularly for the students in their first year. On-campus accommodation will be a great option for international students to choose during their initial period of study. When you rent an on-campus student accommodation, it usually is entirely furnished. Rent may often be affordable than the other alternatives. Below mentioned is a table for you to understand the on-campus accommodation along with the cost.
| On-campus Accommodation | Cost |
Accommodation in expensive cities such as:
|
Non -sharing single room:
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Accommodation in moderate cities such as:
|
Non -sharing single room:
|
Some students also prefer off-campus because hunting for apartments offer an exciting chance to discover a new neighbourhood, connect with new people, and find a place to settle that truly feels like home that you can arrange in the way you want to. Although, sometimes finding an apartment off campus can be a slight challenge, but it’s always a rewarding experience. Below mentioned is a table for you to understand the off-campus accommodation along with the cost.
| Off-campus Accommodation | Cost |
Accommodation in expensive cities such as:
|
Shared room:
Non-sharing ingle room:
|
Accommodation in moderate cities such as:
|
Shared room:
Non-sharing ingle room:
|
Food and Grocery
Canada offers various options when it comes to food. The country has everything from small speciality food stores to grocery stores with different sections exclusively distributed for international food items. In Vancouver H-Mart and T&T Supermarket are some of the grocery stores that sell Asian food and a great place to stock up on Asian ingredients at an affordable price.
The cost of food mostly depends on your needs. For instance in Toronto, the average cost of food can be estimated at about CAD 40 to CAD 100 per week. This estimated cost will also increase depending on how much you spend on take-outs and coffee shops. So in Canada for eating a meal at home every day, the groceries can cost on an average around CAD200 – CAD240 per month and for eating outside it will be around CAD10 – CAD15 per meal. Canada is known for its multicultural identity and nothing reflects that more than its cuisine. As an international student, there are some Canadian foods that you must try at least once.
Transportation
In Canada, there are plenty of transportation facilities that are available for international students. Rail, bus, ferry, car, taxis are some types of transportation facilities that are available in the country. Buses are usually available frequently with active services across major cities for local travellers and the long distances travellers. Rails are modern, comfortable and efficient. Through Via Rail Canada you can buy tickets online rather than going to a station in person. If you hold an international student identity card you get discounts on travel for most of the public transportation.
If you wanted to drive a car or cycle in Canada, the first thing you need to do is, understand the rules of the Canadian government. Furthermore, you need to meet the requirements before starting your first ride or drive in the country. For instance, if you are planning to stay in Canada for less than 4 months and when you have a valid driver’s licence from your home country, you don’t need an international licence as well. Learn more about the road rules and licence conditions from the Government of Canada website.
Other Essential Expenses
Apart from your accommodation, tuition fee, transportation, food and grocery, there are other essential expenses like water bill, electricity bill, internet and phone bill. For example, if you take a basic plan for your mobile it will cost around CAD 20 – 40 per month. When you stay off-campus, one of the essential expenses to take into consideration will be your internet bill which will cost around 20 CAD to 60 CAD per month. An approximate value of CAD 150 per month should cover all your basic utilities, such as electricity, heating, water and the council bills and the overall expenses cost will be around CAD 250 maximum.
Hope this information helps you in executing your overseas journey to Canada better! It’s always good to plan your expenses before moving overseas and we can help guide you better with everything you need. To know more about popular courses, universities, and scholarships, book a free consultation with our AECC Global experts today!
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