Cost of Living for International Students in Canada
A province-by-province breakdown of housing, food, transport, and everyday expenses so you can build a realistic budget before you arrive.
What to Expect Financially
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires international students to demonstrate a minimum of CAD $20,635 per year in living expenses — on top of tuition — when applying for a study permit. That threshold is a regulatory floor, not a realistic budget. Actual spending depends heavily on which city you choose, whether you share accommodation, and how often you cook versus eating out.
For IT students specifically, there are additional considerations that generic cost-of-living guides often overlook. You will need a reliable laptop capable of running development environments, virtual machines, or data science workloads. Internet connectivity needs to be fast and stable enough for remote labs and video-based lectures. And if your program includes a co-op term in a different city than your campus, you may face a mid-program relocation that doubles your deposit outlay for a few weeks.
The figures on this page are based on 2025–2026 market data from Statistics Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and direct surveys of current international students across six provinces. We update them every semester.
Monthly Living Costs by City (CAD)
These estimates assume a shared two-bedroom apartment, cooking most meals at home, and using public transit. All figures are monthly averages for a single student in 2025–2026.
| City | Rent (Shared) | Groceries | Transit | Utilities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | $1,350 | $420 | $156 | $85 | $2,011 |
| Vancouver, BC | $1,400 | $430 | $110 | $75 | $2,015 |
| Montreal, QC | $900 | $380 | $94 | $70 | $1,444 |
| Ottawa, ON | $1,050 | $390 | $125 | $80 | $1,645 |
| Calgary, AB | $1,000 | $400 | $112 | $90 | $1,602 |
| Waterloo, ON | $950 | $370 | $94 | $78 | $1,492 |
| Halifax, NS | $875 | $360 | $82 | $95 | $1,412 |
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey 2025, Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index, student survey data. Rent assumes one bedroom in a shared two-bedroom apartment. Utilities include electricity and internet (split).
Accommodation Options and What They Cost
On-Campus Residence
University and college residences typically cost CAD $8,000 to $14,000 per academic year (8 months), which works out to $1,000–$1,750 per month. Meal plans are often mandatory and add $3,000–$5,500 annually. The upside: utilities, internet, and furniture are included, and you avoid the landlord-reference problem that trips up many newcomers. The downside: availability is limited, and most institutions prioritise first-year students for residence spots. Apply the moment you receive your offer of admission — waitlists fill within days.
Shared Off-Campus Rental
The most common arrangement among IT students after first year. You rent a room in a shared house or split a two- or three-bedroom apartment. Expect to pay CAD $800 to $1,400 per month in major cities, with Montreal and smaller cities sitting closer to the lower end. You will need first and last month's rent upfront — a deposit of $1,600–$2,800 that IRCC's proof-of-funds calculation does not explicitly account for. Start searching on institutional housing boards and verified rental platforms at least two months before your lease start date.
Homestay
Living with a Canadian host family costs CAD $900 to $1,300 per month and typically includes two or three meals a day plus laundry facilities. Homestays are particularly valuable during your first semester: you practise English daily, learn local customs, and have a built-in support system. The cultural immersion accelerates language fluency in a way that a shared student apartment cannot replicate. Most institutions partner with registered homestay agencies that vet host families and mediate any issues.
Where Your Money Goes Each Month
Food & Groceries
Budget CAD $350–$450 per month if you cook most meals at home. A weekly grocery run at stores like No Frills, FreshCo, or Maxi (Quebec) typically comes to $60–$90 per person. Ethnic grocery stores — H Mart, T&T Supermarket, or local South Asian and Middle Eastern markets — often offer better prices on staples like rice, lentils, spices, and produce. Meal prepping on Sundays is the unglamorous secret of every financially surviving grad student: batch-cook a protein, a grain, and vegetables, then portion them for the week. Eating out adds up fast — a basic lunch at a campus food court runs $12–$18 including tax and tip.
Transportation
Most students rely on public transit. Monthly passes range from $82 in Halifax to $156 in Toronto (TTC). Many institutions negotiate discounted U-Pass programs that bundle transit into your student fees at $40–$60 per month — check whether yours is included before buying a separate pass. Cycling is practical from April through October in most cities. Budget $200–$300 for a used bike plus a sturdy lock.
Phone & Internet
Mobile plans in Canada are notoriously expensive by global standards. Expect $30–$55 per month for a prepaid plan with 5–15 GB of data through carriers like Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile, or Fizz (Quebec). Home internet, split between roommates, adds $20–$40 each. For IT students running cloud labs or large downloads, prioritise fibre connections with at least 100 Mbps download.
Health Insurance
International students in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are eligible for provincial health coverage (MSP, AHCIP, SHCP) after meeting residency requirements. In Ontario, Quebec, and most other provinces, you must purchase private health insurance — typically CAD $600–$900 per year, often bundled into your student fees. Dental and vision coverage are separate and cost $100–$300 extra annually if you opt in through your student union plan.
Tech & Supplies
A capable development laptop costs CAD $1,200–$2,500 upfront — consider this a one-time capital expense. Beyond that, budget $30–$60 per month for software subscriptions (JetBrains student licence is free, but cloud credits, VPN services, and specialty tools are not). Textbooks are increasingly digital, but expect $200–$500 per semester depending on whether your instructors mandate physical editions. Many IT programs have moved to open-source resources, which helps.
Practical Ways to Reduce Your Monthly Spend
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01
Apply for the U-Pass Early
Most institutions negotiate universal transit passes at a fraction of the retail price. At the University of British Columbia, for example, the U-Pass costs roughly $41 per month versus $110 for a regular monthly zone-one pass. Confirm eligibility before your semester starts — opting out is usually not possible once fees are assessed, so you might as well use it.
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02
Use Student Discounts Methodically
Your student ID unlocks more than you might think. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) provides discounts on software, travel, and retail in over 130 countries. GitHub Education gives free access to developer tools worth hundreds of dollars annually. Amazon Prime Student is half-price. Spotify and Apple Music offer student rates. These savings compound: $15 here, $30 there — across a year, it is not trivial.
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03
Shop Ethnic Grocery Stores
Large Canadian chain supermarkets mark up staples considerably. A 10 kg bag of basmati rice at a South Asian grocery store costs $15–$18; the same quantity at a mainstream chain runs $28–$35. Produce, legumes, spices, and noodles follow the same pattern. If you are cooking meals from your home country — which most international students do — ethnic grocers are not just cheaper, they stock what you actually need.
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04
Earn While You Study
International students with a valid study permit can work up to 20 hours per week during semesters. At Ontario's minimum wage of $16.55/hour, that translates to roughly $1,200 per month after deductions — enough to cover groceries, transit, and phone combined. IT students have an additional advantage: campus IT help desks, lab tutoring positions, and part-time developer roles at startups regularly pay $18–$25/hour. Co-op semesters can yield $3,500–$5,500 per month.
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05
File Your Taxes — Yes, Really
International students are required to file Canadian tax returns if they earn income. Even if you earn nothing, filing lets you claim the GST/HST tax credit (up to $519 per year), the Ontario Trillium Benefit, and the Climate Action Incentive — all refundable credits deposited directly into your bank account. Free tax clinics run by student unions walk you through the process every March. This is money the government will hand you — all you have to do is fill in the form.
One-Time Expenses When You First Arrive
Beyond monthly recurring costs, plan for these initial outlays during your first two weeks in Canada. Having CAD $3,000–$5,000 accessible on arrival prevents the stress of scrambling before your first paycheque or financial aid disbursement.
Open a Canadian bank account within your first week. Most major banks — RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC — offer free student accounts with no monthly fees for the duration of your studies. You will need your study permit, passport, and a letter of enrolment. Setting up direct deposit early means your part-time earnings and any tax refunds arrive without currency-conversion fees.
Build a Complete Budget with Our Tuition Calculator
Living costs are only half the picture. Our tuition calculator combines program fees, mandatory student fees, health insurance, and the living expense estimates from this page into a single annual and monthly breakdown. Select your target institution, program length, and city, and the tool generates a printable budget sheet you can attach to your study permit application as supporting documentation for proof of funds.
The calculator also factors in potential part-time earnings and co-op income, giving you a net cost figure that is far more useful than gross tuition alone. Knowing that a two-year data science diploma in Waterloo costs $38,000 gross but $22,000 net after co-op income changes the decision calculus entirely.
Continue Planning Your Journey
Study Permit Process
Step-by-step guide to applying for your Canadian study permit, including document checklists and processing times.
Read GuideScholarships & Grants
Discover entrance awards, provincial bursaries, and institution-specific scholarships that can reduce your financial burden significantly.
Find FundingVisa Requirements
Understand entry visa categories, biometrics requirements, and how to prepare your financial proof documents for a successful application.
Check RequirementsNeed Help Building Your Budget?
Our consultation team can review your target city, program, and personal circumstances to create a customised budget estimate. We factor in tuition, co-op earnings potential, scholarship eligibility, and city-specific costs so your proof-of-funds documentation reflects reality — not just the IRCC minimum. Reach out and we will respond within one business day.
Ready to Plan Your IT Education Budget?
Use our tuition calculator to build a comprehensive financial plan, or explore scholarship opportunities to reduce your overall costs.