All About: Cost of Living in Canada

As a developed nation, Canada's cost of living can be pretty high. Learn about parts of Canada with the highest and lowest costs of living.

This article is part of our About Canada series. Check out the other articles in this series here.

Table of Contents

• Canada's most expensive cities
1. 1. Vancouver, BC
2. 2. Toronto, ON
3. 3. Victoria, BC
4. 4. Kelowna, BC
5. 5. Barrie, ON
• Canada's least expensive cities
1. 1. St. John's, NL
2. 2. Regina, SK
3. 3. Edmonton, AB
4. 4. Quebec City, QC
5. 5. Saskatoon, SK
• Other expenses

Canada's a country with diverse terrain, urban and rural cities, and various climates, so it's no wonder why it's such a popular country for international students to choose. But one large factor that international students should consider when choosing where to study in Canada is how much it'll cost.

Canada's most expensive cities to live in

Want to get a better idea of how much living in Canada could cost? Check out the five most expensive cities in Canada, as of May 2022:

1. Vancouver, British Columbia

Located on the west coast, Vancouver, British Columbia is one of the most populated cities in Canada, so it's no surprise that it costs more to live there. On average, a one-bedroom apartment costs $2,200 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $2,730.

2. Toronto, Ontario

With a population of 2.7 million people, Toronto, Ontario, is one of the most popular places for students to live. However, that also means it's one of the most expensive. An average one-bedroom apartment costs $1,900 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $2,550.

3. Victoria, British Columbia

Also located on the west coast in British Columbia, Victoria ranks high in terms of an expensive cost of living. An average one-bedroom apartment in Victoria costs $1,830 per month, while a two-bedroom apartment costs $2,380.

4. Kelowna, British Columbia

Surprise, surprise — yet another city in British Columbia has made the list. Rent prices in Kelowna have increased. A one-bedroom apartment costs $1,800 per month and a two-bedroom apartment costs $2,200.

5. Barrie, Ontario

Finally, the last city on our list of expensive cities is Barrie, Ontario. An average one-bedroom apartment in Barrie costs $1,680 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $2,040.

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Canada's least expensive cities to live in

Now that you know what cities in Canada may be a bit too pricey than you'd like, check out the five most affordable cities in Canada:

1. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Located on the beautiful east coast, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a pretty affordable place to live. An average one-bedroom apartment costs $880 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $950.

2. Regina, Saskatchewan

As part of Canada's prairies, Regina, Saskatchewan, is another great city with affordable costs of living. A one-bedroom apartment typically costs $930 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $1,110.

3. Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta makes the list at number three as an average one-bedroom costs $940 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $1,200.

4. Quebec City, Quebec

Quebec City, Quebec, is known for its bilingual community and lively entertainment. As a popular destination for international students, it's not too expensive! An average one-bedroom costs $960 per month, and a two-bedroom costs $1,300.

5. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Last, but not least, another city in Saskatchewan makes the top five of most affordable cities in Canada. In Saskatoon, you can expect an average one-bedroom to cost $1,000 per month, and a two-bedroom to cost $1,140.

Not bad — eh? If you're really looking to save on costs, then these top five cities are perfect! Again, keep in mind that these costs don't factor in utilities, internet, groceries, cell phone plans, and other costs you may have.

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Other expenses you'll face living in Canada

These costs can be quite high, and that's not even including additional costs, such as utilities, internet, groceries, transportation, and more. So, if you're choosing to study in either British Columbia or Ontario, chances are your cost of living will be higher than other provinces.

Canada is also known for its free health care, but unfortunately that only really applies to Canadian citizens and permanent residents in most cases. Some provinces will provide you with health care as an international student under provincial health insurance plans, but most provinces will require you to buy private health insurance. Check with your school before purchasing any health insurance since some schools will provide their students with health insurance packages. Do you know where you want to study? Find out if that province offers health care coverage to international students.

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