Entering Canada

For more information about traveling to and entering Canada, please visit: OGS Canada website Traveling to Canada

Cost of Living

Please note that the information below is just ESTIMATES. Feel free to do your own research into living costs in Vancouver and Toronto, this information is just a starting point. All estimates are in CAD. 

LIVING COSTS – TORONTO

Estimated Cost of Living, per month for one person:

Food:

Approximately $340-$400 per month (Approximately $4,080 annually)

Local Transportation:  

Toronto is a convenient city that can be easily accessed by public transportation. There are several different options for public transportation depending on where you live and where you are going. Details about transportation options can be found below. 

  • TTC: $128.15 for a TTC student pass ($1,537 annually) 
  • York Region Transit (YRT): $100 ($1,000 annually) 
  • Miway: $141 ($1,692 annually for PRESTO MiWay pass) 
  • Brampton transit: $141.25 ($1,695 annually for PRESTO Brampton Transit pass) 
  • Durham Region Transit (DRT): $129.6 ($1,555.2 annually for PRESTO pass) 
  • If you are commuting from outside the city center, such as Burlington, Guelph, and Barrie, you can check GO Transit fares and schedules here
  • If you are commuting from York Region, you can check York Region Transit (YRT) fares and schedules here
  • If you are commuting from Mississauga, you can check MiWay fares and schedules here
  • If you are commuting from Brampton, you can check Brampton Transit fares and schedules here
  • If you are commuting from outside the city center, such as Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge, you can check Durham Region Transit (DRT) fares and schedules here.

 

  • Postsecondary student fare discount details: 
    • Students from the Toronto campus are eligible for TTC postsecondary student fare, which you can check here. 
    • Students from the Toronto campus are also eligible for GO Transit postsecondary student fare, which you can check here. 

     

Housing Costs (Monthly, estimated): 

Please note: Costs range depending on the type of housing. 

Average for City Center (City of Toronto): 

  • Room in a house: $1,285+

  • Bachelor/studio apartment: $1,876+
     
  • 1-bedroom apartment: $2,495+

  • 2-bedroom apartment: $2,730+

  • 3+ bedroom apartment: $4,429+ 

 

Average for outside of City Center (outside of the City of Toronto): 

  • Room in a house: $1,245+  
  • Bachelor/studio apartment: $1,400+ 
  • 1-bedroom apartment: $2,152+ 
  • 2-bedroom apartment: $2,466+  
  • 3+ bedroom apartment: $3,634+ 

 

Sources:

Accommodation:

For resources on where to find housing, see the Toronto Student Life website, scroll down to Housing – find a home.

 

LIVING COSTS – VANCOUVER

Estimated Cost of Living, per month:

Food: 

Approximately $300-$400 per month (Approximately $3,600 annually)

Local Transportation:  

In general, most areas in Vancouver can be reached via the four TransLink lines:

  • Canada Line from Waterfront to Richmond,
  • Expo Line from Waterfront to Surrey and Lougheed,
  • Millennium Line from Vancouver city to Port Moody (Burnaby is about halfway through this trip),
  • And for those who live in North Vancouver, there is the SeaBus choice runs cross the Burrard Inlet which connects Waterfront and Lonsdale Quay.

Fares for above mentioned transports ranges from $107.30 to $193.80 per month (monthly pass), and all bus lines are covered within the cost. 

There are three fare zones across Metro Vancouver. The number of SeaBus and/or SkyTrain boundaries you cross during your trip determine your fare. All bus and HandyDART trips are always a 1-Zone fare, see below for details. 

SkyTrain requires a 1, 2, or 3-Zone fare, depending on the time and day* and number of zone boundaries you cross during your trip, example:

  • 1-ZONE: $3.20 / $2.15 
  • 2-ZONE: $4.65 / $6.35 
  • 3-ZONE: $6.35 / $4.35  
  • SeaBus requires a 1 or 2-Zone fare, depending on the time and day* 

A single fare is valid for 90 minutes on bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and HandyDART.  

Reloadable compass card can be purchased via: https://www.compasscard.ca 

Overall cost ranges from $107.30 – $193.80 monthly ($1,284 – $2316 annually) 

  • 1-Zone mostly covers the Vancouver area 
  • 2-Zone covers Richmond, Burnaby, West Vancouver and North Vancouver 
  • 3-Zone reaches Coquitlam Surrey and Delta 


Postsecondary student fare discount details: 

  • Northeastern Vancouver students are not eligible for U-Pass BC


Housing Costs (monthly, estimated): 

Please note: Costs range depending on the type of housing. 

Average for City Center (City of Vancouver): 

  • Room in a house: $950+ 
  • Studio apartment: $2200+  
  • 1-bedroom apartment: $2500+ 
  • 2-bedroom apartment: $3500+ 
  • 3+ bedroom apartment: $4000+ 

 

Average for outside of City Center (outside of the City of Vancouver): 

  • Room in a house: $800+ 
  • Studio apartment: $1300+ 
  • 1-bedroom apartment: $1800+ 
  • 2-bedroom apartment: $ 2800+ 
  • 3+ bedroom apartment: 3000+ 

 

Sources: 

 

Accommodation:

Please see the Vancouver Student Life website for more details about housing, living in Vancouver, transportation and more!

Health Insurance

For additional information about health insurance for students while studying in Canada, click here!

Working While Studying

Interested in working? Click here for more information.