Phorenkampus

University

For all that Canada has to offer, the cost of living in Canada is comparatively low, lower than in many developed countries.

Cost of living in Canada : The cost of living in Canada is moderate, compared with other countries. Some prices of typical goods and services are as follows
¶ One month’s lodging, one-bedroom apartment: $400
¶ Bus fare, one way: $1.50
¶ Local telephone call: $0.25
¶ Modest restaurant meal: lunch $7/dinner $14
¶ Movie: $7
¶ Canadian winters are chilly, an adequate warm clothing budget is essential. Budget around $250 – $350 US for proper winter wardrobe.

You will need approximately $11,000 Canadian dollars to cover your expenses for an academic year. This is inclusive of your tuition and living expenses but exclusive of your air-fare. Please remember that this figure is an average only. Actual expenses may vary depending on the region of the country you live in, the tuition fees at the university you attend and your field of specialization.

Employment opportunities : Employment opportunities for international students are limited. You should not plan on earning substantial money from a part-time job to help pay for your studies.

On campus : Though international students are allowed to work on the campus of any publicly-funded, degree granting institution, these jobs are often difficult to obtain and do not provide sufficient funds to sustain education costs.

Practical Training : In addition, there may be opportunities for practical training which entail a period of authorized employment, designed to allow foreign students to have professional work experience related to their field of study.

Accommodation : Each institute has its own policy for housing and may offer a range of options for single and married students. Most common types of accommodations are:

School-Provided Homestays : A homestay usually consists of a Canadian family hosting a student in their home while the student attends classes in Canada . This includes meals as well as a private, furnished room. (Cost: CDN $ 400 – $ 800 per month)

School-Provided Residence/Dormitory : Many schools have accommodation conveniently located on or near their campuses. There is usually an option of either shared or private room and dormitories. (Cost: CDN $ 3000 – $ 7500 per year)

Off Campus Housing : Usually many students share or rent apartments to save costs. Listings of available apartments or homes are published weekly in local newspapers. Rents vary greatly according to the location and time of year. (Cost: CDN $ 250 – $ 700 per month)

Health Insurance : This is another very important criteria to take care of while doing financial planning. Most Canadian Institutes require that all students including international students be covered by an insurance policy that will protect them against medical, hospital bills if they get sick or are injured while studying at the college, as health care is very expensive. Some provinces like Alberta , British Columbia and Saskatchewan cover international students under their provincial health care plans. Students studying in other provinces must arrange for private medical coverage through private insurance companies, which approximately costs about CDN $ 35 per month.

Cultural events : Another advantage that Canadians enjoy is a large immigrant population (in fact, everyone in Canada , except aboriginal Canadians is an immigrant or descended from immigrants). Besides the mixture of British, American and French cultures, Canada has large Chinese, East Indian, Korean, Italian, African and Middle Eastern populations. Canadians of all kinds gather to help celebrate and take part in events that highlight Canada ‘s multicultural society. Participation in these events can be a nice opportunity to socialize with the local population.

Commuting and Public Transit : One can drive, carpool or bike, walk or take public transportation. Generally, public transit is run by the municipality, city, or town. In larger cities with a lot of commuters, there may also be provincially-run transit such as the GO trains and buses in the Toronto area. In most towns and cities, public transit means buses. Some cities also operate ferries, streetcars, and/or a metro, subway (underground) or elevated train system.