If you’re thinking of moving to Canada, you’re probably wondering about the cost of living and how much you should budget. From housing and food to entertainment and transportation, Foyer Global Health shares with you all the details on the cost of living in Canada.
Overview of the average cost of living in Canada
The cost of living in Canada for a single person is 1,900 € per month, including rent. For a family of four, the monthly budget for living in Canada is 5,100 €.
| Services | Average price in Canada |
|---|---|
| Average net monthly salary | €2,680 |
| Price of renting a flat | €850 to €1650 |
| Purchase price of a flat per m2 | €2,500 to €10,000 |
| Petrol (1 L) | €1.08 |
| Mobile package (calls + 10 GB data) | €42.50 per month |
| Restaurant meal for 2 people | €68 |
| Cinema | €10.50 |
As a reminder, the official currency in Canada is the Canadian dollar, abbreviated CAD. 1 CAD is currently equivalent to 0.67 EUR. (Index as at 4 December 2024).
The cost of living in Canada varies from province to province, especially in the major cities. Here is the ranking of the most expensive cities in Canada according to their cost of living index calculated on the basis of the main expenditure items (housing, transport, shopping, health, etc):
- Victoria : 66,5
- Vancouver : 63,9
- Kelowna : 62,3
- Calgary : 62,2
- Toronto : 62,2
- Hamilton : 62,2
- Ottawa : 60,8
- Halifax : 60,2
- Montréal : 60
- Quebec city : 58,7
- Mississauga : 57,8
- Edmonton : 57,6
Housing costs in Canada
When it comes to moving to Canada, the amount of rent is an essential element to know. To help you, here’s a comparison of the monthly budget you need to plan for by city and type of property in Canada:
| Type of property | Price in Montreal | Price in Toronto | Price in Vancouver | Price in Quebec | Prices in Calgary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental flat (1 bedroom) in the city centre | €1,150 | €1,700 | €1,895 | €870 | €1,345 |
| Rental Apartment (1 bedroom) outside the city center | €920 | €1,435 | €1,600 | €810 | €1,100 |
| Average purchase price per m2 in town centre | €6,500 | €8,900 | €9,350 | €8,000 | €3,120 |
In addition to the price of the property itself, there are monthly energy charges, particularly for electricity.
In Canada, the price per kWh is CAD 0.17 (0.116 €). However, this price is 60% lower in Quebec, thanks to the reduced-price electricity supplied by Hydro-Québec at around 0.12 CAD (0.080 €) per kWh.
Food prices in Canada
On average, a person in Canada spends between CAD 400 and 500 (270 and 335 €) a month on food, depending on their eating habits and location. Shopping prices are generally higher in Toronto and Vancouver than in the rest of the country.
To give you an idea of your budget, here are the average prices of basic foods (in euros):
| Food | Average price in Canada |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | €2 |
| Water (1,5 L) | €1.70 |
| Bread (500 g) | €2.50 |
| 12 eggs | €3.25 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | €10.50 |
| Chicken fillets (1 kg) | €11.40 |
| Meat (1 kg) | €13.70 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €3.90 |
| Bananas (1 kg) | €1.33 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | €3.85 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | €2.50 |
| Onions (1 kg) | €2.50 |
| Local beer (500 ml) | €2.75 |
| Imported beer (330 ml) | €3 |
Transport in Canada
If you are thinking of moving to Canada, you’ll be able to use a wide range of transport options, including the metro and buses.
Metro fares: a metro journey in Canada costs around CAD 3.30 (2.20 €). Here are the fares for a standard ticket in some Canadian cities:
- Montreal: 3.75 CAD (2.50 €)
- Toronto: 3.35 CAD (2.25 €)
- Vancouver: 3.20 CAD (2.15 €)
Bus fares: the average fare for a city bus ticket is 3 CAD (2 €).
Some provinces, such as Quebec, offer a complete public transport network, with unlimited access to all means of transport for around 97 CAD (65 €) per person.
Taxi fares: it is also possible to travel by taxi with an average starting fare of 4 CAD (2.70 €) and an additional cost of 1.65 to 3 CAD (1.10 to 2 €) per kilometre travelled.
Train fares: for inter-city or cross-provincial journeys, the train is the preferred means of transport. Ticket prices vary according to destination. For example, a return trip from Montreal to Quebec City costs an average of 43 CAD (29 €), while a trip from Montreal to Toronto generally costs 55 CAD (36.80 €).
Finally, drivers can use their own vehicles, with an average price of CAD 1.61 (1.08 €) per litre of petrol.
Health costs in Canada
The Canadian healthcare system is based on two pillars: a federal pillar and a provincial pillar. The federal government sets the general health standards, while each province defines its own health system (terms of access, types of care offered, etc.).
As far as the cost of medical services is concerned, particularly in the private sector, rates are broadly similar across Canada. Here is an overview of the prices charged:
| Medical services | Average price in Canada |
|---|---|
| Consultation with a general practitioner | 125 – 250 $ (€85 – 170) |
| Consultation with a specialist | 200 – 350 $ (€135 – 235) |
| Standard emergency consultation | 322 $ (€215) |
| X-ray | 143 $ (€95) |
| One-day surgery for a minor case | 1,078 $ (€720) |
| Delivering a baby | 1,500 – 2,000 $ (€1,000 – 1,340) |
Although Canadian universal health insurance is considered to be one of the best in America, some treatments, such as dental, eye and hearing care, are not covered.
To benefit from comprehensive cover, many expatriates opt for private international health insurance. This offers access to first-class care, with no waiting times, and is valid anywhere in the world.
Education in Canada
Do you have children? Here are the costs you can expect to pay for their primary and secondary education in Canada:
- Average cost of a state school: CAD 9,500 to 17,000 (6,355 to 11,380 €) per year
- Average cost of a public school: 15,000 to 30,000 CAD per year. (10,000 to 20,000 €)
Please note that in Quebec, public schooling is free from pre-school through to secondary school for all children living in the province.
For higher education students, the cost of a school year varies depending on the degree and the institution, with a national average of CAD 36,100 (24,100 €) per year. Added to this is the cost of living, estimated at around 15,000 CAD (10,000 €) per year for a university student.
Telecommunications services in Canada
For mobile and internet telecommunication services, expect to pay the following costs:
- Mobile package (calls and 10 GB of data): 63 CAD (42 €)
- Monthly internet subscription (60 mbps and unlimited data): 85 CAD (57 €)
Leisure activities
- Attend an ice hockey match: between CAD 90 (60 €) on average
- Spend a day in a public swimming pool: CAD 17.50 (11.70 €) per adult and CAD 15.25 (10.20 €) per child
- Visit 80 natural parks in Canada: take a Discovery Pass for CAD 75 (50.20 €) per adult, valid for 12 months
- Kayak at the Parc de la Rivière-des-Milles-Îles in Laval: 36.50 CAD (24.50 €) for 3 hours
- Go to the cinema: CAD 15.70 (10.50 €) per ticket
- Dinner for two in a restaurant: 100 CAD (67 €)
Cost of living in Canada compared with Western Europe
Living in Canada costs on average 12% more than in many other parts of Europe, including rent. However, this figure needs to be qualified, as the cost of living in Canada varies greatly from region to region. This difference is mainly due to the high cost of housing in major Canadian cities such as Vancouver and Toronto.
By way of comparison, a one-bedroom flat in the centre of Vancouver costs an average of €1,900, compared with €1,300 in Paris.
Without including rent, the difference in the cost of living between Canada and Western Europe is reduced to just 2%, so budgets are almost the same. Purchasing power and the average salary in Canada and many European country are also almost similar.
Cost of living in Canada compared with the United States
The cost of living in Canada is around 10% lower than in the United States. This difference is mainly due to rents, which are on average 30% higher in the USA. However, the United States offers greater purchasing power (+25%) and a higher average salary than Canada.
That said, the monthly budget you need to plan for in Canada and the United States depends very much on where you live. Living in cities like New York or San Francisco requires a much higher budget than living in Laval. Similarly, the monthly budget for living in Montreal is higher than that for a more affordable American city like Houston.