Cost of Living in Canada
What a month actually costs, with rent and salary context
Canada is not cheap, and the reason is housing. Outside Toronto and Vancouver, a professional salary goes a long way; inside them, rent absorbs a share of income that surprises almost every newcomer.
| Median household income | Roughly CAD 70,000–75,000 source |
| 1-bed rent, Toronto/Vancouver | Commonly CAD 2,200–2,600 |
| 1-bed rent, Calgary/Ottawa/Halifax | Commonly CAD 1,400–1,900 |
| Sales tax | 5% federal plus provincial, 5–15% combined |
A realistic monthly budget for one person
| Item | Toronto (CAD) | Calgary (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bedroom | 2,400 | 1,600 |
| Utilities and internet | 190 | 210 |
| Groceries | 500 | 470 |
| Transit pass | 156 | 112 |
| Phone | 55 | 55 |
| Total before discretionary spending | 3,301 | 2,447 |
The costs newcomers forget
- First and last month's rent up front, plus a credit check that you will fail without Canadian credit history — expect to pay several months in advance or find a guarantor.
- Car insurance, which is provincially regulated and can exceed CAD 200 a month for a newcomer with no local driving record.
- Dental, vision, and prescription drugs, which public healthcare does not cover for most adults.
- Winter clothing, a genuine one-off cost of several hundred dollars per person.
Where the maths works better
Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, and most of Quebec outside central Montreal offer metropolitan salaries against markedly lower rents. Alberta has no provincial sales tax, which is worth several percent of everything you buy.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.