Canada’s education system is extremely prestigious and globally recognized, with renowned institutions offering a wide variety of career paths and tuition as expensive or affordable as you want. Canada is a popular study destination for international students, offering a wide variety of experiences and opportunities in a country known for its vast expanses, multicultural cities and natural beauty. Likewise, the cost of living in Canada for foreign students in 2023 is less expensive than in other major English-speaking nations (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia).
Canada’s education system is extremely prestigious and globally recognized, with renowned institutions offering a wide variety of career paths and tuition as expensive or affordable as you want. For example, a public university in Canada might have a minimum price of 500 Canadian dollars, while a private one has a higher cost.
However, the cost of living will also depend on where you decide to live. If you choose the capital of Canada as a study destination, your stay will be much more expensive than if you opt for other cities a little further away, but less expensive.
To help you plan your stay in Canada, here is a guide to how much it costs to study in the North American country in 2024:
1.- Tuition fees in Canada for international students
In order to have an average of the cost of living in Canada for students, you must first know the tuition rates of the study houses. These rates may vary annually and also differ by city or race. In Newfoundland, for example, there are some of the cheapest universities, while the capital of Canada is one of the most expensive.
Tuition fees for bachelor’s degrees
Because Canada’s education system is one of the best and most in-demand in the world, prices for its universities tend to be a little high—but they are still below other English-speaking countries. A public university in Canada can have a cost ranging between 500 and 12,000 Canadian dollars, while a private one has fees ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 Canadian dollars. However, it is important that you keep in mind that degrees in Medicine, Engineering and Social Sciences are usually more expensive than other study programs.
Tuition costs in the most popular disciplines
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management: 550 – 56,000 CAD/year
Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and IT: 1,535 – 55,500 CAD/year
Bachelor of Social Sciences: 1,025 – 56,000 CAD/year
Bachelor of Natural Sciences: 1,780 – 53,000 CAD/year
Tuition fees for master’s degrees
Tuition fees for postgraduate studies are higher. They can be between 1,100 and 65,000 Canadian dollars each year. Master’s degrees in Administration, Engineering, Computer Science and Law are the most expensive.
Tuition costs for the most popular disciplines
Masters in Business Administration and Management: 2,150 – 52,700 CAD/year
Masters in Computer Science and IT: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
Master in Medicine and Health: 2,150 – 58,300 CAD/year
Master in Social Sciences: 2,150 – 37,000 CAD/year
2.- Cost of living in Canada for international students
Opting for affordable universities can save you some money, but keep in mind that the cost of everyday life in Canada is above average. However, a high quality of life is guaranteed. If you want to live in provinces like Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa, you will need between 800 and 1,500 CAD/month. If, on the other hand, you choose the capital of Canada or Calgary—which are some of the most expensive cities—you will have to have a minimum of 2,000 CAD/month.
Accommodation costs
There are accommodations that vary between all price ranges, and you can choose between these options:
Student residences: 250 – 625 CAD/month
Homestay: 400 – 800 CAD/month
Shared apartment: 300 – 700 CAD/month (rental prices depend on location and facilities. If you choose to rent a studio/one-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay more than 1,000 CAD/month). Likewise, if you decide to rent an apartment, you must take into account the following additional expenses:
Basic services (electricity, water, heating, garbage): 150 CAD/month
Internet: 50-70 CAD/month
Food expenses: Food in Canada is affordable, you will only need about 300 Canadian dollars a month to shop at any supermarket or local store. However, if you constantly want to go out to eat in restaurants, it will be a little more expensive. A complete lunch per person could cost you between 10 and 25 Canadian dollars.
Transportation expenses
Students enrolled in any Canadian university—who are between 18 and 25 years old—will have the opportunity to enjoy discounts when purchasing a monthly transportation pass that costs 90 CAD/month (taking into account that a single ticket is worth 3 CAD).Taxis are also a common means of transportation throughout Canada, and fares range from CAD 2 to CAD 6 per km.