Top 9 Most Affordable Cities in Canada for International Students in 2024

Updated on 04 September, 2024

Bulbul Sharma

Bulbul Sharma

Manager- Content @upGrad

Top 9 Most Affordable Cities in Canada for International Students in 2024

The average yearly salaries across major Indian cities range between Rs 18 lakh to Rs 21 lakh, per a Forbes January 2024 article. With an average study-abroad cost of nearly Rs 13 lakh per semester, it may be challenging to afford the entire tuition fee and living expenses in a foreign land for a year. 
And this is why, I bring to you the list of the top 9 cheapest cities in Canada for International students in 2024.

Top 9 Affordable Cities in Canada for International Students

1. Montreal, Quebec

As we look for the cheapest places to live in Canada, Quebec finds special mention as one of the most affordable provinces in the country. Montreal has several colleges and universities, making it a popular university town. The monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Montreal is around CAD 1,300-1,700. Many international students live in Plateau, a neighborhood that is dotted with quirky shops, cafes, and affordable restaurants offering delicious food.

Housing CAD 1300
Food CAD 300-500
Transportation CAD 220
Utilities CAD 200
Miscellaneous CAD 150
Insurance CAD 41

Average Cost of Living: International students in Montreal should budget between CAD 1,373 and CAD 2,059 per month to cover living expenses.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: The average hourly salary for part-time student jobs is around USD 13, or 14-18 CAD.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. McDonald's 
  2. CGI Group, Inc.
  3. Desjardins 
  4. Deloitte 
  5. Amazon
  6. Oracle
  7. Ubisoft
  8. EY
  9. Apple
  10. GSK

Top 5 Universities (QS 2025):

  1. McGill University
  2. Université de Montréal
  3. Concordia University
  4. Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
  5. Polytechnic school of Montreal

2. Sherbrooke, Quebec

Located around 160 km from Montreal, there are eight educational institutions in Sherbrooke with around 40,000 students. The cost of living in this town is 15.6% below the national average and you can easily find a one-bedroom set for under CAD 800.

Housing CAD 800
Food CAD 270-480
Transportation CAD 230
Utilities CAD 230
Miscellaneous CAD 170
Insurance CAD 41

Average Cost of Living: The average cost of living in Sherbrooke for a single person is approximately CAD 984 per month without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: 

CAD 25 per hour.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. McDonald's 
  2. CGI Group, Inc.
  3. Desjardins 
  4. Deloitte 
  5. Amazon
  6. Oracle
  7. Ubisoft
  8. EY
  9. Apple
  10. GSK

Top 5 Universities (QS 2025):

  1. Université de Sherbrooke
  2. Bishop's University
  3. CDE College
  4. Champion Regional College
  5. Cégep de Sherbrooke

3. Laval, Quebec

Laval is one of the largest cities in Quebec and is located 30 km northwest of Montreal. The cost of living in this city is 9% below the national average. The monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Laval is CAD 1,300.

Housing CAD 1300
Food CAD 280-480
Transportation CAD 200
Utilities CAD 200
Miscellaneous CAD 180
Insurance CAD 41

Average Cost of Living: The average cost of living in Laval for a single person is approximately CAD 1,178 per month.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: International students can earn approximately USD 16-18, or 25 CAD per hour.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. McDonald's 
  2. CGI Group, Inc.
  3. Desjardins 
  4. Deloitte 
  5. Amazon
  6. Oracle
  7. Ubisoft
  8. EY
  9. Apple
  10. GSK

Top  Universities (QS 2025):

  1. Université Laval (UL)
  2. UQAM Laval
  3. Training Korpus
  4. Research Center of Chu Université Laval

4. Calgary, Alberta

The largest city in Alberta, Calgary not only has some of the best colleges to study in Canada but also is a skiing destination. It has the youngest population among Canadian cities. The minimum monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is CAD 800.

Housing CAD 800
Food CAD 250-450
Transportation CAD 150
Utilities CAD 250
Miscellaneous CAD 160
Insurance CAD 68

Average Cost of Living: CAD 1,550 (Numbeo) per month for a single person without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: The average hourly salary for part-time student jobs is around 27 CAD.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. University of Calgary 
  2. Tc Energy
  3. Canadian Natural 
  4. Husky Energy 
  5. Alberta Health Services 
  6. McDonald's 
  7. Amazon
  8. Nutrien
  9. Cenovus
  10. ATB Financial

Top 5 Universities (QS 2025):

  1. University of Calgary
  2. Mount Royal University
  3. SAIT Polytechnic
  4. Ambrose University
  5. St. Mary's University

Register for Study in Canada FREE Course

The Canada hosts the largest number of international students from across the world. Over the past few years, it has become one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad. Reasons such as best-ranked institutions, excellent support facilities, flexible academic environment, and cultural diversity contribute to making it the most preferred destination amongst students planning to study abroad.

5. Ottawa, Ontario

The vibrant city of Ottawa, which is also the capital of Canada, is home to two renowned universities in the country, the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. There are several restaurants and bars in the city, and the downtown area looks gorgeous with quirky cafes. However, you can look for apartments in Little Italy, Osgoode Street, Centretown, and Old Ottawa South. You can find a one-bedroom apartment for around CAD 1,200.

Housing CAD 1200
Food CAD 300-480
Transportation CAD 120
Utilities CAD 210
Miscellaneous CAD 120
Insurance CAD 37

Average Cost of Living: 1,545 AD per month for a single person without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: The average hourly salary for part-time student jobs is around 16-18 CAD.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. McDonald's 
  2. Amazon
  3. IBM
  4. Deloitte 
  5. Accenture
  6. Starbucks 
  7. TD
  8. Cisco
  9. Nokia
  10. Government of Canada 

Top 5 Universities (QS 2025):

  1. University of Ottawa
  2. Carleton University 
  3. Dominican University College 
  4. Université Saint Paul
  5. Algonquin College

6. Kingston, Ontario 

With colleges and universities like Queen’s University, the Royal Military College of Canada, and St. Lawrence University, Kingston has a strong student community. The cost of living in Kingston is significantly lower than in Toronto. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre of Kingston is CAD 1,220.

Housing CAD 1220
Food CAD 300-500
Transportation CAD 140
Utilities CAD 230
Miscellaneous CAD 110
Insurance CAD 40

Average Cost of Living: 1,505 CAD per month for a single person without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: The average hourly salary for part-time student jobs is around 17-19 CAD.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. IBM
  2. TD
  3. Roger's Communications
  4. RBC
  5. Bell
  6. CIBC
  7. Scotiabank
  8. BMO Financial Group
  9. Deloitte 
  10. TELUS

Top  Universities (QS 2025):

  1. Queen's University 
  2. Royal Military College of Canada
  3. St. Lawrence College

7. St. Catharines, Ontario

The largest city in the Niagara region in Canada, St.Catharines is yet another city that is known for being affordable for international students. The cost of living is 0.5% below the national average. For a one-bedroom apartment, one has to pay around CAD 1,314 every month. Niagara Falls is just a 20-minutes drive away from this city.

Housing CAD 1314
Food CAD 200-450
Transportation CAD 150
Utilities CAD 200
Miscellaneous CAD 130
Insurance CAD 41

Average Cost of Living: 1,040 CAD per month for a single person without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: The average hourly salary for part-time student jobs is around USD 13-15, or 18-20 CAD.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs(Glassdoor):

  1. Amazon
  2. Deloitte 
  3. McDonald's 
  4. Walmart 
  5. IBM
  6. Accenture
  7. TD
  8. Starbucks
  9. EY 
  10. KPMG

Top Universities(QS 2025):

  1. Brock University 
  2. Niagara College, Ontario Street Site

8. Moncton, New Brunswick

Moncton is the largest city in New Brunswick but is one of the cheapest places in the province. The cost of living in this city is 6.3% below the national average. You can get a  one-bedroom apartment for around CAD 800 per month. Like many other cities in Canada, Moncton is a promising and welcoming place for international students. If talking about the cheapest province in Canada, New Brunswick tops the list.

Housing CAD 800
Food CAD  250- 450
Transportation CAD 90
Utilities CAD 250
Miscellaneous CAD 110
Insurance CAD 39

Average Cost of Living: 884 CAD per month for a single person without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: The average hourly salary for part-time student jobs is around 20-22 CAD.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. McDonald's 
  2. Deloitte 
  3. Amazon
  4. Cognizant Technology Solutions 
  5. Infosys
  6. Wipro
  7. Capgemini
  8. IBM
  9. Cenovus
  10. HCL Tech

Top 5 Universities (QS 2025):

  1. University of New Brunswick 
  2. University of Moncton 
  3. Mount Allison University 
  4. St. Thomas University 
  5. Crandall University 

9. Abbotsford, British Columbia

British Columbia is considered an expensive place by many. However, there are some cities in this province that are quite budget-friendly for international students. One such is Abbotsford. It is also the largest city in the province by area. The cost of living in Abbotsford is 3.6% below the national average. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment in this city is approx CAD 1,432  per month.

Housing CAD 1432
Food CAD 200-400
Transportation CAD 110
Utilities CAD 180
Miscellaneous CAD 100
Insurance CAD 36

Average Cost of Living: 1,062 CAD per month for a single person without rent.

Average Part-time Salary for International Students: 14- 15 CAD per hour.

Top 10 Companies Offering Jobs (Glassdoor):

  1. Amazon
  2. McDonald's 
  3. Starbucks
  4. Walmart
  5. Deloitte 
  6. Microsoft 
  7. KPMG
  8. Best Buy 
  9. SAP
  10. TD

Top 5 Universities (QS 2025):

  1. University of the Fraser Valley 
  2. Summit Pacific College
  3. Columbia Bible College 
  4. CDI College Abbotsford
  5. Ashton College 

Average Tuition fees in Canada

Depending upon various factors, there are different fees across all Canadian provinces of Canada.

The below table illustrates the fees figures- 

Provinces in Canada International Undergraduate(in CAD) International Postgraduate(in CAD)
Alberta 21,548 11,804
British Columbia 25,472 16,988
Manitoba 15,582 10,995
New Brunswick 14,290 11,593
Newfoundland and Labrador 12,035 4,087
Nova Scotia 17,662 18,907
Ontario 34,961 21,686
Prince Edward Island 21,525 11,905
Quebec 21,857 15,392
Saskatchewan 20,211 6,032

Source* from university websites

What Makes a City Affordable for Students: Top 3 Reasons 

Apart from the tuition fees of the educational institution, there are several other expenses that the students need to bear and a lot depends on the city they are living in. Many factors contribute to making a city affordable but the below factors top that list:

Affordable accommodation –

One of the prime requirements for an affordable student city is the availability of pocket-friendly accommodation. Staying at the college/university campus is an option but you should be able to rent a place within a reasonable budget.

Effective transport system –

You need to be aware of the transportation charges and options available in a city. Since most students rely on public transport, it is an essential part of what makes a city affordable for the students.

Pocket-friendly activities –

You cannot spend all of your days immersed in books and roaming your campus. Students also like to experience new cultures, visit local attractions, and taste local delicacies, all without breaking the bank. Hence, every city needs some activities and local sights that students can explore without worrying about money.

Cost of Living in Canada:

Living costs in Canada Cost
Flight expense Rs 1 lakh – 2 lakh per flight
Study permit fees CAD 150, additional biometric fees of CAD 85
Work permit fees CAD 155 
IELTS test fees Rs 17,000
Accommodation Around CAD 10,000 p.a.
Travel costs CAD 90 – 180 monthly
Health insurance CAD 300 – 800 yearly
Food CAD 300 – 500 monthly
Entertainment CAD 750 monthly

Studying in Canada is one of the best decisions for students who are looking for affordable options. Canadian universities and colleges are well-known and respected for being some of the finest globally and providing an excellent academic experience. Another factor that makes studying in Canada a worthwhile decision is the easy visa application process clubbed with great employment opportunities. 
You can also explore various pathway programs offered by upGrad Abroad in partnership with some of the most prestigious universities in Canada.

Conclusion

Cities like Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Halifax stand out as cost-effective options, offering lower living expenses and tuition fees compared to larger metropolitan areas. These cities not only provide economic advantages but also rich cultural experiences, diverse communities, and quality education, making them attractive destinations for students from around the globe. For international students, choosing a city that aligns with both their financial constraints and academic aspirations is key to a rewarding study abroad experience. By considering cities known for their affordability, students can maximize their educational investment, enjoying all the benefits of studying in Canada while managing their expenses wisely.

Disclaimer! All the facts and figures are indicative sourced from various portals.

Seeking to study in Canada – Apply Now

FAQs

What is the average cost for students living in Canada?

For accommodation students may have to spend CAD 5000 and CAD 8000 each year for on-campus housing, or CAD 10000 per year on private shared accommodation. Some universities provide meal plans that allow you to eat affordably at the university’s restaurants however, if you are cooking or eating out your expenses may be around CAD 500-800 per month.

What is the most affordable mode of transportation in Canada?

Different types of transportation, ranging from metro, bus, and taxi, are available. While talking about affordability among them, one should go for public transportation, which also has the facility of having monthly passes ranging between CAD 90-180 as per respective cities.

What expenses on food can you expect when living in Canada as a student?

Food/groceries expenses can range between CAD 200-500 per month depending upon food choices. Opting for homecooked meals can significantly cut down your food bills.

Did you find this article helpful?

Bulbul Sharma

Manager- Content @upGrad

Bulbul is a self-driven professional and an expert writer & editor. She has been a part of the ed-tech industry for the past 2 years now and is motivated to provide study abroad aspirants with factually correct and relevant information. Her knack for impactful writing makes her blogs worth a read!

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