The cost of living in Toronto for an international student depends on factors like the university fees, chosen program, duration of stay, accommodation type, transport and miscellaneous expenses. The annual cost of living in Toronto for an ranges around 31,000 CAD. For an Indian applicant, this cost ranges around 18.93 lakhs INR.
Check: Higher education in Canada
Toronto, being the cultural hub of Canada, is a metropolitan city attracting more than 17% of the international students in the country. Several factors contribute at the time of selecting the destination, including the total cost of attendance and student accommodation in Canada.
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How Expensive is Toronto?
Toronto is one of the 6 hotspot destinations for studying in Canada, others being Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, and Alberta. As compared to other cities, Toronto, Canada offers a quite cheaper but nice environment for studying. Students, unable to afford the cost of living in UK or USA may opt to study in Toronto or other provinces of Canada.
Expenses in Toronto, Canada
The total cost of living in Toronto, or any other region, depends on a number of factors such as money exchange rates, transportation costs, cultural diversity, accommodation provided by the institution, etc.
- Accommodations: For an international candidate, the residential facilities prove to be highly important and these contribute the most to the total cost of living.
- Boarding: One must take care of the meal plan in an international country as eating healthy is as important as eating relatively cheap food.
- Transport: If a student does not get on-campus accommodation then he/she must find a transportation facility to reach the institution.
- Medical: One of the most important points an international candidate must keep in mind are health services. First of all, the student should carry all the prescriptions of their medicines. On reaching the destination, they should buy the essential and prescribed medicines to ensure a disease-free lifestyle. This becomes much more important in the present (Covid 19) era.
- Other Expenses: Apart from these expenses there are other elements in student life such as stationary, practical apparatus, computer, internet connection, etc.
Explore: Cost of living in Canada
The following table compares the average cost of living in Toronto, Canada with other popular destinations in Canada for international students:
| City | Accommodation cost per month (CAD) | Meal (CAD) | Transportation charges (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto, Canada | 2,300 (1.34 lakh INR) | 90 (5,259 INR) | 151 (8,824 INR) |
| Alberta, Canada | 2,000 (1.16 lakh INR) | 282 (16,480 INR) | 73 (5,424 INR) |
| Birmingham, UK | 1,024 (59,800 INR) | 90 (5,259 INR) | 200 (11,700 INR) |
| Sydney, Australia | 2,640 (1.54 lakh INR) | 70 (4,091 INR) | 250 (14,600 INR) |
| Chicago, USA | 5,000 to 8000 (2.9-4.7 lakh INR) | 63 (3,682 INR) | 208 (12,155 INR) |
Although the total cost of living in Toronto is variable, there is a possibility that it may change in accordance with the college itself as the college may provide free transportation facilities, cheaper meal plans, on-campus accommodations in Canada, etc.
Cost of Education in Toronto
The cost of education in Toronto varies in accordance with the university as well as the course and specialization. Following are the university-specific cost of education in Toronto:
| College | Program | Total Fees (CAD) | Fee Equivalent in INR |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | UG | 39,560 to 60,150 | 23.12 to 35.15 lakh |
| PG | 6,900 to 42,710 | 4 to 25 lakh | |
| York University | UG | 31,496 | 18.4 lakh |
| PG | 12,555 | 7.33 lakh | |
| OCAD University | UG | 25,500 | 14.9 lakh |
| PG | 32,500 | 19 lakh | |
| Ryerson University | UG | 28,500 | 16.65 lakh |
| PG | 21,900 - 29,730 | 12.8 to 17.4 lakh |
Accommodation Cost in Toronto
An international student can opt from two options of accommodation - living off-campus and on-campus. It is also notable that most of the universities in Toronto offer on-campus accommodations. Candidates may also reside in PG accommodations. The following table is concerned about the on-campus accommodations offered by few institutions in Toronto:
| College | Accommodation Type | Annual Fees (CAD) | Equivalent Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Victoria | Dormitory and Shared Apartment | 11,973 to 17,500 | 7 to 10.22 lakhs |
| Woodsworth College | Private and Shared Apartment | 10,500 | 6.13 lakhs |
| Loretto College | Dormitory | 12,650 to 13,250 | 7.4-7.74 lakhs |
| Trinity College | Dormitory | 15,000 - 16,000 | 8.76-9.35 lakhs |
Apart from on-campus accommodations candidates can also choose from the below-mentioned off-campus housing options. It must also be noted that due to the rise in COVID cases a decline in the overall rents of the apartments can be observed.
| Region | Total Rent (CAD) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BHK | 2 BHK | 3 BHK | |
| Greater Tornoto Area (GTA) | 1,417 (82,850 INR) | 1,622 (94,840 INR) | 1,837 (1.07 lakh INR) |
| Downtown Toronto | 1,900 (1.11 lakh INR) | 2,400 (1.4 lakh INR) | 3,500 (2.04 lakh INR) |
| Near UTM | 1,250 (73,088 INR) | 1,495 (87,387 INR) | 2,000 (1.16 lakh INR) |
| Near UTSC | 1,250 (73,088 INR) | 1,413 (82,600 INR) | 2,821 (1.65 lakh INR) |
You can also find suitable housing options in Toronto, Canada through agents, or other websites.
Cost of Meals in Toronto
The average cost of food and groceries in Toronto is estimated to be around 40 to 100 CAD. In a majority of housing options, the meal plan is not included in the rent. Therefore, the candidate either has to arrange raw materials and cook by himself/herself or eat outside - which may not be a good opinion from the health perspective, especially in the COVID era.
- The cost of a full meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Toronto sums up to 20 CAD (1169 INR).
- On the other hand, a three-course meal or meal for 2 people may exceed the price of 80 CAD (4,676 INR).
- You can also buy raw materials from a departmental store and then cook a homemade meal.
Transportation Costs in Toronto
Students must also keep the traveling expenses in mind as they would have to commute daily towards the college and return to their house. As there are different types of transportation, the total cost of traveling varies according to the choice of the commuter.
- A one-way local train ticket costs up to 3.25 CAD (190 INR) and a monthly pass requires 156 CAD (9,000 INR).
- Also, an adult ferry ticket costs around 8 CAD (467 INR) while the same ticket is available at 4 CAD (233 INR) for children 14 years old or younger.
- Additionally, you can also make monthly or weekly bus passes as most of the streetcars in Toronto run 24x7.
- Apart from the public transportations individuals may buy their own vehicle, according to their convenience.
How to Reduce the Cost of Living in Toronto?
Students must look forward to reducing the cost of their stay in Toronto until they complete their studies by following the given factors.
- Living in a relatively inexpensive residential complex can save a lot of money in Toronto.
- The transportation cost can be reduced by opting to travel by bus or local train/metro instead of using a taxi.
- Moreover, you can also travel by using a bicycle which saves a lot of money as well as keeps you fit.
- Avoiding eating junk food, reducing the frequency of visiting clubs or parties is another shortcut to save your pocket money.
- There are several scholarships and fellowships offered by universities, which can reduce the burden of education costs in Toronto.
- Some institutions also offer stipends to academically meritorious students for studying which also helps in reducing the cost of living in Toronto.
Miscellaneous Cost of Living in Toronto
Apart from the expenses mentioned previously, an international student encounters some other expenses such as sports activities, leisure, utilities - internet connectivity, electricity bill, water bill, etc. Also, it is not possible to precisely describe these amounts as they depend upon the individual.
Anyhow, a student, especially an international candidate must know how to make a balance among the expenditure as he/she will only have a definite amount to spend each month.
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