This is one of the most frequently asked questions when people talk about moving to any new country. A lot of immigrants who land in Canada do so without a job in hand, just like we did, and everyone wants to know how much it will cost to live here. It is one of the more expensive countries to live in and it is natural to worry about your expenses especially when you don’t have a job at the time of arrival. Your expenses will of course vary based on the city, your family size, how much money you have saved and most importantly, your spending habits.
We moved to Canada in 2016 and I had a habit of noting my expenses that I got from my old roommate. Because of that, we knew precisely how much money we were spending where, to the last dollar. And because of that we can tell you accurately how much money you will need in your first few months while you are looking for a job.
We are sharing below what we spent in our first few months in Toronto as a couple. At that time, we were completely in a saving mode and we did not spend on anything that wasn’t necessary until we got a job. These expenses cover only essentials and any discretionary expenses can be added based on your needs.
Some of the costs have increased since then (rents in particular) and we have added another column to show more recent figures. All figures are in Canadian Dollars (CAD).
| Expenses | What we spent per month in 2016 (for a couple) | What could be a couple’s expenses per month in 2021 |
| Rent (basement apartment) | $900 | $1000 to $1200 |
| Groceries | $250 | $300 to $350 |
| Clothes (including winter wear) | $100 | $100 to $200 |
| 2 cell phone lines (we had our own phones) | $120 | $120 |
| Home internet (some places will have it included in the rent) | $0 (ours was included in the rent) | $0 to $50 |
| Utilities (heat, hydro, water). Many places will have some or all included | $0 (ours was included in the rent) | $0 to $100 |
| Eating out (this is totally optional) | $100 | $0 to $500 |
| Public transit (assuming one round trip every weekday in Toronto by 2 people) | $250 | $100 to $400 (depending on your needs) |
| Miscellaneous | $200 | $100 to $300 |
| Total | $1920 | $1720 to $3220 |
There are some other expenses that we didn’t think were necessary for us without getting a job first but just in case you would like to spend on them, here are those expenses:
| Expenses | What we spent per month in 2016 (for a couple) | What could be a couple’s expenses per month in 2021 |
| Car (financing or leasing) | $0 | $300 to $500 |
| Car insurance | $0 | $250 to $500 |
| Fuel | $0 | $50 to $100 |
| Vacation (annual amount divided monthly) | $0 | $200 to $400 |
| New gadgets – new phones, laptops, etc. (annual amount divided monthly) | $0 | $150 to $300 |
| Home furnishings (annual amount divided monthly) | $100 (we included it in Miscellaneous above) | $100 to $300 |
We did not have any children so we won’t be able to accurately share those expenses. But schooling and healthcare are free so you won’t need to worry about those expenses for your children.
If you are single then most of these expenses will reduce by half except the ones related to renting, if you prefer renting alone. Generally, a lot of single newcomers live in a shared accommodation to reduce their rental expenses and if you are on a tight budget, you can also reduce your rental expenses to less than $500 per month. We knew a bachelor who lived at $300 per month in Mississauga.
Once you get a job, it becomes easier to spend more money elsewhere. For example, you can rent a condo or buy a car or go for an international vacation.
Related Topics
How much can I expect to earn in Canada
How to find a job in Canada