How much does living in Canada cost?

As the mother of a student in Vancouver, and drawing on our clients’ experiences, I would note that the living costs in the originally linked article are somewhat overstated. Nevertheless, having a financial reserve is better than falling short.

Student expenses depend on the city, province, accommodation — hostel, flat, residence or host family — distance from the institution and other factors.

At some institutions, including Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, tuition includes a city transit pass, insurance and access to campus swimming pools, gyms and fitness centres.

During quarantine, many institutions offered a free weekly food parcel to any interested student. The author describes it as potentially sufficient even for a month, with changing contents for variety. A preserved photograph shows one such parcel.

The article reports that during the pandemic the government reimbursed students in Vancouver and British Columbia for half their rent when supported by documents. Another photograph shows shop discounts: one package for CAD 1.

The source describes students working twenty hours weekly at a minimum rate from CAD 14 per hour, earning from CAD 1,100, which the author considered sufficient for living expenses during study.

Another photograph shows our students’ workplace, a Staples store in Vancouver, with a poster recognising employees’ contribution against Covid-19. More details appear in the originally linked article.

Article illustrations