All,
I'm an International student from New Delhi who received a lot of information from this forum when I was applying for my visa/College. I got admission, then Visa and am currently in Canada doing my pg studies.
I will be providing some information that might be useful for you guys. Starting with living cost in Canada.
Of course, it really depends upon individual to individual and some areas are expensive than others. I will be providing data for Toronto since I'm here for past 6 months.
Let's categorise the major expense in groups:
Rent [250-600]
Transportation [100]
Food [150-300]
Entertainment [0-150]
Phone: 55
Total Monthly Expense [550-1100]
RENT
This is what I've seen in the area:
Single room in a house (Sharing Kitchen, personal bathroom): 600-750/month
Single room in a house (Sharing Kitchen, Sharing bathroom): 500-550 [Can also find small room as low as 450]
Basement: 700-800 [2 people can easily stay]
College/University Hostel: usually around 800/month. Have to give 8 month rent in advance. For some college you also have to buy a meal plan. Room is very small, and bathroom is shared. Usually no kitchen and only microwave and a fridge is provided.
1 BHK : about 800-900 (3 people can easily stay, even 4 can be managed]
Rent Conditions: You have to sign a 1 year contract [Can't leave accommodation before 1 year but can sublet]. Two months notice period. First and last required (two month rent in first go, then monthly rent)
Transportation
Car: Forget about car. car is cheap (can even buy in just 3000) but insurance is costly (usually 400/month, yes!)
Cab: usually $8-10/km
Public Transport: Excellent service, very comfortable: Subway or Streetcar (Tram) or Buses. Monthly pass of $99 for students, 120 for general public.
Food
Grocery is cheap and you get all Indian stuff here, even maggy. I once saw a prestige 5 L cooker in Walmart in just 35 bucks (dollars), a price similar to Indian market price. Eating out is very expensive, usually 7-10 times expensive than cooking yourself.
For example, you can cook pasta at home and the grocery/oil cost etc would be less than $1 [may be just 40-50 cents]. One single time pasta in college cafeteria would be $6-$8. Try to learn cooking before you arrive. This will save hundreds of dollars a month for you.
If you cook regularly at home, and eat out occasionally, then you are estimating about 150-200 a month.
Entertainment
Movies {English, and even Hindi/Punjabi} DVD is available free in Toronto Public Library. Library membership is free. You can rent upto 50 book.DVD at a time.
Movies in hall: $10
Clubbing: Not as expensive as they are in India. Sometimes the entry is free, sometimes 5 or 10 bucks. For special events and in Desi club, the entry is 20. A beer (350 ml) is 6 inside a club (outside it is 2).
Museum: Entry fees differs and is in range between 6 to 28. However, you can get free museum pass in Library on Saturday @ 9 am.
Phone: No contract. Own handset. Base plan 25 (free Toronto/GTA calling) + 20 (Unlimited India calling} + 5 (Unlimited Internet on phone) + tax ~ 55/month
Depending upon your lifestyle, you can assume monthly living expenses from a mere 550 to as high as 1100. major saving point: shared accommodation and cooking at home.
Stay hungry, stay foolish and keep trying. Best of luck to you all for your admission and visa.
GS
