People already landed - Can you please advise on cost of living?

[srid_a]

Hello:

I am little bit worried about cost of living in canada. As per my calculations for $100,000k income you end up saving less. Can somebody comment on typical monthly expenses, and taxes? We are a family of 3.

Annual income: $100,000

Annual income after tax: $60000 (approx)
Monthly income after tax: $5000

Monthly expenses:

Rent (2BR, 2bath): 1500
Car insurance for 2 500
Utility bills: 200
Phone: 300
Food expenses for 3: 700
misc (kid school expenses) 500
Car loan: 300

Total: $4000
Savings per month: $1000

 

[Babaiyabor]

Hello:

I am little bit worried about cost of living in canada. As per my calculations for $100,000k income you end up saving less. Can somebody comment on typical monthly expenses, and taxes? We are a family of 3.

Annual income: $100,000

Annual income after tax: $60000 (approx)
Monthly income after tax: $5000

Monthly expenses:

Rent (2BR, 2bath): 1500
Car insurance for 2 500
Utility bills: 200
Phone: 300
Food expenses for 3: 700
misc (kid school expenses) 500
Car loan: 300

Total: $4000
Savings per month: $1000

What in the world.....! you have so much annual income in India, what on earth do you need to come down here (Canada)

 

[mycan]

If are looking for quality of life, healthcare, schooling..... Canada is the right place for you.

Why concentrate of saving when you live a quality life. Saving is byproduct.

In any case I am pasting the post from Captain Qorax's thread for your info.

Toronto - Living costs (a guideline only)

U'd generally be Ok with $2500-3500 per month.
-House Rent: $700-1300 depending on what/where u locate/chose. Anything less than $700 would be shady!
-Heat & Hydro: If u take a condo, add another $100 a month to the above.
-Cable/Internet/Phone: $125-200 depending ur usage/preferance. Anything less than $125 would be tearsome!
-Conveyance: $100-200 depending on ur efficiency. Anything less than $100 would make u immobile!
-Fuel: Add $200-300 on the above if u have a car. Else u r semi-static... not hapenning 4 u here!
-Auto-Ins.: $400-600 if u buy a car. U may chose not to initially... but down 6 months - u must have [else u might be in deep sh1t]!
-Food: $1200-1700 depending on ur livability. Anything less than $1200 - and u aren't 'alive'!
-Outings: $300-700 depending on ur lifestyle. Anything lesser than $300 would make u socially dead!
-Stationery & consumables: $50-100. Anything less than $50 and u r doing nothing!
-Irregular purchases: $250-400. Anything less than $250 is not happening, here...
-Out-of-pocket expenses: $300-500. Else u r impossible, incorrigible, incognito!
-Kid's welfare: $150-250. If u have kids - u'd understand their addnl requirements!
-Childcare: $300-1000 depending on what u chose [pvt unlicensed to proper daycare]. It'd be if u both work & if kids r minors.
-Misc.: $300-500. U never know from where u'd have a bombshell! If not - it'd be ur safety-net.

Qorax

 

[srid_a]

@mycan
You are right. I should focus on what is important (savings is a by product) .. I just got little worried when I was looking at the numbers. There was also thought of private schooling, and travel to India, or expenses related to visitors from India, etc.
Thanks for posting the thread form Qorax.


@ Babaiyabor
It is about quality of life. for working couple living in an Indian city, life is very tough (at least in my opinion). Thanks for posting.

If are looking for quality of life, healthcare, schooling..... Canada is the right place for you.

Why concentrate of saving when you live a quality life. Saving is byproduct.

In any case I am pasting the post from Captain Qorax's thread for your info.

Toronto - Living costs (a guideline only)

U'd generally be Ok with $2500-3500 per month.
-House Rent: $700-1300 depending on what/where u locate/chose. Anything less than $700 would be shady!
-Heat & Hydro: If u take a condo, add another $100 a month to the above.
-Cable/Internet/Phone: $125-200 depending ur usage/preferance. Anything less than $125 would be tearsome!
-Conveyance: $100-200 depending on ur efficiency. Anything less than $100 would make u immobile!
-Fuel: Add $200-300 on the above if u have a car. Else u r semi-static... not hapenning 4 u here!
-Auto-Ins.: $400-600 if u buy a car. U may chose not to initially... but down 6 months - u must have [else u might be in deep sh1t]!
-Food: $1200-1700 depending on ur livability. Anything less than $1200 - and u aren't 'alive'!
-Outings: $300-700 depending on ur lifestyle. Anything lesser than $300 would make u socially dead!
-Stationery & consumables: $50-100. Anything less than $50 and u r doing nothing!
-Irregular purchases: $250-400. Anything less than $250 is not happening, here...
-Out-of-pocket expenses: $300-500. Else u r impossible, incorrigible, incognito!
-Kid's welfare: $150-250. If u have kids - u'd understand their addnl requirements!
-Childcare: $300-1000 depending on what u chose [pvt unlicensed to proper daycare]. It'd be if u both work & if kids r minors.
-Misc.: $300-500. U never know from where u'd have a bombshell! If not - it'd be ur safety-net.

Qorax

 

[nano24482]

Dear Srid_a,

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
The above mentioned site would give you tentative costs of living in selected cities in Canada as well as India.

100,000$ per annum for a family is your income in India or tentative income in Canada??
If you are earning this type of money in India currently, I advise that initially just one of you shift to Canada, find a suitable job and than call in the other partner.
This way you will be able to somewhat maintain your lifestyle.

@ mycan
You are right. I should focus on what is important (savings is a by product) .. I just got little worried when I was looking at the numbers. There was also thought of private schooling, and travel to India, or expenses related to visitors from India, etc.
Thanks for posting the thread form Qorax.


@ Babaiyabor
It is about quality of life. for working couple living in an Indian city, life is very tough (at least in my opinion). Thanks for posting.

 

[srid_a]

In general, in India, 0213 category employee gets around $60000 - $100,000. In Canada (Toronto), I think it is around $80,000 - $120,000. Finding the right job is always going to be the main challenge in Canada. One of us joining the first available job will help other partner to find the right job. This probably should be the strategy once we get the visa. Thanks for the advice.

Dear Srid_a,

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
The above mentioned site would give you tentative costs of living in selected cities in Canada as well as India.

100,000$ per annum for a family is your income in India or tentative income in Canada??
If you are earning this type of money in India currently, I advise that initially just one of you shift to Canada, find a suitable job and than call in the other partner.
This way you will be able to somewhat maintain your lifestyle.

 

[mute_man]

good info!!

 

[marvik2011]

Very good post!!!
What about Vancouver? Will it be more expensive then Toronto?

 

[srid_a]

Very good post!!!
What about Vancouver? Will it be more expensive then Toronto?

In the link provided by Nano24482, there is an option to compare two cities. Here is the link that compared Vancouver with Toronto:
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Canada&country2=Canada&city1=Toronto&city2=Vancouver

Vancouver is expensive than Toronto (by very small negligible margin). Also, Vancouver population is around 500,000. Toronto's population is 5 times Vancouver population. So, chances of finding the right job are more in Toronto. If you can find good job in Vancouver, you should probably move there as it is a very beautiful city.

 

[nano24482]

Go to this thread.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/landing-trip-or-landing-to-stay-t98919.0.html
Advice by a member 'CB' is also good and worth following especially getting a Magic Jack.
Additionally you can get a Post Box Number too or use your relative's/friends address for correspondence till you get a good job.
Are both of you working as Managers or your wife works in someother profession??
If your wife is in some other profession or is a housewife(ie earning significantly less than you and she is strong enough), than she should go first and get a survival job and subsequently move into better job. Every canadian experience counts and you can try to get job from India itself.
If nothing works both of you can further develop your skills by getting educated(MBA etc if possible with a co-op.

Canadian public schools are good especially if you live in good neighbourhood, so sending kids to private schools is waste of money in my opinion.

Secondly life is tough for working couples, both in India and in Canada.
There are no house-maid to do the work, relative to take care of kids in your absense(i dont know if you live with your parents).
There are pros and cons to both the countries, so be careful in your decisions.

And Best of luck!!!!!

 

[nano24482]

If you have a good job than no place is expensive!!!
Thats what I think.

If you are in hospitality sector than Vancouver would be a good destination.

Otherwise Toronto and neighbouring places are quite good for your initial journey, especially if you are in banking or software.
Alberta is good for people in oil sector.
My advise to anyone will be to not keep a particular city/state in mind and go with the intention to move anywhere in Canada for a good job.
Once you get some experience, try moving to the city of your choice..

Very good post!!!
What about Vancouver? Will it be more expensive then Toronto?

 

[marvik2011]

Thanks Srid,
I went through that post but did not compare two cities. ;D
So you are in Delhi? We are in Bangalore. In which stage are u now? We received request for updated PCC and PRRF.
Regards,
Marvic

 

[marvik2011]

If you have a good job than no place is expensive!!!
Thats what I think.

If you are in hospitality sector than Vancouver would be a good destination.

Otherwise Toronto and neighbouring places are quite good for your initial journey, especially if you are in banking or software.
Alberta is good for people in oil sector.
My advise to anyone will be to not keep a particular city/state in mind and go with the intention to move anywhere in Canada for a good job.
Once you get some experience, try moving to the city of your choice..

Hey Nano,

I agree with you completely ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Yep, we both are hoteliers so I think will try Vancouver first.But first VISA must be in the passport. Fingers crossed very soon!!!
All the best for you!!
Regards,
Marvic

 

[sam pk]

Hey Nano,

I agree with you completely ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Yep, we both are hoteliers so I think will try Vancouver first.But first VISA must be in the passport. Fingers crossed very soon!!!
All the best for you!!
Regards,
Marvic

Hey Dear Marvik what is living cost of Regina Saskatchewan

 

[nano24482]

Best of Luck!!!
Hope you get maple leaf soon!!

Your visa office is New Delhi???
When did you receive your medicals?? and what is your in process date??

Tourism industry is well developed in Vancouver.

Hey Nano,

I agree with you completely ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Yep, we both are hoteliers so I think will try Vancouver first.But first VISA must be in the passport. Fingers crossed very soon!!!
All the best for you!!
Regards,
Marvic