This is the Most Expensive City for University Students in Canada

Deciding which post-secondary institution to go to can often be a hard and stressful choice. 

A lot of factors are typically considered: how far, or close, is the school to someone’s house, what courses are offered, what is the campus like, what extra curriculars are offered, and, of course, how much money is it going to cost?

A Zoocasa blog post noted that a recent study in partnership with Course Compare – a Canadian comparison marketplace for education –  revealed just how expensive some cities in Canada are.

Here are some of the findings from the study, which analyzed six Canadian cities.

Montreal

Montreal, as noted in the blog post, has the highest density of post-secondary students in all of North America. The city also has the most affordable student rent of any major city in Canada. The blog post notes that the average bachelor unit costs $641, and the, average, monthly cost of living for a Canadian undergrad is $1,143.

The average annual tuition for a Canadian undergrad is $2,961.

However, these numbers will fluctuate depending on the type of student (undergrad, grad, international undergrad, or international grad).

Edmonton

Home to theUniversity of Alberta, MacEwan University, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Edmonton is another incredibly popular city for students.

The average monthly cost of living for a Canadian undergrad is $1,584, and the average annual tuition costs around $5,373.

“Renters enjoy a much more relaxed market than in other cities with a vacancy rate of 5.3 per cent, which keeps the average bachelor rent under $1,000 at $862,” reads the blog post.

Calgary

The average annual tuition for a Canadian undergrad student in Calgary is the same as Edmonton – $5,373. However, the average monthly cost of living is slightly higher ($1,621) making it a pricier place to call home.

“Renting is more competitive in Cowtown, with a vacancy rate of 3.9 per cent, which has pushed average bachelor rents up 2.4 per cent over the last year to $879,” notes the blog post. “It’s also more expensive to take public transit, with passes costing $106. Eating out will cost an estimated $134 per month, while a gym membership is $55.”

Ottawa

Ottawa’s stable job market has made the city quite attractive for many, including students.

This, according to Zoocasa, has pushed the vacancy rate lower to 1.6 per cent.

The average monthly cost of living is $1,870, and, for a Canadian undergrad student, the average annual tuition is $7,948.

Vancouver

Vancouver – a city infamous for having the most expensive housing market in the country. 

The city is also, however, home to Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, Langara College, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. 

The average monthly cost of living for a Canadian undergrad comes in at $2,581 and the average annual tuition is $5,263.

Toronto

Toronto, according to the blog post, ranks as the most expensive city in the country for students.

The average monthly cost of living for a Canadian undergrad student is $2,845.25 and the average annual tuition comes in at a whopping $7,948.

“It’s also the most expensive city to commute in, with a monthly Metropass at $146.25,” reads the blog post. “Dining out monthly will cost an estimated $160, while the average gym membership costs $56.”

More details about the average annual tuition cost and the monthly cost of livings for students in these cities are outlined in the graphics below.

Graphics are courtesy of Course Compare.