For Nigerians, a trip to Canada is synonymous with a journey to paradise. This is why we have strived to compile an article that will help you know the cost of living in Canada. This, in simple terms, translates to how much does it cost to settle in Canda?’.
Many Nigerians set their sight on Canada because of its world-class and affordable health care and educational system, progressive culture and political system, kind citizens and great infrastructure.
So if this is your plan or you plan to undertake a trip to Canada — for a short stay or permanent stay. Then figuring out the cost of living in Canada is an exceedingly good idea because it will help you stay financially prepared and plan adequately.
How expensive is Canada in comparison to Nigeria?
A study carried out earlier this year shows that living in Canada is almost three times more expensive than in Nigeria. This is very clear when you because the Canadian dollars has more worth or value than the Nigerian Naira. This may be a source of worry for low-income earning Nigerians.
In fact, another research we carried out with our Canadian friends showed that a Nigerian will need close to 2 million Naira to enjoy the standard of living in Lagos with 1 million Naira.
1 Nigerian Naira equals 0.0033 Canadian Dollar
1 Canadian Dollar equals 302.24 Nigerian Naira
Read: Canadian Embassies in Nigeria and Their Contact Details
Other statistics that may interest you about the expansiveness of living in Canada when compared to Nigeria include:
Average prices of goods and services in Canadian major cities are 125.83% higher than in major Nigerian cities(without rent) The cost of renting a house in major Canadian cities is 19.71% higher than in major Nigerian cities
Cost of food Prices in restaurants and eateries in major Canadian cities is 175.22% higher than in major Nigerian cities The Price of food items sold in shops across major Canadian cities are 91% higher than in major Nigerian cities The purchasing power in purchasing goods and services inmajor Canadian cities for the average wages is 788.98% higher than in major Nigerian cities
Here are some of the indices on the major living expenses in Canadian cities when exchanged to Naira at the time of writing.
| Comparing basic cost of living | 1 bedroom flat in city centre (monthly rent) | Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant, three courses) | Transportation (monthly pass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto, Canada | ₦ 675,845 | ₦ 27,190 | ₦ 45,620 |
| Montreal, Canada | ₦ 389,730 | ₦ 19,630 | ₦ 25,982 |
What are the costliest and most affordable Canadian cities for Nigerians?
The cost of living in Canadian cities varies. Some places are costly for Nigerians to stay while others can be affordable. The five costliest Candian cities are:
- Toronto, Ontario
- Montreal, Quebec
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Calgary, Alberta
- Vancouver, British Columbia
The cheapest Canadian cities include:
- St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Windsor, Ontario
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Kitchener, Ontario
Read: Canada Tourist Visa 2021/2022 Application Guide
How much do Canadians spend on the living expenses in Naira?
| Total Living Expenses in Toronto | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 1 person, per month (without rent) | ₦ 375,234 |
| 1 person, per year (without rent) | ₦ 4,502,814 |
| Student, per month (without rent) | ₦ 265,564 |
| 4 person family, per month (without rent) | ₦ 1,364,681 |
| 4 person family, per year (without rent) | ₦ 16,379,501 |
| Living Expenses in Montreal | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 1 person, per month (without rent) | ₦ 316,925 |
| 1 person, per year (without rent) | ₦ 3,803,700 |
| student, per month (without rent) | ₦ 203,931 |
| 4 person family, per month (without rent) | ₦ 1,158,936 |
| 4 person family, per year (without rent) | ₦ 13,907,243 |
Read: United State Visa Interview 2021 Sample Questions and Answers
What are the average wages in Canada?
Now you have seen the estimated living expenses, you will be thinking about how much you will have to earn in Canada to offset or cover living expenses. It depends on the city in Canda you plan to reside in as wages or salaries vary.
The minimum wage in Canada is 11.06 CAD per hour (3323 Naira/hr) Entry-level positions start at 7,250,909 Naira per year while most experienced workers make up to 32,194,035 Naira per year.
Here’s the estimated salary you can expect to earn in Canada in the Naira exchange rate in the two major cities of Montreal and Toronto.
| Salary averages for Toronto | Average salary (yearly) |
|---|---|
| cashier | ₦ 6,872,351 |
| copywriter | ₦ 14,895,481 |
| financial analyst | ₦ 18,075,005 |
| graphic designer | ₦ 13,616,300 |
| mobile developer | ₦ 19,634,253 |
| product manager | ₦ 25,453,711 |
| receptionist | ₦ 8,050,321 |
| software engineer | ₦ 23,639,776 |
| teacher | ₦ 22,143,067 |
| web developer | ₦ 17,635,419 |
| Salary averages for Montreal | Average salary (Yearly) |
|---|---|
| cashier | ₦ 6,701,048 |
| copywriter | ₦ 13,922,953 |
| financial analyst | ₦ 17,756,871 |
| graphic designer | ₦ 12,080,316 |
| mobile developer | ₦ 18,272,894 |
| product manager | ₦ 22,959,701 |
| receptionist | ₦ 7,453,330 |
| software engineer | ₦ 21,398,640 |
| teacher | ₦ 15,106,060 |
| web developer | ₦ 15,497,005. |
How much do Canadians spend on housing and accommodation in Naira?
Rent is a very important item that will need financial consideration. In some budget, rent takes 60-70% of your monthly expenses, especially if you are just moving into the country. To make things easy for you we have outlined the rent price of three Canadian major cities in Nigerian Naira.
| Renting in Montreal | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| large apartment | ₦ 332,333 |
| medium apartment | ₦ 280,972 |
| small apartment | ₦ 220,548 |
| student dorm room | ₦ 151,060 |
| internet | ₦ 11,480 |
| Renting in Toronto | Average cost |
|---|---|
| large apartment | ₦ 574,030 |
| medium apartment | ₦ 483,393 |
| small apartment | ₦ 392,757 |
| student dorm room | ₦ 226,590 |
| internet | ₦ 12,386 |
| Renting in Calgary | Average cost |
|---|---|
| large apartment | ₦ 422,969 |
| medium apartment | ₦ 362,545 |
| small apartment | ₦ 299,100 |
| student dorm room | ₦ 181,272 |
| internet | ₦ 13,897 |
How much does healthcare and dental cost in Canada?
It might interest you to know that Healthcare in Canada is free. This means no purchase of hospital card or payment for emergency treatment.
Similar to most western countries with free healthcare systems, the Canadian healthcare system is paid for by citizen’s tax. Studies showed that in the last two years, an average Canadian pays 2,135,392 Naira to maintain the free healthcare system.
This can seem extremely expensive to Nigerians, but citizens of Canada believe that the tax cost is decent for a relatively free health care system and many Canadians enjoy quality health treatment.
But please be aware that only Canadian citizens and immigrant with permanent residence permits can enjoy a free healthcare system.
Here are some healthcare services and their average cost;
| Healthcare service | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Doctor’s visits | Free |
| Diagnostic tests | Free |
| Hospital care | Free |
| Dental services | Available through an extended plan |
Does travel and transportation cost high in Canada ?
Canadians and Americans enjoy driving but the love of using bike and bicycle to work is on the rise. In places like Vancouver and Quebec City, up to 18% of pedestrians use a bike to convey themselves to work. When the cold winter season arrives, bike usage reduces.
In other urban areas, Canadian residents seem to enjoy public transport, but the most preferred choice is getting a car. Also, for longer journeys, air transport is well-patronised. Canada is almost ten times bigger than Nigeria in size, so cars and trains are not usually the best for very long trips.
| Transportation and vehicle prices | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel (per litre / 0.25 gallon) | ₦ 362 |
| monthly transport ticket or card (Toronto) | ₦ 45,620 |
| bus ticket, single-use | ₦ 981 |
| taxi fare, 1km | ₦ 604 |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla, new | ₦ 5,785,621 |
| 2020 Volkswagen Jetta, new | ₦ 7,685,359 |
Is education expensive in Canada ?
Canadian educational system is top-notch and qualitative. There is a free public school system for kids below the age of 18 in Canada. Although It is cheaper to study in Canadian universities than, say, the United States, but Canadian higher institutions are more expensive than their European counterparts. Colleges in Europe are government-subsidized.
Here’s an estimate of cost of studying in Canada in Naira.
| School | Average yearly cost |
|---|---|
| preschool / kindergarten | From ₦ 135,954 a month |
| University of Toronto tuition | ₦ 1,842.939 – ₦ 17,226,951 |
| York University tuition | ₦ 2,126,026 – ₦ 9793561 |
How much money does a Nigerian need to live comfortably in Canada?
Nigerians have different standard, especially in matters of being comfortable financially. But from our research, a lot of Canadians seem to agree that 250,000 Canadian dollars (75,530,302 Naira) can keep them comfortable.
Please note that many canadian residents do not earn up these amount.
But the truth remains that Canada is a fantastic place to live in. The cost of living in Canada is very much higher than Nigeria and for those moving to Canada, it’d be wise to adequately plan because living expenses can consume more than half of your savings.
