cost of living in canada - GS Immigration Advisors

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cost of living in canada

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“Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Renting in Canada”

Navigating the rental market in Canada can be challenging, especially for newcomers. Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant is crucial for making informed decisions. Here’s a concise guide to help you get started.  Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Rent Control Regulations  Some provinces in Canada have rent control laws designed to protect tenants from excessive rent increases. These regulations dictate:  When and how much landlords can raise rent.  The potential for significant savings if you choose a property under rent control.  If your property isn’t covered by rent control, be prepared for possible substantial rent hikes upon lease renewal.  The following table provides some detail on rent control in the applicable provinces:  Province Rent increase caps (2024, 2025) Additional restrictions Exemptions to rent control British Columbia 2024 rent increase limit: 3.5% 2025 rent increase limit: 3% Rent can be increased once every 12 months Landlords must provide 3 months’ notice Utilities and other fees can only be increased with tenant’s agreement   Manitoba 2024 rent increase guideline: 3% 2025 rent increase guideline: 1.1% economic adjustment factor Rent increase guideline applies to most rental units  Units exempt from the guideline include high-rent units and government-owned properties Ontario 2024 rent increase guideline: 2.5% 2025 rent increase guideline: 2.5% Note: Rent control policies only apply to residential buildings first built or occupied before November 15, 2018 Rent can be increased once every 12 months Proper written notice of at least 90 days required Exceptions include new buildings and most new basement apartments Prince Edward Island 2024 rent increase guideline: 3% 2025 rent increase guideline: To be set annually by the Director of Residential Tenancy Rent increases can occur once a year Landlords must provide 3 months’ notice Increase above the allowable amount requires application to Rental Office Lease Terms and Evictions  Before signing a lease, consider the following factors:  Lease Renewal: Understand whether your lease automatically renews or if you need to vacate at the end of the term.  Notice Period: Know how much notice you must give to terminate a month-to-month lease. Generally, this is one month, but in provinces like Prince Edward Island and Ontario, you may need to provide two months’ or 60 days’ notice.  Eviction Grounds: Familiarize yourself with the reasons landlords can evict you. Common grounds for eviction include:  Non-payment of rent  Property damage  Breach of lease terms  Health and safety violations  Disrupting other tenants  Landlords may also evict you for reasons outside your control, such as the need to sell the property, personal use of the unit, or if the building is deemed unsafe. They must provide written notice of eviction, and you have the right to dispute it through local tenancy boards or tribunals.  How much should I expect to spend?  The cost of renting can vary significantly depending on the property and its location. Be sure to budget accordingly.  The table below shows the median monthly rent for some major cities for bachelor, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments (source: zumper.com rent research portal).  City Bachelor/Studio apartment (median rent in Canadian dollars) 1-bedroom apartment (median rent in Canadian dollars) 2-bedroom apartment (median rent in Canadian dollars) Toronto (ON) $1,900 $2,335 $2,969 Vancouver (BC) $2,315 $2,650 $3,650 Calgary (AB) $1,599 $1,790 $2,297 Edmonton (AB) $1,154 $1,389 $1,650 Winnipeg (MB) $931 $1,325 $1,725 Montréal (QC) $1,487 $1,700 $2,195 Understanding Condo Regulations  Condominiums (condos) are a unique type of rental property in Canada, often subject to specific bylaws. When renting a condo, keep the following in mind:  Condo Bylaws: These may impose stricter rules than residential leases, including:  Restrictions on pets  Limits on the number of occupants  While the Residential Tenancies Act in Ontario prohibits such restrictions for other residential properties, they may be permissible in condos. Be aware that condo regulations can change, potentially affecting your living situation.  Avoiding Rental Scams  Unfortunately, rental scams are common and can jeopardize your finances and personal information. Here’s how scams typically operate:  Fake Landlords: Scammers pose as landlords or agents, showing you a rental unit at an attractive price. After you sign a lease and pay a deposit, you discover they are not authorized to rent the property and have disappeared with your money.  Identity Theft: Scammers might request personal information and use it to impersonate you for fraudulent activities.  To protect yourself from scams, verify the legitimacy of the landlord or leasing agent. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) suggests watching for these warning signs:  Rent significantly below market value  Requests for deposits without a formal lease  Security deposits requested to be sent to an address outside Canada  Offers for rentals without a background check  Emails directing you to websites asking for personal or financial information  Ads featuring only external photos or mismatched property images  By staying informed and vigilant, newcomers can successfully navigate the rental market in Canada.  Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

CAN YOU AFFORD TO LIVE COMFORTABLYIN CANADA?

While the settlement funds recommended by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can assist you in covering basic living expenses, it’s important to understand how much you’ll need to truly thrive in Canada. Settlement funds are intended to help recent immigrants manage essential costs while they seek employment and housing. However, the cost of living can often be much higher, with conservative estimates indicating monthly expenses can exceed $1,500 before rent in many Canadian cities (source: numbeo.com). This article provides a breakdown of the cost of living in Canada, offering a rough guide on what you can expect to spend on essential expenses upon your arrival. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Cost of Living Comparison: Toronto vs. Winnipeg To give you a clearer idea of what to expect, CIC News has compiled a table of monthly cost-of-living estimates based on crowdsourced data (source: numbeo) for both Toronto and Winnipeg.  Toronto  Living arrangement (including rent) Lower estimate monthly expenses Middle estimate monthly expenses Higher estimate monthly expenses Single person (1 bedroom apartment using public transport) $3,706.79 $4,446.91 $6,931.29 Single person with car (1 bedroom apartment travelling by car) $4,007.41  $4,879.61 $7,639.40 Single person (3 bedroom with roommates using public transport) $2,550.44 $3,253.35 $5,789.63 Single person with car (3 bedroom with roommates travelling by car) $2,851.07 $3,961.45 $6,497.73 Family of 4 (3-bedroom using public transport) $8,355.09 $10,778.30 $18,085.60 Family of 4 (3-bedroom travelling by car) $8,806.02 $11,427.36 $19,147.75 Winnipeg Living arrangement (including rent) Lower estimate monthly expenses Middle estimate monthly expenses Higher estimate monthly expenses Single person (1 bedroom apartment using public transport) $2,424.45 $3,088.07 $5,174.11 Single person with car (1 bedroom apartment travelling by car) $2,719.37 $3,506.83 $5,851.96 Single person (3 bedroom with roommates using public transport) $1,750.20 $2,377.57 $4,622.98 Single person with car (3 bedroom with roommates travelling by car) $2,045.12 $2,796.34 $5,300.83 Family of 4 (3-bedroom using public transport) $5,882.81 $8,043.22 $14,097.78 Family of 4 (3-bedroom travelling by car) $6,325.19 $8,671.36 $15,114.56 How Much Do You Need to Thrive in Canada? While the settlement funds recommended by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can assist you in covering basic living expenses, it’s important to understand how much you’ll need to truly thrive in Canada. Settlement funds are intended to help recent immigrants manage essential costs while they seek employment and housing. However, the cost of living can often be much higher, with conservative estimates indicating monthly expenses can exceed $1,500 before rent in many Canadian cities (source: numbeo.com). This article provides a breakdown of the cost of living in Canada, offering a rough guide on what you can expect to spend on essential expenses upon your arrival. Cost of Living Comparison: Toronto vs. Winnipeg To give you a clearer idea of what to expect, CIC News has compiled a table of monthly cost-of-living estimates based on crowdsourced data (source: numbeo) for both Toronto and Winnipeg. Toronto RentFor most newcomers, renting accommodation will be the largest portion of their monthly budget. Rental prices can vary widely depending on the neighborhood and type of property. In your first month, you will likely need to pay a security deposit, which is generally equal to one month’s rent. Below is a table showing the median monthly rent for major cities in Canada (source: zumper.com). GroceriesThe following table outlines the average minimum monthly budget for groceries in various major cities as of August 2024. The figures are crowdsourced and based on an adult consuming 2,400 calories a day on an omnivorous diet. The low estimate excludes dairy and reduces meat consumption, while the high estimate includes increased amounts of both. Actual grocery costs can vary significantly based on where you shop and the specific items you choose. Monthly Grocery Estimates (Crowdsourced Data) City Low Estimate High Estimate Toronto $300 $600 Winnipeg $250 $500 These figures highlight the variability in grocery costs based on shopping habits and dietary preferences. These figures can change significantly based on where you shop and what specific items you include in your monthly groceries. The table below shows estimates for the monthly cost of groceries based on crowdsourced data.     Low estimate (Canadian dollars) Medium estimate (Canadian dollars) High estimate (Canadian dollars) Canadian cost of groceries per month (for one person) $412.04 $527.13 $660.53 Source: numbeo Travel In the metropolitan areas of Canada, most newcomers will rely on public transport to navigate the city. The table below shows the cost of an adult monthly transit pass for some of the major cities in Canada. All prices are gathered from the cities’ respective transport boards. City Price of monthly transit pass (in Canadian dollars) Toronto (ON) $156.00 Vancouver (BC) (3 zone pass) $193.80 Calgary (AB) $115.00 Montreal (QC) (all zone pass) $196.00 Halifax (NS) $90.00 Phone and internet Mobile data can be more expensive in Canada than in the country you are coming from. The table below shows the average cost of an unlimited nationwide talk and text plan along with 10-19 GB of data, sorted by some of the major provinces. Province Average price (in Canadian dollars) Nova Scotia $40.23 Quebec $55.12 Ontario $41.04 Manitoba $40.88 Saskatchewan $59.14 British Columbia $40.94 The following table shows the average monthly cost of an internet package with 33-100mbps Province Average price (in Canadian dollars) Nova Scotia $77.95 Quebec $55.97 Ontario $76.92 Manitoba $61.94 Saskatchewan $77.55 British Columbia $64.75   Source: Price Comparisons of Wireline, Wireless and Internet Services in Canada and with Foreign Jurisdictions: 2023 Edition From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Methodology *The data for this comparison was gathered using the numbeo cost of living estimator. We selected Toronto and Winnipeg as examples of cities where the cost of living is higher and lower respectively. The categories used to prompt the estimator were as follows. Single person (1 bedroom apartment using public transport)Lower estimateThe lower estimate was based on a hypothetical single person (1 bedroom apartment using public transport) with the following spending habits:   Eating lunch or dinner in restaurants for 5% of their meals, with 100% of these being

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