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Canada essentials

Living in Canada

What it really costs, and how to sort a tax number, bank account, SIM, and healthcare once you land in Canada.

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Cost of livingBankingSIM & connectivityHealthcareTax & work number
Cost of living

What you'll spend

Indicative
Min funds to show
CAD 2,500 (bank statement issued within 1 week of departure) + departure ticket or funds (official: canada.ca IEC prepare-arrival)
Rent (shared room)
Toronto shared accommodation ~CAD 1,174/mo (Rentals.ca Jan 2026 - third party)
Rent (1-bed, city)
Toronto 1-bed ~CAD 1,950-2,250/mo (TRREB Q1 2026 / liv.rent - third party; sources diverge)
Average wage
Minimum wage: federal CAD 17.75/hr (1 Apr 2025 - 2026 indexation NOT confirmed); Ontario CAD 17.60 (1 Oct 2025); BC CAD 17.85 (1 Jun 2025 - 2026 rise not confirmed) (official pages, possibly stale)
Casual meal
~CAD 25 casual meal, Toronto (Numbeo - third party)
Monthly transport
Toronto TTC monthly pass CAD 156 - DISCONTINUED 31 Aug 2026; monthly fare capping (free after 47 trips) from 1 Sep 2026 (official: ttc.ca)

Cost figures are indicative, sourced from market data. Visa facts and fees are verified against official sources.

Tax / work number

Social Insurance Number (SIN) - free via Service Canada online/in person with work permit: canada.ca/sin

Banking

Open a local account soon after you arrive in Canada so you can get paid and skip foreign-card fees. Most banks let you start the application online before you land.

Providers: Wise, Revolut, EQ Bank, Wealthsimple, RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO, TD
Read the banking guide

Mobile & connectivity

Set up a Canada number or eSIM for data and calls. The major networks have the widest coverage; budget MVNOs run on the same towers for less.

Providers: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile, Virgin Plus, Freedom Mobile, Chatr, Airalo, Holafly
Read the SIM guide
Healthcare

Staying healthy in Canada

Access

NOT covered by provincial plans on arrival (some provinces cover permit holders after a waiting period, e.g. BC MSP); private insurance incl. repatriation mandatory for the visa

Seeing a doctor

Walk-in clinics ~CAD 80-150/visit without provincial coverage, claim on insurance (third party); telehealth widely used
Emergency
911
Police, fire, and ambulance in Canada.
Insurance
Health & travel insurance
YES - mandatory: insurance covering medical care, hospitalisation AND repatriation for entire stay; checked at port of entry; permit shortened to insurance validity (official: canada.ca)