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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 living →Banking →SIM & connectivity →Healthcare →Tax & 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.

Source: canada.ca · How we verify →

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

Mobile & connectivity

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

Providers: Airalo, Bell, Chatr, Fido, Freedom Mobile, Holafly, Koodo, Public Mobile, Rogers, Telus, Virgin Plus
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)