Cost of living in Canada for working holidaymakers

The short version

You must show around CAD 2,500 to enter, plus a departure ticket or the funds for one. Minimum wage depends on the province: about CAD 17.60 to 18.25 an hour in the big provinces in 2026. A shared place in Toronto runs over CAD 1,100 a month. Insurance for your whole stay is mandatory and a real cost. Budget hardest for rent and your first weeks before payday.

How much money to show

To enter Canada on the IEC working holiday, you must show you have at least CAD 2,500 to support yourself when you arrive, plus a return/departure ticket or enough money to buy one (IRCC). Bring a bank statement or letter dated within about a week of departure; the border officer can ask to see it.

Treat CAD 2,500 as the entry floor, not your budget. You'll realistically want more for first/last month's rent, a few weeks of living costs while job-hunting, and the mandatory insurance.

IEC fees and other upfront costs

Sources: IRCC fees, open work permit holder fee. So the typical IEC fee total is around CAD 285 plus biometrics if your nationality needs them. On top, flights and mandatory insurance for your whole stay (see our healthcare guide) are real costs to plan for.

What you'll earn

Minimum wage in Canada is set by each province, not nationally, so it depends where you work. Current 2026 rates in the main destinations:

Sources: BC government, Ontario ESA, federal minimum wage. Where the provincial rate is higher than the federal rate, the provincial rate applies for most jobs. Hospitality, retail and tourism work often pays at or near minimum, sometimes with tips. Tax (federal plus provincial), CPP and EI come off through payroll; see our tax guide.

Rent: your biggest cost

Most working holidaymakers share. Canada quotes rent per month.

Toronto reference points:

• Shared accommodation / room, Toronto: roughly CAD 1,174 a month (indicative, Rentals.ca data, third party)
• One-bedroom to yourself, Toronto: roughly CAD 1,950 to 2,250 a month (third party; sources vary), which is why almost nobody does this on a working holiday

Vancouver is similarly expensive. Expect to provide first and last month's rent upfront (a common Canadian norm) and possibly references. Winter matters too: heating and warm clothing are real costs in most of the country.

Everyday costs

Toronto reference points (indicative, third party):

• Casual meal out: around CAD 25 (Numbeo)
• Groceries: cooking at home is far cheaper than eating out. No-frills chains (No Frills, FreshCo, Food Basics) undercut the bigger supermarkets.
• Hostels: your likely first weeks. Dorm prices swing with season and demand, so book your first nights ahead and compare live prices rather than budgeting from an average.

Getting around

• Toronto: the transit system (TTC) is changing how it prices. Monthly passes are being discontinued on 31 August 2026, replaced from 1 September 2026 by monthly fare capping: pay per ride with PRESTO or contactless, and travel is free after 47 paid trips in a calendar month (TTC). A single adult fare is CAD 3.30. So you no longer need to buy a pass upfront; just tap and you're capped.
• Most Canadian cities have walkable cores and bus/transit networks. You don't need a car in a major city, though you might for rural or seasonal work; factor in winter driving.

A sample Toronto week (indicative)

Realistic total: roughly CAD 400 to 450 a week in Toronto before nightlife and travel (indicative, built from the figures above). On full-time work at provincial minimum wage it's liveable, and saving is easier in cheaper cities.

How the cities compare

Toronto and Vancouver are Canada's most expensive cities for rent. As a planning guide (indicative):

• Toronto, Vancouver: highest rents, most jobs. Budget hardest here.
• Montreal: noticeably cheaper rooms; useful French helps, and note Quebec's health rules differ (see healthcare).
• Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax: cheaper than Toronto/Vancouver with solid job markets.
• Ski and resort towns (Whistler, Banff): seasonal hospitality jobs, often with staff accommodation, a classic working-holiday route; rooms are scarce and pricey in peak season, so line up housing with the job.

For live rents by area, check Rentals.ca and local listing sites rather than any single published average.

Your money, before and after

Bringing your savings into Canadian dollars and taking them home both go through an exchange rate, and banks usually add a margin on top of any fee. Specialist services such as Wise and OFX often mean more money arrives, worth comparing for the big initial transfer especially.

Sources: canada.ca · ircc.canada.ca · www2.gov.bc.ca · ontario.ca · ttc.ca. Last verified 2026-06-11.