Cost of Living for Students in Toronto 2025 – Complete Breakdown & Guide

-

 

Follow me

If you plan to study in Canada, understanding the cost of living for students in Toronto is essential. Toronto is one of the most popular cities for international students, known for its top universities, diversity, and opportunities. However, it is also one of the most expensive cities in North America.

Cost of living for students in Toronto

In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn the exact monthly expenses, tips for saving money, housing options, food costs, transportation fees, and how academic preparation (including online/physical tutoring from Excellent Home Classes) helps students secure scholarships that reduce costs.

Need a tutor for Canadian curriculum, Cambridge, IB, IELTS, or SAT?
👉 Visit: https://excellenthomeclasses.com/looking-for-a-tutor/

1. Why Study in Toronto?

Toronto hosts some of Canada's top universities such as:

  • University of Toronto (UofT)

  • Toronto Metropolitan University

  • York University

  • Humber College

  • Seneca College

  • Centennial College

These schools attract thousands of students globally due to:

  • High academic standards

  • Multicultural environment

  • Easy part-time job availability

  • Pathways to Permanent Residency (PR)

Students aiming for strong grades and scholarship opportunities can explore:
📘 Bouncing Back – https://excellenthomeclasses.com/educate/
📘 The Homeschool Blueprint – https://excellenthomeclasses.com/educate/the-homeschool-blueprint/
📘 Homeschool Curriculum Guide – https://excellenthomeclasses.com/homeschool-guide/

2. Total Estimated Monthly Cost of Living (2025)

Here is a practical breakdown of the average cost of living for students in Toronto in 2025:

Expense Category Monthly Cost (CAD) Monthly Cost (GHS approx.)
Accommodation $900 – $1,800 9,500 – 19,000
Food & Groceries $250 – $400 2,600 – 4,100
Transportation $128.15 (TTC Pass) 1,300
Phone & Internet $60 – $120 630 – 1,200
Utilities $80 – $150 840 – 1,500
Health Insurance $75 – $100 800 – 1,050
Personal Expenses $150 – $300 1,500 – 3,000

Total Monthly:

CAD $1,600 – $3,000
GHS 16,000 – 31,000

Outbound Link:
Information on Toronto transit → https://www.ttc.ca/

3. Housing Costs in Toronto

Housing is the largest expense for students.

On-Campus Residences

  • $900 – $1,500 per month

  • Includes utilities and meal plans

  • Limited availability (apply early)

Off-Campus Rentals

Housing Type Average Monthly Rent
Shared Apartment $700 – $1,200
Bachelor Apartment $1,300 – $1,800
1 Bedroom Apartment $1,900 – $2,400

Outbound Link:
Toronto Rentals → https://www.rentals.ca/toronto

Tip: The best student neighborhoods include:

  • North York

  • Scarborough

  • Etobicoke

  • Downtown (expensive but close to campus)

4. Food & Grocery Expenses

Expect to spend $250 – $400 per month on food.

Affordable Stores:

  • No Frills

  • Walmart

  • FreshCo

  • Costco (best for bulk)

Eating Out Prices:

  • Fast food: $10–$15

  • Restaurant meal: $20–$30

  • Coffee: $3–$6

Saving Tip: Cook at home for 70% of your meals.

5. Transportation Costs

Toronto uses the TTC (subway, streetcar, and buses).

Student TTC Monthly Pass:

  • $128.15 per month

Per Trip:

  • $3.35 with Presto Card

Outbound Link: https://www.prestocard.ca

Students living on or near campus may spend only $60–$80 monthly.

6. Phone, Internet & Utilities

Phone Plans:

  • $40 – $70 per month (Freedom, Public Mobile, Fido)

Home Internet:

  • $60 – $120

Utilities:

  • $80 – $150

Tip: Sharing an apartment reduces utility costs dramatically.

7. Tuition Fees (2025 Estimate)

Tuition varies by school and program.

Universities:

  • $25,000 – $45,000 per year

Colleges:

  • $14,000 – $22,000 per year

Outbound Link (Tuition Info):
https://www.universitystudy.ca/

8. Job Opportunities for Students

International students can work:

  • 20 hours weekly during school

  • 40+ hours during breaks

Average wage: $16 – $20 per hour

Popular student jobs:

  • Retail

  • Food service

  • Tutoring

  • Delivery services

  • University assistant roles

You can earn $1,200 – $1,600/month, which helps cover living expenses.

9. Scholarships to Reduce Living Costs

Students can significantly reduce expenses by winning scholarships.

Some major ones include:

  • University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson Scholarship

  • York University International Student Scholarship

  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship

  • Humber College International Entrance Awards

  • Seneca Renewable Merit Scholarships

📘 Learn how to position yourself for top scholarships using structured academic coaching:
https://excellenthomeclasses.com/looking-for-a-tutor/

10. How to Reduce the Cost of Living in Toronto

1. Share an apartment

Cuts rent by 40–60%.

2. Cook at home

Eating out increases expenses by over 200%.

3. Use student discounts

Transit, food, software, gym, entertainment.

4. Buy used textbooks

Marketplace, bookstores, PDF versions.

5. Work part-time

Helps pay rent and groceries.

6. Apply for scholarships early

Start 8–12 months before the school year.

11. Life in Toronto: What to Expect

  • Very safe city

  • Multicultural population

  • Four seasons (cold winters)

  • Countless job opportunities

  • Excellent transportation

  • Strong immigrant community

Toronto is one of the best places for international students who want long-term immigration opportunities.

12. Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR)

Students in Toronto often qualify for PR through:

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

  • Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

  • Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Outbound link:
Official immigration → https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html

Your Canadian studies + work experience = strong PR profile.

Conclusion

Understanding the cost of living for students in Toronto helps you plan your study abroad journey properly. Toronto is expensive, but with proper budgeting, part-time work, and scholarship opportunities, students can afford to live comfortably.

Need help preparing academically for Canada admissions, IELTS, Cambridge, IB, SAT or homeschooling?

👉 In-person or online tutors: https://excellenthomeclasses.com/looking-for-a-tutor/

  • Labels: Homeschool, Curriculum, Parenting

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Encourage Your Child to Love Learning

-
Image
Ultimately, we want our kids to develop love for learning. A  passion  for learning is quite different from just studying to earn a grade or to please parents or teachers. Those who develop a  love  of learning at an early age continue the process throughout their lives and are generally more successful, interesting, and happier than those who don't. Most parents read to their young kids, which help encourage imagination, language, and an early love of learning. But not all children remain curious and inquisitive into adolescence. Alarmingly, studies have found that from third grade on, a child's enjoyment of learning drops continuously -- a phenomenon some researchers blame on the increasing focus on grades and report cards as kids get older. Younger children, on the other hand, learn for the sheer joy of it. You can do a lot now to help your child maintain this healthy attitude throughout school. To captivate a young mind, let your child do what comes na...
Read more

What Really Is Education?

-
Image
Have you ever been asked what really education is before?  May be it was from your son or from your daughter, or you may have asked that question yourself due to mere curiosity. Whatever the case may be, it is necessary and equally important to know what really education is and it impact on us. The word “educate” comes from the Latin word,   “ ducere ” meaning to draw out or lead. So education simply means to draw out or lead people to their potentials or gifts in life. What this means to me is that, a person (student), need to find out his/her gifts and then look for someone (teacher) who can draw that gifts out so to help him or her become a better person. In other words, an educator (teacher) must and should be able to find out a person's (student) gifts/potentials and draws out from them so to make them a better person. In most cases, you can identify a person's gifts by knowing their specific learning style.  You can learn more about how ...
Read more

How To Help Kinesthetic Learning Child To Excel

-
Image
In our first three lessons we’ve looked at how to identify a child’s learning style and strategies for helping Visual and Auditory learners to excel. If you have not read this series from the start, I recommend you catch up here first: ·          Part 1:   How To Identify Your Child’s Learning Style. ·          Part 2:   Helping Visual Leaners To Excel ·          Part 3:   Helping  Auditory Leaner ToExcel Who is Kinesthetic Learner? Your child is considered a  kinesthetic learner  if she gathers information by using her hands. These kinds of learners tend to understand material better when they can interact with it physically, through touch or movement. Kinesthetic learners have advanced coordination and excellent fine-motor skills. They’re often good at sports or dancing as well. Kinesthetic learners are physi...
Read more