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Immigration can be quite costly to budget for, but it doesn’t have to be.
The cost of Canadian immigration is affordable compared to other G8 countries. In fact, Canada is much more affordable than countries like theUnited States (US) or the United Kingdom (UK) to live in 2022, with a cost of living index of 66.8, according to World Population Review.
Cost of Living
Cost of living is the amount of money required to have a certain standard of living and afford basic expenses; like housing, food, taxes, and healthcare.
Canada already has an exceptionally high quality of life, offering free healthcare and education to its citizens and permanent residents.
It also has a very attractive average salary of around $54,630 per year, which makes it quite easy to afford the life you’ve always dreamt of.
Canada’s average cost of living, excluding rent, is $1,701 (USD) which is much cheaper in comparison to the UK, with an average monthly cost of living of $1,929(USD) and the US, which is $1,951 (USD).
But when planning on immigrating to Canada, it’s important to not only budget for life in Canada, but your Canadian visa application costs too.
How Much Does it Cost to Move to Canada Permanently?
Visa Application Fees
Canada has more than 100 visas and programs to choose from. It’s essential to make sure that you select the one that you qualify for, and best suits your needs.
To help you make the best choice based on your financial needs, we’ve listed the fees for the most popular visas for permanent residency in Canada.
| Government Visa Fee List 2022 (As of April 30, 2022) | |
|---|---|
|
Business Immigration ● Quebec Business Immigration |
|
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
| Processing fee ($1,625) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 2,140 |
| Include your spouse or partner Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) |
1,365 |
| Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) | 850 |
| Include a dependent child | 225(per child) |
|
Caregivers ● Live-in Caregiver Program |
|
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
| Your application Processing fee ($570) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,065 |
| Include your spouse or partner Processing fee ($570) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,065 |
| Include a dependent child | 230 (per child) |
|
Economic Immigration programs ● Agri-food pilot |
|
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
| Your application Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,365 |
| Include your spouse or partner Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,365 |
| Include a dependent child | 230(per child) |
|
Family Sponsorship ● Adopted Children & other relatives |
|
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
| Your application (spouse or partner, parent, grandparent, relative) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($490) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,080 |
| Sponsor only a dependent child ($75 sponsorship fee and $75 processing fee) or include one on an application with your relative ($155) | 150(per child) |
| Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($75) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 665 |
| Include the spouse or partner of your relative Processing fee ($570) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) |
1,085 |
Settlement Funds
If you plan on immigrating to Canada through the Express Entry system, you’ll need to prove that you can afford to live in Canada when you first arrive.
The amount you’ll need depends on the size of your family, regardless of whether or not they’ll be coming with you to Canada.
There are two scenarios where you won’t need to provide proof of funds:
● You plan to apply under the Canadian Experience Class; or
● You have a valid job offer and have permission to work in Canada (applies to all Express Entry Programs)
Below is a breakdown of the amount of settlement funds you’ll need to qualify for Canadian immigration in 2022.
| Express Entry Settlement Funds for 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Number of family members | Funds required (CAD) |
| 1 | $13,213 |
| 2 | $16,449 |
| 3 | $20,222 |
| 4 | $24,553 |
| 5 | $27,847 |
| 6 | $31,407 |
| 7 | $34,967 |
| For each additional family member | $3,560 |
What is accepted as proof of funds?
A letter from your bank or financial institution is accepted by Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Funds must be readily available.
The letter provided must meet the following requirements:
● be printed on the official financial institution’s letterhead
● have their contact information (address, telephone number and email address)
● have your name
● Include any outstanding debt, like credit card debt and loans
● have, for each current bank and investment account, the
○ account numbers
○ date each account was opened
○ the current balance of each account
○ the average balance for the past 6 months
Cost of Living
Cost of living in Canada varies depending on your lifestyle, the size of your family, and where you’ll be living in Canada. The average cost of living for a single person is around $1,162.66(CAD) and about $4,180.03(CAD) for a family of four per month.
Below are some of the average costs based on the information listed on Numbeo.
| Cost of Living in Canada in 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Expense | Cost (CAD) |
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 19 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle) | 2.30 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 4.46 |
| Water (0.33 litre bottle) | 1.88 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) | 6 |
| Milk (regular), (1 litre) | 2.52 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 2.94 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 3.72 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 3.85 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 16 |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 3.25 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 100 |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | 1.47 |
| Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | 169.64 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | 0.34 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 80.75 |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1,114.76 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 17,934.67 |
| Rent Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre (Monthly) | 1,531.63 |
| Rent Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre (Monthly) | 1,299.46 |
| Price per Square Metre to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 9,111.74 |
| Price per Square Metre to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 6,381.77 |
Is it expensive to live in Canada?
Whether you’re moving to Canada alone, as a couple or as a family, Canada doesn’t have to be an expensive place to live.
Some of the most affordable cities to live in can be found in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and British Columbia, with a one bedroom rental costing anywhere between $405 and $1,168.33.
Below are some of the cheapest cities to live in in Canada and an idea of how much you should budget for every month.
| Top 7 Cheapest Cities in Canada in 2022 | |
|---|---|
| City/Province | Rent per Month 1 bedroom |
| Sherbrooke, Quebec | $405.00 – $475.00 |
| 2. Moncton, New Brunswick | $642.08 – $734.29 |
| Thunder Bay, Ontario | $818.75 – $925.00 |
| St Catharines, Ontario | $905.56 – $998.18 |
| Kitchener, Ontario | $957.14 – $1,168.33 |
| Abbotsford, British Columbia | $962.50 – $1,050.00 |
| London, Ontario | $908.33 – $1,060.87 |
Now that you know how much to budget, it’s time to start the Canadian visa application process. Canadian immigration, however, is not an easy process.
The most important step when immigrating to Canada is finding the right visa or program for you and your family. The best way to determine which pathway is best for you is to have an eligibility assessment done.
Why waste time and money taking a chance on what you think may be the best option for you when you can use the services of professionals who have years of experience helping others live their Canadian dream?
