Study Destinations
Canadian cities for students
Cost of living, transit, university density, and employment context for 10 major study destinations. Rent figures are from CMHC's 2024 rental market report. Population from the 2021 Census.
Sources: Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 · CMHC Rental Market Report 2024. See our sources registry.
Toronto
Ontario
Canada's largest city — finance, tech, film, and multicultural hub
1-br rent
$2,180/month
Transit/mo
$156
Vancouver
British Columbia
Tech, film, Pacific Rim gateway — Canada's most international city
1-br rent
$2,490/month
Transit/mo
$116
Montréal
Québec
AI capital of Canada, bilingual, world-class arts and food scene
1-br rent
$1,580/month
Transit/mo
$100
Waterloo Region
Ontario
Canada's technology triangle — co-op capital and startup hub
1-br rent
$1,680/month
Transit/mo
$90
Ottawa
Ontario
Government, public policy, bilingual — Canada's capital city
1-br rent
$1,890/month
Transit/mo
$128
Calgary
Alberta
Energy, finance, and the gateway to Banff and the Rockies
1-br rent
$1,840/month
Transit/mo
$112
Edmonton
Alberta
Arts, energy, and AI research — Alberta's capital city
1-br rent
$1,520/month
Transit/mo
$100
Halifax
Nova Scotia
Atlantic hub — ocean sciences, law, and a compact walkable city
1-br rent
$1,680/month
Transit/mo
$82
Victoria
British Columbia
Research, climate action, and Canada's most temperate city
1-br rent
$1,980/month
Transit/mo
$99
London
Ontario
Health sciences and research, two hours from Toronto
1-br rent
$1,480/month
Transit/mo
$89
Cost comparison at a glance
| City | Province | 1-br rent/mo | Transit/mo | Avg. intl tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Ontario | $2,180/month | $156/month (TTC) | $31,000–$48,000/yr |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | $2,490/month | $116/month (TransLink) | $24,000–$46,000/yr |
| Montréal | Québec | $1,580/month | $100/month (STM) | $18,000–$36,000/yr |
| Waterloo Region | Ontario | $1,680/month | $90/month (GRT) | $28,000–$52,000/yr |
| Ottawa | Ontario | $1,890/month | $128/month (OC Transpo) | $24,000–$42,000/yr |
| Calgary | Alberta | $1,840/month | $112/month (Calgary Transit) | $22,000–$40,000/yr |
| Edmonton | Alberta | $1,520/month | $100/month (ETS) | $22,000–$38,000/yr |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | $1,680/month | $82/month (Halifax Transit) | $18,000–$36,000/yr |
| Victoria | British Columbia | $1,980/month | $99/month (BC Transit) | $19,000–$34,000/yr |
| London | Ontario | $1,480/month | $89/month (London Transit) | $24,000–$44,000/yr |
Rent: CMHC Rental Market Report 2024, average private apartment. Transit: published monthly pass price, 2025. Tuition: average across institutions in or near the city, 2024–25 published schedules. Detailed cost breakdown →