Canada is one of the countries that attracts people with its unique natural beauty and history for visiting, studying or immigrating. We are aware that many people have dreams of "one day moving to Canada". Of course, making these dreams happen will not be easy and it will bring some struggles and expenses. Before taking the step to make your dreams come true, you need to learn about living costs and minimum wages in Canada. Let us share with you details such as the expenses you will make in Canada and the Canadian minimum wage.
Living Standards in Canada in General
Canada is located in North America. We can say that the quality of life in Canada, as a developed country, is high. Especially in cities such as Toronto and Montreal, the high level of welfare is felt more.
The high quality of life Living in Canada requires that you have a sufficient budget. However, don't be intimidated by this. The wages required for living in the country may vary according to your habits such as eating, drinking and traveling. In many Canadian cities, it is quite possible to live a middle-standard life with a minimum wage salary.
To start your Canadian journey, you must complete visa procedures and to find out what to do if you get a Canada visa refusal.
How Much is the Canadian Minimum Wage in 2024, What Percentage of Workers Works for the Minimum Wage?
One of the most curious questions to choose where you can live and make a living is how much the minimum wage is in that place. The Canadian minimum wage is determined hourly, different in each province. The Canadian currency is expressed in Canadian dollars (CAD). The value of 1 Canadian dollar in today's TL is approximately 23.76 TL (April 2024). The minimum wage is also paid in Canadian dollars (CAD), the Canadian currency.
Canadian University Programs
Universities in Canada offer education in many different departments. These include engineering, business, science, arts, arts, social sciences, medicine and law. Students can choose a university major based on their career goals and interests.
Universities in Canada offer students the opportunity to study at different degree levels. Bachelor's programs usually last 4 years and lead to a Bachelor's degree. Master's programs are specially designed for students with a bachelor's degree and usually last 1-2 years.
For example, in 2024, the hourly minimum wage in the Canadian province of Nunavut is 19 dollars. In the province of Saskatchewan, this amount drops to $15 per hour. Based on these amounts, we can say that the average monthly minimum wage is 2,400 Canadian dollars. However, the number of people working for minimum wage in Canada is not very high.
Generally, inexperienced people work for the minimum wage and their salaries increase. Only 7% of the population works for the minimum wage and the rest of the employees work for more than the minimum wage because they are more experienced.
How Much Does a Profession Pay in Canada?
We have already mentioned that there are few minimum wage workers in Canada. Salaries in the country are mostly determined by occupation and experience. What professions earn how much in Canada? We have researched the answer to the question for you. The average salaries of workers working in Canada in 2023 are as follows:
Profession | Average Wage (Gross) |
Banker | 4,000 CAD |
Teacher | 4.500 CAD |
Police | 4.500 CAD |
Doctor | 7.800 CAD |
Nurse | 3.800 CAD |
Scavenger (Cleaner) | 2.400 CAD |
Cashier | 2.500 CAD |
Store Assistant | 2.750 CAD |
Civil Engineer | 5.000 CAD |
8.000 CAD |
As can be seen, while some professions earn minimum wage salaries, others earn salaries considerably higher than the minimum wage. Most of the workers can easily support themselves and their families with their salaries. However, it is difficult to say that families with children and renters can easily support themselves and their families with minimum wage salaries.
How Much Are House Rents in Canada?
Another question that those who are thinking of living in Canada wonder is how much Canadian house prices are. It is not possible to give a clear answer to this question because rental prices vary from city to city. In addition, many factors such as how many rooms the house to be rented has, its square meters, how old it is, and its location cause variability in rental prices. However, it must be said that the most expensive cities in Canada are Toronto and Vancouver. For this reason, rents in these cities are higher than in other cities and an average 2-room house costs between 2,000 - 3,000 Canadian dollars. In other cities, you can find more affordable rental houses according to your living standards and budget.
Average Monthly Food and Beverage Expenses in Canada
One of our basic needs is to eat and drink. In a country like Canada, where living standards are high, eating and drinking can also be expensive. In Toronto and Ottawa, which are expensive cities, we can say that food and beverage costs are relatively higher than house rents. Food and beverage costs for students average 500 Canadian dollars per month. For those living with a family, the cost of food and drink is at least 1.000 Canadian dollars. Because food and drink are also expensive, it can be difficult to live on minimum wage in expensive cities where both rent and food are expensive. As a solution, you can rent a smaller house to save on food and drink. In other cities, living on minimum wage with an average quality of life will be, so to speak, a bare minimum.
New and Used Car Prices in Canada
Life in Canada can be quite colorful with its natural beauties and many places to visit. Traveling and seeing the country's various beauties with your car can be one of the best investments you can make for yourself. Especially if you are going to Canada for a vacation, the car will be the thing you need the most because the country has so many must-visit places that you need to easily reach. Again, if you are going to live in Canada, you may need a personal car for your transportation to work and school. For this reason, you can buy or rent a new or second-hand car. While the price of a new mid-level SUV car is between 45,000 and 55,000 Canadian dollars on average, second-hand cars that can be used without any problems are sold between 20,000 and 30,000 Canadian dollars. You can visit the Kijiji website for second-hand cars. You can rent cars for an average of 160 dollars per day. You can use applications such as TURO to rent a car.
Cost of Living in Canada for a Single Student
Canada is among the countries that we can consider student-friendly countries that provide many opportunities to students who are advanced in education and aim to improve themselves. Canada, where students come to study especially through exchange programs or with their own means, provides many facilities for students in terms of living.
University fees vary between 10,000 and 22,000 Canadian dollars depending on the university. Student residences are more affordable than rental houses. Students pay between 3,000 and 7,500 CAD per year for student residences. Transportation costs are around CAD 100-150. It is much easier for students to make a living than for families with children. Therefore, it is possible for students working part time to study and live in Canada.
Cost of Living in Canada for a Family with Children
Excluding the expensive cities, the rent for a 2+1 apartment in cities with moderate development levels is approximately 2,500 Canadian dollars. The cost of food and drink for a family with children is at least 1,000 Canadian dollars. When other essential expenses such as utilities and transportation are added, we can conclude that the minimum cost of living for a family with children in Canada should be at least 5,000 Canadian dollars. As the number of children increases, the monthly cost of living in Canada will also increase. Considering that the average minimum wage in the country is about 2,800 Canadian dollars, it is not very feasible for a family with children to sustain themselves on the Canadian minimum wage. However, just like in other countries, families with children in Canada can lead a middle or even high-quality life by working in jobs that pay above the minimum wage level.
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