Most affordable student cities in Canada

So, if you are looking for the most affordable student city in Canada for international students, you must consider some of the options below. It is not because they have the cheapest living expenses, but you should also consider the fact, that even if the might be high, the average wage rates for international students are higher in these cities. So, practically they are more affordable than the cheapest cities to live in.

1. Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, popularly tagged as the City of Gardens and one of the top 15 Friendliest Cities in the world is a clean, quiet, and friendly medium-sized city with a population of 350,000. It is a world-famous, year-round tourist destination located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island that offers an unlimited array of things to see and experience and is one of the best places to understand more about Canadian culture.

2.  Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is a blend of world-class institutions and recreational opportunities for international students. As Canada’s fourth-largest city, it is no surprise that Calgary is also its most culturally diverse place. 200+ ethnic groups are a part of the city, which promotes a welcoming international environment. According to Oxford Economics' North American housing affordability report, Calgary is the ninth most affordable city in North America.

Moreover, the Income Tax Rates for Alberta fall between 10-15% brackets compared to the Federal Tax Bracket, which ranges between 25-48% implying that even if you fall in the minimum tax bracket, you still earn 15% more than other provinces annually.

3. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Saskatoon is the largest city in Saskatchewan, however, is an underdog when it comes to international student preference. Most international students have a vague idea about Saskatchewan province, considering it one of the coldest and most remote areas of Canada. But when it comes to Saskatoon, it is home to the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Polytechnic College.

With a population of approximately 317,480, Saskatoon’s economy has been associated with potash, oil, and agriculture, and recently its digital media and Information Technology sectors have grown exponentially. Saskatoon is one of the most affordable cities in terms of living among major Canadian cities. So, students studying in Saskatoon have to pay less for accommodation, bills, food, and taxes.

4. Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina is the capital and second-largest city of Saskatchewan, Canada. Post-World War II, the city grew rapidly to become an important transportation, manufacturing, and distributing hub of a vast agricultural area. The city is very accessible and well connected to all main railroads like Trans-Canada Highway, and Regina International Airport. Its economy is supported by fertile prairies and mineral resources along with oil, natural gas, potash refining, and food processing.

The world’s largest wheat pool, popularly called, The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, has alliances in North America and internationally, which makes it the largest grain-handling company also headquartered in Regina. In recent times, the city has started its transition to an IT hub as well. Other popular employment sectors in Saskatchewan offer opportunities in steel fabricating, manufacturing of farm implements, communications equipment, paints, and building materials.

Further, Regina city is home to sectors such as wholesale and retail, health care, agriculture, and educational services, which are hiring rigorously. Sales, skilled trades, transport operators, business, finance, and administration are also bound to grow in the region. The cost of living for a single person including rent is somewhere around C$1,500, which further drops down to C$1,200/month for room sharing.