Cost of Living in Canada for International Students
To get a study permit outside Quebec, a single student generally must show $23,448 CAD for one year of living costs (applications from September 1, 2026), plus first-year tuition and travel. The amount rises with each family member who comes with you. Rent varies widely by city, and CMHC's Rental Market Report gives average rents. Quebec sets its own amount.
$23,448
Living costs IRCC sets for a single applicant outside Quebec, on top of tuition and travel
$29,192
Living costs for 2 people
$43,572
Living costs for 4 people
24 hours
A week of off-campus work for eligible students during academic sessions
The living-cost figures apply to applications made on or after September 1, 2026. IRCC updates them each year, so confirm the current amount on canada.ca before you apply.
How much money must you show for a study permit?
IRCC requires you to prove you can pay for your first year of tuition and support yourself while you study. For applicants outside Quebec, the cost-of-living amount for a single applicant is CAD $23,448 for applications made on or after September 1, 2026. You generally need to show that amount for living expenses plus your first-year tuition plus travel costs, not $23,448 in total.
The amount was $22,895 for applications from January 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026, $20,635 in 2024, and $10,000 before 2024. IRCC set the 2024 amount at 75% of the low-income cut-off (LICO) and said it would adjust it each year when Statistics Canada updates LICO.
| Who comes | Living expenses |
|---|---|
| Single applicant | $23,448 |
| 2 people | $29,192 |
| 3 people | $35,888 |
| 4 people | $43,572 |
Each amount is in addition to first-year tuition and travel costs. Quebec sets its own, separate financial requirement and does not use these federal figures. An officer decides whether your funds are sufficient.
The rule
IRCC requires you to prove you can pay for your first year of tuition and support yourself while you study.
What counts as proof of funds?
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is a Canadian investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a fixed period of time, bought from a Canadian financial institution. IRCC’s page sets no terms for a GIC: each institution sets its own fees, release schedule and rate of return. It is one acceptable form of proof, and you do not have to use a GIC.
Ways to show your funds:
- GIC from a Canadian financial institution (optional; each institution sets its own terms)
- Bank statements for the past 6 months, including the month you apply or the month before, with documents showing the source of the money
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if you have transferred money to Canada
- A student or education loan from a bank
- Proof you paid your first-year tuition and housing fees, or proof of a scholarship or a Government of Canada-funded program
- A letter from the person giving you money, stating their employment, relationship to you, number of dependants and the amount, with proof of the relationship and of their support
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigeria Student Express (NSE), which used a fixed GIC amount as a fast-track, ended on November 8, 2024. All study permit applicants now apply through the regular study permit stream, where a GIC is optional rather than required.
What does tuition cost international students?
Tuition for international students varies by school, program and province. Statistics Canada publishes average tuition at public degree-granting institutions. Its figures for the 2025/2026 school year, released September 10, 2025:
| International students, 2025/2026 | Average annual tuition (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate, national average | $41,746 |
| Undergraduate, Ontario (most expensive province) | $49,802 |
| Undergraduate, Newfoundland and Labrador (most affordable province) | $18,867 |
| Graduate, national average | $24,028 |
| Graduate, Newfoundland and Labrador (most affordable province) | $6,964 |
These are averages for degree programs, and colleges set their own fees. Statistics Canada leaves MBA programs out of these averages because of their high cost. Your school’s fee schedule gives the figure for your exact program.
Where do you find rents and other living costs?
Rent varies widely by city, and the Rental Market Report that Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) publishes each year gives average rents. This guide prints no rent figures, because rents also vary by neighbourhood and building.
Groceries, public transit, a phone plan, health insurance (provincial or school plan), internet, and books and supplies are other monthly costs. This guide prints no amounts for them, because prices vary by city and lifestyle. The one official figure is IRCC’s living-cost amount.
Can you work to cover living costs, and who decides?
Eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. IRCC’s help centre caps unlimited break work at 180 days a calendar year.
IRCC’s $23,448 for a single applicant is the living-cost amount you must show, and it does not include tuition and travel. Work can supplement, but should not replace, the funds you show at application.
Most new study permit applicants must also include a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL). A PAL is separate from proof of funds, so you need both when a PAL applies. An IRCC officer makes the final decision on every application.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Funds CalculatorProof of funds, super visa and sponsorship income
- Currency ConverterFees and funds in your own currency
- Fee CalculatorCurrent government fees, itemized
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
How much money do I need to prove for a Canadian study permit?
Outside Quebec, a single applicant generally must show $23,448 CAD for living costs, for applications made on or after September 1, 2026. First-year tuition and travel come on top of that amount. Quebec sets its own requirement. IRCC updates the amounts each year, and an officer decides whether your funds are enough. The Funds Calculator shows the amount for your family size.
How much money do I need for a study permit with a spouse or child?
More, because the amount rises with each family member who comes with you. For applications outside Quebec from September 1, 2026, IRCC's table sets $29,192 for two people, $35,888 for three and $43,572 for four, all in CAD for living costs. Tuition and travel are extra. The Funds Calculator works out the figure for larger families.
Can I use my parents' money to meet the proof of funds requirement?
Yes. IRCC's list of proof includes a letter from the person giving you money, stating their employment, their relationship to you, their number of dependants and the amount, with proof of the relationship and of their support. IRCC assesses the amount of funds and their source, and the officer decides whether they are enough. The Study Permit Refusal Reasons guide covers the proof-of-funds mistakes that lead to refusals.
Is it cheaper to study outside Toronto or Vancouver?
Rent varies by city, and this guide prints no rent figures. For official average rents by city, check the Rental Market Report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Quebec has its own financial requirement for study permits. The Cost of Living by Province guide compares costs across the country.
Does a GIC count as my total proof of funds?
No. A GIC, if you choose to use one, can hold part or all of the living-cost amount; IRCC sets the amount you must show, not the GIC's size. You must also show you can pay first-year tuition, through a receipt, a scholarship or more funds, and your travel costs. A GIC is one accepted way to show living-cost funds, along with bank statements, a Canadian account with transferred funds or a student loan. The GIC guide explains how it works.
Do I need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) as part of my application?
In most cases, yes. Most new study permit applicants must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Students in a degree-granting master's or doctoral program at a public designated learning institution are exempt from January 1, 2026, and other exemptions exist. A PAL is separate from proof of funds, so you need both when a PAL applies. The Provincial Attestation Letter guide lists who needs one.
Can I work to help cover my living costs while studying?
Yes, within limits. Eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions and full time during scheduled breaks such as the summer. IRCC's help centre caps unlimited break work at 180 days a calendar year. IRCC still expects you to show you can support yourself when you apply, so plan around tuition and the $23,448 living-cost figure. The Working While Studying guide explains the hour limits.
Part of:Studying in Canada
- Canada's Temporary Resident Cuts in 2026
- How to Study in Canada: Complete Study Permit Guide 2026
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Guide 2026
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.