Cost of Living in Canada

Hi there

I'm currently living in Vietnam and want to immigrate to Canada, I'm still researching a few things and have some questions that i'd like to have answered, i can't google it all. i'll ask more questions later.

1. If a person gets about 2500 cad $ what would the taxes be?
2. Would a person be able to live on the remaining money comfortably?(i saw apartments for rent close to toronto for about 650 not sure if it's us or cad &
3. How much does one need for Groceries(food and stuff, It's only me, 24yo male)
4. What does a movie ticket cost? and a decent dinner at a restaurant?

Thanks In advance for the replies

1) what, a month? You're looking at $30,000 which is a pretty low income, there is a tax calculator here.

2) Well using that calculator you end up with $25,650, I'd say you could live on that, "comfortable" is a relative term.

3 & 4 are subjective, depends on what you like to eat and where you shop. Have a look at: http://www.loblaws.ca/

$650 for an apartment close to Toronto? EEK! I'd be very very wary of something that cheap, its probably terribly run down and barely livable.

When I last lived in Toronto (about 6 years ago I guess) average rents were about $1000 per month, for a bachelor or small 1 bedroom. If you live in, or close enough to the city you have public transit and don't need a car, you live on $30 grand a year. But I wouldn't exactly call it comfortable. Heck, I was making over $50k and didn't have much to play around with (after rent, car loan, insurance, parking, phone, cable, utilities etc etc etc).

The further you get out of the city, the cheaper rents will be, but then you have to have a car, because there is less transit. Unless you can get a job within walking distance, you'll also have car payments and insurance payments on top of rent.

Movie tickets are anywhere from probably $12 to $17 now, depending which chain you're going to, and what part of the city.

There is quite a large Vietnamese population in Toronto, so lots of shops and restaurants with Vietnamese foods. No idea what the rents would be like in that neighbourhood though, its pretty close to downtown I think.

You can get an one bedroom apartment unit for around $850 near young/eglinton subway line. You can sublet a small room in someone's basement for around $400 if you don't mind (note: toronto winter is pretty cold). Depends on your eating habit, I was able to get through university for $125 per month on food (no eating out).

Perhaps if your finding money an issue you should look at other cities

Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary.rent is still not cheap in those cities but compared to Toronto it looks good.

$30K a year is tough to live on in Toronto, unless you decide to get a roommate. If you're in the suburbs, you'll spend all your money on gas and car insurance just trying to get places. Toronto itself is a great walking city, but if you're any distance from a subway, then things get a bit difficult.

Someone mentioned they were earning $50k and found that a challenge to live off - I'd agree. I was making just slightly above that when I left Toronto, had an apartment that was only $850/month and still found debt/finances to be tight. Larger cities naturally incur more spending (there are much more interesting things to do! and they all cost so much more in a city).

Having said that, Toronto is one of my favourite places to live on earth (and I've lived in plenty of different places). Despite finances being a challenge, I never wanted to leave. If you don't mind more snow, Montreal is also a fantastic city (another of my favourites). When my contract is up in Barbados, I will be returning to Toronto without question. I love that city.

Good luck to you!
Foxy

Living in Winnipeg, you can get a very decent 1 bdr apartment for about $650-$750 per month and that can include utilities in a good area. I spend about $85-100 on groceries per month (not including eating out and I cook mostly from scratch).
Winnipeg's transit system leaves something to be desired, but if you live close to work or on a major bus route, you can stil get from point A to B in reasonable time.
So you could still live reasonably well for 30K (on a budget, but not deprived!).
The down-side of Winnipeg is the brutal winters -- one can expect at least 2-3 weeks straight of -40!
With chattering teeth in Winterpeg,
Allyssa

I've been to Winnipeg only once. It was February and about -28C the whole time. I was there for work, and with a co-worker who was originally from Tinidad, and had lived in Toronto for about 15 years or so.

She looked at all the electrical outlets outside in the office parking lot and asked what they were for. I said so people can plug their cars in in wintertime. She said "that many people drive electric cars here!?" :LOL:

she had never heard of a block heater before.

It's cold, but that is what we are famous for.

hi Friend's
There is quite a large Vietnamese population in Toronto, so lots of shops and restaurants with Vietnamese foods. No idea what the rents would be like in that neighbourhood though, its pretty close to downtown I think.