Hacks to survive in Canada with a $14/ hour minimum wage job
How expensive is it to live in Canada? Can one survive with minimum income?
Living in Toronto, a highly populated metropolis, with soaring skyscrapers, multinational companies, hundreds of start-ups being born everyday comes with a cost. The cost of living in Toronto is definitely higher than living in other cities in Canada.
It takes a few months to get a decent job in your field after you move here and surviving is a major concern. Like I mentioned in my previous blog no work here is looked down upon and it is advisable to get started with an odd job till you land the job of your dreams. Stated below is an approx cost of living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and whether a minimum income ($14/ hour) would be enough for you to survive in Canada.
Canada: Monthly Expenses
- Rent: $1200 to $2400
Depends on the size of the apartment, old or new building, number of bedrooms, area/ locality, parking availability etc. Maximum cost renting up a top floor 1 bhk in a prime location, city centre with parking, would not go beyond $2400 a month. - Electricity: Approx $50
- Phone bill: Approx $100 for 2 people
If you have a phone already it will be $50. But if you need a new phone along with the sim card, you won’t have to pay the entire phone cost in one go, but pay it in instalments along with your phone bill. - Wifi: Approx $50
- Grocery: $300 to $500 for 2-3 people
- Travel expenses
– Public transport (bus and train): About $10 everyday so about $300 – $350 a month
– A Car would not be advisable to start with, as the insurance cost per month will be higher than the EMI + gas + parking etc. going over $600 a month.
– Uber/ lyft rides are expensive as well, starting with a minimum of $10 + tip + taxes for minimum distance. - Additional expenses
– Eating outside: In a restaurant: $40 for 2 people, fast food: $20 for 2 people
– Hair cut/grooming starting from $25 – $30 - The first time you move in, there will be other additional expenses like winter clothes, boots, furniture etc. which will be additional. Most of the houses provide a fridge, microwave etc. The only product we got was a mattress and beddings and winter boots.
- Total monthly expense for 2 people: $2,200 to $3,700 (including points 1 to 7)
Income
Even if you get a minimum pay job at a coffee house or a supermarket you will make $14 per hour, with 40 hours a week. Deducting taxes, 2 people would earn about $4000.
Result
It is possible for 2 people to survive in Toronto on minimum wages till you get a stable job. But both of you would have to work. If you are coming solo, you can reduce the expenses by renting a shared apartment.
If you are still in the earlier stages and lost with the application process, read the PR process blog to get clarity.
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Until next blog,
Much love,
Hey V, I went through your blog on the expenses to survive and I have no words to write it is exactly what runs in our mind is clearly manifested in your writing . Amazing work and guys who are looking to move in , they will be very happy and confident to get it at so micro level detailing which we keep doubting ourself . Keep up posting such never before blogs –
As usual ,
Your true fan & believer,
RKD,
From India .
Wow my friend is a PR of Canada and she is planning to shift soon. I will definitely send this post to her. But I didn’t know Canada had such less amount as min wage. It’s so interesting to see how we can survive with that less amount.
This post will surely help out people aspiring to migrate to Canada.
Thanks for sharing the details.
This post is very helpful for anyone inspiring to move to Canada. This is a great post.
I always wanted to move to Canada because y 2 brothers live there and say it is a goodplace for living. Although they are engineers I am trying for a counselor job in tere. This review on expense it helpful for me though.
Good to know about minimum wages in Canada. Lot of Indians flock to Canada for work and I am sure they are surviving pretty well. Looking forward to more posts like this.