Tool

First-Month Cost Calculator

Estimate how much money you'll need when moving to Canada: what a month costs, what it takes to get set up, and a sensible cash buffer.

City

Housing type

Starting numbers are illustrative averages for Toronto. Change any field to match what you actually find.

Monthly rent

Starts from a typical price for your city and home type.

Transportation

A monthly transit pass, or fuel and parking if you plan to drive.

Groceries

For one adult. Add more for each person in your household.

Phone

A typical mobile plan.

Internet

Enter 0 if it's included in your rent.

Other monthly costs

Utilities, tenant insurance and everyday extras.

Initial household purchases

One-time: furniture, bedding and kitchen basics.

Include a rent depositAbout one month’s rent. Rules vary by province, and Quebec generally doesn’t allow deposits.

Your estimate

Estimated monthly cost

$3,090/ month

First-month setup costs: $3,300; Rent deposit $2,100 + household purchases $1,200
Suggested cash buffer: $6,819; About 2 extra months of costs plus a 10% cushion, for the time it takes to find work and settle in

Cash to plan for

$13,209

First-month costs ($6,390) plus your suggested buffer.