Looking to further your studies in the country famous for maple leaves, Canada? Unsure of which city to pick for the best academic and cultural experiences? Well, look no further. Canada has much to offer in terms of education, lifestyle, recreation facilities, and more.To ease the pressure of picking the best city and university for you to live out your dreams, we have picked out the top 5 best student cities in Canada to give you everything you’re looking for!
#1 Montreal
Definitely taking the crown for the best student city in Canada is Montreal. Known as the country’s most promising city that gives international students affordability with many pioneering educational institutions. Montreal also offers students a well connected public transportation system, a safe city with a rich cultural scene to immerse in. The city is definitely an academic hub to be in, hosting nearly 350,000 students every year.
However, Montreal may not be the most affordable city but offers an excellent standard of living with a beautiful blend of various cultures, warm hospitality and kind citizens. For students who are looking to do some travelling in between semesters, Montreal is within reach to various tourist spots such as Mont-Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, and Jardin Botanique.
The average tuition fee of studying in Montreal is 11,000 CAD- 60,000 CAD while rent may cost you around 1,500 CAD depending on the neighbourhood.
Montreal is home to many top universities that offer a wide range of programs to suit your needs! Here are your options:
Top Universities In Montreal |
McGill University |
Universite de Montreal |
Concordia University |
Polytechnique Montreal |
Vanier College |
Rosemont College |
#2 Vancouver
If you’re looking for more of a peaceful city, Vancouver would be perfect for you. Vancouver is one of the largest cities in Canada, located in the province of British Columbia. The city is snuggled between the mountains and the ocean which makes it one of the most well-lived places in the world. The city boasts a very diverse population but is known to be on the more pricier side of affordability. The languages that are predominantly spoken here are English and French.
As for transportation – you can choose to use a network of buses, rapid transit trains ,commuter rail, and sea ferry between North Vancouver and Vancouver. In terms of job opportunities, many graduates often live in the city as it hosts giant tech organizations like Google, Amazon, Microsoft which opens many employment opportunities for students upon graduation.
The average tuition fee of studying in Vancouver is 11,000 CAD- 60,000 CAD while rent may cost you around 1,900 CAD -2,000 CAD depending on the neighbourhood.
An average phone plan cost 75CAD a month while groceries could cost about 315 CAD a month.
Vancouver is home to many top universities that offer a wide range of programs to suit your needs! Here are your options:
Top Universities In Vancouver |
University of British Columbia |
Simon Fraser University |
Columbia College |
Langara University |
University of Canada West |
Vancouver Island University |
#3 Toronto
Next up is Canada’s most bustling and energetic city – Toronto. One of the finest cities internationally, Toronto is extremely popular among migrants with over 160 languages spoken. For students looking to immerse themselves into meeting a diverse group of people, Toronto has a mix of amazing ethnic neighbourhoods with a wide range of flavours and cultures.
This city has a great transportation system to ease accessibility of students to their universities, grocery stores, restaurants and even tourist spots. You can pick between the excellent subway system, streetcar, bikeshare and bus system to get you anywhere.
If you’re looking for temporary job opportunities while in university, Toronto offers plenty of choices for students to work in to earn for their expenses – especially in the tourism, hospitality, and business industry.
The average tuition fees in Toronto university are 11,000 CAD – 60,000 CAD while rent can range from as low as 500 CAD or as high as 2000 CAD.
Vancouver is home to many top universities that offer a wide range of programs to suit your needs! Here are your options:
Top Universities In Toronto |
University of Toronto |
York University |
OCAD University |
Ryerson University |
Trent University |
#4 Ottawa
Ottawa is located on the banks of the Rideau and Gatineau Rivers in the southeastern province of Ontario. This city is known as the safest and most livable city in Canada for students who enjoy more of a slow-paced lifestyle.
Ottawa offers various public and private transportation options such as bus rail, light rail, shared e-scooters, taxi and ride-sharing to aid students in getting places. The most prominent mode of transport would be the bus system which is connected to various neighbourhoods – a standard fare starts from 3.50 CAD while a monthly pass could cost you 43 CAD to 116 CAD.
Ottawa also offers a wide range of activities for students to enjoy to enrich their experiences such as boating on the Ottawa River, skating the Rideau Canal and many festivals year long that cater to pretty much anyone such as Tulip Festival, Volleyball Festival and even Bluesfest Music Festival.
In comparison to other cities in Canada, Ottawa offers affordable tuition fees which ranges from 11,000 CAD to 50,000 CAD depending on the course selected. Rent may cost from 700 CAD to 1,400 CAD.
Ottawa is home to many top universities that offer a wide range of programs to suit your needs! Here are your options:
Top Universities In Ottawa |
University of Ottawa |
Carleton University |
Algonquin College |
Saint Paul University |
Augustine College |
#5 Calgary
Last but certainly not least, Calgary is yet another beautiful city to choose from in Canada. It has the second highest level of educational achievement, just behind Toronto. Calgary is known for its beautiful scenic views, reduced taxes and higher wages than the national average make it a hot spot for many seeking new opportunities.
There are also many activities available to enrich your cultural experiences no matter the interest, hobby or taste. This city offers indoor sports, outdoor sports activities, nature trails and even video games cafes to spend your weekends at. There are also tons of student discounts around the city including the Calgary Zoo and Military Museums as well as your local bookstores, electronica shops and publication centers. What’s crazy is international students also qualify for healthcare in Alberta just by demonstrating your university ID.
Calgary offers affordable tuition fees which ranges from 12,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD depending on the course selected. Rent may cost from 1,000 CAD to 2,000 CAD.
Calgary is home to many top universities that offer a wide range of programs to suit your needs! Here are your options:
Top Universities In Calgary |
University of Calgary |
Southern Alberta University of Technology |
Mount Royal University |
The Alberta College of Art and Design |
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About the Author
Raveena Rakni Suresh Raj
Leo baby & psych major