International students in Canada have a variety of housing options to choose from. The housing can vary from living on campus, off-campus housing with roommates, or renting a whole house. In this blog post, we will discuss the different housing options available for international students and give you some tips on how to find the best one for you!
Homestay
A homestay is a housing option for international students in Canada to live with a Canadian family. The student will pay rent and bills, but it also comes along with free food and possibly some holiday gifts! This housing is great because you get the chance to learn about Canadian culture by being exposed to it all of the time. It's almost like you're a part of the family and you get to be part of their daily lives.
Most of the time, the school you've been admitted to will connect you with families that share your interests and preferences for housing and food. The costs vary based on the location of each home, but an average price would be between $400 - $800 per month.
Dormitories
Dorm housing in Canada can be a great housing option for international students. The housing is all-inclusive, which means that it has everything you need from furniture to appliances and even internet access! Some schools will have restaurants on campus where you can get food at a discounted price too! Staying at a dormitory will also help you get accustomed to your campus and be more exposed to your fellow students. This could be a great educational and fun experience.
Dormitory housing costs between $3000 - $ 7500 per year.
Renting
Renting housing is also another popular housing option for international students in Canada. The good news about this housing option is it's very flexible! You get to choose where you want to live based on housing preferences, the age of the building, and a lot more. The bad news is that all the accounting falls on your shoulders, including the heating, water bill, electricity bill, cleaning, grocery shopping, and all the other activities that go into managing a house. The burden can be shared by finding roommates that you can live with. Usually, your school will help you find a home and sometimes even roommates.
Renting housing costs between $800 -$ 2000 per month depending on your location, housing preference, and amenities included in each unit. This can be lessened to $250 - $ 750 per month if you choose to share a home with other people.
Where do I look for housing?
Searching for accommodation if you choose to stay off-campus can seem daunting at first, but this task is made easy by knowing where to look. There are a number of websites you can visit, like Padmapper, Rentals.ca, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and many more that can help you find an apartment or a room to start off in. You can also get help from your university's international student department.
Some things you need to be cautious of:
- Don't fall for deals that offer houses for prices far lower than the market price.
- Don't send money until you have proof that the deal is legitimate.
- Fully check out the place and have several meetings with the landlord before deciding on the house.
- If too much personal information is asked of you by the landlord, don't give it.
2 Things to Consider Before Deciding on Your Accommodation
- Plan your budget: This will help you know whether to stay in a dorm or find a home outside the campus.
- Plan your mode of transportation: Will you be able to easily get to campus and back, and go around the city from where you've decided to stay? What kinds of transportation are available to you: bike, bus, metro?
Once you've decided where to live and have settled down there, it'll be smooth sailing. You can get on with your life, by exploring Canada, attending classes, and just enjoying the experience. We at VCanXl can help you get there. VcanXL is a Canadian and Indian training and immigration centre that specializes in assisting individuals, students, and professionals to cross the border into Canada. We provide top-notch training in IELTS, PTE, Personality Development, and Spoken English, among many others. Our coaching strategy is one of the best, and you are sure to get the score you desire with us. And the best part is, you don't even have to spend much, because our services are valued at reasonable prices.
We also help you in selecting a stream to migrate through, as well as all the other formalities that must be completed before moving to Canada, such as filling out and submitting the necessary application forms, preparing you for a personal visa interview, and more. We are efficient in our work and only aim to reduce the amount of time and effort it takes for our clients to get into Canada as much as possible.
