For many aspiring international students, the dream of studying in Canada often comes with a significant question mark: how much will it truly cost? Navigating the expenses of tuition and daily living in a new country can be daunting, especially with ongoing inflation and economic shifts impacting everything from rent to groceries and utilities. The good news for the 2025-26 academic year is that while costs are still on the rise, the increases are happening at a slightly slower rate than in recent years.
According to the latest insights from ApplyBoard, the average undergraduate tuition for international students is now close to $42,000. This represents a 4% increase from the previous academic year (2024-25), marking the most moderate annual hike since 2021-22. For those pursuing postgraduate studies, tuition has increased by approximately 3%, and remarkably, these programs typically cost about 42% less than undergraduate degrees.
Average Tuition Costs for International Students (2021-2026)
Tuition fees consistently form the largest chunk of an international student’s budget. To give you a clearer picture, a four-year undergraduate degree starting in 2025-26 could tally over $177,000 just for tuition, while a two-year postgraduate program averages under $50,000.
(Source: Statistics Canada)
As you can see, undergraduate tuition for 2025–26 has increased by 4% compared to the previous academic year. Similarly, postgraduate tuition saw a 3% rise, following a similar upward trajectory but at a slightly slower pace.
Tuition Costs by Province: Finding Your Affordable Niche
The cost of education isn’t uniform across Canada; it varies significantly depending on the province, the type of program, and the institution. Ontario consistently holds the title for the most expensive province for international students. In contrast, provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island (PEI) stand out as the most budget-friendly options.
(Source: Statistics Canada)
A staggering 48% of all study permit holders choose Ontario, as per national data, though this marks a slight five-point decrease from 2023. The immense demand for educational spots in Ontario naturally drives its tuition costs well above the national average. For instance, undergraduate tuition in Ontario is almost 25% higher than in British Columbia, which ranks as the second most expensive province. In contrast, tuition fees in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, PEI, and Manitoba are less than half of Ontario’s average, presenting significantly more economical options for students.
Year-on-Year Provincial Tuition Increases
Over the past five years, undergraduate tuition for international students has seen a consistent upward trend across all provinces. Postgraduate tuition rates have also climbed, but with varying paces depending on the region.
(Source: Statistics Canada)
Every province experienced an increase in undergraduate tuition for the 2025–26 academic year. Interestingly, Newfoundland and Labrador’s postgraduate tuition remained stable, at less than 25% of Ontario’s postgraduate rate. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia show similar undergraduate and postgraduate tuition levels, though their individual trends are diverging: undergraduate tuition is rising faster in Nova Scotia, while postgraduate tuition is seeing a sharper increase in New Brunswick.
Rental Costs in Major Canadian Cities: What to Expect
Beyond tuition, housing is another major financial consideration for international students. Data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Statistics Canada indicates that while rent prices have generally stabilized across Canada over the past year, major urban centers continue to command higher averages.
Vancouver, British Columbia, maintains its position as the city with the highest average rent for a one-bedroom apartment among Canadian urban centers, closely followed by Toronto, Victoria, and Ottawa. However, both Toronto and Vancouver have seen a modest decrease in rent prices—about 5% since Q1 2024—attributable to an increased supply of rental units.
(Source: CMHC, Statistics Canada)
While rents in Ottawa and Victoria held steady year-over-year, smaller cities like Regina and Saint John experienced the most significant increases, around 10%. St. John’s, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon saw more modest 5% rises. Conversely, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener–Waterloo–Cambridge reported slight rent declines of approximately 5%.
Students looking for more affordable housing will find better options in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada, where monthly rents for one-bedroom apartments generally remain below $1,300. Quebec cities, including Québec City and Montréal, also offer relatively lower rent costs, despite Quebec having higher tuition fees compared to some other provinces.
How Institutions Are Addressing Affordability Challenges
Canada’s international student landscape has seen changes due to federal policies like student caps and increased proof of funds requirements introduced in 2024 and 2025. These measures, aimed at ensuring students can cover the actual cost of living, have contributed to a dip in new study permit approvals.
In response, Canadian institutions are actively working to support prospective students. They are enhancing financial information resources, promoting available scholarships, and highlighting on-campus work opportunities. National education reports indicate that universities and colleges are also striving to provide clearer details on accommodation options and comprehensive financial planning advice.
Furthermore, institutions are emphasizing the long-term value of their programs, including robust career outcomes and promising post-graduation employment rates. This transparent approach is vital as students globally weigh their study destination options based on both immediate costs and future return on investment.
Key Figures at a Glance for 2025-26:
- Average undergraduate tuition: $41,746
- Average postgraduate tuition: $24,028
- Year-over-year tuition increase (undergraduate): 4%
- Year-over-year tuition increase (postgraduate): 3%
- Most expensive province for tuition: Ontario
- Most affordable provinces for tuition: Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, PEI
- Highest average one-bedroom rent: Vancouver ($2,380)
- Lowest average one-bedroom rent: Saint John ($1,180)
These figures underscore the evolving financial landscape for international students in Canada, highlighting moderate tuition increases and a stabilization in rental markets across many regions for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year.
(All data referenced in this report is sourced from Statistics Canada, CMHC, and ApplyBoard’s ApplyInsights reports.)