Work out the cash to have ready for your first 3 or 6 months in Canada: permits, flights, deposit, set-up, winter kit and living costs, and what your employer may cover.
Have this much ready before you move: C$64,173
Who’s moving
Adults
2
Area
Value: suburbs further out. Prime: central and sought-after neighbourhoods
Plan for your first
Your move
Your partner
Furniture
Car
Adults who’ll drive
Each driver exchanges their UK licence
0
Dogs and cats from the UK don’t go into quarantine, but need a rabies vaccination certificate
School
Money coming in
C$7,500
After tax. Use the pay calculator to work it out
£0
Safety buffer
Help from your employer
None
Your results
Have this much ready before you moveC$64,173about £34,688 · includes a 1-month safety buffer
Lean start: C$40,574. That’s C$23,599 less if you put off what can wait.
Costs in your first 6 monthsC$92,680
Covered by your employer and othersC$0
Deposit you get back laterC$3,700
Running costs a monthC$7,127
Month by month (C$)
WhenOutInBalance
Before you fly8,3800-8,380
Month 148,6677,500-57,047
Month 27,1277,500-56,673
Month 37,1277,500-56,300
Month 47,1277,500-55,927
Month 57,1277,500-55,553
Month 67,1277,500-55,180
Before you fly
Flights out: 4 × C$750 (economy, one way) EstimateC$3,000
Government fees: main C$240 + partner C$340 + 2 × child C$150 (including fingerprints) C$880
Shipping your belongings EstimateC$4,500
When you land (month 1)
Temporary home: 4 weeks at about C$1,575 a week EstimateC$6,300
Deposit: last month’s rent deposit on C$3,700 a month (Ontario) You get it backC$3,700
Electricity, heating and internet set-up EstimateC$250
Furniture and basics EstimateC$5,500
Winter coats, boots and gloves: 4 × about C$500 Can waitEstimateC$2,000
Buying a used car Can waitEstimateC$22,000
Winter tyres EstimateC$900
Exchanging your UK licence: 1 × C$90 (Ontario)C$90
SIM cards, transit card and small set-up EstimateC$800
Every month
Rent: C$3,700 a month (3-bed house, Toronto)C$3,700
Heating, electricity and water EstimateC$380
Home internet EstimateC$80
Mobile: 2 × C$55 EstimateC$110
Groceries: 2 × C$500 + 2 × C$220 EstimateC$1,440
Eating out and leisure: 2 × C$300 + 2 × C$100 EstimateC$800
Fuel, servicing and insurance (Ontario) EstimateC$617
Running costs × 6 monthsC$42,760
How we get to C$64,173
All costs above, in your first 6 monthsC$92,680
Your cash is lowest at: Month 1. Costs up to thenC$57,047
Less: paid by your employer and others, and money from the UK− C$0
Less: your Canadian pay received by then (none yet: we count your first month’s pay of C$7,500 at the end of month 1, after your cash is at its lowest)− C$0
Shortfall at the lowest pointC$57,047
Plus: safety buffer (1 month of running costs)+ C$7,127
Have this much readyC$64,173
Your first month’s rent is part of the rent counted from month 1. Many Canadian employers pay every two weeks, so your first pay may come sooner; we count it at the end of each month to be safe. The deposit (C$3,700) comes back when you leave, or pays your last month’s rent, so it isn’t taken off. If you’re applying for permanent residence through Express Entry, you may also need to show settlement funds: see Which Canadian visa or permit do I need?
Rent is C$3,700 a month for a 3-bed house in Toronto (Based on Rentals.ca/Urbanation National Rent Report average asking rents for 1- and 2-bed apartments (2025–26 editions), adjusted to 2026; other sizes and levels are our estimates). Government fees are the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada fees in force in 2026. Figures checked 8 Oct 2026. Items marked “Estimate” are planning figures. Read Renting in Canada and .
Estimates to help you plan, not financial advice. Nothing you enter is sent to us unless you ask for an email or sign in to save your answers.
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