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The short answer
Using Conestoga College's published costs for its Ontario campus communities, a single student renting a private room in a shared house can budget about CAD 1,735 a month in our worked example, or CAD 20,820 a year, before tuition. That sits below IRCC's living-cost requirement of CAD 23,448 a year for a single student outside Quebec applying from 1 September 2026, which leaves a margin for first-month costs and price rises.
Where the figures come from
A budget is only as good as its inputs. This one uses the cost-of-living page that Conestoga College publishes for international students, which gives averages across its campus communities in Ontario, a mid-size setting outside Toronto. The page does not say which year its figures relate to, and some items are listed as "varies", so we fill those gaps with clearly labelled example amounts. Your own city, school and lifestyle will differ: replace each line with your own quotes.
For the funds you must show, we use IRCC's proof of financial support page, modified 28 August 2026. For a single student outside Quebec, applying on or after 1 September 2026, it sets CAD 23,448 a year for living costs, excluding tuition and travel.
The monthly budget
| Item | Monthly (CAD) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Rent: private room, shared bathroom and kitchen | 750 | Conestoga page average |
| Utilities share (heating, electricity, Wi-Fi) | 60 | Example; Conestoga says utilities vary and may not be included |
| Groceries | 350 | Conestoga lists $300+; example adds $50 |
| Phone and internet | 50 | Conestoga lists $50–100 |
| Transit | 100 | Example; check your local pass and any student pass |
| Books and materials | 125 | Conestoga lists $500+ per term, spread over four months |
| Personal items | 200 | Conestoga lists $200+ |
| Buffer for the unexpected | 100 | Example |
| Total | 1,735 | Sum of the lines above |
Over 12 months that is CAD 20,820. Against IRCC's CAD 23,448, the example leaves CAD 2,628 a year, about CAD 219 a month. That margin is not spare money: it is where winter clothing, a health plan bill, a laptop repair or a rent increase will land.
What is not in the monthly line
- Tuition, which IRCC counts separately and which you pay to the school.
- First and last month's rent upfront. Conestoga says landlords usually ask for both when you sign a lease. At CAD 750 a month, that is CAD 1,500 on day one.
- Health insurance. Many schools bill a health plan with fees; check your fee statement rather than assuming it is included.
- Travel to Canada, which IRCC also excludes from its figure.
- Winter clothing in your first season, a common one-off cost for students arriving from Nigeria.
What part-time work adds
IRCC allows eligible students to work up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions, with no hourly limit in scheduled breaks. See the work hours rule for the conditions.
Worked example: earnings against the budget
Example only, with a made-up wage of CAD 17 an hour (minimum wages are set by each province). At 24 hours a week, gross pay is CAD 408 a week, or CAD 1,632 over four weeks. After income tax and payroll deductions you will take home less. In this example, work during term could cover most of the monthly budget, but only if you find hours early and keep them, which many students do not in their first months. That is why IRCC asks you to show the full living-cost sum before you travel, and why it is safer to treat earnings as a top-up.
The first-year cash plan
Families funding from Nigeria usually think in a lump sum, so here is the example as a first-year plan. Example only, using the figures above:
| Item | CAD |
|---|---|
| 12 months of the monthly budget (12 × 1,735) | 20,820 |
| First and last month's rent at signing (2 × 750) | 1,500 |
| Total first-year living cash before tuition and travel | 22,320 |
CAD 22,320 is still under IRCC's CAD 23,448 for a single student, which is one reason IRCC's figure is a sensible floor rather than a target. If you hold the funds in a Student GIC, the bank releases them in stages, so plan the first-month costs around the initial release.
Ways to bring the total down
- Share a larger unit: Conestoga lists a three-bedroom at CAD 2,700, or CAD 900 a room, so a shared room in a house can cost less than a one-bedroom at CAD 1,425.
- Ask whether utilities are included before you sign, and get the answer in the lease.
- Cook in bulk; Conestoga gives an 8 kg bag of rice at about CAD 20+.
- Buy used textbooks or check the library before buying new.
- Compare phone plans; the range listed is CAD 50 to 100 a month.
What to check first
- Your school's own cost-of-living page and fee statement.
- Real rents near your campus this month.
- The current IRCC living-cost figure for your application date.
- Whether your bank or GIC will pay you monthly; see GIC monthly payouts.
Where Pryme fits
Families in Nigeria often fund a budget like this in stages. A Pryme account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, and a verifiable statement made with VerifyDoc.ai lets anyone check it is genuine and unaltered. For the sending side, see how parents send money abroad.
Questions people ask
How much does a Nigerian student need per month in Canada?
It depends on the city. In our example for an Ontario college town, using Conestoga College's figures, about CAD 1,735 a month before tuition. Larger cities usually cost more.
How much proof of funds does Canada need for a student in 2026?
IRCC sets CAD 23,448 a year for a single student outside Quebec applying on or after 1 September 2026, excluding tuition and travel.
Can part-time work pay my living costs in Canada?
It can help, but IRCC still requires you to show the full living-cost sum. Earnings depend on finding hours and on the 24-hour weekly limit during term.
How much is rent for international students in Canada?
Conestoga College lists about CAD 750 a month for a private room in a shared house and CAD 1,425 for a one-bedroom across its campus communities.
Sources
- Conestoga College: Cost of living for international students · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Proof of financial support, study permit (modified 28 Aug 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Work off campus as an international student (modified 15 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
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