After being abroad for most of the year, I was SHOCKED when I returned back to Canada and saw just how much prices have rose since I was gone. Real Estate is obviously the worst culprit in the cost of living crisis, but regular expenses like transport, groceries, going out to eat, have all increased substantially in the last couple of years. While Canada’s immigration numbers have definitely increased and the countries population is now at 40 million, there is a large group of new immigrants who have chosen not to stay and either return to their home countries or another destination instead. A large reason to this has been the high cost of living, as well as a lack of high paying jobs. So if you are thinking of immigrating to Canada any time soon, I hope you will find this video helpful in going over what might be the best province for you to live in, as well as what you can expect as the average monthly expenses.
Support my journey on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/alinamcleod
Paypal Account: alina_397@hotmail.com
The Travel Health Insurance I Use:
HeyMondo (Get 5% OFF with my link): https://heymondo.com/?ag_campaign=ENTRY&agencia=fb170151c29dc50b20851c24ceec6ffbfa13&cod_descuento=ALINAMCLEOD&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=ALINAMCLEOD
*This is what I use if I want higher coverage amounts and proof of insurance for visa applications. Also better for short trips and older travellers.
SafetyWing Travel Insurance (best travel health insurance for long terms digital nomads and/or younger travellers): https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=alinamcleod&utm_source=alinamcleod&utm_medium=Ambassador
Where I Primarily Book My Hotels/Hostels: https://booking.tp.st/2lP4Jjcu
Best E-sim cards for travel: https://airalo.tp.st/wHCallXk
Best way to book day trips abroad: https://viator.tp.st/ik5IbozE
My Favorite Browser Extension To Save Money Online – Honey (price shops everything for you with coupon codes, amazing): https://joinhoney.com/ref/ckenvq
My Favorite Travel Backpacks + Luggage – Osprey: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=ml&ti=846581&pw=303785
1 FREE AUDIOBOOK FROM AUDIBLE (I loooooove this service): https://www.audibletrial.com/alinamcleod
Best Way To Send Money Abroad (link gets you discount) – Wise.com: https://wise.com/invite/u/alinam371
The Music I Use In My Videos – Epidemic Sound
Get a 30 Day FREE TRIAL by using my referral link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/j6z374/
**************************************************************
– Equipment I Use To Film Videos –
Main Video Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket 2 – https://click.dji.com/AIUwjIKoAG-F-P4uoSwKiw?pm=link
Action Camera: DJI Action – https://click.dji.com/AAGjfWjSvm9g0YSQockj8Q?pm=link
Photography + Sit down camera: Sony a6400 – https://amzn.to/3cSYaMK
Gimbal for Sony: DJI Ronin RSC 2 – https://click.dji.com/ADCjatxPUwRDPRl9yurPbA?pm=link
Drone: DJI Mini 2 – https://click.dji.com/AELErSRJdd777h9bEFIcag?pm=link
Microphone: Rode Micro – https://amzn.to/3muSHz8
Livestreaming Equipment: Iphone 11 and DJI OM – https://click.dji.com/AA-37ILfXyD-S4lx7le5_A?pm=link
*** FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA ***
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alinamcleod
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/alinamcleodofficial/?view_public_for=189580024403094
WEBSITE – http://www.alinamcleod.com/
Мой русскоязычный канал / My Russian Speaking Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUO4pFMywMoe3TBMcbJq2IA
**************************************************************
*** I USE AFFILIATE LINKS ***
Affiliate links do not cost you as the consumer any more than you would normally pay, but it does offer a kickback to the person who initiated the sale. This allows me to financially continue to be able to make content for you and I only endorse products I genuinely love. Any sponsored content will be stated as so.
Contact me: alina_397@hotmail.com
Lots of love xx
Alina
35 Comments
Thank you for doing this video. Unfortunately a lot that has happened to Canada is endemic to all ‘Western’ countries. Our political masters have literally gone mad. Instead of concentrating their efforts on the citizens of their respective countries, following the greed and corruption of the fiscal and monetary model of the US over the past 20 years especially seems to be the playbook now. I don’t know how we divest ourselves from US influence but we have to start now. It will be a process that will take a generation but it can be done. Canadians are kind but tough people. However we do not tolerate unfairness for long and the system is fundamentally unfair now. Our political masters just do not get it yet. They are too busy doing the American’s bidding. That must stop.
Alina please do meet and greet when you come to toronto so I can meet you!🙏🏽
You might want to write travel guides and yearly updates, with your experience work at a travel agency or start your own, with your professionalism sell your travel destinations to PBS tv, so you have many opportunities to expand and improve your business.
Just a few ideas because you have the ability and charisma to achieve these goals.
I have lived in Canada for over 30 years and my family and I are Canadian citizens. Would I recommend Canada for new immigrants ? NO. I agree with some things said in the video, not all. First, you should not come to Canada because the cost of living is very high. Everything from groceries to almost everything including bus fares, rent and mortgages have jumped 10% and above. I don't know how average Canadians afford to live anymore. Most Canadians are living hand to mouth. Canada is becoming a third world country. What is the use of high standard of living when the average person cannot afford to live or eat ? People rummage through garbage cans looking for food. In big cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, there are so many homeless people living in tents on the street. Conditions are dire. The only way people can afford to live in by splitting the rent, having multiple family members or friends stay under one roof. The other way people afford to live is by having lots of babies so they can get the baby cheque from the government for every child which is $2,000. The amount of the baby cheque diminishes as the child grows up. Going to university is almost a luxury with most Canadian universities charging $ 7,000 per semester or more ( half a year) and there is no guarantee you will get a job when you graduate or that your job will allow you a basic standard of living anymore in this country. In terms of saving on costs, my honest advice to people coming here is don't buy a car. Take the bus. Having a car is very expensive in terms of gas, insurance, registration etc. People also drive like maniacs on the highways and in the major cities. Is it worth getting a car ? I say no unless you are traveling often or living outside a major city. Finally, I don't know why the Canadian government is bringing more and more immigrants here when Canadians who were born here or have lived here for a long time are struggling. I think they bring immigrants here because they want their money. Many professionals and those making $150,000 or more are leaving Canada and the country is broke. It depends on immigrants coming here but what do they get in return – few hours, not enough to get a pension, exorbitant University fees ( they pay double or triple the amount to go to university than the average Canadian born here) which is separate from the $10,000.00 or more they pay to the government for just coming here. They don't even get health or medical insurance from the university and the government. Many immigrants and foreign students are committing suicide after realizing that coming to Canada is a false promise of a better life. They would have had a better quality of life in their home countries. Standard of living just does not equate with quality of life.
Why I live in Canada if conditions in Canada are dire ? My circumstances are different from immigrants who are just coming to Canada now. When my family and I came to Canada 30 years ago, everything was affordable on an average Canadian salary – housing, mortgages, grocery, bus fares, car insurance were cheap. Jobs were secure. People worked long term in a job and retired from that job, and also got a big pension. I am the last of a generation with a long term job who will qualify for a pension. I bought a house and sold it when I saw house prices rising. I also sold my car to cut down on expenses and moved to a big city where I just rent. I go on vacations twice a year. Yeah I do struggle with the high cost of living but I set a budget for how much I spend on groceries. I cut down on eating out which is very expensive.
She is traveler .so traveler dont like to work hard looking for fun so canada is not for you 😂 i wonder what do you work
Man , i had to giggle at " budget friendly price". Here in Albion, if some one said that, they 'd be put in the "stocks". We'd say "well dear", or over the odds/ nay scandalous. Yep, i am not a Canuck. Therein lies another arguement. I could go on for ever !!
Ottawa has a good public transit system too
I am Canadian but have lived outside Canada since 2000. First 17.5 yrs in Brussels Belgium and since 2018 in Spain. While living in Brussels I was a renter. I had a 2 BR (80 m2) flat close to a metro station and bus line that cost 700€/month including a private garage space. Total bargain, and I admit that it was probably 200€ lower than the avg for Brussels. But compared to the simply crazy rents in almost all cties in Canada in 2023 it was a pittance. When I lived in Saskatoon a from 1984-87 I was paying under CAD$400/month for a 1 BR flat including a parking space. I cant see why anyone who can work remotely would stay in Canada with the utterly ridiculous rents in 2023.
You are correct! Alberta not as bad as Ontario and British Columbia.
Recession is becoming worse and worse, inflation will be continuing dramatically going up ….
You have a stronger "about" and "house" accent hahaha – from Torontonian
PS Really awesome and informative video!
Your break down of expenses were very good. 3 things we all need food, shelter and transportation.
Then you added how much income you would need to live comfortably and as a Canadian living in manitoba I thought you were right on. Takes 2 incomes to live comfortably and not having any kind of activities on the side if you make around 20$/hr each or 41k/yr.
As a fellow canadian that immigrated 7 years ago, the costs of living went through the roof last few years. Even if I can afford paying many things an average canadian cannot, I just refuse to pay the outrageous prices for garbage service and products. I try to live a frugal life now and pay off my housing debts. I am also looking forward leaving Canada and going back to Europe or other place. At least my family is there, not in Canada.
Noooooooo
Hi ALina, I live in Curitiba (Brazil) and found out your channel because of your videos in my city.. Since that I cant stop watching your videos… they are so pleasant 😉
Thanks, Alina, for being so beautifully honest in your appraisal!
Dont forget Canada is having a cultural crisis! Many people feel enslaved, unwelcome, and even unsafe here.
Scientists say that if climate change would catastrophically affect the planet's potable water supply, Canada would be among the few countries that can survive. So yes, living in Canada is so worth it 🙂
I have been watching your video regularly
There is no future for young people in Canada. The government has sold them out. Politicians are corrupt with weak leadership. Canada is a dead end.
Alina, the Queen of Canada 🇨🇦 👸
那个，放飞无人机的视频是你本人吗，好漂亮的感觉
Greetings from Ukraine, a very interesting and informative blog!
Ty for the video, I’m from a poor country, I currently I consider moving to Canada, but the high inflation is kinda demotivated me moving to there
We are just getting started, the gooberments will not stop until Canada is destroyed, enjoy. Albertan.
Waiting to see if you can ever find a country that is relatively safe, cheap, has good and inexpensive healthcare system and accepts foreigners to live long term. Not that I am interested but everyone's favourite destination Thailand seems to have a really complex requirements in order to obtain visa for long term stay. The world is in total chaos and everyone thinks there is still a safe and happy place you can run away to. Canada has changed so much for the worse in the last 20 years but seems it is the same story everywhere.
You don’t have to live here and support our economy , just don’t come back and use our healthcare and benefits we pay for here .
born and raised Montreal my love for this country is fading away, I have been all over Canada multiple times and loved it. But the cost of living is making literally no sense right now our money is worthless I will probably end up renting out my downtown condo and go live Mexico or somewhere in south east Asia.
I have been in Vancouver for 6 months and I’m ready to go back home. Is so expensive and the “Canadian experience” is just BS. They literally expect newcomers to work on basic jobs even when you’re paying tons of money for a college degree, numbers does not match up. Came to Canadá was my biggest dream, now is my biggest disappointment
Linda
Prairie Boy here ! Appreciated your comments ,glad your sharing ! Very difficult time for the below average wage earner ,at the moment !
Move to Peterborough get a 407 transponder and you will be DT Toronto in an hour 30 mins. Wonderland in just over an hour. So convinenent and way cheaper. Visit whenever for the day and not have to deal with the traffic and people everyday
Hi, it was so helpful
It called Capitalism , turning back a bit into a Feudalism in Canada. Your look stunning in that dress, that matches nicely the color of you eyes 😊