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What Canada Really Costs in 2026, and the CAD 22,895 Proof-of-Funds Rule


Canada got more expensive to apply to in 2025, not just in tuition, but in the cash you must prove you have. Here's the real math (CAD→INR at ~62).

Verify current rules. The proof-of-funds figure changes, confirm on IRCC's financial support page before you apply.

Tuition (per year)

LevelCAD~INR
College diploma14,000-20,000₹8.7L-12.4L
Undergrad university20,000-40,000₹12.4L-24.8L
STEM/business degrees40,000-60,000+₹24.8L-37L+
Master's (typical)18,000-35,000₹11L-21.7L

Living costs

Roughly CAD 1,200-2,200/month (~₹74,000-1,36,000). Toronto and Vancouver sit at the top; the Prairies are cheaper.

The proof-of-funds change you can't ignore

As of 1 Sept 2025: a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAD 22,895 (~₹14.2L) in living-cost funds for year one, on top of first-year tuition and travel. Add more for each dependant.

This replaced the old CAD 10,000 figure tied to the now-defunct SDS. A GIC from a participating Canadian bank, funded at the proof-of-funds level, is still a clean, widely accepted way to demonstrate funds.

What counts as proof of funds?

A GIC, a Canadian bank account with transferred funds, an education loan document, 4 months of bank statements, or a bank draft.

Honest total

Budget at least ₹25-40 lakh per year all-in at a university. Anyone quoting dramatically less is probably out of date.

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