hi everyone, I'm considering applying for a masters degree at the Lakehead University, Thunderbay Ontario Canada. I need a working estimate for a year of cost of living in this area, cost of schooling for the kinds aged 7 and 4 (twins), transportation for the family, accommodation for a family of 2 + three kids. In all, I just need an estimated sum I could work with for the first year to enable us plan appropriately. I will be extremely grateful for responses and suggestions.
Cost of Living in Ontario Canada for a post graduate student with three kids
- Thread starter olabisiosimade
- Start date
This link may be helpful in determining costs of accommodation, transport, etc.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Thunder-Bay
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Thunder-Bay
If OP lives on campus or nearby furnished apartment, then would not need these. Can take bus to school.
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OP is coming with three kids and a spouse. Unlikely campus living will be feasible.
Furnished housing is not the norm in Canada unless it is a room or something like executive rentals. Unlikely to find a furnished 3 bedroom home suitable for a family. If you do you will certainly pay a premium for it. Don't really know much about public transit in Thunder Bay but I imagine a car is almost a necessity for a family especially in the winter. Wouldn't say the same in a city like Toronto.
Have you two been to Lakehead and Thunder Bay? I recalled a group of 5 squeezed into one of the townhouses on campus years ago. The townhomes were furnished but not air conditioned. Air condition is not the norm in Canada unless like executive rentals. I used to seen families with small children on buses in Thunder Bay in the winter.
Edit: the townhomes were 4 bedrooms.
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Btw, have you both been to furnished apartments? They may or may not be executive. Since I traveled extensively, I had experience in several. I'm going you write about my review in one of those not good furnished suite. Once, I stayed in a furnished suite in a run down building near a pub in BC. The suite itself was fully furnished, but the cutleries were not mean executive and the bathroom & kitchen was dirty. The Internet and tv were not connected at the time we checked in even though we had requested them beforehand. At night, the pub across the street was noisy and we had a hard time to sleep.
I'm actually looking for a well furnished two bedroom condo for a mum and three children for like a period of one year while I get to sort out other convenient accommodation. I need a budget I could work with for a period of one year in terms of feeding, schooling for the kids, transportation and basic utilities. Like how much should could cover for all these for a year? Thanks guys..
With regards to kids schooling, I would check with the local school board because I don't know much about the pricing on international students. As for feeding, you can check grocery prices on Safeway.ca or Superstore. I don't remember much about the rest. I guess you can always Google Thunder Bay transit and Hydro websites. For housing, you can check listings from home sweet home - this was the company my friends used - although unfurnished.
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Just to add.... most furnished are meant for short term - 6 months or less - although you may find those on campus for the combination of fall/winter/spring/summer semester.
Don't think Thunder bay has condos They will have apartments but you may want to get a small house/townhouse instead. Furnished rentals for a family of 5 will be difficult. As previously mentioned. You may be able to find partially furnished accommodations that are appropriate for students. Sure you could also find furnished rooms or 1 bedrooms. I might contact Lakehead international student coordinator to ask what to expect and what kind of family housing may be around the university. I would suggest getting a house near a school where your children can walk and you can take public transportation you don't plan to get a car. It gets very cold in the winter.
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