Canada
Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver
Most international students in Canada study in or near the three largest cities. Each has a different cost of living, job market and climate.
Toronto
Toronto is Canada's largest city and its main financial centre. The University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University and York University are all in the city, with several large colleges, including Humber, George Brown and Seneca. Ontario receives the largest share of the national study permit cap.
Rent is the biggest cost. Many students share apartments or live in the suburbs and commute on the TTC subway and GO Transit. Part-time work is easy to find in retail and hospitality. Winters are cold, with snow from December to March. The UniversitiesDB page on universities in Toronto lists the options.
Montreal
Montreal is a French-speaking city with two large English-language universities, McGill and Concordia, as well as Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal. Students going to Quebec need a CAQ from the province before applying for a study permit, and Quebec sets its own proof-of-funds figure.
Rent has historically been lower than in Toronto or Vancouver, though it has risen in recent years. French is useful for part-time jobs and for staying after graduation. Winters are colder and snowier than in Toronto. See universities in Montreal.
Vancouver
Vancouver, on the Pacific coast, has the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, plus a number of colleges. Its winters are mild and wet, with less snow than the other two cities. It has some of the highest rents in Canada, and student housing on campus is in short supply. Many students live in Burnaby or Richmond and commute by SkyTrain. See universities in Vancouver.
Smaller cities
Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Winnipeg and Waterloo all have well-regarded universities and lower rents than the big three. Some provinces outside Ontario and British Columbia also have more room within their attestation allocation.
How to decide
List your three or four preferred programmes first, then compare the cities they are in on rent, transport and part-time work. A cheaper city can save more over four years than a small tuition difference.