Living in Canada
Rent, health cover and ways to get residency for a foreign retiree in Canada, checked 2026-09-27.
Rent for a one-bedroom flat
| City | Centre | Outside centre |
|---|
| Toronto | CA$2,263 | CA$2,030 |
| Vancouver | CA$2,507 | CA$2,156 |
| Montreal | CA$1,741 | CA$1,387 |
Vacancy is low in Toronto and Vancouver; landlords often ask for Canadian references and credit history.
Healthcare
Permanent residents get provincial health cover without premiums. Some provinces have a waiting period of up to three months, and visitors need private insurance.
- Provincial health plan, for residents: CA$0 a month
Residency routes
- No retirement visa (Non-citizens): Canada has no visa for living off savings. Many nationalities can visit for up to six months at a time.
- Express Entry (Skilled workers): Points for age, education, language and work experience; the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.
Tax on a portfolio
- Half of a capital gain is added to income. Foreign dividends are taxed in full.
- New residents’ holdings are revalued at market value on arrival, so gains made before moving are not taxed. This model counts every sale as gain.
- Leaving Canada later triggers a deemed sale of most assets (departure tax).
- Other credits, such as the Canada employment amount and the CPP enhancement deduction, are not modeled.
When can you retire? · Where to retire