The basic living expenses list for first-time homeowners

Congratulations on becoming a first-time homeowner! You’re diving into a huge investment of both time and money, and the best way to make sure you’re successful is to create a basic living expenses list. It’ll help you stay on top of everything.

There’s a lot more to home ownership than just mortgage payments and mowing the lawn. Keeping a clean, stylish, well-maintained home comes at a price, and often one much higher than you think.

Common parts of your basic living expenses list

No matter where you live in Canada, these are essential living expenses for almost all homeowners:

• Mortgage payments and interest
• Mortgage insurance
• Property taxes
• Condo fees (if you live in condo)
• Utilities
• Property care and the related tools (i.e. snow blower, lawn mower, weed removal service)
• Security (i.e. cameras)
• Renovations and upgrades (i.e. new thermostat and energy saving windows)
• Maintenance and upkeep (there’s a detailed list below)

Maintaining your home will cost you about 1 – 2% of your home value per year, according to Harvard University Joint Center on Housing Studies.

Unexpected parts of your basic living expenses list

Things like renovations and new furniture may be obvious to most, but there are other hidden living expenses that come along with owning your new home. Be sure to add these to your basic living expenses list.

Make sure you factor these into your monthly and annual budget along with your mortgage payments:

• Replacing the roof
• Digging up the driveway
• Buying a new furnace, air conditioner, or water softener (or rental fees if you don’t own them)
• Replacing large appliances like the stove, washer, or dryer
• Fixing electrical issues
• Flooding repairs
• Foundation cracks
• Repairs from wind and ice storms (i.e. broken tree branches and windows)
• Child-proofing materials (i.e. fencing, baby gates, security system, etc.)
• Fireplace cleaning and chimney repairs
• Pest control (i.e. mice, racoons, skunks)

Even if it doesn’t need to be done in the first year or two, it’s a wise idea to put aside money for large repairs so you’re not causing yourself cash flow issues when it comes time to cough up the dough for a new roof or furnace.

If you let repairs and maintenance slide, then any home insurance claims you make related to that wear and tear could be denied by your insurance provider. Nobody enjoys that.

Typical home maintenance

For many Canadians, your home is the largest investment you’ll make in your lifetime. Regular cleaning and maintenance not only makes life better for you, but it also increases the value of your home. (A fixer-upper is a lot harder to sell than a meticulously maintained property.)

Here are some of the typical tasks you’ll do to maintain your home:

• Cleaning your home
• Yard care (i.e. lawn company to spray for grubs and weeds)
• Landscaping and gardening
• Gutter cleaning
• Driveway sealing
• Duct cleaning
• Pressure washing and staining
• Painting exterior and interior
• Repairing shingles and roof
• Updating flooring and tiles
• Replacing leaky faucets and shower heads
• Refinishing or painting cabinets or paneling
• Adding storage (i.e. new shed or shelves)
• Finishing/upgrading basement
• Replacing old windows or doors for energy efficiency

Don’t forget closing costs

What are closing costs? They’re the many fees and one-time expenses that everyone must pay when purchasing their home, but they are often overlooked in the budget. These aren’t strictly a part of a basic living expenses list, but it helps to factor them into home ownership budget for the first year or so.

These costs include:

• Mortgage broker fees
• Mortgage discharge costs
• Lender application fees
• Legal fees
• Land transfer tax
• Real estate commission
• Moving truck or storage POD rental
• Moving materials (boxes, bins, bubble wrap, packing tape, etc.)

There is no industry standard for real estate commissions in Canada, but they are typically between 3 and 7%. Speak to your realtor about their rates before you sign any deal – even 1% can mean the difference of thousands of dollars.

How expensive is living in Canada?

Canada is widely recognized as one of the best countries in which to live, but at what cost?

When it comes to the essentials, take a look at how Toronto and Montreal stack up against other popular cities in the world (according to TransferWise):

What are monthly living expenses for a family vs single?

Of course, your household expenses vary greatly depending on how many people are living there and where you actually live. Always factor that into your basic living expenses list.

We’ll run with the same data from TransferWise in keeping with the Toronto example, but keep in mind it’s the second most expensive city in Canada:

• A single person can live on $1,038.73 per month (without rent or mortgage)
• A family of four will need more than three times that amount, at $3,790.91
• The average rent in Toronto is $2,049, making the family’s monthly total $5,839.91 (at least)
• The total monthly living expenses for the single person is $3,087.73
• That’s nearly $6,000 per month for a family of four, without any extras like vacations and entertainment

Average Monthly Living Expenses by City in Canada

How much it costs to be a homeowner also depends a lot on where you live. Canada has many exceptional cities, but that natural beauty can cost money.

From highest to lowest, these are the average monthly living expenses in Canada for 2020. They’re based on two people living in a fully furnished 900 square foot living space:

You have everything you need with this basic living expenses list. Start budgeting for your new home and protect yourself with the right coverage.

Enjoy the new place!

Congratulations on becoming a first-time homeowner! You’re diving into a huge investment of both time and money, and the best way to make sure you’re successful is to create a basic living expenses list. It’ll help you stay on top of everything.

There’s a lot more to home ownership than just mortgage payments and mowing the lawn. Keeping a clean, stylish, well-maintained home comes at a price, and often one much higher than you think.

Common parts of your basic living expenses list

No matter where you live in Canada, these are essential living expenses for almost all homeowners:

• Mortgage payments and interest
• Mortgage insurance
• Property taxes
• Condo fees (if you live in condo)
• Utilities
• Property care and the related tools (i.e. snow blower, lawn mower, weed removal service)
• Security (i.e. cameras)
• Renovations and upgrades (i.e. new thermostat and energy saving windows)
• Maintenance and upkeep (there’s a detailed list below)

Maintaining your home will cost you about 1 – 2% of your home value per year, according to Harvard University Joint Center on Housing Studies.

Unexpected parts of your basic living expenses list

Things like renovations and new furniture may be obvious to most, but there are other hidden living expenses that come along with owning your new home. Be sure to add these to your basic living expenses list.

Make sure you factor these into your monthly and annual budget along with your mortgage payments:

• Replacing the roof
• Digging up the driveway
• Buying a new furnace, air conditioner, or water softener (or rental fees if you don’t own them)
• Replacing large appliances like the stove, washer, or dryer
• Fixing electrical issues
• Flooding repairs
• Foundation cracks
• Repairs from wind and ice storms (i.e. broken tree branches and windows)
• Child-proofing materials (i.e. fencing, baby gates, security system, etc.)
• Fireplace cleaning and chimney repairs
• Pest control (i.e. mice, racoons, skunks)

Even if it doesn’t need to be done in the first year or two, it’s a wise idea to put aside money for large repairs so you’re not causing yourself cash flow issues when it comes time to cough up the dough for a new roof or furnace.

If you let repairs and maintenance slide, then any home insurance claims you make related to that wear and tear could be denied by your insurance provider. Nobody enjoys that.

Typical home maintenance

For many Canadians, your home is the largest investment you’ll make in your lifetime. Regular cleaning and maintenance not only makes life better for you, but it also increases the value of your home. (A fixer-upper is a lot harder to sell than a meticulously maintained property.)

Here are some of the typical tasks you’ll do to maintain your home:

• Cleaning your home
• Yard care (i.e. lawn company to spray for grubs and weeds)
• Landscaping and gardening
• Gutter cleaning
• Driveway sealing
• Duct cleaning
• Pressure washing and staining
• Painting exterior and interior
• Repairing shingles and roof
• Updating flooring and tiles
• Replacing leaky faucets and shower heads
• Refinishing or painting cabinets or paneling
• Adding storage (i.e. new shed or shelves)
• Finishing/upgrading basement
• Replacing old windows or doors for energy efficiency

Don’t forget closing costs

What are closing costs? They’re the many fees and one-time expenses that everyone must pay when purchasing their home, but they are often overlooked in the budget. These aren’t strictly a part of a basic living expenses list, but it helps to factor them into home ownership budget for the first year or so.

These costs include:

• Mortgage broker fees
• Mortgage discharge costs
• Lender application fees
• Legal fees
• Land transfer tax
• Real estate commission
• Moving truck or storage POD rental
• Moving materials (boxes, bins, bubble wrap, packing tape, etc.)

There is no industry standard for real estate commissions in Canada, but they are typically between 3 and 7%. Speak to your realtor about their rates before you sign any deal – even 1% can mean the difference of thousands of dollars.

How expensive is living in Canada?

Canada is widely recognized as one of the best countries in which to live, but at what cost?

When it comes to the essentials, take a look at how Toronto and Montreal stack up against other popular cities in the world (according to TransferWise).

Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom flat:

• Toronto: $1,632.92
• Montreal: $986.82
• London: $2,781.11
• New York: $3,809.12
• Berlin: $1,094.74
• Sydney: $2,622.22

A meal for 2:

• Toronto: $70
• Montreal: $60
• London: $91.08
• New York: $94.86
• Berlin: $58.32
• Sydney: $79.98

A monthly transportation pass:

• Toronto: $143.25
• Montreal: $83
• London: $218.59
• New York: $151.78
• Berlin: $118.10
• Sydney: $159.96

What are monthly living expenses for a family vs single?

Of course, your household expenses vary greatly depending on how many people are living there and where you actually live. Always factor that into your basic living expenses list.

We’ll run with the same data from TransferWise in keeping with the Toronto example, but keep in mind it’s the second most expensive city in Canada:

• A single person can live on $1,038.73 per month (without rent or mortgage)
• A family of four will need more than three times that amount, at $3,790.91
• The average rent in Toronto is $2,049, making the family’s monthly total $5,839.91 (at least)
• The total monthly living expenses for the single person is $3,087.73
• That’s nearly $6,000 per month for a family of four, without any extras like vacations and entertainment

Average Monthly Living Expenses by City in Canada

How much it costs to be a homeowner also depends a lot on where you live. Canada has many exceptional cities, but that natural beauty can cost money.

From highest to lowest, these are the average monthly living expenses in Canada for 2020. They’re based on two people living in a fully furnished 900 square foot living space:

You have everything you need with this basic living expenses list. Start budgeting for your new home and protect yourself with the right coverage.

Enjoy the new place!

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