There is a significant disparity between Queen’s University’s estimated cost of living, the Gender Studies minimum funding guarantee ($20,000 for PhD students and $16,000 for MA students), and actual cost of living in Kingston. For domestic MA and international PhD students, the Queen’s estimated cost of living, including tuition and school fees, is $31,795; for international MA students, the estimated cost of living, including tuition and school fees, is $39,706. This does not include costs for students who are primary caregivers.
Below is the breakdown of living costs from the Registrar and Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, followed by the actual living costs of an international MA student (2023–2024).
The Registrar estimates rent and utilities to be $625–$1,009 per month or $7,500-$12,108 per year. It does not indicate whether this is with roommates or not.
Graduate Studies estimates the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment to be $800–$1,300 per month or $9,600–$15,600 per year.
Heat, water, and electricity: $85 per month or $1,020 per year.
Internet and/or mobile plan: $40–100 per month or $480–$1,200 per year.
Laundry: $60 per month or $720 per year.
The Registrar estimates the cost of food to be $290 per month or $3,480 per year.
Graduate Studies estimates food to be $500 per month or $6,000 per year.
Graduate Studies estimates childcare to be $1,500 per month or $18,000 per year. It does not indicate the number of children used for this calculation.
The Registrar estimates miscellaneous expenses (“cell phone, clothing/laundry, recreation, other personal expenses, etc.”) to be $310 per month or $3,720 per year.
Thus, the Queen’s Registrar estimates the total cost of living to be $14,700–$19,308 per year. This does not include students paying for childcare. This also does not include tuition and school fees. If including tuition and school fees, the Registrar’s estimated cost of living would be $21,955.79–$26,563.79 for MA domestic and PhD domestic & international students, and $29,866.25–$34,474.25 for MA international students.
Queen’s Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs estimates the total cost of living without childcare to be $17,820–$24,540 per year. It estimates the total cost of living with childcare to be $35,820–$42,540 per year. This does not include tuition and school fees. If including tuition and school fees, the estimated cost of living without childcare is $25,075.79–$31,795.79 for MA domestic and PhD domestic & international students, and $32,986.25–$39,706.25 for MA international students. If including tuition and school fees, the estimated cost of living with childcare is $43,075.79–$49,795.79 for MA domestic and PhD domestic & international students, and $50,986.25–$57,706.25 for MA international students.
For MA (domestic) and PhD (domestic & international) students, the total tuition and school fees for one academic year is $7,255.79. For MA international students, the total tuition and school fees for one academic year is $15,166.25.
Rent including utilities is $1,332.50 per month or $15,990 per year.
Wi-Fi is $90.40 per month or $1,084.80 per year.
Phone bill is $59.93 per month or $719.16 per year.
Tenant insurance is $17.79 per month or $213.48 per year.
Food and toiletries are approximately $650 per month or $7,800 per year.
Tuition and school fees are $7,255.79 per year.
Thus, estimated cost of living for this student, including tuition and school fees, is $33,063.23.
Graduate Student Resources
See the Forms and Resources page for additional supports.
- Gender Studies/Black Studies Community Pantry
- Contact Melanie Murdock (melanie.murdock@queensu.ca) or come to Robert Sutherland Hall 419 for more information.
- AMS Food Bank
- PEACH Market