Budget templates for Canadian cities.
A balanced monthly budget for one person in each city, using local rent and transit prices, with 20% going to savings. Pick yours and make it your own.
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| City | 1-bedroom rent | Transit | Template take-home | Take-home for rent at 35% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $2,230 | $155.10 | $4,400 | $6,400 |
| Vancouver | $2,380 | $117.20 | $4,500 | $6,800 |
| Montreal | $1,770 | $110 | $3,800 | $5,100 |
| Calgary | $1,510 | $126 | $3,500 | $4,400 |
| Edmonton | $1,280 | $102 | $3,100 | $3,700 |
| Ottawa | $1,960 | $138.50 | $4,000 | $5,600 |
| Winnipeg | $1,460 | $119.35 | $3,400 | $4,200 |
| Victoria | $1,990 | $85 | $4,000 | $5,700 |
| Quebec City | $1,280 | $102.50 | $3,100 | $3,700 |
| Saskatoon | $1,310 | $91 | $3,200 | $3,800 |
How the templates are built
Every template uses the same everyday lines for one person, so the differences come from what really changes city to city: rent and transit. The take-home figure is set so that once those lines are covered, 20% goes to an emergency fund, a TFSA or RRSP, and a fund for travel and big purchases.
The last column is a different lens. It shows the after-tax income you'd need to keep an average one-bedroom at 35% of take-home pay, a common rule of thumb for comfortable rent.
Questions
What is a zero-based budget template?
A monthly plan where income minus every budget line equals zero. Each dollar is given a job before the month starts, whether that job is rent, groceries, or savings. These templates start balanced, so you only need to swap in your own numbers.
Who are these templates for?
One person renting a one-bedroom apartment. Couples and families can use them as a starting point by adjusting the rent, groceries, and everyday lines, and by combining both take-home pays.
Where do the rent numbers come from?
Each city uses the Rentals.ca average asking rent for a one-bedroom from July 2026. Asking rents reflect new listings, so if you have been in the same place for a while, your rent is probably lower.
Start from a template, keep the habit.
A template gets you through the first month. CalmDollar helps with the months after that, with a zero-based budget in Canadian dollars, envelopes that carry over, and a streak that makes the habit stick. Free to start.
