A British woman who relocated to Canada has shared a breakdown of her monthly costs, revealing one particular bill that stood out as surprisingly expensive.
Monthly Bills Shock
Louise Ware-Armstrong, a lifestyle and travel vlogger who moved from the UK to Niagara Falls in Ontario, recently posted a TikTok video detailing her monthly living expenses. While rent, utilities, and household costs were largely as expected, she highlighted that mobile phone services cost significantly more than in the UK.
'One of the most expensive bills in Canada is your phone plan,' she said in the video, which has garnered over 11,000 likes. 'You cannot find a cheap phone plan anywhere.'
Cost Breakdown
Louise explained that her combined mobile phone, home internet, and TV package amounts to around 400 Canadian dollars (£215) per month. 'For my phone, my internet, and my TV package, all three come to about $400 a month, which is literally crazy,' she added. She noted that when she first moved, phone plans cost no less than $60 per month without a handset.
According to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), mobile prices have declined in recent years, yet Canada remains one of the most expensive markets for wireless services globally. Price comparison platform WhistleOut reports the average Canadian mobile bill is around CA$64 (£34) per month, compared to the UK average of £15 to £20, as reported by regulator Ofcom.
Market Factors
Industry studies consistently rank Canada among the priciest countries for mobile services, largely due to limited competition and high infrastructure costs. The vlogger's overall monthly budget includes 1,650 Canadian dollars in rent for a two-bedroom home, plus separate charges for electricity, gas, and water.
However, it was the phone and internet expenses that most surprised her, describing them as one of the biggest financial shocks of moving abroad. The revelation sparked discussion among viewers, who agreed that high telecom costs are a significant living expense issue in Canada.
