Urban Living Costs: A Family’s Perspective
A woman from India residing in Toronto is raising eyebrows over urban living expenses by sharing that her family, which includes her husband and baby, spends around $7,000 monthly. As a real estate agent and content creator, she outlined her budgeting details, including a $2,273 mortgage on their Canadian home, along with $1,000 for groceries and $500 for baby supplies.
In her video, which aims to highlight the hefty cost of living in Canada, Saikerthi Akkineni mentions, “My family of three lives in Toronto and we spend close to $7,000 a month.” She elaborates that they reside in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo townhouse, incurring additional costs like $394 for monthly maintenance and $265 for property taxes.
Talking about essential services, Akkineni says their utility bills average around $350 per month. She also notes a car payment of $730 and a total of $300 for home and auto insurance. Grocery expenses fluctuate, but she estimates about $1,000 on average, while their phone and internet costs around $196 monthly. To round up their expenses, they allocate $75 for a gym membership and about $500 for baby gear.
The family’s financial obligations are further complicated by a property they own in Hyderabad, adding $825 to their monthly expenses. In total, they reach approximately $7,000 each month. “These are just fixed, recurring monthly expenses; what varies depends on the month,” she adds before concluding her video.
Social Media Reactions
Responses on social media poured in with mixed reactions. One user expressed, “Very kind girl. It’s so true!! I live in Vancouver and it’s the same.” Another followed up with a note about internet and cell phone expenses, pointing out they can feel high unless bundled with phone financing.
A third commentator was surprised, saying, “Oh my god! Even Canadians with a mortgage don’t spend this much on everything. $7,000 for a family of three… are you serious?” In response, Akkineni clarified, “What do you mean, ‘Canadians also own homes’? We have homes and we have mortgages. Watch the video again.” An Instagram user chided, “Yeah, that’s what I meant! $7,000 a month on a mortgage is pretty expensive.” To this, Akkineni remarked, “Miss, what kind of economic environment do you live in? Should you starve or what should you do?”
One user was relieved, stating, “Finally, someone posted honest numbers.” Curiosity got the best of another who asked if both Akkineni and her husband are working. Her answer? “Yes.”
(Disclaimer: This report reflects user-generated content from social media. Claims have not been independently verified.)
