Abigail Obada is an international student from Nigeria studying at Carleton University. As Canadian rental costs continue to rise and Nigeria's currency weakens, Obada has had to find cheaper accommodation. [Photo courtesy Abigail Obada]
When Abigail Obada moved into what she described as “really convenient” student housing in Ottawa in September 2022, the exchange rate was $1 Canadian for N296 Nigerian naira. When she moved out in August2023, the Nigerian exchange rate had almost doubled, to N592 per Canadian dollar.
Obada moved from Nigeria to Canada in 2022 to study international and global affairs at Carleton University. Like many international students, she travelled alone while receiving financial support from her parents. When she moved into Revalie Student housing, off-campus student housing, she said rent was not much of a problem.
“The Revalie was a very convenient student housing that was really nice and close to school. The rent there was affordable for my parents,” Obada said.
“(In) the summer of 2023, I had to move because the exchange rate became more expensive for my parents. In terms of paying the rent, (I got) complaints almost every single day from them,” Obada says.
Obada eventually moved into a house that had advertised for an extra tenant.
“This caused a lot of stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil for me. I wasn’t happy hearing that they couldn’t afford the rent anymore, neither was I happy with the news that I had to move out,” she said. “I had already found a community of friends that lived there, the building was super nice and convenient, and most of all, I would be leaving my best friend.”
I wasn’t happy hearing that they couldn’t afford the rent anymore, neither was I happy with the news that I had to move out. I had already found a community of friends that lived there, the building was super nice and convenient and most of all I would be leaving my best friend.
Abigail Obada, Nigerian international student at Carleton University
Rising costs for international students
The struggles faced by international students from Nigeria such as Obada are not uncommon. According to a survey earlier this year, there were more than 43,000 Nigerian study permit holders in Canada in 2023. Many rely on their families back home, meaning fluctuations in exchange rates have a direct impact on their budgets.
It’s not just the exchange rate that’s putting pressure on these international students. The cost of living in Canada has risen dramatically, particularly in terms of housing. Ottawa’s average rental price increased by 7.1 per cent in August 2024 over the same time last year, with many students now forced to choose between proximity to campus and affordability. It’s a one-two punch: higher costs, poorer currency exchange rate.
As housing costs climb, students often turn to shared accommodations, house ads or off-campus housing in less convenient areas to manage expenses. International students from other countries, such as India and China, also face similar financial strains.
The stress of moving
For Obada, the stress didn’t end with the decision to move. Searching for affordable housing proved to be time-consuming and emotionally draining.
“I remember I and my soon-to-be roommate going for two or three house viewings in a day. Some were even scams — we would come to the locations, but no one was there,” she said. “This process was really stressful and tiring. There was also pressure from my mum to find something really quick as the summer was ending and September was fast approaching.”
Her financial struggles during this period were compounded by additional costs involved in moving.
Happiness Edet, another Nigerian international student studying in Ottawa, faced similar challenges. Over the course of her lease renewal, her rent increased from $925 to $1,200, reflecting Canada’s rising cost of living and the exchange rate spike.
“It was a lot for my parents. Although my parents did not mind, I minded,” Edet said.
Edet said that If she stayed in her previous place — a shared apartment with three other roommates and just one bathroom — she would be paying $1,200 to $1,300 with added utilities. Instead, she began searching for a cheaper alternative and eventually found one. However, the process was far from easy.
“It was very overwhelming. It was a very stressful experience. I wanted to be done with it totally,” she said.
Happiness Edet is an international student studying in Ottawa. As the exchange rate for Nigerian naira to Canadian dollar continues to prove challenging, Edet says finding affordable housing is more important than ever. [Photo courtesy Happiness Edet]
Moving also came with logistical challenges. “As a student who does not have a car, the bus can’t be an option for you. Booking an Uber was the only way I could move my stuff. It wasn’t so far from my previous place, but booking Ubers back and forth was exhausting. It was time-consuming, and my pockets were hurting, like I’m not even gonna lie.”
While Edet is happy with her new place, it comes with drawbacks. “It’s a bit sad that I now have a longer commute because of [affordability] factors beyond my control,” she said.
Hector Addison of the African Canadian Association of Ottawa has helped international students find affordable housing and encourages his community to do the same.
“We have intervened in many cases with students struggling to pay their school fees (and) finding a place to sleep.”
The association’s members have helped students expand the reach of their housing request posts on social media platforms by sharing them among friends.
“Once in a while, people are (posting on social media) ‘this student from this place is looking for housing and this is the amount they are able to afford.’ Mentally it’s very, very, very challenging, to tell you the truth,” Addison says.
Addison says having roommates split rental prices is necessary. “(Students are) encouraged to pair up, get into one room, and then split the costs, which isn’t easy. It’s all over the place,” Addison says.
As availability for affordable housing in Canada worsens, Addison says all hands have to be on deck.
“It has to be a collective effort to protect their rights and help them succeed. And that involves the federal, provincial and municipal government as well as social service organizations, all working hand in hand to ensure that international students will (be brought) here succeed.”
As Ottawa deals with a housing crisis and prioritizes housing immigrants and refugees, Addison calls for the city to speak out for international students. “I think what the city potentially could do is also advocate in the federal government regarding this international students’ plight.”
Adding work to schooling
Abigail Obada’s challenges in 2023 didn’t end with her move to cheaper housing. These days, she says the financial strain has worsened as the Nigerian naira continues to depreciate against the Canadian dollar.
Obada now juggles work alongside her studies, hoping to ease her parents’ financial burden.
“I’ve had to work constantly while going to school to cover a part of my rent and lessen the burden on my parents. It also doesn’t help that the Canadian housing market continues to raise rent prices, making affordable housing almost impossible to find,” she said.
“I just hope that Nigeria’s economy improves and the exchange rate drastically reduces. It would make life so much easier for international students here in Canada,” she said.
