How much money does a US citizen need to move to Canada?

The single biggest upfront cost for US citizens moving to Canada via Express Entry is the IRCC’s proof-of-settlement-funds requirement: roughly CAD 14,690 for a single applicant and rising with family size (CAD 18,288 for two, CAD 22,483 for three, scaling up). Application fees run roughly CAD 1,365 per adult plus right-of-permanent-residence fee. Beyond official requirements, realistic upfront costs include first month plus damage deposit for a Victoria rental (CAD 4,000 to CAD 6,500), moving and shipping household goods from the mainland US (USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 for a partial container), vehicle import processing fees (CAD 200 to CAD 350 federal plus provincial inspection), and a healthcare-gap buffer until BC MSP coverage activates (typically 3 months after arrival). Victoria’s moderate cost of living at $3,100 per person per month gives most US movers breathing room versus mainland US costs. For the full cost picture, see our Victoria cost of living page.