Immigrations
Cost of Having a Baby in Canada 2022/2023
Having a baby is super-exciting, but it can quickly turn stressful, especially when you are having your child in a new country. Canada sees almost 400,000 babies being born every year, and you are about to be one of these lucky mums. However, it doesn’t come without cost.
What is the cost of having a baby in Canada? Cost of childbirth in Canada versus the US – which country has a better service? What items should be on your baby list? This article has all the answers. Read on!
What is the Cost to Have a Baby in Canada without Insurance and with Insurance?
Healthcare for tourists and non-residents in Canada is not free. Although Canada has a publicly-funded healthcare system (Medicare system), you can only get coverage under this system if you are a citizen, permanent resident, or an international student.
So while birth costs for citizens, permanent residents, and international students is only a couple hundred dollars or even completely free, non-residents and tourists, on the other hand, have to handle all the cost if they don’t have international insurance.
The table below shows the side by side comparison of the cost of having a baby in Canada without insurance and with international insurance or coverage under the Canadian healthcare system:
| Medical Services in Canada | Average Cost of Having a Baby in Canada without Insurance (CAD) | Average Cost of Having a Baby in Canada with International Health Insurance or Medicare (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Antenatal care (per visit) | $100 – $150 | $0 |
| Prenatal ultrasound | $300 – $500 | $0 – $300 |
| Vaginal delivery in a hospital | $5,000 – $8,000 | $0 – $1,000 |
| Cesarean section (CS) in a hospital | $10,000 – $12,000 | $0 – $1,000 |
| Homebirth with a midwife | $2,500 | $860 – $2,500 |
In British Columbia (BC), where birth tourism is more rampant, there are agents that provide services in packages for pregnant women. The services include midwife services, three-month accommodation (plus a month after birth) excluding prenatal care and food.
The average costs for these services are $25,000 CAD (or $18,000 USD). But the total cost will exceed that amount when you factor in food, round trip flight and other expenses. However, in other provinces, the costs may be lower.
Cost of Having a Baby in Canada through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
Since 1978, when the world’s first baby through IVF was born, there have been medical advancements in IVF and fertility treatments.
If you’re a non-resident, visitor, or tourist in Canada and want to have your baby through IVF, you’ll need to know the cost of having a baby in Canada through IVF. You can visit a private IVF clinic for your treatment. But as we stated earlier you’ll likely have to pay out-of-pocket for the costs without any financial assistance, unless you have international health insurance coverage.
The table below shows the average cost of having a baby through IVF in Canada. Note that IVF is a specialized elective treatment so it may not be cheaper.
| In-Vitro Fertility (IVF) Treatments in Canada | Average Cost (CAD) |
| Actual IVF process (total cost) | $7,600 – $25,000 |
| IVF fertility drugs | $2,500 – $7,000 |
| Donor embryos or eggs | Not allowed in Canada |
| Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) | $200 – $1,700 |
| Frozen embryo transfer (FET) | $100 – $1,700 |
| Embryo storage (per year) | $150 – $300 |
The Cost of Having a Baby in Canada vs The United States of America (USA)
The cost of having a child in the US varies from city to city. For example, delivery costs in Los Angeles and New York City are above $20,000 USD; in Miami, it’s between $7,000 USD – $10,000 USD; and it’s within $5,000 USD – $6,000 USD in Salt Lake City.
This cost will surge when you include flights, accommodation, and meals.
Canada’s low rates and high-quality facilities are what made it a destination for many birth tourists.
Having a Baby in Canada vs The US: Where is Better?
Canada has one of the best healthcare systems globally, and the health service can easily compete with that of the US. The standard of living in Canada beats the US in many aspects, like access to education, safety, and more. So having Canadian citizenship is a great idea.
While the birth tourism industry in America is on a grand scale with many providers offering services in packages, Canada’s birth tourism level is also at a record high.
The Cost of Having a Baby in Canada vs The United States of America (USA)
The cost of having a child in the US varies from city to city. For example, delivery costs in Los Angeles and New York City are above $20,000 USD; in Miami, it’s between $7,000 USD – $10,000 USD; and it’s within $5,000 USD – $6,000 USD in Salt Lake City.
This cost will surge when you include flights, accommodation, and meals.
Canada’s low rates and high-quality facilities are what made it a destination for many birth tourists.
Having a Baby in Canada vs The US: Where is Better?
Canada has one of the best healthcare systems globally, and the health service can easily compete with that of the US. The standard of living in Canada beats the US in many aspects, like access to education, safety, and more. So having Canadian citizenship is a great idea.
While the birth tourism industry in America is on a grand scale with many providers offering services in packages, Canada’s birth tourism level is also at a record high.
