A family’s Rs 50 lakh investment in a Canadian master’s degree highlights the gap between headline salaries and actual savings, prompting a reevaluation of overseas education returns.
A social media post about a family spending about Rs 50 lakh on a master’s degree in Canada has reignited debate over whether an overseas qualification always delivers the financial payoff many households expect. According to the Hindi-language report, the student later found work in Toronto on a salary of about CAD 55,000 a year, but once tax, rent, food and transport were deducted, the amount left to save was far smaller than many would assume.
Wealth adviser Harsh Gupta, who shared the anecdote online, used it to argue that families often focus too heavily on headline pay and not enough on net income. That distinction matters in Canada, where costs for international students can be substantial. A 2026 overview from Gabble.ai puts annual tuition for many master’s programmes at CAD 12,000 to CAD 35,000 and says total yearly expenses, including accommodation and insurance, can reach CAD 30,000 to CAD 60,000.
Salary data also shows why the final take-home figure can disappoint. StudentBuddy says starting pay for Canadian graduates varies widely by field, with social sciences often beginning around CAD 55,000 while software, data and finance roles can pay far more. UpGrad and Coursera similarly report stronger earnings for business, engineering and technology graduates, but those figures still need to be weighed against local living costs and immigration rules.
The broader lesson is not that studying abroad is a bad financial decision, but that it is rarely a simple one. Analysts and education advisers consistently point to the need for a full calculation before committing: tuition, borrowing, rent, taxes, job prospects and the likely pace of savings. For some families, the return may still be worthwhile. For others, the same money invested at home could prove more effective over time.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
