This PhD student makes $40,160 a year. How does she spend it?
“I don’t keep alcohol at home—it’s too expensive”
Who: Jessica Gosio, 29
What she does: She’s a PhD student at U of T, completing research at a major hospital
What she makes: $40,160 a year
Where she lives: A one-bedroom rental on Hospital Row
Regular Expenses
Rent: $1,150 a month. “I’m lucky because my parents subsidize my rent and phone as long as I’m a student.”
Transit: $180 a month. “I live near the hospital where I work, so I walk a lot. I mostly spend on ride shares and the GO train I take to visit my parents in York Region.”
Groceries: $250 a month. “My closest grocery store is Longo’s, but I make the trek to Lucky Moose in Chinatown for cheaper produce.”
More Toronto Budgets
Going out: $500 a month. “I’ll eat out about three times a month and go for drinks maybe twice a month. It’s gotten so expensive lately, especially downtown.”
Takeout: $200 a month. “I try to meal-prep for the week, but with 10-to-12-hour workdays, I often don’t have time.”
Alcohol: $50 a month. “That’s mostly for bottles to bring to parties or friends’ places. I don’t keep alcohol in my apartment—it’s too expensive.”
Coffee: $160 a month. “This one really surprised me when I checked my receipts. I’m switching to homemade matcha beverages to save money. I just bought a giant bag of matcha powder.”
Fitness: $80 a month. “I just started Muay Thai classes. I sit so much at work that I wanted to challenge myself physically.”
Savings: $1,000 a month. “The stipend for my research went up from $37,000 to $40,160 this year, so I have some extra cash to sock away.”
Recent Splurges
Trip to Portugal: $3,500. “The tickets were part of a last-minute Black Friday sale. It was my first time travelling solo, and I completely recommend it.”
Weddings: $500. “It seems like all my friends are getting married, so I’ve started saving for travel and gifts to attend their weddings. I went to three in 2023 and have three more coming up this year.”
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/this-phd-student-makes-40160-a-year-how-does-she-spend-it/&title=This PhD student makes $40,160 a year. How does she spend it?&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC2360-Edit.jpg&description=
Who: Jessica Gosio, 29
What she does: She’s a PhD student at U of T, completing research at a major hospital
What she makes: $40,160 a year
Where she lives: A one-bedroom rental on Hospital Row
Regular Expenses
Rent: $1,150 a month. “I’m lucky because my parents subsidize my rent and phone as long as I’m a student.”
Transit: $180 a month. “I live near the hospital where I work, so I walk a lot. I mostly spend on ride shares and the GO train I take to visit my parents in York Region.”
Groceries: $250 a month. “My closest grocery store is Longo’s, but I make the trek to Lucky Moose in Chinatown for cheaper produce.”
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="610812" posts="3:post_tag:cost-of-living:1:" label="More%20Toronto%20Budgets"]
Going out: $500 a month. “I’ll eat out about three times a month and go for drinks maybe twice a month. It’s gotten so expensive lately, especially downtown.”
Takeout: $200 a month. “I try to meal-prep for the week, but with 10-to-12-hour workdays, I often don’t have time.”
Alcohol: $50 a month. “That’s mostly for bottles to bring to parties or friends’ places. I don’t keep alcohol in my apartment—it’s too expensive.”
Coffee: $160 a month. “This one really surprised me when I checked my receipts. I’m switching to homemade matcha beverages to save money. I just bought a giant bag of matcha powder.”
Fitness: $80 a month. “I just started Muay Thai classes. I sit so much at work that I wanted to challenge myself physically.”
Savings: $1,000 a month. “The stipend for my research went up from $37,000 to $40,160 this year, so I have some extra cash to sock away.”
Recent Splurges
Trip to Portugal: $3,500. “The tickets were part of a last-minute Black Friday sale. It was my first time travelling solo, and I completely recommend it.”
Weddings: $500. “It seems like all my friends are getting married, so I’ve started saving for travel and gifts to attend their weddings. I went to three in 2023 and have three more coming up this year.”){kind=link}