RBC Survey: Half Canadian Parents Support Adult Children
RBC Survey: Half Canadian Parents Support Adult Children
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Key Points
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Among parents providing financial support, 56% helped pay for groceries, 43% covered an unexpected or emergency expense, 24% contributed to rent, 21% to utilities and 12% to credit-card or debt repayments.
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Support was often substantial: nearly one in five parents gave between $10,000 and $19,999, and 24% of those providing assistance gave more than $10,000.
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RBC executive Lucianna Adragna said financial independence is no longer a linear process, urging parents to ensure support helps adult children move toward independence while allowing parents to pursue their own financial goals.
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The Financial Post linked the trend to Canada’s rising cost of living: over six years, consumer prices rose nearly 23%, while shelter and food costs increased by about 30%; RBC expects living costs to continue rising over the next two to five years.
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The survey was an online poll of 1,000 Canadian parents conducted July 2–8, 2026, and the Canadian Research Insights Council cautioned that online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.
More than half of Canadian parents with adult children ages 18 to 40 gave money to help them in the past year, according to RBC. The average parent handed over $6,151 to cover groceries, rent, utilities, and emergency bills. Nearly one-third said their adult children still aren't financially independent — a sign that Canada's high cost of living is forcing young adults to rely on mom and dad much longer than before.
The trend extends deep into adulthood. Among parents with children ages 35 to 40, one in five said their kids remain dependent, and more than one-third still provide them money. RBC warned that constant support can hurt parents' retirement plans, but also said financial independence is no longer a straight path — some adults need help to get there.
How Canadian Parents Spend on Adult Children
Groceries and emergency bills top the list. Among parents giving money, 56% paid for food, while 43% covered unexpected expenses like car repairs or medical costs, RBC found. Rent and utilities came next: 24% chipped in for rent and 21% for utility bills. Just 12% helped pay down credit card debt or loans.
The dollar amounts are substantial. Nearly one in five parents gave between $10,000 and $19,999 per year. Another 24% of those providing support gave more than $10,000. Some parents are essentially bankrolling their adult children's basic living costs, not just emergency help.
Canada's Cost of Living Squeeze
Rising prices are the main culprit. Over six years, Financial Post reported that consumer prices in Canada jumped nearly 23%. But shelter and food — the basics — climbed even faster at about 30%. Rent, groceries, and heat now consume a much bigger share of young adults' paychecks than they did a decade ago.
The pain won't stop soon. RBC expects living costs to keep rising over the next two to five years. Young people earning similar salaries to past generations now face bills that eat up far more of their income, forcing parents to bridge the gap.
A Risky Trap for Parents' Retirement
RBC executive Lucianna Adragna warned that endless support can derail parents' own financial plans. "Financial independence is no longer linear," she said, meaning adult children need help but parents must also protect their retirement savings. Giving too much now could leave parents short later.
The key is balance. Parents should help their adult children move toward independence — not create permanent dependence. That means supporting a child through job training or emergency hardship, but setting clear limits so parents can save for their own future.
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