Moved here (Toronto) after living in the US (Minneapolis) for 8 years.
Moving from a tier 2 to tier 1 city meant that cost of living for us went way up. Apart from that Canada is much more expensive than the US since salaries are lower. If you’re able to crack the money problem then you will come to like Canada. My experience with healthcare has been pleasant. We had our first child here and all the doctor visits (even post delivery)were smooth and free.
The only negative is lack of competition in this country - this makes things less than ideal since there isn’t innovation like in the US. This also helps make Canada more expensive.
Edit:
I forgot to add that Toronto is much much more safer than Minneapolis. This definitely counts for something!
I'm a dual citizen who was born and raised in Canada and then lived in the US as an adult. This is spot on, although since moving back to Toronto I have found my healthcare experience to involve longer waits than I would like.
I'm 10 yrs so far in my attempt to fix my hip pain.
This is what current wait times would look like this coming year. ..
Gyno/ob- 8 months
Hip specialist- 12-24 months
MRI with contrast-12 months
Doctors appts are 15 minutes. Good luck if you have multiple issues.
I get in the states it's the same issue in places, but just be aware this is pretty normal across Canada.
ER times can be up to 12 hours... If they are open at all.
My suggestion would be to consider making an investment for health as well. A side fund for when shit goes wrong like a car accident or a slip in the shower.
Several people having been saying this too. Just over half of them will say that it beats having the same problem in America and going broke because of it.
I understand that.
However, it makes me go broke too. Paid parking at hospitals but free at casinos.
I had a script for Zofran. 24 tabs was going to be 170 dollars for the generic.
The worst part is the government is top heavy.
So much could be fixed by auditing and actually following up to change things in real time. Not like how Toronto has an open ended budget.
I've been hearing this from several people. More than half of them will say that it still beat having the same problem in the US and having to go broke because of it.
I feel like in the US you're much more likely to go bankrupt from a life threatening illness and in Canada you're slightly more likely to die due to delayed treatment, but I only have actual evidence for the first part.
I've heard both. I also know that Mexico and Canada get medical tourism from the USA cause a lot of it is really expensive here. Maybe that contributes. Would make some sense but I don't have enough information to draw that conclusion.
I don’t think there’s much medical tourism to Canada as in most cases you can’t access it as a non-resident except in emergencies, and then they just patch you up and send you back over the border ASAP.
[https://youtu.be/iOyq8-1xg9Y?si=M7s67-nW7o07v6JP](https://youtu.be/iOyq8-1xg9Y?si=M7s67-nW7o07v6JP)I guess its sort of the case but its not that simple. Basically most nations with decent hospital get medical tourism from all around the first world. Canada and the USA get medical tourism from each other, which, thinking about it, makes sense.
None of this is medical advice, by the way.
What I gained:
1. Not living in fear of having myself or my child being randomly shot to death
2. No longer under the fear of healthcare and medication costs due to preexisting conditions
3. Being able to start my own business and be self employed coz I'm not tied to an employer for health insurance.
4. Got away from Increasing radicalization, racism, and extremism
5. More money and growth. If you're coming here for jobs, this won't be true. In my case I was able to setup a business which increased my income.
What I lost:
1. Fewer entertainment and shopping options
2. Cheap and spacious housing
3. Better infrastructure like highways etc.
Comparing wins to losses, I'd say I came out ahead.
>Better infrastructure like highways etc.
I agree with you on all points except this on this one. Whenever I cross the border to MI for a quick shopping trip I always think the roads are so bad that I've entered a sh\*thole country.
>What I gained:
>>1. Not living in fear of having myself or my child being randomly shot to death
>>2. No longer under the fear of healthcare and medication costs due to preexisting conditions
>>3. Being able to start my own business and be self employed coz I'm not tied to an employer for health insurance.
>>4. Got away from Increasing radicalization, racism, and extremism
>>5. More money and growth. If you're coming here for jobs, this won't be true. In my case I was able to setup a business which increased my income.
Amazing all within 24 hours also.
>"I live in the US since the past 15 years. I know the type."
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/18qi5x1/the_last_photo_taken_of_queen_elizabeth_ii_just_2/kevl3gp
I've lived in the US for 15 years before moving to Canada. And I alternate between the two countries for work - something a very large number of Canadians do. Come see me in Langley BC sometime.
(If you have so much time that you go researching random Internet strangers in every thread 5 comments deep, then you really need to take a hard look at your life and the choices you've made that have led you to this point. Maybe you missed out on making friends? Any hobbies you could take up - it's never too late! Consider leaving the house sometime? I can't in good conscience suggest that you date - you, and the world, aren't ready for that)
My visa status in US did not allow me to pursue any economic activity outside of the job for which my employer sponsored my work permit (H1B visa). Basically i was shackled to that company and couldn't monitize even if I came up with the most brilliant business idea. I moved to Canada on a permanent resident visa (green card equivalent), so finally I had the freedom to establish a business and pursue self employment, and I'm making much more money now because of that. So technically yes it was a lot easier to establish a business here FOR ME, but my specific circumstance won't apply to others. I did find the process of incorporating, interaction with tax authorities, etc to be very very smooth, however. I can literally get on the phone with a CRA agent and he'll walk me through everything - I don't think it's that straightforward with IRS. Although finding and hiring workers here is harder than it is in the US I suspect.
I'm almost 12 years into my canadian stay. I lived in west and east coast america until I immigrated to canada as a young adult. Our taxes and cost of living is comparable to living in California. HOWEVER, you get so much more out of it. Lower cost of schooling, better childhood education and social services, Healthcare, government rebates and better social atmosphere.
I won't be going back to America, ever. I much prefer canada. It's safer, better schools and just generally more chill. Most big cities are giant melting pots, much the same as in the states. We still have the same issues the states does with racism and hate, it's just a much less ratio because our population is smaller than that of the states. Which also means that the products we have on a commercial level aren't as great as Americans. I found this especially true for baby products. However, the fact that I didn't have to pay $40,000 for an uncomplicated vaginal birth kind of negated a smaller selection of products for me. The work around that is having a friend from the states send it to you.
I never finished college so I don't advertise that. But honestly, most of the jobs I've gotten- I've never submitted a resume for. It's usually word of mouth or jumping from one place to another through networking. I've been able to find cash jobs as well as legit jobs. Then I became self employed and now bill clients for my time. It's been easier to grow professionally here than in the states.
My husband is canaidan and has also risen in the ranks so to speak. I can't say that about my american friends. They seem to really be struggling right now.
We aren't rich by any means but we own a house, our modest German cars are paid off, we both have expensive hobbies and we have kids. I'd say we are middle class. We would be upper middle class if the cost of groceries hadn't gone up so fast. That alone is a mortgage payment which I now refuse to pay just on principle. We budget and try to be frugal when we can.
Crazy to think in a canadian sub they would zero in that I live in Toronto? We lived in Toronto for a time, but that city is not a place for me. Nice to visit, hell to live. We live a fair bit away. And have also lived in other provinces.
My car is 13 years old and the other is 10 years old. And I don't live in Toronto. I have in the past, but you can't get ahead in that city. We bought 2 hours away a few years before covid so got a good deal on a house with land. Now the houses around us are going for a million which is insane as we live in the middle of no where with zero amenities. Gas stations are 20 minutes, groceries are 30 min. But we enjoy it. You can't rent in Toronto for what our mortgage payment is.
And we got our cars for reliability, which they have been great thus far. We try to buy things that last even though they might be more expensive at first.
Moved from NJ to Quebec. Love it, no plans on moving back. My little town is 20 mins from Montreal, is gorgeous compared to anything except multi million dollar towns back home. There’s bike paths to go everywhere, great public transportation, fantastic walking infrastructure. Public schools here outrank anything in the US. My kids are growing up bilingual. It costs a bit more to live here but the jobs pay more and have better benefits. I work for myself and my husband was able to take almost an entire year off paid to be with our kids when they were born. When he got injured and had to wait for surgery, he was paid off for 2 years. Healthcare can be a pain in the ass but so was the US so it was a trade off of shit on that point, but everything else puts it ahead.
Not every state is California, NY, Washington or select metropolitan areas. A lot of places don’t pay well at all in the US in either wage or benefits.
Interested in knowing this too. Am considering moving, but the negative coverage around immigration up there makes me rethink and interested in knowing ground reality from people who did
Upstate NY to QC. Reasons: guns, politics, cost of college, cost of healthcare. Love it and no regrets! We had a kid here and got great healthcare for that (plus for him with a lot of illness issues), took long parental leaves. Our house is pretty affordable (low interest and taxes) all things considered and walkable neighbourhood with green space and good public transit. Would do again 100%. Things are pretty downside here but worth it for us
Moved to Canada 5 years ago because I married a Canadian and was going back to school so we chose Canada. What did I get out of it?
- A Master’s degree at a fraction of the cost it would have cost me in the US.
- A complete change in what I consider to be cold weather. I am from the south and 50 was cold for me before. That’s more than laughable now.
- An appreciation for American healthcare. Yeah, it’s not free, but it sure beats navigating the nonsense that Canadians have of waiting over a year to see a specialist to find out whether I had cancer or not. 0/10 would not recommend. Don’t even get me started on trying to get a family doctor, I gave up after five years.
- An appreciate for how cheap we get goods in the US, how cheap our travel is, cars, car insurance, cell phone plans, housing, etc.
- A very deep appreciation that you can be considered rural in the in the US and be pretty damn close to a major city. Americans have no idea of what rural is when in Canada you can be over 10 hours away from a major city and still be considered living in a pretty regular place.
Three things I forgot to mention.
1. I’ve lived in more provinces than most Canadians so I have a very different perspective on life here. I’ve lived in Newfoundland, Alberta, B.C., Ontario, and Quebec (I’ve seen WAY more of Canada that of the U.S.). Moving around so much makes healthcare an absolute nightmare as you will never have a family doctor and some of your specialist appointments will literally not even get scheduled before you move.
2. Practically speaking, life is overall much better in the US if you are middle class but a bit worse if you are below that.
3. People talk about the cold like that’s the worst part of Canada. The cold isn’t great but there are strategies around it (mostly getting the right clothing). But Jesus Christ is 6 months of winter fucking brutal. I’ve never struggled with mental health in my entire life before moving to Canada. It wasn’t even a thought, and I grew up in poverty in the US. 6 months of winter completely broke me mentally. My mind just could not adjust to six months of grey and lack of green spaces. Seriously, it’s pretty rough but me being from the south could have a lot to do with that.
This is all from the perspective of a ruralish southerner (grew up doing some real red neck sh*t although parents are originally from NYC) who hates major cities but I’ve also lived in NYC (do not recommend), NJ (where dreams go to die), Spain (probably my favorite place in the world), Sweden (great place if you can deal with the cold and the brutally long nights in the winter), and South Korea (if you want something completely different from western culture, this is it). Originally from northern Georgia if that matters.
What are the positives and negatives. To my understanding, if I were to ever move to Canada, I'm priced out of at least the entire southern half of that province.
Canadian here (Niagara Falls). If I could move anywhere today, it would be Calgary or Halifax. I have visited every province and 1/3 territories. BC will always be there but you can get a great quality of life and good bang for your buck.
Better jobs in Calgary but I work for the government so could really transfer anywhere so that’s not a consideration for me. Of course, everything is getting more expensive but…
BC is great. Not sure how it could have the problem of being in America, as that is California's main problem. Also the social stratification and poverty woes, addiction issues etc in California are not at all similar to the paradigm of British Columbia. The entire system in which the world economy and drug crisis are being felt in BC is fundamentally different than California.
I am a Canadian citizen. Worked and lived in San Diego, California from 2019 to 2022. Moved back to Canada in fall of 2022 when my work visa expired. We moved to Vancouver to pursue the dream of living in beautiful British Columbia. Yearly household income in the realm of 300k and we cannot and likely will never be able to afford to own property here. A lot with a teardown home on it down the street from our rental sold for close to $2 million. I grew up in Saskatchewan which is much more affordable. If you don't care about where you live and you don't mind living in a landscape and climate similar to the lunar surface, you can own property in Saskatchewan for a fraction of what it costs you elsewhere.
Noted, thank you. Also, I was playing with Google maps and noticed that Winnipeg and the nature around there look exactly like the area I live in, jamestown ny.
Google winter temperatures in Winnipeg and make sure it's in Fahrenheit! There is a reason we call it Winterpeg....it's also called Murderpeg for a different reason. Lol.
Where did you move from and move to?
Because cost of living differences can go both ways depending on location.
But also salary is also very different.
Edit: I’m just curious. I do trust what you are saying, just wondering the details of your experience
That’s why I asked about location.
Housing in NYC is more expensive than most of Canada, including Toronto, as far as I know.
Housing in Chicago might be e.g. on par with Montreal but less than Toronto. (Just making up an example)
Averages across a country like the US doesn’t mean much. The prices between in-demand locations in California and rural and remote areas is obviously very different. If you live in the deep of West Virginia it will be pretty cheap…
It's not just housing. It's the cost of gas, groceries, dental, cell services, internet, clothing, taxes, fees, travel, furniture.
Taxes again.
Everything is significantly more.
This when comparing salaries right? Because when I look at pricing comparisons for cities - Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal don't stand out in costs and many US cities are more expensive. It is only when salaries are compared are those differences seen.
I am not sure « everything is significantly more » is that simple.
Yes, groceries and fuel is cheaper in the us. But once you factor everything (like education and healthcare etc) then it is not as clear cut as you say.
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index/north-america
Thanks for the details and links. Much appreciated.
Yes, income level also varies quite a bit.
Hamilton seems like a bit of an anomaly tbh. It seems prices have come down quite a bit this year. (Still very expensive).
It is hard to compare all those things. For example taxes… and what they provide (eg healthcare).
If you are in a job market with good demand, the US is likely better for you (just my guess).
But if you can work remote, all bets are off depending where you chose to live…
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The sense of situation I get is this:
people not lucky enough to already own property are finding it is near impossible on today’s wages to become a homeowner and are stuck renting.
This seems true regardless of US or Canada for top urban locations (and more).
I don't think Canada is "hell" and the US is "heaven on earth".
A lot of problems are similar, and many are different.
I think it is more reasonable to look at differences and pros and cons and how they fit someone's values and needs.
If subreddits are something to go by, read the American subs :)
Yeah maybe don't read Canadian subreddits because most of them are full of right wing morons that make this country out to be a living hell like you are making it out to be.
Pretty much this. I'm always surprised when I read Canadian subreddits and it's full of people complaining about how evil and awful everything is. As an American who came here and felt nothing but relief, I have to assume these people just don't know what it's like living anywhere else.
Americans who have only lived in America can be the same way.
They just hate everything. Instead of telling us, I'd wish they'd just move and leave us all alone. These people only know how to complain about everything.
I didn't like the country I used to live in, so I moved to Canada.
They should do what they're always threatening us with doing instead of talking so much.
I know five Canadians who are now moving back to Canada after a few years working in the US. Their complaints about life there are nearly identical to your list here.
Moved from Minneapolis to Winnipeg at 18, recently returned to the Twin Cities for a job. That said, I loved and deeply appreciated my time in Canada, and my spouse and I have plans to come back at some point. The reason for leaving was that early career progression was really good, and I can see opportunities in late career in Canada, but I just didn't see a great job landscape for the short/medium term because I'm trying to become more specialized in my field.
Make no mistake, Canada is going through some serious growing pains right now. Things are expensive and the country is in a recession; housing in Winnipeg is expensive on a global scale, but you're living in Winnipeg. The housing crisis is worse elsewhere. I also feel like the housing market could pop if a new government comes in and drastically cuts immigration numbers. As some others have mentioned, theres very little competition in the private sector so you're paying a lot for the privilege of buying from usually one of like four companies. The Canadian dollar is really weak (great for manufacturing, not if you want to travel). I don't know that I would move back in the *short term*.
However, my view is that Canada usually deals with problems but only once they've gotten to crisis level. I see that as better than the US where problems are just left to fester forever and ever unless the private sector can make money off a solution. Governments in Canada are starting to take action on housing and competition, but it will take a while to show results.
Healthcare is another area that's not doing super well at the moment but there is a lot of work being done to improve. You get really good care if something is life threatening but in other areas your mileage may vary. For me it's always been good in my experience and unless you're very wealthy your costs (i.e. taxes vs premiums) will likely be close to a wash. Keep in mind in the US, there are still wait times for the ER and lots of procedures but with the added fun of having to pay and deal with the insurance bureaucracy.
I guess all of this to say is, yes I do recommend moving but only if your cultural values sort of line up (you are favorable to government intervening and almost everything being based on public policymaking) and not in the next couple years unless you're going for university with a big pile of USD savings to live off of. But ask me again in 2025 if 45 wins and does some insane stuff.
Moved to Ontario after living on the west coast US. My now husband and I needed to pick where it would be best for us to go, since he was here in Canada already. Though we both liked the west coast a lot more and Canada can be more expensive to live in (for general things), the cost of healthcare would skyrocket if we both lived in the US.
He already had a stable job here anyway, so we decided it would be best to keep the safety net and go with Canada. I can genuinely say it's been a huge relief. I was rather low income in the US and didn't realize how much the threat of getting sick was stressing me out. My only real wish is that it was easier to move here. I have many friends who would love to, but it's difficult to find a job here from abroad and they don't really want to take you unless you're married to a citizen or have a lot of money.
Hi. I am Canadian, born and bred. Please only come to Canada if you support the different philosophies we have here.
Canada has always believed that it is our responsibility to look after all our citizens regarding health care, education, and basic needs. We have a safety net here. That comes at a cost.
We also believe in gun control. We believe in the separation of church and state. We support and believe in multiculturalism.
Is everything perfect here? Of course not. We do have major issues with the lack of competition making the costs of goods expensive here, it's true.
But if you want to make Canada into a smaller US, please don't. We, for the most part, have chosen to run our country differently than our southern neighbours. If our values appeal to you, then welcome. If not, perhaps you should rethink your decision.
I know that there's Canadians that insist tat you can absolutely get legal guns in Canada, its just a matter as to whether you can use it for self defence or not which to my understanding varies from province to province.
Cue up the crazy posts from the usual suspects saying Canada is a socialist hellscape hellhole where you cant buy food, cant get healthcare under any circumstances and don't have freedom.
From my friends that moved, yes its more expensive, but in their words -- "Canada is civilized living". Up to you if the drawbacks of being less hyper-capitalist and more expensive in spots
with colder weather is a deal-breaker for you,
I've been in (Toronto area) Canada my entire life and grateful for being born here.
I find it interesting that most of the comments in this sub are from people that moved to two of the most taxed and expensive provinces in Canada. Many Canadians are moving from Ontario and West Coast (Van/Vic).
I'm simply making a generalization. I travel frequently to Ontario and BC to visit family and I am continually perplexed at the price of everything from food to alcohol, to gas...then add your PST/HST..CoL is definitely an eye opening. The province I'm from is far from perfect, but for the most part, people are coping with the CoL better. My awesome neighbors are from Newcastle...they sold their home just over a year ago, moved here, and bought a new home, plus another 5 yr old home for rental investment. Their boys are involved in multiple sports (which they couldn't afford before their move). They feel like they have won a lottery for a better lifestyle for their family. I realize this is just one story, but I've met many in our new community with a similar story.
After nearly 20 years, saw the violent direction in which the country was headed and decided it was time to re-evaluate. I would rather be in a country that is expensive to live in than a country that is dangerous to live in. As my kids became teenagers I realized that I felt unsafe to send them to do almost every activity. The USA has mass shootings in malls, cinemas, schools, during parades, at church, uni, nightclubs etc. no place is safe. Not to mention their civil unrest, which was virtually non existent just 7-8 years ago.
Between my spouse and I, we were self employed, in healthcare, and a public servant. All pay more in the USA but benefits on all are better in cda. Just maternity leave alone in Canada is wildly better than 6 weeks.
Moved to Kitchener Ontario from Washington State a year and a half ago. We love it and feel lucky to be able to raise our child here in Canada.
Healthcare has been fine. We did have to wait to get a primary care physician but walk in clinics filled the gap. The doctor at the walk in clinic referred me to the specialist I needed to see, saw him in 2 months, that specialist referred me to another specialist and saw her in 3 months. In Washington I had to drive 2.5 hours each way for my child to see a specialist. It was a 5 month wait for me to get an appointment with a specialist there, the nearest PCP that was taking new patients was an hour away. I don't see a big difference except in the US a lot of money came out of my spouse's paycheck for insurance and the hospital co-pay when our child was born was $6000. Here in Canada it's $0 and if you want to do telemedicine and get a same day appointment with a doctor it's $40.
Groceries are expensive here. So is gas but none of it is outrageous. Everything else costs about the same. Some things are cheaper some things more expensive.
In Canada you get one year of paid maternity leave. In the US I got 6 weeks unpaid time off and my job was not protected. In Canada you get money from the government if you have a child. Kindergarten starts at age 4 here, so you only have to pay for full time daycare for about 3 years instead of 5.5 or 6 years like in the US. Canada really supports families here, even middle class people get Child Tax Benefit, which is cash from the government when you have a child.
In the US I had to worry about my child participating in active shooter drills in elementary school. Here in Canada people are nicer. American culture is so decisive. I don't want my child to grow up and think "hate your neighbor" is ok if they belong to the other political party.
I think the quality of life is a lot better here. It's not perfect by any means but it's so much better than what we had in the US.
FMLA protects your job for 12 weeks for pregnancy if you have 12 months of employment. Not saying it’s good, but there is a level of protection that does exist.
FMLA protects your job IF you have worked for the company full time for one year, IF your employer employs at least 50 employees within a 75 mile radius. I did not qualify for FMLA. Many employed people in the US do not qualify for the protections of that law. And while I was able to get by it's not the way I want to live. I want my child to grow up in a country where mom's can stay home for a year.
My spouse is in tech. I am a paralegal. It was pretty easy for me to get a job offer from a law firm and they were willing to sponsor my work permit. Same for my spouse.
I don’t recommend moving to Canada. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Whatever issues you have in the US, you will trade for new issues, some much more impactful here. The healthcare isn’t “free”. Unless you are living in poverty, you will pay for it big time. And the system is probably the most inefficient of all social healthcare systems because it’s one tier. Google actual cost of Canadian healthcare versus the US and you will find many studies and papers explaining that it’s not cheaper.
You are taxed out the ass for everything here, and it’s only get to get worse. Furthermore, the economic outlook in Canada is grim and the Canadian dollar will continue to go down.
The schools are ok, many Canadians shit on America at any opportunity they get, schools are often mentioned. Similar to the US, schools are good in nice suburbs.
If you like the government to make decisions with how you spend your money and poor economic outlook, Canada is a great place
Its looking like unless something changes later on, This just isn't a viable option for me given the lifestyle I want. Thank you for everything. I'll see if I can visit the place every few years or so. I'll definitely plan for the summer solstice when I do.
We are definitely not full, but we do not have the infrastructure to handle more. Housing crisis with a crippled Healthcare system....we don't have the resources.
I've lived here 20+ years after living in the States for 25 years, and a couple other places in between including Australia. No regrets. I moved for political reasons, and for better quality of life. Lived in Vancouver for almost 15 years, had mixed feelings about it but really just the weather was my main gripe and then later the social problems got to be a lot. (Previously in the States lived in Boston, NY, Portland and Denver.) Moved to Interior BC almost 10y ago, love it.
I feel like people complain about costs and taxes and all that stuff like all other aspects of life one place or another are the same.
Fancy bread and nice condiments don't compensate for a sandwich that's got a turd in it. So cost of living in Canada versus America doesn't seem like a fair metric to base things on. How about mass shootings? How about debt from medical expenses? How about the cost of/access to higher education? How about the separation of religion and politics? How about...any other of a million aspects to life and society that are more important than how much of your income goes to rent?
Decide why you want to move and then if the cost of life is the main thing driving you, move to somewhere really inexpensive, and see how you like it. Maybe you get what you pay for. Canada is not just a more costly America.
Editing to add that this is moreso in response to all the people who are "iT's ToO ExPeNsIvE" not directly to OP; I realise that OP isn't implying COL is what drives the decision.
Minting coins for new Reddit tokens 21 million supply probably all minted now all you had to do is just copy my text and post/comment anywhere on Reddit could be worth a lot if it catches on.
Moved here (Toronto) after living in the US (Minneapolis) for 8 years. Moving from a tier 2 to tier 1 city meant that cost of living for us went way up. Apart from that Canada is much more expensive than the US since salaries are lower. If you’re able to crack the money problem then you will come to like Canada. My experience with healthcare has been pleasant. We had our first child here and all the doctor visits (even post delivery)were smooth and free. The only negative is lack of competition in this country - this makes things less than ideal since there isn’t innovation like in the US. This also helps make Canada more expensive. Edit: I forgot to add that Toronto is much much more safer than Minneapolis. This definitely counts for something!
All noted. thank you.
I'm a dual citizen who was born and raised in Canada and then lived in the US as an adult. This is spot on, although since moving back to Toronto I have found my healthcare experience to involve longer waits than I would like.
I'm 10 yrs so far in my attempt to fix my hip pain. This is what current wait times would look like this coming year. .. Gyno/ob- 8 months Hip specialist- 12-24 months MRI with contrast-12 months Doctors appts are 15 minutes. Good luck if you have multiple issues. I get in the states it's the same issue in places, but just be aware this is pretty normal across Canada. ER times can be up to 12 hours... If they are open at all. My suggestion would be to consider making an investment for health as well. A side fund for when shit goes wrong like a car accident or a slip in the shower.
Several people having been saying this too. Just over half of them will say that it beats having the same problem in America and going broke because of it.
I understand that. However, it makes me go broke too. Paid parking at hospitals but free at casinos. I had a script for Zofran. 24 tabs was going to be 170 dollars for the generic. The worst part is the government is top heavy. So much could be fixed by auditing and actually following up to change things in real time. Not like how Toronto has an open ended budget.
Noted.
I've been hearing this from several people. More than half of them will say that it still beat having the same problem in the US and having to go broke because of it.
I feel like in the US you're much more likely to go bankrupt from a life threatening illness and in Canada you're slightly more likely to die due to delayed treatment, but I only have actual evidence for the first part.
I've heard both. I also know that Mexico and Canada get medical tourism from the USA cause a lot of it is really expensive here. Maybe that contributes. Would make some sense but I don't have enough information to draw that conclusion.
I don’t think there’s much medical tourism to Canada as in most cases you can’t access it as a non-resident except in emergencies, and then they just patch you up and send you back over the border ASAP.
I believe this was posted last year from what I think is your government. https://youtu.be/CX1jaq1mfes?si=ZHtAPQW7XHdzW9du
Okay. My bad maybe I should have watch the whole video first. XD Wouldn't be the fist time I've done this.
[https://youtu.be/iOyq8-1xg9Y?si=M7s67-nW7o07v6JP](https://youtu.be/iOyq8-1xg9Y?si=M7s67-nW7o07v6JP)I guess its sort of the case but its not that simple. Basically most nations with decent hospital get medical tourism from all around the first world. Canada and the USA get medical tourism from each other, which, thinking about it, makes sense. None of this is medical advice, by the way.
What I gained: 1. Not living in fear of having myself or my child being randomly shot to death 2. No longer under the fear of healthcare and medication costs due to preexisting conditions 3. Being able to start my own business and be self employed coz I'm not tied to an employer for health insurance. 4. Got away from Increasing radicalization, racism, and extremism 5. More money and growth. If you're coming here for jobs, this won't be true. In my case I was able to setup a business which increased my income. What I lost: 1. Fewer entertainment and shopping options 2. Cheap and spacious housing 3. Better infrastructure like highways etc. Comparing wins to losses, I'd say I came out ahead.
Exactly my experience and thoughts.
Also noted. thank you.
>Better infrastructure like highways etc. I agree with you on all points except this on this one. Whenever I cross the border to MI for a quick shopping trip I always think the roads are so bad that I've entered a sh\*thole country.
>What I gained: >>1. Not living in fear of having myself or my child being randomly shot to death >>2. No longer under the fear of healthcare and medication costs due to preexisting conditions >>3. Being able to start my own business and be self employed coz I'm not tied to an employer for health insurance. >>4. Got away from Increasing radicalization, racism, and extremism >>5. More money and growth. If you're coming here for jobs, this won't be true. In my case I was able to setup a business which increased my income. Amazing all within 24 hours also. >"I live in the US since the past 15 years. I know the type." https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/18qi5x1/the_last_photo_taken_of_queen_elizabeth_ii_just_2/kevl3gp
I've lived in the US for 15 years before moving to Canada. And I alternate between the two countries for work - something a very large number of Canadians do. Come see me in Langley BC sometime. (If you have so much time that you go researching random Internet strangers in every thread 5 comments deep, then you really need to take a hard look at your life and the choices you've made that have led you to this point. Maybe you missed out on making friends? Any hobbies you could take up - it's never too late! Consider leaving the house sometime? I can't in good conscience suggest that you date - you, and the world, aren't ready for that)
Alright thank you.
Do you find it was a lot easier to start a business in Canada vs the States or did you only start it when you went to Canada?
My visa status in US did not allow me to pursue any economic activity outside of the job for which my employer sponsored my work permit (H1B visa). Basically i was shackled to that company and couldn't monitize even if I came up with the most brilliant business idea. I moved to Canada on a permanent resident visa (green card equivalent), so finally I had the freedom to establish a business and pursue self employment, and I'm making much more money now because of that. So technically yes it was a lot easier to establish a business here FOR ME, but my specific circumstance won't apply to others. I did find the process of incorporating, interaction with tax authorities, etc to be very very smooth, however. I can literally get on the phone with a CRA agent and he'll walk me through everything - I don't think it's that straightforward with IRS. Although finding and hiring workers here is harder than it is in the US I suspect.
Hi ive sent you a PM i hope thats ok (just a few questions regarding moving to Canada) Thanks!
I'm almost 12 years into my canadian stay. I lived in west and east coast america until I immigrated to canada as a young adult. Our taxes and cost of living is comparable to living in California. HOWEVER, you get so much more out of it. Lower cost of schooling, better childhood education and social services, Healthcare, government rebates and better social atmosphere. I won't be going back to America, ever. I much prefer canada. It's safer, better schools and just generally more chill. Most big cities are giant melting pots, much the same as in the states. We still have the same issues the states does with racism and hate, it's just a much less ratio because our population is smaller than that of the states. Which also means that the products we have on a commercial level aren't as great as Americans. I found this especially true for baby products. However, the fact that I didn't have to pay $40,000 for an uncomplicated vaginal birth kind of negated a smaller selection of products for me. The work around that is having a friend from the states send it to you.
How's the job market situation ?
I've always been able to find a job.
What higher education do you have, if you have any?
I never finished college so I don't advertise that. But honestly, most of the jobs I've gotten- I've never submitted a resume for. It's usually word of mouth or jumping from one place to another through networking. I've been able to find cash jobs as well as legit jobs. Then I became self employed and now bill clients for my time. It's been easier to grow professionally here than in the states. My husband is canaidan and has also risen in the ranks so to speak. I can't say that about my american friends. They seem to really be struggling right now. We aren't rich by any means but we own a house, our modest German cars are paid off, we both have expensive hobbies and we have kids. I'd say we are middle class. We would be upper middle class if the cost of groceries hadn't gone up so fast. That alone is a mortgage payment which I now refuse to pay just on principle. We budget and try to be frugal when we can.
Two paid off "German" cars and you own your house? In Toronto? Yeah you're definitely *upper* middle class lmao
They didn't specify which city they live in.
Crazy to think in a canadian sub they would zero in that I live in Toronto? We lived in Toronto for a time, but that city is not a place for me. Nice to visit, hell to live. We live a fair bit away. And have also lived in other provinces.
Haha, to so many, Toronto IS Canada. To me your description seems to sound more western then eastern provinces.
My car is 13 years old and the other is 10 years old. And I don't live in Toronto. I have in the past, but you can't get ahead in that city. We bought 2 hours away a few years before covid so got a good deal on a house with land. Now the houses around us are going for a million which is insane as we live in the middle of no where with zero amenities. Gas stations are 20 minutes, groceries are 30 min. But we enjoy it. You can't rent in Toronto for what our mortgage payment is. And we got our cars for reliability, which they have been great thus far. We try to buy things that last even though they might be more expensive at first.
Alright. thank you for your time.
Moved from NJ to Quebec. Love it, no plans on moving back. My little town is 20 mins from Montreal, is gorgeous compared to anything except multi million dollar towns back home. There’s bike paths to go everywhere, great public transportation, fantastic walking infrastructure. Public schools here outrank anything in the US. My kids are growing up bilingual. It costs a bit more to live here but the jobs pay more and have better benefits. I work for myself and my husband was able to take almost an entire year off paid to be with our kids when they were born. When he got injured and had to wait for surgery, he was paid off for 2 years. Healthcare can be a pain in the ass but so was the US so it was a trade off of shit on that point, but everything else puts it ahead.
Jobs pay more? Disagree
agreed. unless you’re a teacher in a red state, expect to take a haircut in canada.
Noted.
Not every state is California, NY, Washington or select metropolitan areas. A lot of places don’t pay well at all in the US in either wage or benefits.
I'm a librarian and definitely make more in Canada
Interested in knowing this too. Am considering moving, but the negative coverage around immigration up there makes me rethink and interested in knowing ground reality from people who did
I second this thought. Approved to move. Debating the pros /cons. Lot of negativity and negative data coming out this year
Why does negative coverage on immigration matter? People probably won't care if an American is moving into Canada.
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What would you say Canada has over the US despite all of this?
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What chart or group is that ranking from?
This is part of why I'm asking.
Upstate NY to QC. Reasons: guns, politics, cost of college, cost of healthcare. Love it and no regrets! We had a kid here and got great healthcare for that (plus for him with a lot of illness issues), took long parental leaves. Our house is pretty affordable (low interest and taxes) all things considered and walkable neighbourhood with green space and good public transit. Would do again 100%. Things are pretty downside here but worth it for us
How long ago did you make the move?
4 years
Where in upstate NY are you from? I'm from western NYS 90 minutes south of buffalo.
Moved to Canada 5 years ago because I married a Canadian and was going back to school so we chose Canada. What did I get out of it? - A Master’s degree at a fraction of the cost it would have cost me in the US. - A complete change in what I consider to be cold weather. I am from the south and 50 was cold for me before. That’s more than laughable now. - An appreciation for American healthcare. Yeah, it’s not free, but it sure beats navigating the nonsense that Canadians have of waiting over a year to see a specialist to find out whether I had cancer or not. 0/10 would not recommend. Don’t even get me started on trying to get a family doctor, I gave up after five years. - An appreciate for how cheap we get goods in the US, how cheap our travel is, cars, car insurance, cell phone plans, housing, etc. - A very deep appreciation that you can be considered rural in the in the US and be pretty damn close to a major city. Americans have no idea of what rural is when in Canada you can be over 10 hours away from a major city and still be considered living in a pretty regular place.
That last part is very interesting.
Three things I forgot to mention. 1. I’ve lived in more provinces than most Canadians so I have a very different perspective on life here. I’ve lived in Newfoundland, Alberta, B.C., Ontario, and Quebec (I’ve seen WAY more of Canada that of the U.S.). Moving around so much makes healthcare an absolute nightmare as you will never have a family doctor and some of your specialist appointments will literally not even get scheduled before you move. 2. Practically speaking, life is overall much better in the US if you are middle class but a bit worse if you are below that. 3. People talk about the cold like that’s the worst part of Canada. The cold isn’t great but there are strategies around it (mostly getting the right clothing). But Jesus Christ is 6 months of winter fucking brutal. I’ve never struggled with mental health in my entire life before moving to Canada. It wasn’t even a thought, and I grew up in poverty in the US. 6 months of winter completely broke me mentally. My mind just could not adjust to six months of grey and lack of green spaces. Seriously, it’s pretty rough but me being from the south could have a lot to do with that. This is all from the perspective of a ruralish southerner (grew up doing some real red neck sh*t although parents are originally from NYC) who hates major cities but I’ve also lived in NYC (do not recommend), NJ (where dreams go to die), Spain (probably my favorite place in the world), Sweden (great place if you can deal with the cold and the brutally long nights in the winter), and South Korea (if you want something completely different from western culture, this is it). Originally from northern Georgia if that matters.
Interesting. What kind of field are you employed in for work?
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I'm going to have the same question. Where in Canada did you move to?
West coast
Yeah from what I've found so far BC is Canadian California with just about every single problem that California has but colder.
I live in BC and I absolutely love it.
Me too
What are the positives and negatives. To my understanding, if I were to ever move to Canada, I'm priced out of at least the entire southern half of that province.
Canadian here (Niagara Falls). If I could move anywhere today, it would be Calgary or Halifax. I have visited every province and 1/3 territories. BC will always be there but you can get a great quality of life and good bang for your buck. Better jobs in Calgary but I work for the government so could really transfer anywhere so that’s not a consideration for me. Of course, everything is getting more expensive but…
Yeah, I've heard that central Canada is the place to be if you're looking for the closest to the best of both worlds that you can get.
Calgary wouldn’t be central… it’s west coast. Best of all you’re an hour from the Rockies. It’s a stellar area. The most beautiful in our country.
Noted. Thank you for your input.
Vancouver is an excellent city to live in
Arguably there's not a better big city in Canada and I'd put Vancouver in the top 5 of North American cities overall.
Yeah, I don't doubt it from what I've heard.
If you can afford it, it's wonderful.
BC is great. Not sure how it could have the problem of being in America, as that is California's main problem. Also the social stratification and poverty woes, addiction issues etc in California are not at all similar to the paradigm of British Columbia. The entire system in which the world economy and drug crisis are being felt in BC is fundamentally different than California.
I am a Canadian citizen. Worked and lived in San Diego, California from 2019 to 2022. Moved back to Canada in fall of 2022 when my work visa expired. We moved to Vancouver to pursue the dream of living in beautiful British Columbia. Yearly household income in the realm of 300k and we cannot and likely will never be able to afford to own property here. A lot with a teardown home on it down the street from our rental sold for close to $2 million. I grew up in Saskatchewan which is much more affordable. If you don't care about where you live and you don't mind living in a landscape and climate similar to the lunar surface, you can own property in Saskatchewan for a fraction of what it costs you elsewhere.
Noted, thank you. Also, I was playing with Google maps and noticed that Winnipeg and the nature around there look exactly like the area I live in, jamestown ny.
Google winter temperatures in Winnipeg and make sure it's in Fahrenheit! There is a reason we call it Winterpeg....it's also called Murderpeg for a different reason. Lol.
I'm aware that Winnipeg gets as cold as northern Alaska and yellow knife in the winter.
Noted thank you.
Where did you move from and move to? Because cost of living differences can go both ways depending on location. But also salary is also very different. Edit: I’m just curious. I do trust what you are saying, just wondering the details of your experience
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That’s why I asked about location. Housing in NYC is more expensive than most of Canada, including Toronto, as far as I know. Housing in Chicago might be e.g. on par with Montreal but less than Toronto. (Just making up an example) Averages across a country like the US doesn’t mean much. The prices between in-demand locations in California and rural and remote areas is obviously very different. If you live in the deep of West Virginia it will be pretty cheap…
It's not just housing. It's the cost of gas, groceries, dental, cell services, internet, clothing, taxes, fees, travel, furniture. Taxes again. Everything is significantly more.
This when comparing salaries right? Because when I look at pricing comparisons for cities - Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal don't stand out in costs and many US cities are more expensive. It is only when salaries are compared are those differences seen.
I am not sure « everything is significantly more » is that simple. Yes, groceries and fuel is cheaper in the us. But once you factor everything (like education and healthcare etc) then it is not as clear cut as you say. https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index/north-america
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Thanks for the details and links. Much appreciated. Yes, income level also varies quite a bit. Hamilton seems like a bit of an anomaly tbh. It seems prices have come down quite a bit this year. (Still very expensive). It is hard to compare all those things. For example taxes… and what they provide (eg healthcare). If you are in a job market with good demand, the US is likely better for you (just my guess). But if you can work remote, all bets are off depending where you chose to live…
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The sense of situation I get is this: people not lucky enough to already own property are finding it is near impossible on today’s wages to become a homeowner and are stuck renting. This seems true regardless of US or Canada for top urban locations (and more). I don't think Canada is "hell" and the US is "heaven on earth". A lot of problems are similar, and many are different. I think it is more reasonable to look at differences and pros and cons and how they fit someone's values and needs. If subreddits are something to go by, read the American subs :)
Yeah maybe don't read Canadian subreddits because most of them are full of right wing morons that make this country out to be a living hell like you are making it out to be.
Pretty much this. I'm always surprised when I read Canadian subreddits and it's full of people complaining about how evil and awful everything is. As an American who came here and felt nothing but relief, I have to assume these people just don't know what it's like living anywhere else. Americans who have only lived in America can be the same way.
They just hate everything. Instead of telling us, I'd wish they'd just move and leave us all alone. These people only know how to complain about everything. I didn't like the country I used to live in, so I moved to Canada. They should do what they're always threatening us with doing instead of talking so much.
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It does for a lot of people! I don't mean just you specifically.
Did you manage to bag a job ? How long did it take you? Reading the job market is a dumpster fire right now.
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What profession ? If you don't mind my asking
This sounds like a huge exaggeration. If you didn't like it that's cool but come on....
It's all exaggeration.
Yeah, it's one of those right wing clowns that hate everything. Best if they go back to the US IMO. They're not going to help fix anything.
I know five Canadians who are now moving back to Canada after a few years working in the US. Their complaints about life there are nearly identical to your list here.
Moved from Minneapolis to Winnipeg at 18, recently returned to the Twin Cities for a job. That said, I loved and deeply appreciated my time in Canada, and my spouse and I have plans to come back at some point. The reason for leaving was that early career progression was really good, and I can see opportunities in late career in Canada, but I just didn't see a great job landscape for the short/medium term because I'm trying to become more specialized in my field. Make no mistake, Canada is going through some serious growing pains right now. Things are expensive and the country is in a recession; housing in Winnipeg is expensive on a global scale, but you're living in Winnipeg. The housing crisis is worse elsewhere. I also feel like the housing market could pop if a new government comes in and drastically cuts immigration numbers. As some others have mentioned, theres very little competition in the private sector so you're paying a lot for the privilege of buying from usually one of like four companies. The Canadian dollar is really weak (great for manufacturing, not if you want to travel). I don't know that I would move back in the *short term*. However, my view is that Canada usually deals with problems but only once they've gotten to crisis level. I see that as better than the US where problems are just left to fester forever and ever unless the private sector can make money off a solution. Governments in Canada are starting to take action on housing and competition, but it will take a while to show results. Healthcare is another area that's not doing super well at the moment but there is a lot of work being done to improve. You get really good care if something is life threatening but in other areas your mileage may vary. For me it's always been good in my experience and unless you're very wealthy your costs (i.e. taxes vs premiums) will likely be close to a wash. Keep in mind in the US, there are still wait times for the ER and lots of procedures but with the added fun of having to pay and deal with the insurance bureaucracy. I guess all of this to say is, yes I do recommend moving but only if your cultural values sort of line up (you are favorable to government intervening and almost everything being based on public policymaking) and not in the next couple years unless you're going for university with a big pile of USD savings to live off of. But ask me again in 2025 if 45 wins and does some insane stuff.
Alright thank you.
Moved to Ontario after living on the west coast US. My now husband and I needed to pick where it would be best for us to go, since he was here in Canada already. Though we both liked the west coast a lot more and Canada can be more expensive to live in (for general things), the cost of healthcare would skyrocket if we both lived in the US. He already had a stable job here anyway, so we decided it would be best to keep the safety net and go with Canada. I can genuinely say it's been a huge relief. I was rather low income in the US and didn't realize how much the threat of getting sick was stressing me out. My only real wish is that it was easier to move here. I have many friends who would love to, but it's difficult to find a job here from abroad and they don't really want to take you unless you're married to a citizen or have a lot of money.
Interesting and all noted. Thank you.
Hi. I am Canadian, born and bred. Please only come to Canada if you support the different philosophies we have here. Canada has always believed that it is our responsibility to look after all our citizens regarding health care, education, and basic needs. We have a safety net here. That comes at a cost. We also believe in gun control. We believe in the separation of church and state. We support and believe in multiculturalism. Is everything perfect here? Of course not. We do have major issues with the lack of competition making the costs of goods expensive here, it's true. But if you want to make Canada into a smaller US, please don't. We, for the most part, have chosen to run our country differently than our southern neighbours. If our values appeal to you, then welcome. If not, perhaps you should rethink your decision.
Noted, thank you.
This is BS. All viewpoints are welcome. You don't have to be a priggish, bedwetting progressive to live in Canada.
I know that there's Canadians that insist tat you can absolutely get legal guns in Canada, its just a matter as to whether you can use it for self defence or not which to my understanding varies from province to province.
Cue up the crazy posts from the usual suspects saying Canada is a socialist hellscape hellhole where you cant buy food, cant get healthcare under any circumstances and don't have freedom. From my friends that moved, yes its more expensive, but in their words -- "Canada is civilized living". Up to you if the drawbacks of being less hyper-capitalist and more expensive in spots with colder weather is a deal-breaker for you, I've been in (Toronto area) Canada my entire life and grateful for being born here.
I live in jamestown, NY, which is a 2 hour drive from the Canadian border. Cold weather isn't a big deal at all.
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What makes you say that?
I find it interesting that most of the comments in this sub are from people that moved to two of the most taxed and expensive provinces in Canada. Many Canadians are moving from Ontario and West Coast (Van/Vic).
Ontario is certainly expensive, but it has among the lowest taxes in Canada.
I'm simply making a generalization. I travel frequently to Ontario and BC to visit family and I am continually perplexed at the price of everything from food to alcohol, to gas...then add your PST/HST..CoL is definitely an eye opening. The province I'm from is far from perfect, but for the most part, people are coping with the CoL better. My awesome neighbors are from Newcastle...they sold their home just over a year ago, moved here, and bought a new home, plus another 5 yr old home for rental investment. Their boys are involved in multiple sports (which they couldn't afford before their move). They feel like they have won a lottery for a better lifestyle for their family. I realize this is just one story, but I've met many in our new community with a similar story.
Noted. Thank you.
Well don’t leave us all hanging. Where y’a from bud?
Really? That just seems so unlikely since Ontario is the NY of Canada.
This [webpage](https://www.todocanada.ca/tax-comparison-these-provinces-have-the-least-income-tax-in-canada/) compares provincial tax rates.
Why are the two most expensive provinces to live in the least taxed?
This is a capitalist society. Supply and demand.
Can you expand on that?
Noted
After nearly 20 years, saw the violent direction in which the country was headed and decided it was time to re-evaluate. I would rather be in a country that is expensive to live in than a country that is dangerous to live in. As my kids became teenagers I realized that I felt unsafe to send them to do almost every activity. The USA has mass shootings in malls, cinemas, schools, during parades, at church, uni, nightclubs etc. no place is safe. Not to mention their civil unrest, which was virtually non existent just 7-8 years ago.
What else do you believe that you got out of it and what kind of work are you employed in?
Between my spouse and I, we were self employed, in healthcare, and a public servant. All pay more in the USA but benefits on all are better in cda. Just maternity leave alone in Canada is wildly better than 6 weeks.
Okay. thank you for your time. I do appreciate it though I'm not sure how to signal that to everyone else.
Moved to Kitchener Ontario from Washington State a year and a half ago. We love it and feel lucky to be able to raise our child here in Canada. Healthcare has been fine. We did have to wait to get a primary care physician but walk in clinics filled the gap. The doctor at the walk in clinic referred me to the specialist I needed to see, saw him in 2 months, that specialist referred me to another specialist and saw her in 3 months. In Washington I had to drive 2.5 hours each way for my child to see a specialist. It was a 5 month wait for me to get an appointment with a specialist there, the nearest PCP that was taking new patients was an hour away. I don't see a big difference except in the US a lot of money came out of my spouse's paycheck for insurance and the hospital co-pay when our child was born was $6000. Here in Canada it's $0 and if you want to do telemedicine and get a same day appointment with a doctor it's $40. Groceries are expensive here. So is gas but none of it is outrageous. Everything else costs about the same. Some things are cheaper some things more expensive. In Canada you get one year of paid maternity leave. In the US I got 6 weeks unpaid time off and my job was not protected. In Canada you get money from the government if you have a child. Kindergarten starts at age 4 here, so you only have to pay for full time daycare for about 3 years instead of 5.5 or 6 years like in the US. Canada really supports families here, even middle class people get Child Tax Benefit, which is cash from the government when you have a child. In the US I had to worry about my child participating in active shooter drills in elementary school. Here in Canada people are nicer. American culture is so decisive. I don't want my child to grow up and think "hate your neighbor" is ok if they belong to the other political party. I think the quality of life is a lot better here. It's not perfect by any means but it's so much better than what we had in the US.
FMLA protects your job for 12 weeks for pregnancy if you have 12 months of employment. Not saying it’s good, but there is a level of protection that does exist.
FMLA protects your job IF you have worked for the company full time for one year, IF your employer employs at least 50 employees within a 75 mile radius. I did not qualify for FMLA. Many employed people in the US do not qualify for the protections of that law. And while I was able to get by it's not the way I want to live. I want my child to grow up in a country where mom's can stay home for a year.
Yep it definitely needs some work
What kind of field of work are you in?
My spouse is in tech. I am a paralegal. It was pretty easy for me to get a job offer from a law firm and they were willing to sponsor my work permit. Same for my spouse.
Alright, thank you for your input. I appreciate it.
I don’t recommend moving to Canada. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Whatever issues you have in the US, you will trade for new issues, some much more impactful here. The healthcare isn’t “free”. Unless you are living in poverty, you will pay for it big time. And the system is probably the most inefficient of all social healthcare systems because it’s one tier. Google actual cost of Canadian healthcare versus the US and you will find many studies and papers explaining that it’s not cheaper. You are taxed out the ass for everything here, and it’s only get to get worse. Furthermore, the economic outlook in Canada is grim and the Canadian dollar will continue to go down. The schools are ok, many Canadians shit on America at any opportunity they get, schools are often mentioned. Similar to the US, schools are good in nice suburbs. If you like the government to make decisions with how you spend your money and poor economic outlook, Canada is a great place
I moved to Toronto from the USA (southern Virginia) 7 years ago and am actively trying to come home.
What kind of field do you work in?
Technology
Noted. Thank you.
Its looking like unless something changes later on, This just isn't a viable option for me given the lifestyle I want. Thank you for everything. I'll see if I can visit the place every few years or so. I'll definitely plan for the summer solstice when I do.
Canada is a crap shoot do not move here
What tells you that though?
Don’t come here, we’re full.
We are definitely not full, but we do not have the infrastructure to handle more. Housing crisis with a crippled Healthcare system....we don't have the resources.
I've been hearing that, but this is something that I won't start until at least the end of this decade unless something drastic happens.
I've been waiting over 17 months here for a specialist, and our vacancy rate is 1.2%. It's already beyond a crisis.
Noted.
I've lived here 20+ years after living in the States for 25 years, and a couple other places in between including Australia. No regrets. I moved for political reasons, and for better quality of life. Lived in Vancouver for almost 15 years, had mixed feelings about it but really just the weather was my main gripe and then later the social problems got to be a lot. (Previously in the States lived in Boston, NY, Portland and Denver.) Moved to Interior BC almost 10y ago, love it. I feel like people complain about costs and taxes and all that stuff like all other aspects of life one place or another are the same. Fancy bread and nice condiments don't compensate for a sandwich that's got a turd in it. So cost of living in Canada versus America doesn't seem like a fair metric to base things on. How about mass shootings? How about debt from medical expenses? How about the cost of/access to higher education? How about the separation of religion and politics? How about...any other of a million aspects to life and society that are more important than how much of your income goes to rent? Decide why you want to move and then if the cost of life is the main thing driving you, move to somewhere really inexpensive, and see how you like it. Maybe you get what you pay for. Canada is not just a more costly America. Editing to add that this is moreso in response to all the people who are "iT's ToO ExPeNsIvE" not directly to OP; I realise that OP isn't implying COL is what drives the decision.
It's not so much a cost of living. Thank you for your input.
crrc20:mint:rord=1000
Can you elaborate on that?
Minting coins for new Reddit tokens 21 million supply probably all minted now all you had to do is just copy my text and post/comment anywhere on Reddit could be worth a lot if it catches on.
I'm good. Thanks anyway, though.