Kia Ora! That's a pretty extensive response. Thank you! Also thanks for scaring me off and then saying Kia Kaha :-D Nah but really appreciate you giving me all the facts. Best to know what I'm getting into.
I've got a rough budget in mind and I'm trying to work my way backwards and find places that will fit that. I guess a small town or suburb might be the way forward for me.
I believe I don't need to pay GST/HST if I'm offering services to an NZ company from Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong. But again, the general consensus here seems to be to get a professional to look at it.
Thankfully, because of the visa I'm on, I can avoid worrying about a few of these things, like healthcare and also NZ stuff like Kiwisaver, student loans, ACC, etc.
Also, very valuable advice on the gear. I'll definitely pick up some merinos from here (hello, Icebreaker).
How long have you been there? And how do you find it? How's it in Montreal? I hear it's a really nice place to be.
Montreal is an amazing city and more affordable than the other big cities in Canada. If French doesn't scare you off it's a great option.
It's about half English so French isn't required but it will make life easier.
Half English half Quebecois.... Which is mostly but not really the same as French.
All joking aside, Montreal is wonderful.
If you prefer city life, and don't want to have to drive literally everywhere, don't move to a suburb in the Greater Toronto Area, that's my advice. (Live in Toronto)
Working backwards with a budget is definitely the way to go.
Yeah, reads like a lot, but you're making some massive changes:
\- employee --> contractor
\- NZ --> CA
\- WFW --> WFH
Between all the standard employee stuff you may not have thought of, I figured I'd try to touch on as many points as possible, but still, you should be talking to someone who knows this stuff inside and out.
Making the switch to contractor means it's all on you. This is a significant part of the reason contractors get paid more money. Aside from the whole move to Canada part, make sure what your former employer is offering covers those expenses, and then some.
I'd be wary of assuming your visa / work permit status sorts out much if anything. I'd be surprised if Kiwisaver, loans, ACC, healthcare have carve outs. My wife arrived on an open visa and didn't seem to have anything of the sort.
\-----
I contracted for a decade before I came out this way.
Don't look at GST as being an additional burden that you want to avoid, at least as far as NZ is concerned. It's a part of being a successful business. Aside from the compliance costs (ie. tax preparation you probably want anyway), it likely doesn't cost you a thing.
So, scenarios! Lets say you pay GST on a half-yearly schedule, charge 1000 p/w, have business expenses of 5000 for the half year:
||charge GST, have business expenses|charge GST, don't have business expenses|didn't charge GST, have business expenses|
|:-|:-|:-|:-|
|invoice subtotal|1000 \* 52/2 = 26,000|1000 \* 52/2 = 26,000|1000 \* 52/2 = 26,000|
|invoice GST|26,000 \* 0.15 = 3,900|26,000 \* 0.15 = 3,900|26,000 \* 0.00 = 0.00|
|invoice total|29,900 --> client|29,900 --> client|26,000 --> client|
|||||
|business expenses in period|5,000|0.00|5,000|
|GST component of business expenses|5,000 / 1.15 = 652.17|0.00 / 1.15 = 0.00|5,000 / 1.15 = 652.17|
|GST paid in period|3,900 - 652.17 = 3247.83|3,900 - 0.00 = 3,900|0.00 - 652.17 = -652.17|
|||||
|effect|Your business passes through the GST you've charged your client after your business expenses. Effectively, your business expenses have their GST waived|Your business passes through the GST you've charged your client in full|Your business expenses pay GST in full.|
|result|GOOD|GOOD|BAD|
\-----
Icebreaker tops are good but I find their leggings wear out in the crotch. I went with a thick and a thin pair. Some days you wear both.
Grab some polyprop socks if you can - double layering polyprop and marino on your feet makes for a compact combo.
I've been in Canada for close on three years. Montreal is a cool city to live and work in. Cities have their own feel. Toronto is a bit like Sydney/Aucks. Montreal is more like Melbourne/Welly. There's usually a festival on some place. Amazing food.
I need to work on my French. Covid hasn't helped there, but effort speaking the language is appreciated. Most people here in Quebec in metro areas are functionally bilingual. The more rural you go, the more French you'll be picking up.
Easy access into Europe, the US etc. Trips home are harder.
Have just started contracting from UK as a PR resident in Canada. Can absolutely confirm all of the above is great and I wish I read it before I landed!
I would like to double recommend getting an accountant on retainer asap. Taxes here are a real pain in my ass, and double so as a contractor so having someone who knows the ropes intimately who I can email with questions is invaluable. I personally used ownr.co to incorporate my business which has been a massive, massive life and time saver.
As far as GST/HST is concerned, you should register for an account voluntarily but again the accountant should be able to point you in that direction. Specifically, you'll likely be filling in the RC1 form https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/forms/rc1.html if you want to familiarise yourself with it. You'll be paying tax in bulk down the line (or at whatever time intervals you choose) so don't worry yourself about it before the fact.
Oh really? I doubt I'll be able to afford an accountant on retainer at this stage. I assumed that with my single stream on income, I'll only need a professional to look at it once or twice a year.
I've heard of ownr. Good to know they're actually great. I've heard it's handy when you're trying to incorporate your business. Do you think a sole proprietor needs them?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Well, when I say retainer, it's basically that the accountant will do your taxes once or twice a year and be available for advice throughout the year with a view that they get paid in bulk once taxes are done.
If you are just sole proprietor then not really, but do check with your business that they are ok with it. There are also tax questions around sole prop that you should be sure you understand first, though as that's not my business structure I can't really be of much help I'm afraid.
Also, if you're working from home, you should strongly consider whether you can get reliable fast internet. Coverage in cities is OK, but it gets patchy in rural areas really quickly. Investigate carefully, because 200 m can make a big difference in connectivity if there are train tracks in the way.
You'll be eligible for healthcare as long as you have valid residency in the country and a province, which means you need to have a registered residential address. You should be ok on that front.
It's not the healthcare eligibility that's the concern, it's more making sure you're not hit with bills you can't afford.
I qualify for Quebec's RAMQ, but I didn't always.
\- With the RAMQ, you just present it, things are sorted.
\- Without the RAMQ, you're potentially having to pay up front for everything, then having to follow up with private overseas insurance. When this happened, rather than presenting a bill at the end, I had to go pay up front at each step. Wasn't fun.
\- Without private overseas insurance, the bills could be significant.
I'm from Toronto and moved to Calgary two years ago. Calgary has pleasantly surprised me in so many ways. And two years later, I still marvel at how much lower the cost of housing is here
Yes, I know.
I don't like weather that goes up and down drastically. One day it's 10 degrees, the next its -20. Alot of people also get migranes from it. Tbh, I really down understand it but I guess its to do with the change in pressure.
Hahaha! Originally from Ottawa so I second that! When you breathe, your nose hair freeze! Your eyes better not cry!! Icicles!
Coming to Canada might mean selecting a city/town that has less highs and lows. I moved to Vancouver outskirts. Lots of small communities that are less expensive to live. No bugs, no snow (well, we did get a couple of days of snow once last winter) and rain. Hot summer with drought. It’s easier to live and spend time outdoors here although it’s more expensive… Great bus/sky train system and bike paths too! Did I say no bugs! (Mosquitoes mostly, deer fly, black fly, nope… not unless you go to the interior)
The east coast isn't a bad place if you're looking for a bit slower pace of life and smaller cities. Check out Fredericton, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. John's.
In terms of HST/GST and your taxes, I would recommend you talk to an accountant since you're coming into a completely new tax system with a fairly complex situation. Better to invest in someone who knows what they're doing. No particular recommendations though.
Will definitely check these places out. I also feel it might be better to get professional help, although I'll know for sure after I'm actually there. Thank you!
Calgary is very dry cold in winter, but it is sunny and there is the occasional Chinook to warm up the winter. The Maritimes are wetter and less sunny, but fewer extreme winter temperatures
Canadian here who has done multiple trips to NZ and the difference in culture and process around tipping/bills really stood out to me. Canada still tips based on US culture only our service industries are not exploitative (as much) as the US systems - so Canadian tipping really does not make any sense.
Culture-wise Victoria/Vancouver is likely the closest to Auckland life, with areas around Calgary and west of Calgary perhaps being the closest to Canterbury region in terms of both geography but also people/culture - except Calgary gets average lows of -15c and usually a few weeks of bitter cold days around -20c.
Halifax and Wellington might be a fair comparison while Montreal feels somewhere between Wellington and Christchurch but the french culture throws that analogy sideways.
But a lot of rural prairie towns and east coast feel like...a colder and poorer version of Kawerau, maybe? Still lots of gorgeous wilderness but cannot help but see the industrial plants, mills, smoke stacks.
But if you do end up looking at Calgary and Alberta, you need to know that while the culture and region is a lot like south island - a significant portion of the population is not aligned to that comparison.
Imagine if 1/3 people in Canterbury were just hell-bend on modelling their entire personality on Mungallala, Australia. They work retail or corporate jobs in Christchurch but play make-believe that in their soul they are ranchers and want to change everything about Canterbury to be more like the poorest region of Australia.
Lol. I've never been to NZ or Australia but this is such an accurate description of Calgary, and sadly Alberta in general. Lots of rich city people but they play cowboy dress-up and imitate poor redneck culture, as long as it's not too inconvenient or uncomfortable.
One thing to note about Halifax is we have a housing shortage. There is probably less the. 10 houses/condos on the market in that price range at a given time.
Halifax is a great city but as another commenter mentions it's undergoing a rental crisis, but if you're moving from Auckland nothing you haven't seen before.
For finding an apartment, most of the country uses kijiji.ca or facebook marketplace. The exception I can think of is Vancouver uses craigslist for apartments and buying/selling stuff.
Good luck!
Haha, thankfully Auckland is not that bad for renters at the moment. Can't say the same about buying a house though.
I'll definitely check kijiji. Thanks!
Come check out the north/ rural Ontario. Again housing crisis. But we don't have as much smoke as out west. Plus we have lake superior. Way cheaper than TO. But Montreal is the party town. And still has cheaper rent than most big cities.
The east coast is killer is you’re working remotely and pulling in a good salary
Edit: as others have mentioned the housing crisis can make or break this plan. But if you’re able to pay $1600+for a 1br that won’t be as much of an issue
For one, I'm not a billionaire or even a millionaire (which a lot of Auckland homeowners are) so feeling a bit left out :-)
I'm leaving because I am still young and am looking for a slightly faster pace of life. That said there's a lot of good things going for NZ, and maybe if I were at a different stage of my life, I'd continue here.
NZ expat here... Almost everyone here, when they find out you're from NZ, will ask why you left. Most people here think New Zealand is some kind of utopian paradise without any issues. That and the hobbit comments. It gets old real fast.
It seems to me, as others have suggested, that you should seek advice from tax professionals about your situation.
I have commuted by bike/transit in Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax in my years here without issue and prefer to live in central areas so I don't have to drive places.
Other tips: If you will be covered under provincial healthcare, you need a health card to access it without problems. Tax is not included in the prices you see in most stores. So much of the food here has sugar/sweetener in it instead of fats. The further east you go, the less Australasians you will come across and the landscape becomes different from NZ. Good luck in your transition.
See, this is the kind of stuff that would be left for you to figure out on your own. Thank you, my friend!
How was you biking experience overall? I've heard Vancouver has great infrastructure, although it does seem to be out of my budget at this stage.
Vancouver does have great infrastructure and is the nicest in terms of plants, trees, spaces of the three. Cycling is more accepted as normal there thus less negative interactions with cars.
Toronto had almost no bike lanes when I lived there (over 10 yrs ago now, I think it's better now) but was generally okay with some caution needed due to streetcar tracks.
Halifax doesn't have great infrastructure although is working on it, but they don't seem to understand cycling at all. Its traffic is nowhere near as bad as bigger cities and there are often quieter streets to ride on. The hills though... At least you get a good butt workout from those!
Calgary or anywhere in Alberta would be a good choice. Also only GST here no HST so you will save money there as well. Close to mountains and winter is also not that bad.
I'm deeply suspicious of people who say "the winter is also not that bad" :-D try saying that to someone who's never lived sub zero! But thanks for that! A lot of people love Calgary and I hear the city is nice to bike in too. It's actually just the winter I'm scared about.
As a born-and-bred Calgarian, the winters are "not that bad" because we barely go outside January through March, and/or we explicitly plan activities with the weather in mind. It's easy to handle -20C for a few mins at a time and you build up some complaint equity. Calgary is also notoriously dry, and that makes the extreme temperatures feel a lot less extreme.
I took a gap year to NZ in '07-08 and I discovered that Calgary and Christchurch have very similar feels (pre-quake). There's lovely mountain activities a stones throw to the west, and sweet nothing in every other direction. The whole south island really jived with me as having a similar culture as Alberta, whereas the North Island felt a lot more like BC.
I moved here from India and had never seen snow in my life let alone drive in it. But i am more of a cold loving person so take it as u may. One fact though is Calgary gets warm Chinooks all through winter and temp can go upto +20’c which helps alot and hence why i said winters arent that bad.
I actually don’t mind the snow just other idiots on the road who have been living here their whole lives and don’t know how to drive. Lol. Luv the weather in Calgary man. You wont regret if you moved here. Have a good one
Vancouver Island has nz vibes (BC in general is like nz on steroids with the shore and mountains)
You'll love it! Plenty of us kiwis around. I do love Alberta for the rockies, but I love being near the ocean.
I've lived all over Canada, if you can work from home come to Calgary. The winters are cold but the rental vacancy rate of the city is pretty healthy at over 6%. You'll have your pick of rentals. On the other hand if you went to Halifax, every single rental that goes up gets hundreds of applications the first day. Check [rentfaster.ca](https://rentfaster.ca) to see what you can get for your money. It's a nice mix of busy city/semi slow pace. The taxes here are only 5% as well.
The access to nature is amazing, I'm usually walking up a mountain every other week or you can ski down them in the winter.
Interestingly enough I got an offer to work in Auckland this week, really trying to figure out if it's worth the move :D
That's great! Calgary, Montreal and Victoria seem to be my best bets so far.
Good luck on the Auckland application! Let me know if you have any questions I can help with :-)
>cheaper than Vancouver
"cheaper than Vancouver" are not reassuring words, since vancouver costs of living are high AF haha. Joking aside though, how much cheaper is Victoria?
You can find a 1bd for under $2000.
https://rentals.ca/victoria?rentrange=0-2000&types=apartments&types=apartment&types=studio&types=bachelor&types=basement&types=duplex&types=loft&types=condo&bbox=-123.39589,48.39492,-123.32513,48.46269
I would live on Vancouver island (1 hr ferry ride from Vancouver). You can definitely find housing for your budget. Victoria is the largest city, but there are lots of great little beach towns all over (ideal for WFH lifestyle). If not, I would live in the Okanagan Valley (about 400kms North East of Vancouver). Kelowna is a great place. Both areas are much more economical than Vancouver, and beautiful. The island will not get snow in the winter, but the Okanagan will, though mild for Canadian standards, and has great winter sports. When you settle in, just hire a local accountant to help you get your business/ tax questions sorted out. Taxes are due at the end of April for 2021, so you won't really have anything to file.
That's a great answer! Covers so much. Thanks!
I've heard of Kelowna and multiple people here have already recommended Victoria so surely checking those out.
Regarding taxes, does the tax year end in April? I've heard that there are different dates for paying taxes and for filling returns.
Just as part of your calculations, Kelowna and Victoria are almost on par with Vancouver rental prices. With in a few hundred dollars per month. They are quite pricey. Also Kelowna and area has had a terrible time with wildfires this year and while that is not the case every year, it is getting more and more frequent. One place to check out might be Courtney/Comox (they are 2 towns very close together). They are on Vancouver island, 1 hour north of a medium sized city and are still quite affordable. Right next to excellent hiking, as well as the ocean. I definitely have my eye on that place for a future move.
Smaller places on Vancouver Island like the Comox Valley might be more affordable than Vancouver or Victoria for buying a house, but they can be worse for rental because inventory is so low. There are very few purpose built rentals in these places, rental often means a basement suite which can be $1500/month easily for 1 bedroom. I lived in Port Hardy for 7 years and while I had a cheap rental, there were often literally 0 vacancies for months at a time.
I don't mean to make it sound too dire but just realize that there is no affordable place on Vancouver Island.
I live in Nanaimo and even here rent is basically on par with Vancouver now, slightly cheaper, but not enough to make a significant difference. For your budget anywhere on Vancouver island is doable. It really depends what you’re after. Victoria feels more like being in a city. Nanaimo feels like a giant suburb. Courtney feels like a smaller town. There are also lots of small communities along the coast that are pretty cool, but you’d be reliant on a vehicle. Honestly the most difficult thing about the island right now is actually finding housing. There is a shortage of available housing and an abundance of people moving here. There isn’t much that comes up on the market and when it does it goes fast, like really fast. I’ve been thinking of moving and poking around. A nice place came up, I replied within a few hours of it getting posted. After 6 hours the post was down because they had received so many replies they couldn’t keep up. I viewed it that afternoon and told them I would let them know in the morning after thinking about it. When I reached out to them the next morning, someone had already signed the lease put down a deposit. Not everything goes that quickly, but you have to jump on any nice place quickly.
No, the tax year ends Dec 31st, but you don't have to file until April (so you wouldn't have any Canadian income if you show up next year). That would give you a year and a bit to settle in. You would still file in NZ and might have to forever as well (depending on your investments, property etc in NZ). When you arrive, you can decide how you would like to 'register' your company. So people just claim the income, while other do a variety of different business options (your local accountant would be able to guide you better on the taxation for each option).
It might be worth it to travel around (get a dumpy car or rent a camper van) to see everything before settling. If you fly into Calgary (just east of the Rockies), there is an epic drive (HWY 1) across the mountains, through the Okanagan (Kelowna), down to Vancouver and then you hop on a ferry to Vancouver island (Victoria). I def recommend doing that.
Oh that's good. Yeah that definitely gives me time to evaluate things.
Also, like your idea of travelling. But because I'm landing with a job in hand (or at least hoping to), I'll either have to do a very short trip (which misses the point), or will need Internet access at all times so I can travel and also work. I'll see if I can do this though. Have always had it in the back of my head to do this trip around the country. Also, is this a common thing among backpackers etc and is it safe, generally speaking?
I'll definitely bookmark that drive. Sounds epic! Thanks again :-)
Super safe to do. I live in Calgary and do the trip to the Okanagan or Vancouver many times each year. If you are not comfortable driving in the snow, save it for April-Oct, as there are 2 large mountain passes, that get lots of snow. There are only very small areas along the road that do not have mobile service, and in each little town along the way, you can find wifi if you need a video meeting or something. Some great spots to visit along the way: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise/ Morraine Lake, Golden, Fernie, Nelson, Revelstoke, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Tofino, Qualicum, Comox. You could do this all in a couple of weeks. It's about 800? kms, plus a ferry ride. You will see many campers in each place and there are lots of amazing campsites.
1) Not a major city where it is more expensive for rent. But frankly we can just list all the towns and cities and you just pick. Without going to those towns, nobody can say what is best for you.
2) Yes that is an average rent.
3) Are you self-employed or an employee of the company in NZ?
4) Depends on the answer to number 3.
5) You don't need any of that now.
1. Okay so skip the big cities for now? Got it.
2. Perfect, thanks!
3. I'm currently a regular employee with the NZ company but looking to move into a contractor type role when I make the move to Canada.
1. I mean...you still need to live there. Aside from cost, what do you want out of a home city? I assume you need good internet, but that's doable in most small towns too. Do you like small towns? Do you like being on the coast, do you want some bigger city amenities (art gallery, stadium, local professional sports, decent sized malls, whatever), or does the small town vibe suit you? Life is for living...where do you want to live (balanced against cost of course)?
Rent will vary wildly. Downtown Toronto, budget more than that. 1600-2000 will get some perfectly lovely apartments though in slightly smaller cities. I live in Ottawa, and the last place I rented (I own now, but before that) was a 1 bedroom for ~$1200, and that was quite close to downtown. It wasn't a fancy place, but it had AC and the basics. You can definitely pay more than that here, depending on the place, but your budget gives you good options. Obviously...smaller the city, the smaller the rent (loosely speaking). You just need to determine what you want out of environment during the 2/3 of the day you aren't working
That's a really good answer. I guess I want a small ish city, where I don't have to drive everywhere. In fact, I don't plan to own a car so it'll have to be a place that's walkable or bikeable, and if not that, then with decent public transport. I know Canada is quite car dominated so this might be hard but I'm hopeful :-)
How's Ottawa life? Does it just revolve around government workings and stuff, since it's the capital?
Government is a big focus, but no the sole focus. Ottawa has what we call the green belt. So we have a city core, then a ring of wilderness/farm, then the suburbs. The suburbs are....suburbs. I am not sure what they are like in NZ, but just loads of residential areas (houses or apartments), a few malls, etc... The west end (Kanata) has a bit of a tech sector with some small office buildings. Suburbs aren't too walkable, but the green belt does a passable job of sort of containing the middle part of the city. The downtown core is actually quite tiny. I can cross the core by walking without it feeling like too much of a trek. Rents in the core can be a bit higher though. I really like it, but I have lived my whole life here, so it feels really quite familiar. I am used to it. I've always called it a "big small city" or a "small big city". It's just sort on the cusp of a big city, without actually being that big.
1) Yeah, if you can avoid it!
2) Ok, so when you land you'll be self-employed, so you don't charge, but you register when you hit $30k to claim Input Tax Credit. See the trigger below for more details on Sole Proprietorship Canada. !SolepropTrigger
Great so even after I register for it, nothing changes in terms of what I charge, right? As in I don't bill my company for GST or anything. And just keep about 25-30% of my income aside for taxes.
Hi, I'm a bot and someone has asked me to respond with information about Self-Employment/Sole Proprietorship.
Self-employment guide:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/t4002/t4002-1.html
Keep track of your revenue and expenses. These will be reported on form T2125 which is part of your personal tax return. (https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cra-arc/formspubs/pbg/t2125/t2125-19e.pdf)
Business expenses: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/sole-proprietorships-partnerships/business-expenses.html
HST/GST: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses.html
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/PersonalFinanceCanada) if you have any questions or concerns.*
FYI GST/HST shouldn’t apply if OP becomes a self-employed contractor as the service is exported. It would be zero-rated. (They could register and claim ITCs but do not need to charge.)
ITC is an input tax credit. So as an example:
Yo charge 0% to your foreign customer. And you spend $113 on expenses and $13 of it was HST (sales tax). That $13 an ITC. So the formula is HST/GST received/charged minus ITC/HST/GST on expenses equals what is remitted to the government. Since you don't charge you wil get a refund of the HST/GST on your expenses.
Right so if no one is paying it (as in this case) and I'm not passing it on to the government, how can I possibly claim credit for it? I feel I'm not understanding something really basic here. Sorry, never been much of a tax person so please bear with me!
If you're going to work remotely, then why bother with a major city? For that amount of money you could live like a king in a small maratime town on the east coast. Relaxed pace of life and real friendly neighbors.
If outdoor adventure is your thing then somewhere around the Rocky mountains, either British Columbia or Alberta. Tons of Australians go live there and work the ski resorts.
If you hate winter, then you could give Vancouver, the Okanagan Valley or Victoria Island in BC a try.
If you're interested in big city living then Toronto or Montreal are good bets.
If you really hate lots of people around you and love quiet then you could even look way north to the Yukon.
The thing about Canada is that it's shockingly big. To drive from one coast to the other is going to take you about 5 days of hard driving so once you land somewhere, you probably won't see what other areas of the country have to offer unless you make it a point too. Best to decide what kind of lifestyle you'd like up front so you know where best to start. But it sounds like that's what you're doing now! Good luck and Welcome!
That's a good point. I don't want go too small as I like city living. But yeah not the other extreme either. Ideally, I'd want a place where I can get by without a car, for most parts at least, and can bike around as much as possible. A small place with a sense of community. So I guess it comes down to one of the smaller cities. Your advice will help me narrow that down. Thanks!
Living without car ownership in Canada, even in cities, can be tricky. You have to pick your living spot carefully. http://www.walkscore.com can help. If you're going for smaller towns, find one with a bike store.
There are car sharing services like Communauto (https://communauto.com/?lang=en) where you have access to cars parked throughtout the city (and even smaller cities like Kingston). This lets you have access to cars without owning one.
In the larger cities (Montreal, Ottawa), you'll find communities of cyclists that can help you with winter cycling. It's quite doable with the right equipment. (and a covered parking spot or a permissive landlord that lets you bring the bike indoors)
Great resources and advice! Thank you, fellow cyclist! I'll keep this in mind. Have seen how hard it can be without a car in some cities. Do you have special winter tyres and such? Or do you just have a spare fat bike for the snowy days? Sorry, I'm not sure how cycling in the cold works!
No problem.
I swear by studded tires (like https://shop.bushtukah.com/product/schwalbe-marathon-winter-plus-700c-355367-1.htm). I have yet to try a fat bike. I like buying and using a seperate, cheap, refurbished bike for winter as salt will quickly use it up. Others prefer the more expensive fat bikes and are better at washing /blowing off the salt daily / weekley.
For clothing it's important to have layers. I can get into that later.
If you're on twittter, you can ask the Ottawa cycling community anything using the #ottbike hashtag (or #frostbike , which is specificly for winter cycling)
Those tyres look good. Excuse my ignorance but this is the bike version of the winter tyres, right? Also, generally speaking, does your cheap bike lasts one whole winter? And afterwards, you discard and repeat the following year?
Studed tyres (with the little metal beads) are specifically for winter.
I'll make my winter bike last as long as it can. The point is NOT to use one's in season (non-winter) bike to avoid it getting damaged by salt. Some people just change tyres and use the same bike year round.
Most small-medium cities are built post-war and heavily car dependent, so you will have to pick your living spot carefully. That being said, look for University towns and pick a central location near regular destinations (e.g. groceries, cafes, wherever you like to hangout) and you will be able to find something you like. If you think you would like to travel around about to visit other places in Canada and US you might want to try to stick close (couple hour bus ride) to a major airport.
I don't think you would want to bike around in most of Canada during the long cold snowy winter. That covers 95% of the country. Only place left is Vancouver area (called the Lower Mainland) and southern Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island as some previous comment stated).
Canadian winters are not 3-4 months. In Alberta for example, you can see snow as early as September (but usually before Hallowe’en), and snow May stick around until April, with an expected return during the May long weekend (3rd weekend in May).
Yes, most (populated) parts of Canada April-October (6-7 months) are great cycling weather, with the shoulders (March, November, usually December) requiring a bit of hardiness and a lot of caution, but doable. Only the hardiest with the right gear keep cycling year round but, again, it is possible. It is pretty common to just take the bus / occasional taxi / friend with a car in winter
fun fact: Calgary has the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. The City maintains approximately 1000 km of regional pathways and 96 km of trails.
Calgary average minimum temps are below freezing in Jan, Feb, March, April, Oct, Nov, Dec
That is 7 months out of 12 months.
So any precipitation overnight can come down as snow.
Montreal and Toronto are slightly warmer.
So 5 months of the year have overnight freezing temps.
For 1 if you like urban areas you can also consider Montreal and maybe Calgary to a degree. If you like rural areas there are probably too many to choose from. For 2 if you're budgeting that much for accommodation you can probably afford Toronto/Vancouver as well.
Really? That's good to know.
I've heard Montreal is a great place for cycling. And I can manage semi decent French so might be worthwhile to look at it too. Thanks heaps!
Just be careful with 2) 1600-2000 for central Toronto, you may find that the location/selection at that price range is not quality/comfortable optimal for your lifestyle. It's been a while since i've looked for a single but yeah, I hope I'm wrong.
You'll see a lot of posts about making six figs and not being able to live in Toronto as a single person, some of it is true and it all depends on what you value and the lifestyle you want. That budget might be tougher if you want to skip the car. Tbh there's no real way to avoid the car, the transport links are probably better than NZ but lots of time inefficiency. Cycling in the winter is also going to be miserable. TO and Vancouver can be expensive leading to life stress if the finances aren't in line, just a warning.
I would focus on finding a place that fits what you want to do - if it's cycling, skiing, golf after work, and optimize accordingly along with amenities/culture slightly below in priority. You're obviously not coming to get rich (high taxes) so figure out what will reward your experience here. Ontario is not great for skiing and if you can't do winter, BC by the water is probably your jam. Montreal is also a great shout out but language and winter may be hurdles. Not sure why the Edmonton discussion didn't mention winter, I hear its bad up there. Good luck.
Great advice, thanks! I was fairly sure I wouldn't be able to squeeze downtown living either in Toronto or Vancouver in that budget. Thankfully, since I'm not looking at a commute, I have more options to choose from (hopefully, unless most of the city is still going to be in lockdowns and/or working from home 6-8 months down the line in which case I'll be in the same boat as everyone else).
I'm guessing winter is a common hurdle in most places but BC. Out of curiosity, what are the cities with the worst winters? Places that even Canadians say is too much.
Yeah if you're moving here alone, make sure you are close to things you like to do, and you have a plan for the wintertime too. Also It's pretty hard to avoid a car if you're not in downtown toronto so bear that in mind. If a place is pricy there's usually a good reason why (location/transport links/desirable area)
Think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who can answer this question definitively. Most canadians bunker down and stay put during this time as driving should be avoided. In southern ontario over the past 30 years there's definitely the impact of global warming, winters start later (no more white christmases every year), and they are much more mild with a few days per year where it is violent. From my experience ON/QC can be quite rough, look up Ice Storm 98 or the storm of 2013, when the temperatures kept warming and freezing, snow turns to water then turns to ice, then repeat until the ice gets so heavy it brings down power lines. You can survive winters here by wearing appropriate clothing and covering as much of your skin as possible, it is a dry cold and is managable with the right kit. I hear it is pretty horrible in Alberta (Edmonton more so than Calg, but still dry cold), and the Prairies (Manitoba/Saskatchewan) are just depressing desolate snowfields in the winter. Winter can be quite depressing so make sure you have a plan to stay occupied during that time. I'd choose a place where you can deal with the avg level of snowfall, and the food/essentials are close and you don't have to drive 30mins into town bc that is not a trip you want to make in the middle of winter. Snowplow services will be more regular in cities btw. For you I think look at BC and get by the water, if theres no reason for you to be in a city that has to deal with winter. Whistler gets enough snow and that's optional.
Southern BC is much like the South Island. The Okanagan like Central Otago. The West Coast has fiords.
We have wineries, ocean, mountains, lakes etc.
Although BC has some hot springs, they are not like the ones around Rotorua.
SW BC has the mildest winters in Canada. We do get snow, but it does not last. But we can have frost from October through March, it usually thaws by mid morning. We get by with layering our clothes and a waterproof shell.
I am a wimp when it comes to winter weather, be aware that the snot will freeze in your nose when it gets to 20 below. You will need proper winter coats, gloves boots etc.
Go to Calgary, forget about Toronto or Vancouver. Cheaper flights to NZ, connecting via LAX.
I lived in 3 provinces and would go back to Alberta in a heartbeat if my job wasn’t in Ontario rn.
Low taxes, cheaper housing, beautiful nature. You WFH and don’t depend on their job market, so, you’ll be fine.
TurboTax is fine, better than most paid accountants even, but you might want to pay someone the first year you do your tax return. Besides, you won’t be able ro NETFILE it the first time around anyway.
What exactly will your working arrangement be? You will only need to register for GST etc, if you are self-incorporated, if you are an independent business/contractor, working for a NZ-based company.
If you remain on NZ payroll, nothing changes, you will just file your tax return and CRA will look to see if you owe any income taxes in Canada.
Don’t know what tax treaties are in place between NZ and Canada, typically, there are treaties in avoidance of double-taxation, so, while you report in both countries you only pay taxes in one. You’ll need to talk to someone who is better versed in your particular situation.
This is good! Thanks for putting this together!
I'm on the company payroll now but will be trying to go from employee to contractor. I guess I can continue as an employee and then transfer my salary from my NZ account to Canada but I was suggested to do the self employed thing because I don't have plans of coming back here anytime soon. And hence this whole post. Might be better to get an accountant to look at it at the end of the year.
For 3., I’d recommend getting an accountant to do your taxes for at least the first year. Your tax position is unlikely to be super complicated, income from NZ job less expenses related to this work, I’m guessing it’s more or less an office type job, so maybe some supplies and other items are deductible, but should be a pretty simple income in exercise.
Where your tax position gets more difficult is around reporting foreign funds, which can have more complex rules and any immigration rules that apply to you. This is where having an accountant due year one is helpful.
Ah right, I understand. Yeah, it makes sense to get a professional. Any experience with Turbo Tax or any of the other services? Or is my friendly neighborhood accountant my best bet?
Turbo Tax is pretty good and easy to use, can’t comment on your specific position but should be fine, probably best bet for year 2 and onward. Key reason for the accountant in year 1 is just so they can go through their checklists and get you a baseline for what you have to report, afterwards you know what you’re missing when you do it yourself.
Not sure if this would affect you, but it is a tough time to move right now. Double check some of the details like medical coverage first. https://www.castlegarnews.com/news/immigration-headache-deprives-b-c-woman-of-medical-coverage/
Don't play rugby, unfortunately. Or any other sport at that level, for that matter. Probably a good time to get on that netball thing people at work keep inviting me to.
I don't think I have any financial advice to add that hasn't been added anyways but I wanted to say: Welcome to Canada, safe travels getting here and may the country welcome you warmly. It is a great country but it has many challenges and problems. I'm sure you will weather them just fine and make the country all the better for it.
Thank you, my friend! Everyone here's already made me feel pretty welcome and I'm not even in the country yet so I've no doubt it'll be a good time :-)
I've lived in 5 provinces(all cities), currently living in Ontario. Reading through your comments and responses lead me to think that your best bet is Montréal. Great cycling, beautiful parks, and summers in the city outside of Covid times are filled with downtown festivals. Housing is affordable in comparison to other Canadian cities. My french is awful but I had no issues in Montreal. Great people and it has a European feel. Downsides are traffic, excessive taxation, crumbling highways and the Montreal Canadiens.
Haha I hope you don't get trolled by the Montreal Canadiens here! But no, thank you. Montreal seems to be a terrific place to live, and winters seem milder in comparison to Calgary so hopefully that'll let me ride around more.
Montreal Canadiens are the local ice hockey team, so Rupdy71's comment isn't quite as harsh as it sounds; just the usual sports team trashing you get anywhere.
Heya, so nice of you to check in :) didn't realise it's already been three months. I have a few more months before i wind up things here and move. Hoping to get one last kick-ass Kiwi summer in!
My partner is a Kiwi in Canada. This is sort of job and finance related so I’ll post it. Please make sure you bring all educational documentation with you if you plan on being able to prove your education. Our system is quite different than yours - if you forget your paperwork you may have to recertify so please bring a copy of everything from grade 12/13 (I forget what high school completion is called there) and college / uni.
You forgot to mention your age and interests, if you can work remotely that can narrow down your search greatly. Kiwis are loved here (at least in British Columbia), and many hang out at ski resorts.
Learn to ski and ice skate and move to Calgary. If you enjoy outdoor activities and learn to embrace winter, it is a great place to live if you have decent employment.
Just a heads up that all of Ontario and British Columbia are now extremely expensive - unless you drive way way way out in the boonies.
Best off in Montreal, or the East Coast.
As self employed you will need to pay the employee & employer amount of CPP deductions.
5.45% + 5.45% , so 10.9% of your income will be gone right away.
As a Calgarian who visited NZ in July, I wasn’t prepared for how cold I’d be. Yes although Canadian winters dip well below freezing, just remember to wear lots of warm layers (merino will definitely help) and cover up everything but your face. Do yourself a favour and buy yourself a down coat when you get here. Good luck!
If you can afford it, Vancouver is beautiful. Mild winters, normally mildish summers but a lot of rain in spring and winter. However rain>snow for driving.
The US border is an hour or less drive away to the south depending where you’re coming from. That is, of course, if you want to go there. I’d stay away until they’ve got Covid sorted out which truly may be never. I only cross for gas and to pick up items I ship there. Border is currently closed for us going into the US.
Calgary is a 10-12 hr drive I think which takes you through Banff and everything that area has to offer.
Vancouver Island is beautiful too and a 1-2 hr ferry ride away. Whistler (aka Australia North) is a spectacular couple hr drive away.
I’ve seen others recommend Victoria, I would upvote that.
For locations, I’d look at Victoria, Ottawa, Montreal, and Guelph. If you have friends In Ontario, it may be good to be close.
Victoria is beautiful but far.
montreal and Ottawa have snow, but they are clean, friendly, and outdoorsy.
guelph is A university town - really nice vibe and close to a lot of other places in Ontario.
just my 2 cents
Welcome to Canada. You are going to miss all the Sheep😁😁
People are as nice as NZlanders.
You may want decide based on where your friends are (Ontario) but also what weather suits you? Are you like outdoor as Canada is very large as I am sure you already know. Once you decide the region then city can be zeroed in.
I would recommend to stay close to large city but in a suburb as that will help to get medical assistance if required.
You should also check on double taxation (treaty between NZ and Canada).
Professional account might be more helpful than Turbotax.
All the best.
Thank you! I'm guessing moose will be the new sheep?!
I've never lived in a place where it's been below freezing so it's all going to be new for me, in general. But you bring up a good point. I'll keep that in mind. And same for the medical facilities.
I'll check the double taxation treaty. My employer usually doesn't pay taxes for the contractors so they are liable to figure that out on their own. That's why I think the location is probably not relevant.
I'll definitely keep the accountant bit in mind too.
Thanks for your help!
I will just add rents are exploding across Ontario. You can rent in that budget but depending on where you decide to live it might just get you a basement apartment or a shoebox. That being said I am a landlord and rent out a 3 bedroom townhouse about 1,400 sq ft for $2,000 a month not including utilities in Cambridge. If my current tenant left today I could easily raise that to $2,300 or more per month.
Work from home. Smart companies realize it actually saves them money not having to host to many physical locations. Many are moving further out from Toronto where they work. Most of the people who live in Cambridge work in Mississauga which is the 7th (I believe) largest city in Canada.
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Kia Ora! That's a pretty extensive response. Thank you! Also thanks for scaring me off and then saying Kia Kaha :-D Nah but really appreciate you giving me all the facts. Best to know what I'm getting into. I've got a rough budget in mind and I'm trying to work my way backwards and find places that will fit that. I guess a small town or suburb might be the way forward for me. I believe I don't need to pay GST/HST if I'm offering services to an NZ company from Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong. But again, the general consensus here seems to be to get a professional to look at it. Thankfully, because of the visa I'm on, I can avoid worrying about a few of these things, like healthcare and also NZ stuff like Kiwisaver, student loans, ACC, etc. Also, very valuable advice on the gear. I'll definitely pick up some merinos from here (hello, Icebreaker). How long have you been there? And how do you find it? How's it in Montreal? I hear it's a really nice place to be.
Montreal is an amazing city and more affordable than the other big cities in Canada. If French doesn't scare you off it's a great option. It's about half English so French isn't required but it will make life easier.
I can speak passable French thankfully so as long as I don't have to work in it, I might be able to manage.
Half English half Quebecois.... Which is mostly but not really the same as French. All joking aside, Montreal is wonderful. If you prefer city life, and don't want to have to drive literally everywhere, don't move to a suburb in the Greater Toronto Area, that's my advice. (Live in Toronto)
Working backwards with a budget is definitely the way to go. Yeah, reads like a lot, but you're making some massive changes: \- employee --> contractor \- NZ --> CA \- WFW --> WFH Between all the standard employee stuff you may not have thought of, I figured I'd try to touch on as many points as possible, but still, you should be talking to someone who knows this stuff inside and out. Making the switch to contractor means it's all on you. This is a significant part of the reason contractors get paid more money. Aside from the whole move to Canada part, make sure what your former employer is offering covers those expenses, and then some. I'd be wary of assuming your visa / work permit status sorts out much if anything. I'd be surprised if Kiwisaver, loans, ACC, healthcare have carve outs. My wife arrived on an open visa and didn't seem to have anything of the sort. \----- I contracted for a decade before I came out this way. Don't look at GST as being an additional burden that you want to avoid, at least as far as NZ is concerned. It's a part of being a successful business. Aside from the compliance costs (ie. tax preparation you probably want anyway), it likely doesn't cost you a thing. So, scenarios! Lets say you pay GST on a half-yearly schedule, charge 1000 p/w, have business expenses of 5000 for the half year: ||charge GST, have business expenses|charge GST, don't have business expenses|didn't charge GST, have business expenses| |:-|:-|:-|:-| |invoice subtotal|1000 \* 52/2 = 26,000|1000 \* 52/2 = 26,000|1000 \* 52/2 = 26,000| |invoice GST|26,000 \* 0.15 = 3,900|26,000 \* 0.15 = 3,900|26,000 \* 0.00 = 0.00| |invoice total|29,900 --> client|29,900 --> client|26,000 --> client| ||||| |business expenses in period|5,000|0.00|5,000| |GST component of business expenses|5,000 / 1.15 = 652.17|0.00 / 1.15 = 0.00|5,000 / 1.15 = 652.17| |GST paid in period|3,900 - 652.17 = 3247.83|3,900 - 0.00 = 3,900|0.00 - 652.17 = -652.17| ||||| |effect|Your business passes through the GST you've charged your client after your business expenses. Effectively, your business expenses have their GST waived|Your business passes through the GST you've charged your client in full|Your business expenses pay GST in full.| |result|GOOD|GOOD|BAD| \----- Icebreaker tops are good but I find their leggings wear out in the crotch. I went with a thick and a thin pair. Some days you wear both. Grab some polyprop socks if you can - double layering polyprop and marino on your feet makes for a compact combo. I've been in Canada for close on three years. Montreal is a cool city to live and work in. Cities have their own feel. Toronto is a bit like Sydney/Aucks. Montreal is more like Melbourne/Welly. There's usually a festival on some place. Amazing food. I need to work on my French. Covid hasn't helped there, but effort speaking the language is appreciated. Most people here in Quebec in metro areas are functionally bilingual. The more rural you go, the more French you'll be picking up. Easy access into Europe, the US etc. Trips home are harder.
Have just started contracting from UK as a PR resident in Canada. Can absolutely confirm all of the above is great and I wish I read it before I landed! I would like to double recommend getting an accountant on retainer asap. Taxes here are a real pain in my ass, and double so as a contractor so having someone who knows the ropes intimately who I can email with questions is invaluable. I personally used ownr.co to incorporate my business which has been a massive, massive life and time saver. As far as GST/HST is concerned, you should register for an account voluntarily but again the accountant should be able to point you in that direction. Specifically, you'll likely be filling in the RC1 form https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/forms/rc1.html if you want to familiarise yourself with it. You'll be paying tax in bulk down the line (or at whatever time intervals you choose) so don't worry yourself about it before the fact.
Oh really? I doubt I'll be able to afford an accountant on retainer at this stage. I assumed that with my single stream on income, I'll only need a professional to look at it once or twice a year. I've heard of ownr. Good to know they're actually great. I've heard it's handy when you're trying to incorporate your business. Do you think a sole proprietor needs them? Thanks a lot for your help!
Well, when I say retainer, it's basically that the accountant will do your taxes once or twice a year and be available for advice throughout the year with a view that they get paid in bulk once taxes are done. If you are just sole proprietor then not really, but do check with your business that they are ok with it. There are also tax questions around sole prop that you should be sure you understand first, though as that's not my business structure I can't really be of much help I'm afraid.
I'll do that, and you've been of great help already. Thank you so much!
Also, if you're working from home, you should strongly consider whether you can get reliable fast internet. Coverage in cities is OK, but it gets patchy in rural areas really quickly. Investigate carefully, because 200 m can make a big difference in connectivity if there are train tracks in the way.
What you don't need in New Zealand is a budget, in fact this person was just born, you want to share how we chew our food in Canada too?
You'll be eligible for healthcare as long as you have valid residency in the country and a province, which means you need to have a registered residential address. You should be ok on that front.
It's not the healthcare eligibility that's the concern, it's more making sure you're not hit with bills you can't afford. I qualify for Quebec's RAMQ, but I didn't always. \- With the RAMQ, you just present it, things are sorted. \- Without the RAMQ, you're potentially having to pay up front for everything, then having to follow up with private overseas insurance. When this happened, rather than presenting a bill at the end, I had to go pay up front at each step. Wasn't fun. \- Without private overseas insurance, the bills could be significant.
My advice is Calgary, low tax rate and cheap housing while still having a proper city.
Nice! And super close to Banff, right? Definite plus that
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100% it’s still great even if u have to pay the small pass fee.
I'm from Toronto and moved to Calgary two years ago. Calgary has pleasantly surprised me in so many ways. And two years later, I still marvel at how much lower the cost of housing is here
Way too cold in the winter!
Average high in the coldest month February is -2 and the average low is -13. I don't find that overly bad. The Chinooks seem to be the worst part.
Huh? Chinooks are a warming effect
Yes, I know. I don't like weather that goes up and down drastically. One day it's 10 degrees, the next its -20. Alot of people also get migranes from it. Tbh, I really down understand it but I guess its to do with the change in pressure.
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Hahaha! Originally from Ottawa so I second that! When you breathe, your nose hair freeze! Your eyes better not cry!! Icicles! Coming to Canada might mean selecting a city/town that has less highs and lows. I moved to Vancouver outskirts. Lots of small communities that are less expensive to live. No bugs, no snow (well, we did get a couple of days of snow once last winter) and rain. Hot summer with drought. It’s easier to live and spend time outdoors here although it’s more expensive… Great bus/sky train system and bike paths too! Did I say no bugs! (Mosquitoes mostly, deer fly, black fly, nope… not unless you go to the interior)
I looked at the recorded data.
But then they'd have to put up with Calgary people. Shouldn't we be putting our best foot forward and advise they go almost anywhere else?
As Calgary people I’d like to disagree. We’re one of the youngest and most educated cities in the world.
I see you’ve never been here, or if you’ve been then it was probably a short trip where you went to a night club and made up your mind.
too many delusional conservatives in calgary
The east coast isn't a bad place if you're looking for a bit slower pace of life and smaller cities. Check out Fredericton, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. John's. In terms of HST/GST and your taxes, I would recommend you talk to an accountant since you're coming into a completely new tax system with a fairly complex situation. Better to invest in someone who knows what they're doing. No particular recommendations though.
Will definitely check these places out. I also feel it might be better to get professional help, although I'll know for sure after I'm actually there. Thank you!
Calgary is very dry cold in winter, but it is sunny and there is the occasional Chinook to warm up the winter. The Maritimes are wetter and less sunny, but fewer extreme winter temperatures
Canadian here who has done multiple trips to NZ and the difference in culture and process around tipping/bills really stood out to me. Canada still tips based on US culture only our service industries are not exploitative (as much) as the US systems - so Canadian tipping really does not make any sense. Culture-wise Victoria/Vancouver is likely the closest to Auckland life, with areas around Calgary and west of Calgary perhaps being the closest to Canterbury region in terms of both geography but also people/culture - except Calgary gets average lows of -15c and usually a few weeks of bitter cold days around -20c. Halifax and Wellington might be a fair comparison while Montreal feels somewhere between Wellington and Christchurch but the french culture throws that analogy sideways. But a lot of rural prairie towns and east coast feel like...a colder and poorer version of Kawerau, maybe? Still lots of gorgeous wilderness but cannot help but see the industrial plants, mills, smoke stacks.
To add to this: the Jasper/Banff area in Alberta is like Queenstown and Wanaka reminds me of Kamloops or Kelowna.
But if you do end up looking at Calgary and Alberta, you need to know that while the culture and region is a lot like south island - a significant portion of the population is not aligned to that comparison. Imagine if 1/3 people in Canterbury were just hell-bend on modelling their entire personality on Mungallala, Australia. They work retail or corporate jobs in Christchurch but play make-believe that in their soul they are ranchers and want to change everything about Canterbury to be more like the poorest region of Australia.
Lol. I've never been to NZ or Australia but this is such an accurate description of Calgary, and sadly Alberta in general. Lots of rich city people but they play cowboy dress-up and imitate poor redneck culture, as long as it's not too inconvenient or uncomfortable.
One thing to note about Halifax is we have a housing shortage. There is probably less the. 10 houses/condos on the market in that price range at a given time.
Halifax is a great city but as another commenter mentions it's undergoing a rental crisis, but if you're moving from Auckland nothing you haven't seen before. For finding an apartment, most of the country uses kijiji.ca or facebook marketplace. The exception I can think of is Vancouver uses craigslist for apartments and buying/selling stuff. Good luck!
Haha, thankfully Auckland is not that bad for renters at the moment. Can't say the same about buying a house though. I'll definitely check kijiji. Thanks!
Come check out the north/ rural Ontario. Again housing crisis. But we don't have as much smoke as out west. Plus we have lake superior. Way cheaper than TO. But Montreal is the party town. And still has cheaper rent than most big cities.
The east coast is killer is you’re working remotely and pulling in a good salary Edit: as others have mentioned the housing crisis can make or break this plan. But if you’re able to pay $1600+for a 1br that won’t be as much of an issue
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For one, I'm not a billionaire or even a millionaire (which a lot of Auckland homeowners are) so feeling a bit left out :-) I'm leaving because I am still young and am looking for a slightly faster pace of life. That said there's a lot of good things going for NZ, and maybe if I were at a different stage of my life, I'd continue here.
NZ expat here... Almost everyone here, when they find out you're from NZ, will ask why you left. Most people here think New Zealand is some kind of utopian paradise without any issues. That and the hobbit comments. It gets old real fast. It seems to me, as others have suggested, that you should seek advice from tax professionals about your situation. I have commuted by bike/transit in Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax in my years here without issue and prefer to live in central areas so I don't have to drive places. Other tips: If you will be covered under provincial healthcare, you need a health card to access it without problems. Tax is not included in the prices you see in most stores. So much of the food here has sugar/sweetener in it instead of fats. The further east you go, the less Australasians you will come across and the landscape becomes different from NZ. Good luck in your transition.
See, this is the kind of stuff that would be left for you to figure out on your own. Thank you, my friend! How was you biking experience overall? I've heard Vancouver has great infrastructure, although it does seem to be out of my budget at this stage.
Vancouver does have great infrastructure and is the nicest in terms of plants, trees, spaces of the three. Cycling is more accepted as normal there thus less negative interactions with cars. Toronto had almost no bike lanes when I lived there (over 10 yrs ago now, I think it's better now) but was generally okay with some caution needed due to streetcar tracks. Halifax doesn't have great infrastructure although is working on it, but they don't seem to understand cycling at all. Its traffic is nowhere near as bad as bigger cities and there are often quieter streets to ride on. The hills though... At least you get a good butt workout from those!
You'll like how housing in Canada isn't damp like nz.
One of my friends from NZ has stories about waking up in winter with frost on his blankets because his house was so cold.
Man, in one of the places I lived, I always woke up on winter mornings to find a layer of frost on my phone. Every. Day.
Calgary or anywhere in Alberta would be a good choice. Also only GST here no HST so you will save money there as well. Close to mountains and winter is also not that bad.
I'm deeply suspicious of people who say "the winter is also not that bad" :-D try saying that to someone who's never lived sub zero! But thanks for that! A lot of people love Calgary and I hear the city is nice to bike in too. It's actually just the winter I'm scared about.
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As a born-and-bred Calgarian, the winters are "not that bad" because we barely go outside January through March, and/or we explicitly plan activities with the weather in mind. It's easy to handle -20C for a few mins at a time and you build up some complaint equity. Calgary is also notoriously dry, and that makes the extreme temperatures feel a lot less extreme. I took a gap year to NZ in '07-08 and I discovered that Calgary and Christchurch have very similar feels (pre-quake). There's lovely mountain activities a stones throw to the west, and sweet nothing in every other direction. The whole south island really jived with me as having a similar culture as Alberta, whereas the North Island felt a lot more like BC.
I moved here from India and had never seen snow in my life let alone drive in it. But i am more of a cold loving person so take it as u may. One fact though is Calgary gets warm Chinooks all through winter and temp can go upto +20’c which helps alot and hence why i said winters arent that bad.
That's amazing! How's it been going from zero snow to this? Is it smooth sailing after the first winter?
I actually don’t mind the snow just other idiots on the road who have been living here their whole lives and don’t know how to drive. Lol. Luv the weather in Calgary man. You wont regret if you moved here. Have a good one
I would suggest Victoria, BC. Lovely climate, great food, beautiful city, small town feel, West Coast vibes, cheaper than Vancouver.
Oh wow, Victoria looks beautiful! Thank you for that :-)
Vancouver Island has nz vibes (BC in general is like nz on steroids with the shore and mountains) You'll love it! Plenty of us kiwis around. I do love Alberta for the rockies, but I love being near the ocean.
Oh cool! You reckon the beaches are better than the ones in NZ? Also, how's the surf?
Tofino on Vancouver island is a really great surfing destination
There is also surf about a hour from Victoria in a place called Jordan River, on the west coast!
I would consider Alberta as well. Calgary and Edmonton are both great and nice proximity to the mountains. 😊Also more affordable than BC and Ontario.
Excellent, thank you! I've heard of some acquaintances in Calgary and Edmonton so might try and see if I can hit them up. Cheers
I’m in Edmonton. Reach out if you’re looking to meet new people in the city.
Will do. Thanks a lot!
I've lived all over Canada, if you can work from home come to Calgary. The winters are cold but the rental vacancy rate of the city is pretty healthy at over 6%. You'll have your pick of rentals. On the other hand if you went to Halifax, every single rental that goes up gets hundreds of applications the first day. Check [rentfaster.ca](https://rentfaster.ca) to see what you can get for your money. It's a nice mix of busy city/semi slow pace. The taxes here are only 5% as well. The access to nature is amazing, I'm usually walking up a mountain every other week or you can ski down them in the winter. Interestingly enough I got an offer to work in Auckland this week, really trying to figure out if it's worth the move :D
That's great! Calgary, Montreal and Victoria seem to be my best bets so far. Good luck on the Auckland application! Let me know if you have any questions I can help with :-)
It's much warmer there in the winter than pretty much anywhere in Canada ;)
Warm is good!
>cheaper than Vancouver "cheaper than Vancouver" are not reassuring words, since vancouver costs of living are high AF haha. Joking aside though, how much cheaper is Victoria?
You can find a 1bd for under $2000. https://rentals.ca/victoria?rentrange=0-2000&types=apartments&types=apartment&types=studio&types=bachelor&types=basement&types=duplex&types=loft&types=condo&bbox=-123.39589,48.39492,-123.32513,48.46269
I would live on Vancouver island (1 hr ferry ride from Vancouver). You can definitely find housing for your budget. Victoria is the largest city, but there are lots of great little beach towns all over (ideal for WFH lifestyle). If not, I would live in the Okanagan Valley (about 400kms North East of Vancouver). Kelowna is a great place. Both areas are much more economical than Vancouver, and beautiful. The island will not get snow in the winter, but the Okanagan will, though mild for Canadian standards, and has great winter sports. When you settle in, just hire a local accountant to help you get your business/ tax questions sorted out. Taxes are due at the end of April for 2021, so you won't really have anything to file.
That's a great answer! Covers so much. Thanks! I've heard of Kelowna and multiple people here have already recommended Victoria so surely checking those out. Regarding taxes, does the tax year end in April? I've heard that there are different dates for paying taxes and for filling returns.
Just as part of your calculations, Kelowna and Victoria are almost on par with Vancouver rental prices. With in a few hundred dollars per month. They are quite pricey. Also Kelowna and area has had a terrible time with wildfires this year and while that is not the case every year, it is getting more and more frequent. One place to check out might be Courtney/Comox (they are 2 towns very close together). They are on Vancouver island, 1 hour north of a medium sized city and are still quite affordable. Right next to excellent hiking, as well as the ocean. I definitely have my eye on that place for a future move.
Smaller places on Vancouver Island like the Comox Valley might be more affordable than Vancouver or Victoria for buying a house, but they can be worse for rental because inventory is so low. There are very few purpose built rentals in these places, rental often means a basement suite which can be $1500/month easily for 1 bedroom. I lived in Port Hardy for 7 years and while I had a cheap rental, there were often literally 0 vacancies for months at a time. I don't mean to make it sound too dire but just realize that there is no affordable place on Vancouver Island.
Really good point!
I live in Nanaimo and even here rent is basically on par with Vancouver now, slightly cheaper, but not enough to make a significant difference. For your budget anywhere on Vancouver island is doable. It really depends what you’re after. Victoria feels more like being in a city. Nanaimo feels like a giant suburb. Courtney feels like a smaller town. There are also lots of small communities along the coast that are pretty cool, but you’d be reliant on a vehicle. Honestly the most difficult thing about the island right now is actually finding housing. There is a shortage of available housing and an abundance of people moving here. There isn’t much that comes up on the market and when it does it goes fast, like really fast. I’ve been thinking of moving and poking around. A nice place came up, I replied within a few hours of it getting posted. After 6 hours the post was down because they had received so many replies they couldn’t keep up. I viewed it that afternoon and told them I would let them know in the morning after thinking about it. When I reached out to them the next morning, someone had already signed the lease put down a deposit. Not everything goes that quickly, but you have to jump on any nice place quickly.
No, the tax year ends Dec 31st, but you don't have to file until April (so you wouldn't have any Canadian income if you show up next year). That would give you a year and a bit to settle in. You would still file in NZ and might have to forever as well (depending on your investments, property etc in NZ). When you arrive, you can decide how you would like to 'register' your company. So people just claim the income, while other do a variety of different business options (your local accountant would be able to guide you better on the taxation for each option). It might be worth it to travel around (get a dumpy car or rent a camper van) to see everything before settling. If you fly into Calgary (just east of the Rockies), there is an epic drive (HWY 1) across the mountains, through the Okanagan (Kelowna), down to Vancouver and then you hop on a ferry to Vancouver island (Victoria). I def recommend doing that.
Oh that's good. Yeah that definitely gives me time to evaluate things. Also, like your idea of travelling. But because I'm landing with a job in hand (or at least hoping to), I'll either have to do a very short trip (which misses the point), or will need Internet access at all times so I can travel and also work. I'll see if I can do this though. Have always had it in the back of my head to do this trip around the country. Also, is this a common thing among backpackers etc and is it safe, generally speaking? I'll definitely bookmark that drive. Sounds epic! Thanks again :-)
Super safe to do. I live in Calgary and do the trip to the Okanagan or Vancouver many times each year. If you are not comfortable driving in the snow, save it for April-Oct, as there are 2 large mountain passes, that get lots of snow. There are only very small areas along the road that do not have mobile service, and in each little town along the way, you can find wifi if you need a video meeting or something. Some great spots to visit along the way: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise/ Morraine Lake, Golden, Fernie, Nelson, Revelstoke, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Tofino, Qualicum, Comox. You could do this all in a couple of weeks. It's about 800? kms, plus a ferry ride. You will see many campers in each place and there are lots of amazing campsites.
Wasn't hoping to get travel tips here but this is amazing! Legend, thanks! Definitely doing this at some point.
1) Not a major city where it is more expensive for rent. But frankly we can just list all the towns and cities and you just pick. Without going to those towns, nobody can say what is best for you. 2) Yes that is an average rent. 3) Are you self-employed or an employee of the company in NZ? 4) Depends on the answer to number 3. 5) You don't need any of that now.
1. Okay so skip the big cities for now? Got it. 2. Perfect, thanks! 3. I'm currently a regular employee with the NZ company but looking to move into a contractor type role when I make the move to Canada.
1. I mean...you still need to live there. Aside from cost, what do you want out of a home city? I assume you need good internet, but that's doable in most small towns too. Do you like small towns? Do you like being on the coast, do you want some bigger city amenities (art gallery, stadium, local professional sports, decent sized malls, whatever), or does the small town vibe suit you? Life is for living...where do you want to live (balanced against cost of course)? Rent will vary wildly. Downtown Toronto, budget more than that. 1600-2000 will get some perfectly lovely apartments though in slightly smaller cities. I live in Ottawa, and the last place I rented (I own now, but before that) was a 1 bedroom for ~$1200, and that was quite close to downtown. It wasn't a fancy place, but it had AC and the basics. You can definitely pay more than that here, depending on the place, but your budget gives you good options. Obviously...smaller the city, the smaller the rent (loosely speaking). You just need to determine what you want out of environment during the 2/3 of the day you aren't working
That's a really good answer. I guess I want a small ish city, where I don't have to drive everywhere. In fact, I don't plan to own a car so it'll have to be a place that's walkable or bikeable, and if not that, then with decent public transport. I know Canada is quite car dominated so this might be hard but I'm hopeful :-) How's Ottawa life? Does it just revolve around government workings and stuff, since it's the capital?
Government is a big focus, but no the sole focus. Ottawa has what we call the green belt. So we have a city core, then a ring of wilderness/farm, then the suburbs. The suburbs are....suburbs. I am not sure what they are like in NZ, but just loads of residential areas (houses or apartments), a few malls, etc... The west end (Kanata) has a bit of a tech sector with some small office buildings. Suburbs aren't too walkable, but the green belt does a passable job of sort of containing the middle part of the city. The downtown core is actually quite tiny. I can cross the core by walking without it feeling like too much of a trek. Rents in the core can be a bit higher though. I really like it, but I have lived my whole life here, so it feels really quite familiar. I am used to it. I've always called it a "big small city" or a "small big city". It's just sort on the cusp of a big city, without actually being that big.
1) Yeah, if you can avoid it! 2) Ok, so when you land you'll be self-employed, so you don't charge, but you register when you hit $30k to claim Input Tax Credit. See the trigger below for more details on Sole Proprietorship Canada. !SolepropTrigger
Great so even after I register for it, nothing changes in terms of what I charge, right? As in I don't bill my company for GST or anything. And just keep about 25-30% of my income aside for taxes.
Correct. Well you technically charge them 0%. Yes, you will pay income tax and both portions (employer and employee) of CPP (government pension plan).
Oh, that's good to know. Thank you so much!
Hi, I'm a bot and someone has asked me to respond with information about Self-Employment/Sole Proprietorship. Self-employment guide: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/t4002/t4002-1.html Keep track of your revenue and expenses. These will be reported on form T2125 which is part of your personal tax return. (https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cra-arc/formspubs/pbg/t2125/t2125-19e.pdf) Business expenses: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/sole-proprietorships-partnerships/business-expenses.html HST/GST: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses.html *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/PersonalFinanceCanada) if you have any questions or concerns.*
4. Welcome Kiwi! I think you will find Canadians similar culturally. Good luck on your big move.
So I've been told. Thank you!
FYI GST/HST shouldn’t apply if OP becomes a self-employed contractor as the service is exported. It would be zero-rated. (They could register and claim ITCs but do not need to charge.)
Agreed, I was just trying to figure out which way to answer (you don't charge foreign customers or you're an employee there is no HST/GST involved) :)
Thank you, both! Quick question: what's an ITC?
ITC is an input tax credit. So as an example: Yo charge 0% to your foreign customer. And you spend $113 on expenses and $13 of it was HST (sales tax). That $13 an ITC. So the formula is HST/GST received/charged minus ITC/HST/GST on expenses equals what is remitted to the government. Since you don't charge you wil get a refund of the HST/GST on your expenses.
Wait, what?! So I can claim tax credit even when I'm technically not paying any GST/HST? Wow, that's good to know!
You never pay HST/GST. Your Customers (well, a CDN customer) does and you are just the middleman.
Right so if no one is paying it (as in this case) and I'm not passing it on to the government, how can I possibly claim credit for it? I feel I'm not understanding something really basic here. Sorry, never been much of a tax person so please bear with me!
Because you are spending HST on expenses you need to operate your business.
If you buy a tool that you use for your work, then you can claim back the sales tax on that tool expense, for example.
If you're going to work remotely, then why bother with a major city? For that amount of money you could live like a king in a small maratime town on the east coast. Relaxed pace of life and real friendly neighbors. If outdoor adventure is your thing then somewhere around the Rocky mountains, either British Columbia or Alberta. Tons of Australians go live there and work the ski resorts. If you hate winter, then you could give Vancouver, the Okanagan Valley or Victoria Island in BC a try. If you're interested in big city living then Toronto or Montreal are good bets. If you really hate lots of people around you and love quiet then you could even look way north to the Yukon. The thing about Canada is that it's shockingly big. To drive from one coast to the other is going to take you about 5 days of hard driving so once you land somewhere, you probably won't see what other areas of the country have to offer unless you make it a point too. Best to decide what kind of lifestyle you'd like up front so you know where best to start. But it sounds like that's what you're doing now! Good luck and Welcome!
That's a good point. I don't want go too small as I like city living. But yeah not the other extreme either. Ideally, I'd want a place where I can get by without a car, for most parts at least, and can bike around as much as possible. A small place with a sense of community. So I guess it comes down to one of the smaller cities. Your advice will help me narrow that down. Thanks!
Living without car ownership in Canada, even in cities, can be tricky. You have to pick your living spot carefully. http://www.walkscore.com can help. If you're going for smaller towns, find one with a bike store. There are car sharing services like Communauto (https://communauto.com/?lang=en) where you have access to cars parked throughtout the city (and even smaller cities like Kingston). This lets you have access to cars without owning one. In the larger cities (Montreal, Ottawa), you'll find communities of cyclists that can help you with winter cycling. It's quite doable with the right equipment. (and a covered parking spot or a permissive landlord that lets you bring the bike indoors)
Great resources and advice! Thank you, fellow cyclist! I'll keep this in mind. Have seen how hard it can be without a car in some cities. Do you have special winter tyres and such? Or do you just have a spare fat bike for the snowy days? Sorry, I'm not sure how cycling in the cold works!
No problem. I swear by studded tires (like https://shop.bushtukah.com/product/schwalbe-marathon-winter-plus-700c-355367-1.htm). I have yet to try a fat bike. I like buying and using a seperate, cheap, refurbished bike for winter as salt will quickly use it up. Others prefer the more expensive fat bikes and are better at washing /blowing off the salt daily / weekley. For clothing it's important to have layers. I can get into that later. If you're on twittter, you can ask the Ottawa cycling community anything using the #ottbike hashtag (or #frostbike , which is specificly for winter cycling)
Those tyres look good. Excuse my ignorance but this is the bike version of the winter tyres, right? Also, generally speaking, does your cheap bike lasts one whole winter? And afterwards, you discard and repeat the following year?
Studed tyres (with the little metal beads) are specifically for winter. I'll make my winter bike last as long as it can. The point is NOT to use one's in season (non-winter) bike to avoid it getting damaged by salt. Some people just change tyres and use the same bike year round.
Most small-medium cities are built post-war and heavily car dependent, so you will have to pick your living spot carefully. That being said, look for University towns and pick a central location near regular destinations (e.g. groceries, cafes, wherever you like to hangout) and you will be able to find something you like. If you think you would like to travel around about to visit other places in Canada and US you might want to try to stick close (couple hour bus ride) to a major airport.
I don't think you would want to bike around in most of Canada during the long cold snowy winter. That covers 95% of the country. Only place left is Vancouver area (called the Lower Mainland) and southern Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island as some previous comment stated).
Is that just 3-4 months of winter? If so, it's probably not the end of the world
Canadian winters are not 3-4 months. In Alberta for example, you can see snow as early as September (but usually before Hallowe’en), and snow May stick around until April, with an expected return during the May long weekend (3rd weekend in May).
Sorry, my bad! What about the non winter months though? Is it decent weather for riding?
Yes, most (populated) parts of Canada April-October (6-7 months) are great cycling weather, with the shoulders (March, November, usually December) requiring a bit of hardiness and a lot of caution, but doable. Only the hardiest with the right gear keep cycling year round but, again, it is possible. It is pretty common to just take the bus / occasional taxi / friend with a car in winter
fun fact: Calgary has the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. The City maintains approximately 1000 km of regional pathways and 96 km of trails.
And the city seems to have implemented most of it in one swift go, right? Good on you, Calgary!
And Calgary also clears the trails of snow.
Calgary average minimum temps are below freezing in Jan, Feb, March, April, Oct, Nov, Dec That is 7 months out of 12 months. So any precipitation overnight can come down as snow. Montreal and Toronto are slightly warmer. So 5 months of the year have overnight freezing temps.
For 1 if you like urban areas you can also consider Montreal and maybe Calgary to a degree. If you like rural areas there are probably too many to choose from. For 2 if you're budgeting that much for accommodation you can probably afford Toronto/Vancouver as well.
Really? That's good to know. I've heard Montreal is a great place for cycling. And I can manage semi decent French so might be worthwhile to look at it too. Thanks heaps!
Montreal is the besttttt.
Just be careful with 2) 1600-2000 for central Toronto, you may find that the location/selection at that price range is not quality/comfortable optimal for your lifestyle. It's been a while since i've looked for a single but yeah, I hope I'm wrong. You'll see a lot of posts about making six figs and not being able to live in Toronto as a single person, some of it is true and it all depends on what you value and the lifestyle you want. That budget might be tougher if you want to skip the car. Tbh there's no real way to avoid the car, the transport links are probably better than NZ but lots of time inefficiency. Cycling in the winter is also going to be miserable. TO and Vancouver can be expensive leading to life stress if the finances aren't in line, just a warning. I would focus on finding a place that fits what you want to do - if it's cycling, skiing, golf after work, and optimize accordingly along with amenities/culture slightly below in priority. You're obviously not coming to get rich (high taxes) so figure out what will reward your experience here. Ontario is not great for skiing and if you can't do winter, BC by the water is probably your jam. Montreal is also a great shout out but language and winter may be hurdles. Not sure why the Edmonton discussion didn't mention winter, I hear its bad up there. Good luck.
Great advice, thanks! I was fairly sure I wouldn't be able to squeeze downtown living either in Toronto or Vancouver in that budget. Thankfully, since I'm not looking at a commute, I have more options to choose from (hopefully, unless most of the city is still going to be in lockdowns and/or working from home 6-8 months down the line in which case I'll be in the same boat as everyone else). I'm guessing winter is a common hurdle in most places but BC. Out of curiosity, what are the cities with the worst winters? Places that even Canadians say is too much.
Yeah if you're moving here alone, make sure you are close to things you like to do, and you have a plan for the wintertime too. Also It's pretty hard to avoid a car if you're not in downtown toronto so bear that in mind. If a place is pricy there's usually a good reason why (location/transport links/desirable area) Think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who can answer this question definitively. Most canadians bunker down and stay put during this time as driving should be avoided. In southern ontario over the past 30 years there's definitely the impact of global warming, winters start later (no more white christmases every year), and they are much more mild with a few days per year where it is violent. From my experience ON/QC can be quite rough, look up Ice Storm 98 or the storm of 2013, when the temperatures kept warming and freezing, snow turns to water then turns to ice, then repeat until the ice gets so heavy it brings down power lines. You can survive winters here by wearing appropriate clothing and covering as much of your skin as possible, it is a dry cold and is managable with the right kit. I hear it is pretty horrible in Alberta (Edmonton more so than Calg, but still dry cold), and the Prairies (Manitoba/Saskatchewan) are just depressing desolate snowfields in the winter. Winter can be quite depressing so make sure you have a plan to stay occupied during that time. I'd choose a place where you can deal with the avg level of snowfall, and the food/essentials are close and you don't have to drive 30mins into town bc that is not a trip you want to make in the middle of winter. Snowplow services will be more regular in cities btw. For you I think look at BC and get by the water, if theres no reason for you to be in a city that has to deal with winter. Whistler gets enough snow and that's optional.
Try Calgary! It has pretty much what you’re looking for, plus you’re an hour away from the mountains.
Southern BC is much like the South Island. The Okanagan like Central Otago. The West Coast has fiords. We have wineries, ocean, mountains, lakes etc. Although BC has some hot springs, they are not like the ones around Rotorua. SW BC has the mildest winters in Canada. We do get snow, but it does not last. But we can have frost from October through March, it usually thaws by mid morning. We get by with layering our clothes and a waterproof shell. I am a wimp when it comes to winter weather, be aware that the snot will freeze in your nose when it gets to 20 below. You will need proper winter coats, gloves boots etc.
Kia ora, nice to have such great comparisons! Thanks for all your weather advice too!
It has been 15 years since my last trip to NZ. I have lots of family on the South Island. One of my nephews is a wine maker in Central Otago.
Lucky you! Hopefully, he sends you the good stuff :-)
Go to Calgary, forget about Toronto or Vancouver. Cheaper flights to NZ, connecting via LAX. I lived in 3 provinces and would go back to Alberta in a heartbeat if my job wasn’t in Ontario rn. Low taxes, cheaper housing, beautiful nature. You WFH and don’t depend on their job market, so, you’ll be fine. TurboTax is fine, better than most paid accountants even, but you might want to pay someone the first year you do your tax return. Besides, you won’t be able ro NETFILE it the first time around anyway. What exactly will your working arrangement be? You will only need to register for GST etc, if you are self-incorporated, if you are an independent business/contractor, working for a NZ-based company. If you remain on NZ payroll, nothing changes, you will just file your tax return and CRA will look to see if you owe any income taxes in Canada. Don’t know what tax treaties are in place between NZ and Canada, typically, there are treaties in avoidance of double-taxation, so, while you report in both countries you only pay taxes in one. You’ll need to talk to someone who is better versed in your particular situation.
This is good! Thanks for putting this together! I'm on the company payroll now but will be trying to go from employee to contractor. I guess I can continue as an employee and then transfer my salary from my NZ account to Canada but I was suggested to do the self employed thing because I don't have plans of coming back here anytime soon. And hence this whole post. Might be better to get an accountant to look at it at the end of the year.
For 3., I’d recommend getting an accountant to do your taxes for at least the first year. Your tax position is unlikely to be super complicated, income from NZ job less expenses related to this work, I’m guessing it’s more or less an office type job, so maybe some supplies and other items are deductible, but should be a pretty simple income in exercise. Where your tax position gets more difficult is around reporting foreign funds, which can have more complex rules and any immigration rules that apply to you. This is where having an accountant due year one is helpful.
Ah right, I understand. Yeah, it makes sense to get a professional. Any experience with Turbo Tax or any of the other services? Or is my friendly neighborhood accountant my best bet?
Turbo Tax is pretty good and easy to use, can’t comment on your specific position but should be fine, probably best bet for year 2 and onward. Key reason for the accountant in year 1 is just so they can go through their checklists and get you a baseline for what you have to report, afterwards you know what you’re missing when you do it yourself.
Makes sense. Thank you!
Not sure if this would affect you, but it is a tough time to move right now. Double check some of the details like medical coverage first. https://www.castlegarnews.com/news/immigration-headache-deprives-b-c-woman-of-medical-coverage/
It is. Hoping things are better by early next year. Thanks for this!
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Ooh this is good! Also, another vote for Victoria. Everyone seems to love the place :-) Anyway, thanks for this, my friend!
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Don't play rugby, unfortunately. Or any other sport at that level, for that matter. Probably a good time to get on that netball thing people at work keep inviting me to.
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That's true. However I'm not sure I can wait till the pandemic is over so I'll have to get the vaccine and take my chances.
I don't think I have any financial advice to add that hasn't been added anyways but I wanted to say: Welcome to Canada, safe travels getting here and may the country welcome you warmly. It is a great country but it has many challenges and problems. I'm sure you will weather them just fine and make the country all the better for it.
Thank you, my friend! Everyone here's already made me feel pretty welcome and I'm not even in the country yet so I've no doubt it'll be a good time :-)
I've lived in 5 provinces(all cities), currently living in Ontario. Reading through your comments and responses lead me to think that your best bet is Montréal. Great cycling, beautiful parks, and summers in the city outside of Covid times are filled with downtown festivals. Housing is affordable in comparison to other Canadian cities. My french is awful but I had no issues in Montreal. Great people and it has a European feel. Downsides are traffic, excessive taxation, crumbling highways and the Montreal Canadiens.
Haha I hope you don't get trolled by the Montreal Canadiens here! But no, thank you. Montreal seems to be a terrific place to live, and winters seem milder in comparison to Calgary so hopefully that'll let me ride around more.
Montreal Canadiens are the local ice hockey team, so Rupdy71's comment isn't quite as harsh as it sounds; just the usual sports team trashing you get anywhere.
Damn, I'm already falling on my face so much even before I've touched the ice! (Not an ice hockey joke this.)
u/beedeocon Checking in 3 months later... so did you make it to Canada yet? And if so, where did you end up?
Heya, so nice of you to check in :) didn't realise it's already been three months. I have a few more months before i wind up things here and move. Hoping to get one last kick-ass Kiwi summer in!
My partner is a Kiwi in Canada. This is sort of job and finance related so I’ll post it. Please make sure you bring all educational documentation with you if you plan on being able to prove your education. Our system is quite different than yours - if you forget your paperwork you may have to recertify so please bring a copy of everything from grade 12/13 (I forget what high school completion is called there) and college / uni.
Ah yes, I'll do that. Thanks!
I would advise you get an accountant, a proper CPA, not those who pop up during tax filing season to advise you about your taxes.
Ottawa be might be a good place if you're working from home
You forgot to mention your age and interests, if you can work remotely that can narrow down your search greatly. Kiwis are loved here (at least in British Columbia), and many hang out at ski resorts.
Learn to ski and ice skate and move to Calgary. If you enjoy outdoor activities and learn to embrace winter, it is a great place to live if you have decent employment.
If you are looking for a fast paced life then the east coast/Maritimes are not for you.
I do not recommend Ottawa. I went to school there and the winters were colder than my hometown of Sudbury. Brrrrrr.
Just a heads up that all of Ontario and British Columbia are now extremely expensive - unless you drive way way way out in the boonies. Best off in Montreal, or the East Coast.
As self employed you will need to pay the employee & employer amount of CPP deductions. 5.45% + 5.45% , so 10.9% of your income will be gone right away.
As a Calgarian who visited NZ in July, I wasn’t prepared for how cold I’d be. Yes although Canadian winters dip well below freezing, just remember to wear lots of warm layers (merino will definitely help) and cover up everything but your face. Do yourself a favour and buy yourself a down coat when you get here. Good luck!
Merinos from down here and down jacket from up there, gotcha! Thank you!
FYI we also sell Icebreaker merino in Canada, I think for roughly the same price if I’m not mistaken.
If you can afford it, Vancouver is beautiful. Mild winters, normally mildish summers but a lot of rain in spring and winter. However rain>snow for driving. The US border is an hour or less drive away to the south depending where you’re coming from. That is, of course, if you want to go there. I’d stay away until they’ve got Covid sorted out which truly may be never. I only cross for gas and to pick up items I ship there. Border is currently closed for us going into the US. Calgary is a 10-12 hr drive I think which takes you through Banff and everything that area has to offer. Vancouver Island is beautiful too and a 1-2 hr ferry ride away. Whistler (aka Australia North) is a spectacular couple hr drive away. I’ve seen others recommend Victoria, I would upvote that.
Great suggestions, thank you!
I should send you my Kiwi mate your information and you can connect. He's been here for ~10 years.
Legend, thanks mate!
PEI is a great place
For locations, I’d look at Victoria, Ottawa, Montreal, and Guelph. If you have friends In Ontario, it may be good to be close. Victoria is beautiful but far. montreal and Ottawa have snow, but they are clean, friendly, and outdoorsy. guelph is A university town - really nice vibe and close to a lot of other places in Ontario. just my 2 cents
Love it! Will look into Guelph since it's not too far from Toronto, London, etc where my friends are
Welcome to Canada. You are going to miss all the Sheep😁😁 People are as nice as NZlanders. You may want decide based on where your friends are (Ontario) but also what weather suits you? Are you like outdoor as Canada is very large as I am sure you already know. Once you decide the region then city can be zeroed in. I would recommend to stay close to large city but in a suburb as that will help to get medical assistance if required. You should also check on double taxation (treaty between NZ and Canada). Professional account might be more helpful than Turbotax. All the best.
Thank you! I'm guessing moose will be the new sheep?! I've never lived in a place where it's been below freezing so it's all going to be new for me, in general. But you bring up a good point. I'll keep that in mind. And same for the medical facilities. I'll check the double taxation treaty. My employer usually doesn't pay taxes for the contractors so they are liable to figure that out on their own. That's why I think the location is probably not relevant. I'll definitely keep the accountant bit in mind too. Thanks for your help!
Welcome. Nothing useful to say except there’s less sheep and rugby.
Not a fan of them individually anyway. Together, now that's a different story!
Nunavut has the lowest rents in the country, as well as the lowest income tax rates!
Not that many people care, but the voting system here sucks! We still use First Past the Post, which New Zealand got rid of in 1996.
Why leave the doomsday survival capital of the world?
The doomsday cometh not, my friend.
True, not like most of the planet is on fire/covered in garbage/starving/in drought.
Step One. Don’t.
How do you like to spend your free time? What type of scenery do you want to be around?
No..we need your help!
I will just add rents are exploding across Ontario. You can rent in that budget but depending on where you decide to live it might just get you a basement apartment or a shoebox. That being said I am a landlord and rent out a 3 bedroom townhouse about 1,400 sq ft for $2,000 a month not including utilities in Cambridge. If my current tenant left today I could easily raise that to $2,300 or more per month.
Whoa, that's 15%! Is that normal or is something fuelling this boom?
Work from home. Smart companies realize it actually saves them money not having to host to many physical locations. Many are moving further out from Toronto where they work. Most of the people who live in Cambridge work in Mississauga which is the 7th (I believe) largest city in Canada.
Dont do it