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How would you compare Canada to the US?

How does life in Canada compare to the UK?

  • Hi there, I am looking for someone who has made the leap across the pond (in either direction) who can give me any details of how life compares in the two country's. There is a chance I may be moving to Canada in the near future; more specifically Calgary - Alberta. Mainly I'm interested in the cost of living. Car insurance, bills, rent, food, transport etc. I'm expecting something around $40,000 - $60,000 a year for someone in my industry. Probably nearer the lower end as I've only been doing it a couple of years. Is this a good livable wage? Also any experience of how the people's and lifestyles of the two country's compare would be nice. Cheers.

  • Answer:

    I'm English born, but raised in Canada. I've been back to the UK a few times. The cost of living in Canada is MUCH lower than in the UK. The prices for things are similar, but, in dollars, not pounds, meaning everything is much cheaper. There are exceptions: I found wool sweaters (jumpers), and chocolate to be cheaper in the UK. That was it. Costs: car insurance will be higher, as you don't have Canadian experience. It will depend on your age, and vehicle, but, $1000-2000 a year would be probable. Rent: a flat (apartment), perhaps $1000 a month. This is really variable. Food: $300-400 a month. Transport: Many drive, but, a transit pass is $94 per month. Heat, light, telephone, etc. probably $100-300 a month. More in winter (heating), and less in summer. $40k a year would be okay for a single person. Tight, but doable. You would not earn enough to buy a house though, unless you had a large down payment. $60k would be fine. Not rich, but, not bad at all. You'd still need a decent down payment to buy a house, but, it is entirely possible with that much.

Gerardo at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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If you search online, there's a huge expat community that has all kinds of websites. Like these for example: "Canada best nation to live in –British Expats" Link - http://www.canadaupdates.com/content/canada-best-nation-live-%E2%80%93british-expats-16370.html "Bye Bye Blighty - Living in Canada" Link - http://www.byebyeblighty.com/canada/ "Expat Exchange Canada Articles" Link - http://www.expatexchange.com/libcountry.cfm?networkID=28

Shawn Robin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGsffKdJ-eQ&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL93910B8E4B3284BBQ $40,000 is a good salary to cover the basics of food rent and so on.City of One million people lifestyle varies from area to area. Cultural events of many types.Biggest difference is just distance and size.Generally more car traffic than foot traffic.Explore the web enter calgary in search square lots of info. Checkout Calgary Herald and Calgary sun for on line local news

Rona Lachat

There is so much more space outside downtowns. Wider roads, bigger houses[albeit made of wood], thousands of miles of open countryside. I remember when we had been in Canada a few months, walking along a beach within sight of Halifax, wiith not another person there $40 000 would be very tight in Calgary Have you applied for your visa yet?.

thinkingtime

I haven't made the leap as you put it but if you move to Calgary make sure you can handle cold. The winters in the Prairie Provinces are brutal and unless your right in the city there is not a lot to do there.

unknown friend

Forget about ever owning a house. The housing market is inflated beyond belief. Really it depends what province you want to be in and how close to major population hubs. The further out the cheaper it is.

Aw yeauh

They drive on the other side of the road in Canada.

Soviet Canuckistan

I`ll tell ya its hard, in the winter we must bore a hole through the ice to find food, and ride our sleds everywhere!! but at least our igloos stay intact, they kind of melt a little bit in the summer. The typical day of a Canadian consists of waking up having a double double at timmies, playing a quick game of hockey with local neighbours, then its off the the frozen ice to wack baby seals across the head for their precious fats that we use to keep us warm. Our igloos not only give us shelter but protect us from polar bears and flying hockey pucks. Thanks! Cheers!

Don Cherry

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