What's it really like to live in Canada? Education, government, cost of living, etc.?

Question

I'm not looking for the "official" or "sanctioned" response, I'm looking for an answer from just regular folks. Is it better to live in the US versus Canada? Is it better to live in Canada versus the US? What's it like to pay for heat, gasoline, food, etc.?

Answer 1

I believe colleges in Canada are a bit cheaper than in the US.  Can't speak for quality since I don't have enough experience with both.  Government is mostly liberal.

We have 5% GST and some provinces also have PST.  Income tax is a multi step system, don't even ask me to explain it but I think most of the time I am paying less than 20% and I would say my income is somewhere in the middle range.  Add to that 2% for employment insurance and canada pension plan another 5%.  Some provinces have a monthly fee for health care, some don't.  Where I live, I pay $44 a month but they are doing away with those payments on Jan 1.  Some employers pay it for you as a part of your benefits.  Many employers offer supplemental health insurance that will cover your dental, vision care, physio, medications etc. where you may pay a part of that or not.  My employer has one and my part of it is $40 a month.

My house, I pay around $100 for power every month and natual gas which is my heat and hot water is $100 also on average but ranging from $60 in summer to $200 in winter.  Gas prices right now 1.22 per litre which works out to $4.60 per gallon.  That's all in Canadian dollars btw. 100 CAD right now about 95 USD, not that it's a big difference.

Apartments, one of my friend just got a bach. apart. for $500 a month, another friend just got a big 2 br for 950. Two friends are renting a townhouse with 3 br + 1 more in the basement for 1350.  I own my house and my tax to the city is 0.6% per year.

Answer 2

I love it in Ontario, the taxes aren't too bad, especially when you factor in you don't have to pay health insurance.  Crime is quite low, the people are friendly and the environment is clean.  Schools on the whole are very good.

Gasoline is slightly more expensive, food is maybe ever so slightly more expensive as well, but I would tend to think the average wage in Canada is slightly higher to compensate for that.

If you are into nature, boating, hunting, fishing, photography,camping etc, there are tons of places to go.

Answer 3

Life is better in Canada for a number of reasons:

- more comfortable climate

- less major disasters

- cleaner cities

- longer lifespans

- much more peaceful

Yes, the taxes are higher as are the fuel costs, but it is worth it.  Canada is a major breadbasket to the world, so food is quite affordable.

Answer 4

I am an American living in Canada.  There are pro's and con's to living in either country.  Taxes are much higher in Canada, food is much higher, gas is much higher, going to the movies is more expensive well just about everything I can think of costs more here in Canada.  That being said, Canada is much more environmentally progressive than the US, wages are typically higher in Canada, the health care is good in Canada, employee benefits are better for most jobs and crime is much lower in Canada.  Canada is more geared to the outdoors and have more biking and walking trails than I have ever seen in the US.  Yes, it is expensive to heat your home in the winter here but it is much cheaper to cool your home in the summer.  Our home doesn't even have an AC unit as we would only need it 1 or 2 weeks per year.  Our gas/electric bill is usually 300-325$ per month in the winter and it is about 60$ in the summer. Winter is harsh in some areas of Canada and can last for 6 months of the year.

I really don't prefer to live in one place over the other.  I am here in Canada right now because my husband is working here.  Day to day life is basically the same.

I can't really compare the school systems between Canada and the US because our son won't start school here until next fall.  They do not have Pre-K here in Canada.  I am interested to see what it is like here because I am a former school teacher from the US.