canada

[Goldy1]

I grew up in a Detroit Suburb. I know the D has a bad rap. I grew up 20 mins from in a very MAybury perfect neighborhood(low crime, good schools)I like to defend the D or at least Michigan. We have many beautiful cites with lakes everywher and lower cost of living. Job market sucks often due to auto field being cyclical.
I still listen to Canadian news and they have great radio stations. I live about an hour from Canada now.
I used to swing over there in Windsor to eat or spend a day.

I haven't been in years.
I wonder what it would be like to live there. Cold I know. Hey, you'd never have to go bankrupt from medical debt bc of national healthcare.

The dollar used to be strong a long time ago and eating out there was cheap. Not anymore.
I noticed taxes are high. All around here(an hour from Canada and there are way closer malls) the amount of Canadain shoppers is unreal. They shop here bc they told me goods are cheaper. The Windsor plates are like a norm around here.

[bjl584]

I've been to Canada a few times on fishing trips. Things are definitely more expensive there, especially if you drink beer . I guess it's taxed heavily due to national healthcare. A case of beer that is around $20 here in the states is $40 there. It's a beautiful country though. But, I've never spent more than a week or so there at a time. I know that some of the regulars on the board do live there. Maybe they can chime in.

[snafu]

As an American expatriate living in Canada, I'm happy to answer any questions. I've lived in Toronto and visit Montreal regularly. While English is a common language there are vast differences in culture and values. Americans can enjoy a cheap visit to Montreal, Quebec and easily imagine themselves in Europe. The majority of rural population speak French as 1st language and have retained old country language, food and lifestyle. Toronto is a mini [only 6 million], very clean New York. There is a totally different history with visible minorities so those issues we see in America aren't so significant here.

Taxes are considerably higher to pay for all our social programs but I don't think we're anything like the true socialist countries I often work in. The so called 'sin' taxes are ridiculously high for tobacco, alcohol, & junk foods. On the other hand, lottery or casino winnings aren't taxed at all. .48 [forty eight cents] of every dollar spent on gas for cars goes to pay for national health care. There is no co pay, no hospital charge, no laboratory or x-ray fees charged to individuals. The only time you pay is for 'elective' surgery. No fear of illness, no problem changing jobs, location, province etc. Also pays for pre approved treatment in other countries.

The cost of food is higher due to our inhospitable growing climate, nearly all is imported. The cost of stuff [clothes, furnishings, shoes etc] is higher due to vast space, high shipping costs and a small population [32 million].

The election process is easy to understand and no campaign can extend beyond 6 weeks. There is a cap on election spending which relates to number of constituents in a riding. No $ 8 million campaigns. [We get American cable and are uncomfortable with the nasty, negative ads that overtake evening TV]

I doubt Americans would like to live here unless they're linked to the oil patch. Most foreigners describe Canada as so-oo clean and describe the population as so polite.

[UnknownXV]

It's cold, yes, but as long as you stick to southern cities like Montreal, Toronto, etc... you wouldn't experience worse than the weather in Michigan.

The dollar is still fairly strong, basically 1:1 with the USD most of the time. We have vast quantities of untapped natural resources, and our national budget is, while far from perfect, much better than the state of affairs in the US. Also, our banking standards are better so you get less loan induced bubbles.

The downsides are that cost of living is higher, especially food. Maybe twice as expensive for food here vs my time in Florida. Keep that in mind. job availability is usually pretty good. Free medical care is a double edged sword. We all share that burden, so it's not placed on a few unlucky individuals, but do be wary that taxes are very high. Especially here in Quebec.

Overall I would say that Canada is a decent place to live, and I prefer it to the states for the most part.

[ecoadapt]

I've heard a lot of fairly positive opinions on living in Canada. Canada is a descent county to live,it might be more expensive but definitely whenever you try to live there you'll see the difference.