what are the benefits of moving from the U.S. to Canada?

Question

If there are any..and yes I am aware it will be MUCH colder

Answer 1

I am from the U.S. and living in Canada.
Here are my personal observations, both pro and con.

1) Generally speaking, life is lived at a bit slower, less frantic pace, even in the cities, and people ARE more polite, though also more reserved.

2) Materialism seems to be significantly less, even though the standard of living is similar to the U.S. People tend to be less brand-minded, and don't worship shopping in the way the U.S. seems to. Seems more European in this regard ... quality is desired and paid for, but it's not a status thing.

3) Crime, especially violent crime, is very much less, in particular in the cities. The disparity between the very poor and the middle class seems to be much less ... you don't see the poverty stricken slum areas near as much as in the U.S.

4) Grocery costs are about 30% higher, as are electronics, furniture, and many other items, even after accounting for the difference in currency exchange rate.

5) Taxes are higher, but with that you also get National Health Care. In some provinces though, you have to pay a monthly fee towards the health care, and you have to pay extra to get insurance for dental, optical, meds, and medical appliances and supplies or pay for these things out of pocket. Also, the standard of health care is lower than the U.S. and wait times are an issue.

6) There is a 6% national sales tax, and some provinces also have a sales tax, so in places like BC you end up paying 14% on everything you buy, including food. There are few exceptions.

7) The cultural diversity is fantastic, and everyone seems to be fairly tolerant.

8) You can't beat the scenery, wildlife, nature, and wild outdoors!

Answer 2

Benefits Of Moving To Canada

Answer 3

I am a Canadian who just moved to Missouri 6 months ago and the biggest difference I found is the CRIME LEVEL here in KC is mind blowing - people shoot and kill each other almost every night. In Canada the crime rate is very low. You can feel safe almost anywhere.

The school system is good. Health care is an obvious bonus. Cost of living is mostly low (depends where you're thinking of moving). Unemployment is low.

You might even learn to speak a little french! Also, check out the Canadian currency... multicolored bills plus loonies and toonies!! You can't get much more Canadian than that, Eh!

Answer 4

Canada has a universal health care system unlike that in US which is far more complicated and capital oriented. So in US money can gurantee timely and quality health care. But what if you don't have money. This is where Canada is better. Also it's much more better to retire in Canada then in US where, again, if you don't have enough lifetime savings, then take good care of you and you don't have to depend on coverage through medicaid or medicare where quality of service is often poor.

Answer 5

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RE:
what are the benefits of moving from the U.S. to Canada?
If there are any..and yes I am aware it will be MUCH colder

Answer 6

Just like the U.S., Canada has distinct regions with different characteristics. For instance, I live in a rural area - people's ideas here are very similar to American redneck ideas.
Universal healthcare is a huge plus - you don't have to afford it to get sick.
Also a note, Vancouver rarely gets below freezing, is near the mountains, and was just voted the best city in the world to live in - it has a great culture scene.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Universal health care: every individual has access to health care no matter the financial status.
Greater room for self-expression. Individualism is accepted more.
Multicultural, an amalgamation of different nations.
Politeness is observed in everyday chance encounters.

Answer 9

For colder, depends where in the US vs where in Canada. Some parts of Canada are much warmer than some parts of the US.

I moved from Canada to the US - it's the opposite. I like the US better.

Canada-
Pros: free health care, generally safer, cleaner, friendlier people (GREATLY depends on where)
Cons: much higher taxes, slow health care system, only basic medical is covered (still pay drugs, physio etc), harder to really push ahead....

The rest depend on your idea of what is a pro and what is a con:
Harder to get ahead and harder to fall behind, in general. If you have socialist leanings, you'll like Canada better.
Free crack pipes in Ottawa and free heroin needles in most large cities - if you are diabetic though you have to pay for your needles. Free heroin in Vancouver.

Contrary to what many say, although violent crime is generally lower in Canada petty crime, I think, is considerably higher. House breakins, car theft etc is an everyday thing in many Canadian neighbourhoods, vs where I have lived in the US. I personally felt safer in Colonie, NY (suburb of Albany) and Chesapeake, VA (suburb of Norfolk) then I did in St. Catharines Ontario or Ottawa Ontario.

Political freedom is greatly reduced in Canada. To be "for" the "wrong" party is asking to be ridiculed and maybe even forced out of social circles. Americans have a much greater sense of democracy.

Canadians really do have an overinflated sense of their importance in this world. Canada is really a shame - I love it, I miss it, but it really is going to hell in a handbasket very quickly. Their economic and strategic and global importance has been greatly reduced over the last 30 years. "Multiculturalism" is really starting to cause problems now, as immigrants regularly consider their loyalty to Canada as lukewarm at best, don't learn English and do not integrate.

To each their own. They way I like to compare is: in the US vs Canada, the best is better, and the worst is worse. If you are among the best you'll do better in the US than in Canada. If you are the bottom of the heap, you'll do better in Canada.

I personally couldn't ever move back to Canada without taking a huge reduction in lifestyle. I would be WALLOPED with such taxes my head would spin. No thanks.

Answer 10

MY experience with Canada and Canadians is that they are much more ethnically diverse and I loved it there. Plus, being gay isn't as horrible as it is here in the US...

Oh, and i think they're not as hard on pot smokers...

And the beer is better!