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Cost of Living: US or Canada

Stunt

Stunt

Diamond Member
Ok, so I'm in a debate with a friend of mine whether Canada or the US is a cheaper country to live in. I don't know how we can go about comparing costs of living as the calculators on the net do not have an option for Canadian cities or vice versa.

I am under the impression it is generally cheaper to live in Canada if you make ~$75k or less, then it's more adventageous to be in the US as the higher income earners are taxed less. The Canadian government subsidizes many things like healthcare, education, some housing, no food or baby items are taxed, etc. Thus making it easier for lower income earners to get by. I don't want this to be a political debate over tax systems and entitlements (you can see my take on my blog if you really care).

I do realize rural locations and cities have a major impact on this analysis, but overall I'd like to determine what country gives you more for the lowest price...or the lowest cost of living.

I found this link which seems to think Ottawa is the cheapest city in north america. The site also shows 20 American cities, and 5 Canadian cities in the top 144 cities. 11 of the US cities are above the highest Canadian city. Keeping in mind Toronto has 5.3 million people and ranks as North America's 3rd largest city. So this has an effect on the analysis.

Comments?
 
Stunt one reason for Canada being cheaper to live. If you get a heart attack in the US and have 0 insurance you'll be paying your medical bills for the rest of your life, or any incident that requires you to go to a hospital. Education is another thing. Although compared to the US its practically free. I would assume most people join the Army\Marines to get a better education than what they could get at a Community College in the US but at the price of risking your life if you are ever called upon.
 
Originally posted by: gnumantsc
Stunt one reason for Canada being cheaper to live. If you get a heart attack in the US and have 0 insurance you'll be paying your medical bills for the rest of your life, or any incident that requires you to go to a hospital. Education is another thing. Although compared to the US its practically free. I would assume most people join the Army\Marines to get a better education than what they could get at a Community College in the US but at the price of risking your life if you are ever called upon.
Click to expand...

Yea, you get what you pay. Ask all the people who died waiting on their name to come up on the healthcare service list. Oh, wait...

The best treatment money can buy
By OLIVER MOORE
Friday, June 10, 2005, Page A1

TORONTO -- Barbara Hogan would be dead today if she hadn't gone to a private U.S. clinic for treatment of her breast cancer.

She couldn't get seen fast enough in Canada and found out only after surgery in New York State just how quickly her cancer was spreading. She said yesterday that private care saved her life, the money spent worth "every penny."
 
...but hey, they also subsidize your burial, so perhaps it's a wash:


Each year, 200 Canadians die waiting for transplants.


The Canadian healthcare system is often held up as a model for a proposed national healthcare plan in the United States like the one then-First Lady Hillary Clinton proposed in 1994.


Few Americans realize the corrosive effect the Canadian system has on the quality of healthcare provided - or not - to Canada's citizens. Inordinately long wait-times and rationing of services are the norm. Canadians wait months for coronary bypass surgery. Some die waiting. A needed MRI can require a six-month wait. And many cutting-edge procedures, drugs and treatments are simply not prescribed because they are not included in the basket of benefits Canadian's receive.


And under federal law, private clinics are not legally allowed to provide services covered by the Canada Health Act, so there is no competition - and nowhere else to turn for help.


Canada is also alleged to hold down drug prices by extorting American pharmaceutical companies: Sell Canada drugs below wholesale cost (and sometimes below actual cost) or Canada will buy so-called grey market knock-offs from China.


But in Baruch Tegegne's case, the Canadian system becomes even more bizarre.


A live donor, altruistic transplant with a donor found over the Internet has been done at Toronto General Hospital.


But Tegegne cannot simply fly to Toronto to save his life. Canadian national healthcare is not portable. Toronto is in the provence of Ontario. Montreal is in Quebec. Except for emergency, non-elective care, Toronto will not pay for a Montreal citizen's healthcare.


Even though Tegegne needs the transplant to save his life, the transplant is not considered emergency care, so the man who risked his life to save hundreds from certain death now waits quietly for his own.

 
This is not a political discussion...
If you look at my blog, I do support private healthcare. Even though you drag out a few oddball cases where people have complications due to the wait times, waiting is better for those who cannot afford the care at all. How many people in the US have complications from inadequate heathcare coverage?

This is not the point of the discussion, please make your own thread on the issue. We are talking about costs of living.
 
Try here.

Says Montreal costs more than Tampa, Los Angeles about the same at Ottawa. Dunno if it is at all accurate.
 
Originally posted by: xxxInfidelxxx
...but hey, they also subsidize your burial, so perhaps it's a wash:


Each year, 200 Canadians die waiting for transplants.


The Canadian healthcare system is often held up as a model for a proposed national healthcare plan in the United States like the one then-First Lady Hillary Clinton proposed in 1994.


Few Americans realize the corrosive effect the Canadian system has on the quality of healthcare provided - or not - to Canada's citizens. Inordinately long wait-times and rationing of services are the norm. Canadians wait months for coronary bypass surgery. Some die waiting. A needed MRI can require a six-month wait. And many cutting-edge procedures, drugs and treatments are simply not prescribed because they are not included in the basket of benefits Canadian's receive.


And under federal law, private clinics are not legally allowed to provide services covered by the Canada Health Act, so there is no competition - and nowhere else to turn for help.


Canada is also alleged to hold down drug prices by extorting American pharmaceutical companies: Sell Canada drugs below wholesale cost (and sometimes below actual cost) or Canada will buy so-called grey market knock-offs from China.


But in Baruch Tegegne's case, the Canadian system becomes even more bizarre.


A live donor, altruistic transplant with a donor found over the Internet has been done at Toronto General Hospital.


But Tegegne cannot simply fly to Toronto to save his life. Canadian national healthcare is not portable. Toronto is in the provence of Ontario. Montreal is in Quebec. Except for emergency, non-elective care, Toronto will not pay for a Montreal citizen's healthcare.


Even though Tegegne needs the transplant to save his life, the transplant is not considered emergency care, so the man who risked his life to save hundreds from certain death now waits quietly for his own.
Click to expand...

If you are going to blatantly copy and paste, atleast credit the source....
 
Originally posted by: fitzov
I would think it is obvious that crucial factors are: pay rate, rent, energy costs, etc.
Click to expand...
And average for the whole country or certain areas/cities?
 
the only way I have found of comparing costs from one country to another is to put it into working hours.

it doesnt work if you compare what something costs in one country as opposed to another, even if you convert it. a loaf of bread in the USA is $1.50 and the average loaf of bread is in the UK is about 0.80GBP but you cant just convert the money. does it take less time to earn $1.50 or 0.80GPB?

you have to think about how many hours it would take you to earn something in one country...their average hourly wage and the cost of the item.
 
Originally posted by: xxxInfidelxxx
...but hey, they also subsidize your burial, so perhaps it's a wash:


Each year, 200 Canadians die waiting for transplants.


The Canadian healthcare system is often held up as a model for a proposed national healthcare plan in the United States like the one then-First Lady Hillary Clinton proposed in 1994.


Few Americans realize the corrosive effect the Canadian system has on the quality of healthcare provided - or not - to Canada's citizens. Inordinately long wait-times and rationing of services are the norm. Canadians wait months for coronary bypass surgery. Some die waiting. A needed MRI can require a six-month wait. And many cutting-edge procedures, drugs and treatments are simply not prescribed because they are not included in the basket of benefits Canadian's receive.


And under federal law, private clinics are not legally allowed to provide services covered by the Canada Health Act, so there is no competition - and nowhere else to turn for help.


Canada is also alleged to hold down drug prices by extorting American pharmaceutical companies: Sell Canada drugs below wholesale cost (and sometimes below actual cost) or Canada will buy so-called grey market knock-offs from China.


But in Baruch Tegegne's case, the Canadian system becomes even more bizarre.


A live donor, altruistic transplant with a donor found over the Internet has been done at Toronto General Hospital.


But Tegegne cannot simply fly to Toronto to save his life. Canadian national healthcare is not portable. Toronto is in the provence of Ontario. Montreal is in Quebec. Except for emergency, non-elective care, Toronto will not pay for a Montreal citizen's healthcare.


Even though Tegegne needs the transplant to save his life, the transplant is not considered emergency care, so the man who risked his life to save hundreds from certain death now waits quietly for his own.
Click to expand...

no it isn't. christ. :roll:
 
Originally posted by: Stunt
Ok, so I'm in a debate with a friend of mine whether Canada or the US is a cheaper country to live in. I don't know how we can go about comparing costs of living as the calculators on the net do not have an option for Canadian cities or vice versa.

I am under the impression it is generally cheaper to live in Canada if you make ~$75k or less, then it's more adventageous to be in the US as the higher income earners are taxed less. The Canadian government subsidizes many things like healthcare, education, some housing, no food or baby items are taxed, etc. Thus making it easier for lower income earners to get by. I don't want this to be a political debate over tax systems and entitlements (you can see my take on my blog if you really care).

I do realize rural locations and cities have a major impact on this analysis, but overall I'd like to determine what country gives you more for the lowest price...or the lowest cost of living.

I found this link which seems to think Ottawa is the cheapest city in north america. The site also shows 20 American cities, and 5 Canadian cities in the top 144 cities. 11 of the US cities are above the highest Canadian city. Keeping in mind Toronto has 5.3 million people and ranks as North America's 3rd largest city. So this has an effect on the analysis.

Comments?
Click to expand...

I don't know about that link. It says Toronto is more expensive than Vancouver, yet a recent article (can't find it now... on my way out) listed housing prices across Canada. It said the average price for a house has now gone up to just over $300k with Toronto being the second most expensive at $385k. The average price of a house in Vancouver is $535k...
 
I live in Ottawa, and I was under the impression that it was in fact cheap compared to other major cities. I would say costs of living in general between the two countries are pretty similar... less tax in the US, but our higher taxes go into social programs, so in the end they come out pretty close.
 
I think the best index is the quality of living. I may be biased but I think quality of living for most people (not loaded with $$ or trust funds) in Canada is better. The only problem is jobs. If I can find a job in my field is Canada, it would be a tough tough choice to stay away.
 
You probably want a Third Party/Independent study to really get a clear picture. Google for IMF or other International Orgs studies on this subject.
 
Originally posted by: savoyboy
Don't you have to pay taxes out of your ass in Canada?
Click to expand...

As of 2003
Federal Income Tax Brackets
31,678-63,354 22%
63,335-103,000 26%
103,001+ 29%

Plus 6%GST and provincial taxes, which can be as high as 15% in BC. Alberta has a flat 10% accross all income brackets. Ideally Alberta is the lowest cost place to live right now. Though housing prices are climbing a few thousand a month right now, Calgary is still relatively affordable.

40% of all Central business district construction is happening in downtown Calgary right now w00t. Two 60 floor highrises will start going up pretty quick.
 
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