Is relocating to Canada really a thing?

[viewing ownly]

For those forum members who are Canadian citizens, I'm asking your take in particular. Is the consensus "We don't want you - stay where you are, please", or "Come on up! We have a larger percentage of friendlier people, available jobs, and free health care after you establish residency for a certain amount of time".

Moving is doable without air travel, language isn't a barrier (except Quebec), and you drive on the right hand side of the road, too. (I still cannot believe a contestant on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" got that wrong, like they somehow thought the roads all did a criss-cross when you entered the country).

[CuriousByNature]

I think most of us would welcome people moving up here from the US.  We are far from a perfect country, however.  The cost of living in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver is pretty high, though lower than Manhattan.  Universal medical is great, but we have long waits for treatment and many people cannot find a family doctor.  Canadians are pretty friendly, but that also depends on the region.  I find almost everyone is polite, but not always warm and engaging like a lot of Americans tend to be.  

[mike carey]

I can understand that for some Americans, the idea of Canada is enticing. Less drama, the idea of a friendlier life. But moving is not easy, there are hurdles to jump, and no guarantees of being able to move. If you could move easily it may be a simpler choice, to move for now hoping that the things you think you need to escape might cease to be an issue and you could go back. Your own country always has a pull on you, emotionally, practically, families.

Five years ago, I was disillusioned by the way I saw Australia going, and in the glow that New Zealand held across the ditch, there was the kernel of an idea to move. For us, moving there is far easier than it is for Americans to move north. We can simply move, no questions, 'register' as a resident, and in five years obtain a passport. It's more complex for Kiwis to go the other way, but for us it's easy. The pandemic snuffed out any idea of doing that, neither of us could at all. Five years later, the tone of Australia has changed. If I had moved, the pull of home would have been strong. I may not have regretted the move. But I do not regret now that I couldn't. But I could never, ever, ever have cheered for the All Blacks.

Canada may have an allure now, but today in America is not forever. Escape may feel urgent in this moment, but whatever has changed, much remains the same. There is a rhythm of life, moving will disrupt it, the idea of change may promise something better, but it will be different in ways that you will not know until you try it. That can be a caution as much as an objective.

[+ sync]

In the interest of any cultural misunderstanding, "All Blacks" is the name of New Zealand's national rugby union team for their all black uniforms.

Edited Wednesday at 01:20 PM by sync

[mike carey]

9 minutes ago, sync said:

In the interest of any cultural misunderstanding, "All Blacks" is the name of New Zealand's national rugby union team.

Oh. Yes, it is.

For some of us that's such basic knowledge that it didn't occur to me that it wasn't obvious. My bad.

And in a play on that name, the national football team of Aotearoa is the All Whites, and the basketball team is the Tall Blacks.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Not to Canada, but I am glad I left.

[mike carey]

2 minutes ago, José Soplanucas said:

Not to Canada, but I am glad I left.

Yes, but you had the pull of a home country as well. Even the idea of Christmas in winter is foreign, and it draws us back to the south, where that holiday falls in what for us is its appointed season. Moving from the US to Canada doesn't bring that sense of dislocation.

[BSR]

The biggest livability factor for many is the ratio of median income to median home price.  As a general rule, median home price 3x median income is considered affordable.  In Canada the ratio is a whopping 9x!  It’s lousy in the US as well, 5.8x, but not quite as backbreaking as our northern neighbor.

I got ratios only for Vancouver 12.7x, Toronto 10.7x, and Montreal & Calgary 6x.  To compare:  LA 10x, San Francisco 8.5x, New York 6.8x, Boston 6x.  But cities in the Midwest are much more affordable:  Oklahoma City 3.1x, Cleveland 2.7x, Detroit 1.9x.

Many millennials are frustrated they can’t afford to buy, and many Gen Z are still living with their parents.  If home ownership matters to you and you’re not making a high finance or tech bro salary, do your due diligence before making the move.

[viewing ownly]

Thank you all for this - and an overseas rugby education, to boot! I was eyeing the city of Brandon, due to its close proximity to the U.S. border, and its very low crime rate for such a large population. I recently saw a coffee house in Brandon hosting a heavy metal singer from my hair band glory days of the early 1990s, so I know that there's an existing music scene. Many of my favorite artists are from there - I've requested a Sam Roberts Band song to be played at my memorial service.

 

 

For the immediate future, I need to work on me, clean up my place to make it sellable, and likely wait until the Winter of '26 to see where things are at with the financial state of myself and both countries at that time. I have confidence that we'll still be separate, unless the ghost of James K. Polk intervenes.

[pubic_assistance]

21 hours ago, mike carey said:

Even the idea of Christmas in winter is foreign

I've been in the Tropics a few times over Christmas Holiday. (Having visited my family before or after Christmas day). Its always comical as a NorthEasterner to see Santa suits, Pine trees and Fake snow around Plastic reindeer..all adjacent to palm trees and 90 degree weather. 

On one hand, it was pleasant to know I was avoiding the cold weather, but on the other the holiday didnt feel "real". A move to Canada for most people in the Northern US would feel familiar since most Canadian cities are WAY south in Canada and many arent even as far north as Maine in the US. 

[+ SirBillybob]

If you are rich and seek a spousal sponsorship, I’m very high maintenance and require a non-prenup pledge. 

If you apply for entry through the Home Support Worker program, I’m very high maintenance and you must buy your own Pledge. 

Edited Thursday at 03:56 PM by SirBillybob

[BSR]

On 8/21/2025 at 8:46 AM, pubic_assistance said:

On one hand, it was pleasant to know I was avoiding the cold weather, but on the other the holiday didnt feel "real". A move to Canada for most people in the Northern US would feel familiar since most Canadian cities are WAY south in Canada and many arent even as far north as Maine in the US. 

Factoid I heard recently:  24 US states are farther north (if you take the state’s northernmost point) than the city of Windsor ON.

[pubic_assistance]

5 minutes ago, BSR said:

 24 US states are farther north (if you take the state’s northernmost point) than the city of Windsor ON.

Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine are all in line with or North of Toronto.

[+ SirBillybob]

If you are in California wine country you are in line with Canada.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

5 hours ago, SirBillybob said:

If you are in California wine country you are in line with Canada.

I thought all of California was whine country. 😉 

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Vegas_Millennial

[BSR]

3 hours ago, SirBillybob said:

If you are in California wine country you are in line with Canada.

I interpret “in line with” as “at the same latitude.”  I googled it because that didn’t sound right.  The northernmost point in California wine country (northern edge of Mendocino County) is at 40 degrees N whereas the southernmost point in Canada is Point Pelee ON at 41.9 degrees N, a distance of 130 miles.  If you’re in Napa or Sonoma, the heart of California wine country, the distance is 240-250 miles.  But if by “in line with” you meant “near,” in the grand global scheme, 130 miles isn’t much.

[mike carey]

Fact not factoid, if you travel due south from Detroit, the first other country you reach is Canada. (Windsor, to be precise.)

[+ SirBillybob]

11 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

I thought all of California was whine country. 😉 

 

 

Don’t pelee on California.

[+ SirBillybob]

11 hours ago, BSR said:

I interpret “in line with” as “at the same latitude.”  I googled it because that didn’t sound right.  The northernmost point in California wine country (northern edge of Mendocino County) is at 40 degrees N whereas the southernmost point in Canada is Point Pelee ON at 41.9 degrees N, a distance of 130 miles.  If you’re in Napa or Sonoma, the heart of California wine country, the distance is 240-250 miles.  But if by “in line with” you meant “near,” in the grand global scheme, 130 miles isn’t much.

Thanks for the longitudinal elaboration. 😛 I meant similar latitudes. 

Edited 2 minutes ago by SirBillybob