I understand some viewers expected a definitive conclusion given the video’s title, and that’s a fair point. If you came to this video expecting a clear verdict, I can see how the lack of one might feel frustrating. I’ll keep that in mind for future videos. This video was never meant to hand out a neat, one-size-fits-all answer to a nuanced and deeply personal question. If I had said, ‘Canada is better’ or ‘the USA is better,’ I’d be oversimplifying something that depends entirely on who you are, what you value, and what your life circumstances look like. That’s why I laid out all the factors-income, cost of living, healthcare, career opportunities, social benefits, and livability-and gave you the tools to weigh them against your own priorities. Let’s be real-if I claimed that one country is definitively ‘better,’ a lot of people would have (rightfully) called me out for ignoring the nuanced and subjective nature of the topic. Instead, I made the conscious choice to present an even-handed, data-driven analysis while also sharing my own experiences and the experiences of my guests. My goal was to help you reflect on what’s “better” for you based on what you’re optimizing for. As for my honest take, I did share it. I said Canada feels safer and offers a better social safety net, while the USA provides unparalleled opportunities for career advancement, which align with my goals right now. That is my honest answer, and that’s why I’m here in the US. At the end of the day, my goal is to encourage critical thinking, deep conversation, and reflection, not to hand out easy answers. I respect that you might feel differently. Thanks for watching, and I appreciate everyone who engages thoughtfully in this conversation.
I'm an RN. I will never get a $85 US plus per hour in Vancouver. I rent a room in Seattle and bring my US$ income and still live in Vancouver. I work blocks and get a long days off in Seattle and drive back to Vancouver. My Healthcare benefits are paid off by my employer in Seattle and still have full free healthcare benefits in Vancouver. In life you have to reap the benefits on both worlds. Life is good!
My father (American) retired to Canada after meeting a Canadian woman and as he was well off, lived comfortably in Victoria BC. He enjoyed it and unlike most other parts of Canada, the climate is temperate. I visited him many times but had no interest in moving there, and he wouldn't be there unless he had the bank that he had earned in the US and the Canadian spouse to get a sponsorship visa. Sadly, many Americans don't understand that Canada isn't a 51st state that you can choose to live in when it strikes your fancy or the election results don't go the way you like.
Thanks for sharing your father’s story! You're totally right to point out that moving from the USA to Canada (or vice versa) isn’t as straightforward as some might think. Your point about having the resources and a sponsorship visa really highlights how much privilege and planning it takes to make a big move like that, thanks for sharing your perspective.
@@supermash1 His dad isn't driving up cost of living... take a chill pill.... immigration on a large mass is what our problem is... Immigantion is necessary but we in Canada can't support it the way we allowed it to happen. Those who come to the country with mass immigration with no money are taxing to the system... but a lot of it is we do not have the infrastructure to support mass immigration. We can't build homes fast enough to support it so we have fewer homes which becomes more valuable and the cost of housing increases with less available to more demand. That is the real issue at hand. All the red tape it takes to get permits, to see if the land can be developed on.... it's insanity. I know because we are looking to buy land to build and its crazy how hard it is to find good land and also get permits to build.
I find it crazy that the weather was not really mentioned. I don't love the heat.. but Vancouver being known as the good weather Canadian city and Seattle is known as one of the worst in the US is interesting noting their almost identical climates.
Theres additional things that should be considered which is general insurance. It also dramatically varies between each province and state, but when I hear people say theyre leaving ontario to go for cheaper living in Florida, and then hear them complain about housing insurance and land taxes the difficulty to not say 'i told you so' grows. Also I suspect with their 'cheaper' healthcare policies as soon as theyre seriously ill, they'll come running straight back to Canada for almost free treatment.
Samuel was my student at a local coding school in Vancouver. So good to hear from him about his progress in Vancouver and that he is still calling Vancouver his home. Do pass on my regards to him. Wishing him the best.
I was an international student in Canada a long time ago but eventually moved to the US and became an American citizen. Much prefer the US. The problem with Canada is that a lot of new comers (like when I was an international student myself) only went to Canada because they thought it’s similar to the US but much easier to move to permanently… the minute they can move to the US they don’t walk they run (myself included)… “you don’t want someone date you because you look like a hot guy that’s too difficult to date… you want someone to date you for who you are.” The US is not perfect but if you have to choose between Canada and US, the US has so many more economic opportunities and the landscape is so much more diverse. However I would say that if you are dirt poor it’s better to be in Canada but if you are middle class and above, USA is the place to stay
Also the curious case of Vancouver - simple answer is that those who can afford living in Vancouver did not make their money in Vancouver. They earned them money elsewhere and park/spend their money there
It's more of a - people made money before shit hit the fan and those people are still here getting by. Immigration and lack of housing have just made this once great place to live a financial housing crisis money pit with over priced groceries. But to get back to what your were saying.. yes we made our money here. (except for the ones who bought in here anyways..)
Regarding salary I am in electrical engineering and generally these careers are paid so much higher in the US to my knowledge. There also are other factors like auto insurance or buying a home for example. Also taxes here in Canada if you make 100 k do increase a lot.
I've lived in Vancouver longer than I have lived in my birthplace and I can truly attest to your Canadian facts and observation. From my age group perspective, I can add that if you're still young (20's to early 30's) and moving to the US, it is definitely a vast ocean of opportunities for you. If you're still adventurous even in your late 30's, I think there's still lots of opportunities in career growth. As for me, I moved to Canada in my late 30's and I felt the need to ground myself already as I have started a family then. All my friends who moved to the US surely made it more in dollar figures than me, but it doesn't mean that they are better off than me. I am happy and at peace here while I still get to have a taste of the US experience. So again, for me, it depends on your season in life and how you perceive success and contentment. Keep it up and shine brightly!!
Yes, but NO one in Canada has to declare bankruptcy if they get sick, or worse…die! Emergency healthcare is done immediately. Yes, we wait for elective surgeries or for non emergencies but I’d rather know that ALL Canadians are looked after by MY taxes. I lived in the US. OMG. Most vile healthcare on the planet…unless you’re wealthy.
As a Canadian who has had a lot of experience with both countries - my grandfather was born in the U.S., my son is a U.S. citizen, I had five years of U.S. schooling, I lived in the U.S., my ex-wife is American, I have traveled extensively in the U.S., my childhood best friends were American - I can say what country is the best is very individual. If I wasn't a single parent raising a special needs son I would probably live in the U.S. The services my special needs son receives in Canada could not be matched in even the most progressive east coast states. In Canada he is covered for dental, ambulance, optometrist, and special needs aids. He receives a benefit income, has door to door transportation, is in a full time program and is even enrolled in a special go'vt savings / investment plan. As a child his teacher to student ratio was 1:1 to 3:1. His school funding revolved around his needs. Now if I hadn't been a single parent I would have lived in the U.S. because in general I like the company of Americans a lot more. In Canada you generally need an invite to a group to make friends whereas in the U.S. there is a general willingness to befriend complete strangers. Also Americans are risk takers that appreciate and respect that in others; not so much in Canada. In Canada as a car crasher I was mostly alone whereas in the U.S. I would have been part of a larger community. Just my two cents.
I'm a Gen-x Canadian, currently in LA, who has lived across the US during five discrete stays for a total of 15 years over the last 25 years. The difference between the two countries is the balance between quality of life versus quality of work. Quality of life is much better in Canada, but quality of work is much better in the US. Safety, work leave, cleanliness, and medical expenses, I say that as someone who has surgery a few times in both countries, are better in Canada. Yet, irrespective of income differentials, the scope, value, and quality of work I'm asked to provide in the US is commensurate with the full scope of my Canadian engineering training. While in Canada I'm asked to provide services far beneath my skill sets as Canadian industrialization beyond raw material production is nascent and lacking boldness. I moved back to Canada a few times for work but found myself reporting to people with far less competency and exposure due solely to Canadian lackluster industrialization. As someone who values developing creative work product, the US and Eurasia are far more enticing, but I often long to move back home to Canada. If only the work was there...
This is a super helpful comment. i work as an architectural designer in Canada, was involved in multiple award wining projects in Toronto but I must say, I feel what you described almost every day working in Canada. Businesses are not interested in innovative approaches or higher productivity tools (such as software in my case). The general public is not interested in developing our cities and NIMBY's are dime a dozen, they just want to live in an imaginary world of 1970s, frozen in time. US is a lot more innovative and business oriented, clearly.
I have to disagree. I lived here in Vancouver BC for the past 35 years, with relatives in Seattle which I visit often. Canada is far worse place to be. The taxes and cost of living are doubled and wages are only 2/3 of the states. Yes we got beautiful mountains but the unaffordability is taking a huge mental stress on most canadians here
@XMG3 Vancouver is not the Canadian Seattle, but San Francisco. An honest assessment would be between those two cities. Please go to San Francisco with all the junkies and human waste on the sidewalks and compare it to Vancouver.
I have never lived in Canada and am not qualified to compare them, but even in theory, I find the difference in climate to be a compelling factor. I grew up in Boston and found life quite miserable in winter. As an American, I take for granted that I can resettle in Los Angeles, Arizona, Florida, etc. The fact that the winters in Boston are milder than almost anywhere in Canada blows my mind a little bit. It's not a factor that probably would matter that much to most people, but for me it's been a major factor in quality of life.
I lived in Montreal for 15 years and visited Boston many times. I now live in Denver. I can tell you that once you head south from Montreal and get over the green mountains it is shocking how much warmer it is just a few hours south in the US. The winter in Boston is considerably milder than Montreal. Not even close.
I'm in Windsor, our weather is usually pretty great. we miss most of the worst of the storms due to where the great lakes sit don't get more then a few inches of snow every other year. we are also close enough to everything anyone could need within a 4 or 6 hour drive, both sides of the boarder. we used to be the cheapest place to live but unemployment sucks. the big difference is Canadians are too complacent politically and don't actually know what's going on in office. If they did know we wouldn't have a lib con duopoly and nether would ever hold office again.
@@TheInsaneupsdriver Agreed. Canadians are very complacent whereas Americans have a rebellious spirit to some degree. Canadians freedoms have steadily eroded over the decades but they put up no fight. Canadians overall trust in government leaves me shaking my head.
For the last 25 years, I’ve worked in the USA but live in Canada as a self-employed individual. My observation: 1) For me, taxes are significantly less in Canada because of lower corporate tax rates (SBD for CCPCs in Canada is the significant factor) and lower “Social Security/CPP/EI” tax. I’ve done my tax returns in several states and compared those to what I file in Canada, with an average of 30% savings. 2) Comparable housing is less expensive in Toronto than in similar US cities. I use my Toronto home and neighborhood as a benchmark. If you want to be in a larger, modern home in a safe neighborhood in the US, you will pay a premium. There are few “bad” areas in Toronto, but you must be selective in US cities. Yes, the cheapest homes in Toronto are shoebox Condos for US$400K, and yes, I can buy sub-300K fully detached homes in South Chicago, but I’d prefer being in a vibrant community. 3) The weather is better in the USA. But I can take a low-cost trip to Cuba to avoid the weather. 4) I have a family Doctor in Toronto I see regularly (for no cost). Canadian Healthcare is proactive, so I’ll see a specialist before the average American who waits for things to get bad before going to the Doctor. 5) The cost of Canadian Universities is much lower. Student debt isn’t an issue in Canada like in the US. Canada has three universities ranked in the top 50 in the world (the University of Waterloo, which you referred to in the video, is not one of them). What I notice most in the US is that people have given up on demanding from their government. Canadians still expect efficient services: excellent healthcare, maintained infrastructure, safe streets, and first-rate public schooling. The fact Canada has a government that works for its people is the main deciding factor for me.
Trudeau works for Canadians? Are we living in the same Canada? They have a real constitution. We have no legal rights here. Weather is massive for day to day living. Now compare hidden taxes like on housing, sales tax, luxury vehicle tax, carbon tax etc. The cost of everything here is much higher. Our universities being cheaper sucks. Our higher taxes pay for it, and then the vast majority leave for the USA right away. Not sure there's a country on this earth that gets more ripped off than Canadians. Certainly not our peers - Australia / USA. Look into how much better things are in Oz. It's insane.
What counts as "excellent" public transit, bike networks, or pedestrian infrastructure really depends on what you’re comparing it to. For instance, in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, you’ll find extensive public transit systems (like subways, metro lines, and buses), growing bike networks, and highly walkable neighborhoods. Are these cities on the same level as Amsterdam or Tokyo? No. Is there significant room for improvement? Absolutely. But are they better than what you'd find in car-centric U.S. cities like L.A., Houston, and Atlanta, where public transit is almost non-existent in some areas? Without a doubt. As @MrKongatthegates pointed out, some U.S. cities barely have any public transit at all. Most large Canadian cities, even with their flaws, have functional public transit systems as a baseline. That said, I also recognize that smaller Canadian cities or suburban areas can be a completely different story. I grew up in a car-centric Canadian suburb myself, so I know the struggle firsthand. Canada has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to public transit, but it’s still far ahead of what you'd find in many American cities.
You left out a big factor for some of us…weather…also entertainment, food, variety, beaches, etc. love Canada but as a person with seasonal affective disorder it isn’t for me.
it seems like the US is great if you're wealthy, and can afford to live in a nice area/provide for all your potential healthcare needs. for regular working/middle class people, Canada is probably better overall, unless there's a specific niche industry that you need to be in the US for.
If you ever want to get rich beyond your wildest dreams AND don’t mind working your butt off to achieve it yet not having free health care at the start of your journey then go to the US. It’s a risk but if you win you can win big. Otherwise, if you don’t mind not making as much money no matter how hard you work, and paying a bit more in taxes but you and you and your fellow citizens get free healthcare (dentistry not included) and a decent pension and would like to receive a decent but temporary social net if you should lose your job then go to Canada. Lower risk, lower reward. You may struggle to find housing in both countries ao that point is moot.
@@MrKongatthegates@MrKongatthegates Yes, but the property tax is higher, and the mortgage rate (on average) is higher in US. If you look at a monthly payment for 30 years, you will pay the same $ and get a house 1.5 times the price in Canada.
Pensions won’t be funded for future generations with the debt and deficit. These older people who write these comments have zero economic understanding. Lol
@@MrKongatthegates Not everywhere. Don't jump to conclusions. Additionally, the "cheap" homes will likely require significant work and permits to fix up.
I'm from Hamilton Ontario. We have a lot of unhoused people here. In the winter, it's pretty bleak. I was always terrified that I would end up homeless because people literally freeze to death out here. Obviously there are cold places in America and warmish places in Canada but I always thought that if I'm gonna be homeless, I'd rather be homeless in somewhere like califonria where at least I can actually stay alive in a tent as opposed to freezing to death (and there is more plant food year-round whereas plant food is all dead in the canadian winter so you can't survive off of things like community gardens if you had to. You would have to either steal, dumpster dive, use a food bank if theres any food left there, or tackle a squirel and roast it yourself) Of course, this is changing with climate change as people start dying of heat stroke.... basically nowhere is safe anymmore on a side note: I've personally had a really bad experience with canadian medical system and I have 0% faith in it. I cannot get an appointment with my doctor if my life literallay depended on it, and at best I can get a phone appointment. and even that is lucky becuase sooo many people can't even get a family doctor at all here. also I've never gotten appropriate medical attention here and I have permanent nerve damage in my legs now because I had to wait over two years for a spinal surgery I really needed. also I'm sorry but did you say Canada has excellent public transit infrastructre? Imo i's just Toronto that has basically good transit but even that is often sh**. I have only lived in ontario so I dont know about other canadian places but toronto is the only city im aware of with decent transit. Missiagaua downtown core isn't terrible in my experience but isn't anything to write home about. Hamilton's public transit is actual garbage (outside of the strict downtown area) despite being a pretty big city. I do think canada is a bit more walkable and probably better for cycling but not great.
Such a well thought out video! It really is up to each of us to decide what is best for us because there is no “one size fits all” answer. Thanks for sharing your perspective and all of this information!
I could see this being closer maybe 10 years ago. But right now: America wins, every single category HANDS DOWN, it's not even close. Income: US people get paid MUCH higher, especially that their dollar is stronger. Cost of Living: MUCH cheaper in the USA with lower taxes and higher incomes and more places to live at. Career Opportunities: There is a reason why everyone is leaving Canada to move to the US. America is just the best hub for Careers for English speaking people. Health Care: Hands down USA. Yes it's expensive. But at least you will get to see a doctor without waiting to die. Literally. My mom nearly died waiting for a doctor for a surgery she could have got after 1 day in USA. Sure it could have bankrupted her, but she would still be alive. Livability: USA you have every single climate any weather that you could want. Pick and choose, and U-Haul away.
When he showed how many hours people worked in Canada in 2023 being astronomical - that's because people can't afford to live in Canada anymore. The stats for 2024 are likely just as high or higher - yet he chose to remove that data cause he thought it was an anomaly. He seems to be unaware of how bad things have gotten in Canada in recent years and literally removed that data from his analysis lol
(People in Canada often have 2-3 jobs now, and work incredibly high amounts of hours just to make ends meet, so the 2023 data wasn't an anomaly, it's the current figures. He literally used data from 2022 and earlier for his analysis, which is completely inaccurate for how things have been in Canada the past 2 years, in 2023 and 2024.)
@@k4t1155 yeah doesn't surprise me he would skew data to fit his own narrative to say canada is still "ok" when its actually not. the living in standards for canadians is incredibly low when compared to other developed nations
In a nutshell. USA: Higher Risk. Higher Reward CAN: Lower Risk. Lower Reward There's also confirmation bias in this... A healthy person who didn't get sick in their life and was able to earn enough to become wealthy will have a different opinion... than someone who endures a tragedy.
I would say when you're younger and healthier you would rather be in the US. But then as you get older and want to settle, especially if you're not a high income earner, Canada is better. But again, the housing affordability and the declining healthcare and safety that we are experiencing in Canada kinda tilt the balance towards the US a bit
The poorest states in the US have a higher per capita compared to major provinces in Canada. Health isn’t free it comes out of our taxes. Plus no dental. The prices of things are higher in Canada with lower salaries and taxes equivalent to the highest states in the USA. In US you can escape to a lower taxed state and still earn well, In Canada where do you escape to?
I’m an American who travels across the states and provinces frequently. One thing I definitely notice is that businesses in the provinces seem to always be out of products. For instance, I love Starbucks bagels. When I was in Canada last year, every store I visited across QC, AB and BC were always “out” of plain bagels and certain other items. Shelves were just not stocked like they are in the US.
I would say from my experience - Canada is better. The US you make more money on paper, but in reality that all goes towards living expenses and taxes. You pay a lot of money in taxes, healthcare costs etc and you don't get much back for your investment. Everyone here has a headless chicken mentality, where they work themselves into the ground, constant work, and honestly I can't even picture being able to retire. The majority of people will end up working until they die in the US, without much travel prospects, bad quality food, air, infrastructure, etc. Not to mention the politics. US is great at selling you this fantasy idea but in reality unless you're fortunate to have a decent paying job, and place to live it's a shit show.
The cost for a one bedroom in downtown Chicago or for example a studio with one bedroom cost around $1500 USD next to the lake. Not $2400 USD like you mentionned
If Canada is that great like you think, why are most Canadians dying to move south of the border? Check out some imigration statistics. It's mostly Canadians moving to the US, not the other way around.
Exactly! The evidence is apparent. Talk is talk, but action is action. A lot of Canadians move to the USA. Few Americans move to Canada. Heck, I don't see American tourists like I use to see 40 years ago. When I was a kid all I would see were those green Vermont license plates everywhere. I don't remember the last time I ever saw one in over two decades now. Considering how cheap it is for an American to go on vacation in Canada, and they're still avoiding us. That should tell you something! I have known Americans who have moved here and the majority eventually moved back to the USA. When they earn 70 cents to the Greenback, taxed up their rear end, and especially when they experience our healthcare system, they're outta here! 😅 Also many sectors of work pay twice or more the salary in the USA as they do in Canada. Canada is a cheap country, within the developed nations, and the world knows it. US work culture is primarily based on competence. Our work cultures are based on that old British and French rule of who you know, what clic or culture you belong to, etc. That's why our country is behind in competition. We don't take advantage of our best and brightest.
The number of Canadians moving to the US has been consistent for the past 10 years, except 2022, as you said. Why do think that is? Was there a major world event that impacted migration between countries before '22? One year doesn't make a trend.
I live in vancouver. Climate wise probably the best in canada. Also variety of places to eat out. But i feel like canada has a lower energy vibe than in usa. Like everything is slower and productivity is lower. People seem more risk adversed.
Negative buddy nowhere near on the scale of the United States ur farmers couldn’t compete with ours we have more rural good soil Canada has very little farms The agriculture sector contributes 1.6% of Canada's GDP, depending on the source and year: to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, or about $1.530 trillion. 5.6% That is literally the entire gdp of Canada and then sum and just in agriculture which accounts only for 0.7 in output of just farms $139.3 billion) of GDP and employed 2.1 million people, which represented 11% of jobs in Canada which if u looked at is absolutely nothing. 4,180,000 Canada is so out matched it exports very little outside of Tim Horton. Not only that 70% of canadian oil fields are owned by Americans including most businesses. Americans are leagues ahead of of Canada because whatever is new takes time to reach Canada Edit: Shares are not taxable be either country so billionaires/Millionaires pay very little if any taxes which would account for 2%
@ these are the numbers issued by the Canadian and Americans governments I can’t see how I’m wrong and arguing in comment sections isn’t worth my time farms cover 62.2 million hectares or 6.2% of Canada's land area. Agricultural land (% of land area) in United States was reported at 44.36 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources Just take the L
Niagara and Toronto and it is not any specially cleaner than comparable US towns and cities. Why didnt you talk about home affordability and purchasing power?
I think there's a big flaw in looking at the numbers purely from a percentage basis. Say you live in a Canadian city where the income to cost of living ratio allows you to save 20% of your income vs an American city where the ratio allows you to save 12% of your income if that American city. You might count that as a win for the Canadian city. But if you're earning 50k USD in the Canadian city, saving 20% means saving 10k/year while 100k in the American city at 12% means saving 12k/year. When you look at the endgame of being retired, you are going to look at your nest egg as a total amount saved and not the percentage you saved. You should look at the absolute numbers.
An in-progress answer isn't a bad thing man, holy hell was this video informative!! Was honestly thinking about a lot of this stuff lately too, so it couldn't have come at a better time 😅 Amazing video Ameer
I love my life in Canada. So much in the USA is so politicized. I’ve visited my cousins in the US many times. When I came home it was always like a breath of fresh air. 💖🥰
I'm from Ottawa Canada and I studied for 6 years at New England Conservatory in Boston just down the street from Berklee. And funny enough now I live in Montreal which is the city you compared to Boston. NEC is known for its world-class classical music programs and supplies many of the world's top orchestral musicians, chamber musicians and soloists. But unfortunately Boston in my opinion falls short in providing the population of musicians with opportunities to make a living, at least relatively speaking to Montreal. when living in Boston behind Symphony Hall, I was paying USD 1900 a month to live there, and now in Downtown Montreal near Place Des arts I'm paying Half that at about $1000 USD. Both of these locations are incredibly similar in their Cosmopolitan allure and access to the fine arts and education, but have such a huge affordability gap nonetheless. There is more work here in Montreal for Classical Musicians, It's way cheaper to rent centrally in Montreal Compared to Boston. i Don't know where you got your numbers from but after living in both places its no competition about affordability. there is absolutely no way an 18-year-old kid can afford $1900 per month in rent in Boston and pay US conservatory tuition (yes even with 90+% scholarships). but the same cannot be said in a place like Montreal. An 18-something-year-old can easily make rent, pay tuition at McGill, the Conservatoire etc.. and get more gigs even as a fresh starter in the industry. Boston is not nearly as friendly to its artists. I was only able to make it work because of good scholarships, generous gigs and education programs such as the Boston Philharmonic (youth) Orchestra and On-campus work (which aside from gigs is all my visa allowed me to do to earn money as a Canadian International Student). Boston is known for having a ton of gigs in the area, but as you said the competition down in the US is much higher. Montreal just has more opportunity per person in our industry and yet maintains a similar competitive environment, but still manages to amaze me on how much easier it is to break into the scene. if you are reading this comment and thinking about going to Boston to Study music, don't go there to make money with the expectation of a high quality of life. go there to study with the world-leading musicianship you can encounter at the amazing schools, and go there to make connections with other incredibly talented young musicians. However, i would be lying to you if I told you Montreal cannot supply you with those same opportunities, and save you a ton of money. i know this comment is rather niche and doesn't apply to most people, but I would be surprised if this doesn't apply to other people in different jobs and professions. i'd love to hear your experiences especially if you've lived in both cities!
I believe you about Berklee. It's always been way ahead in terms of contemporary music. However, a friend from our small Canadian city went to Princeton to study music. She was taken aback at the low skill level of the music students. She thought she'd be at the bottom of the pile and she ended up winning their piano competition. For example, many of the students were playing pieces that she (and most Canadian students, at least in the 80s) covered when they were 12 or 13. Whereas in Canada, if you plan to be a performance major in classical piano, you'd be expected to already be covering Brahms sonatas and intermezzi for your entrance exam.
I think it’s a matter of health, ambition, & what season of life you’re in. Generally speaking if you’re healthy spend your youth in the United States. When you’re ready to settle, start a family &/or retire Canada is the better choice.
This is a really informative video, answered a lot of things I have wondered about. I live in Surrey, BC, but i did wonder why you didn't mention MSP. It's still something Canadians in BC above a certain tax bracket have to pay, and certain institutions still require fees for using their facilities as part of their premiums. From what I have asked from some of my friends who live in Texas, they have so much opportunities to make a lot more than I do, and their increased opportunities and wealth far exceeds their needs, so they are able to have huge safety nets, and buy bigger things. I know Texas isn't the same as the rest of the US, but I think if you were to improve this video, interviews with people from other parts of the US would also benefit it, along with interviews from other parts of Canada.
Thanks for watching! You’re absolutely right that MSP is a unique part of B.C.’s healthcare system, and it’s worth addressing. Direct premiums for MSP were eliminated in 2020, and the program is now funded through general taxes, including the Employer Health Tax for businesses. While higher-income residents no longer pay MSP premiums directly, they still contribute indirectly through progressive income taxes. As for the fees you mentioned, like private hospital rooms or non-covered services, these are already reflected in the out-of-pocket spending data I cited at 8:29 from CIHI. The $97.33/month figure includes direct payments for non-covered services, co-pays, and prescriptions/dental/vision. I glossed over the details for brevity, but they’re definitely accounted for-good catch. That said, I want to flag something important: the numbers I shared in the video were based on CIHI’s 2021 estimates, but they’ve since been updated with actual figures. The latest data shows Canadians pay an average of $1,243.40 per year (or about $103.62 per month) out-of-pocket. I really appreciate you raising these points and leaving such a thoughtful, constructive comment!
In Canada you have only so many large, mid-sized and medium-small cities along a relatively thin invisible line mostly near-ish the border, assuming you want to live in an urban/semi-urban environment. There's so many more places you can go in the states, so much variety, that you are more likely to find a place that checks all the boxes for you with less compromises, unless your career is very niche and you have ambition to thrive in something, somewhere very specific. Then there's sales tax (and other taxes), which wasn't discussed as a financial factor. In Canada, it's often 12-15% in many provinces and tax is applied on more goods/services, which you might be inclined to compare to putting the difference into a more manual emergency medical savings account in the US (assuming you can afford to), like $3000 to meet insurance deductibles and so forth, which is effectively below the average difference between yearly sales tax expenses alone. The average sales tax in US is roughly 7.25%. Sales tax varies state to state (and city/county), where you, if you have the blessing of opportunity to choose, have more say in what fits you best. Ultimately, it boils down to more freedom of choice in the US due to inherent differences and disparities of locales, again assuming you're free to chose, vs stability and homogenization of a social benefits backstop in Canada. Depends on what you want to roll the dice for. Great fair video/analysis though; just thought to add a couple things I find myself thinking about often that I have noticed after living in both countries myself. :)
Thank you for leaving such a detailed and insightful comment! You’re absolutely right about the variety in the U.S.-the sheer number of cities, each with its own character, tax policies, and cost of living, definitely gives people more flexibility to find their ideal spot. Canada’s urban density near the border does limit options in comparison, which is an important trade-off to consider. Your point about sales tax is also something I’ve been thinking about. The Numbeo data I referenced in the video should account for consumption taxes (carbon tax for gas prices in Canada, "sin" taxes for alchohol prices), but I wasn’t 100% certain, so I tried to avoid doubling up on it when factoring in costs. You’re right, though-sales tax in Canada is often much higher and covers more goods/services, which can make a big difference over time. This is definitely something I want to tighten up in future comparisons! Thanks again for sharing these points; it’s clear you’ve given this a lot of thought, and I really appreciate your perspective!
@AmeerCorro There's loads of angles so it's quite a challenge to go over them all in such detail, however, I couldn't help myself this one time to add a couple since you provided great viewpoints. The end result of your video is that it's not as black and white as many like to say, which is refreshing to see. You did a great job covering quite a few points to the calculus. That said, I do have to say thank you for giving a very balanced and fair analysis without falling into a fan bias, very rare to see! Both countries are great in their own way. Having a chance to choose is a heck of a blessing and I hope you're happy with wherever you settle with in the future!
Heath Care is the hardest one.... Because in Canada health insurance barely covers those with rare or disease that the western medical system do not know how to treat! I have late stage lyme disease.... It took me 8 years to get the diagnosis and 15k of debt... luckily for me my husbands company worked a way to cover most of my health bills but it wasn't free. There are a lot of issues with both systems... I would say Canada lacks just about the same as the USA. It is harder for those who have diseases to get the proper care in both countries... I just see more private clinics in the USA than in Canada. Also a lot of our doctors are also moving to the US because they can have a better life because of pay. I live in Vancouver that god awful city you mentioned with the 35 percent difference 🤣 I can attest to how bad it is! Luckily for us we have the cheapest rent in North Vancouver because our landlord didn't increase it for years and we are still sitting at a low rate. We arent moving until we have to! For the paid maternity leave... this only applies for those working a 9 to 5 job... not entrepreneurs or anyone who runs their own business really. As a filmmaker, I will not be getting those types of benefits... On top of that child care is very hard to come by... there isn't enough space and most likely you will be having to be on a waitlist lucky if you even get a spot in time. So much to this. I can only speak to Canada not the US. The system has it's flaws as well because a lot of the time children are being expose to not the best situations. a lot of incidences where mistreatment have happened in recent years. Why I hear more parents are nervous of day care. Lots to this topic. For retirement.... Unfortunetly they do not talk about in Canada is that a lot of elderly do not have much to live off of. Luckily for my aunt she has a 1.8 million dollar house she can sell and that will give her 10 years of rent in a dimentia home. only ten years so the question is will she make it and if she does what happens after that... crazy that's not factoring in her food and other things.... My grandma has a condo and pension luckliy but she still works at 83 because she can't retire completely. You will see a lot of elderly working in grocery stores, retail, and other low impacting jobs because they do not have the funds to afford to retire.... lots of facts for this. Alot of our veterans are homeless living on the streets, lots of drug use and elderly in Vancouver's downtown east side. So much again to this topic... Social support isn't that grand here in reality. Luckily my father-in-law and his girlfriend retired as captions otherwise they wouldn't have been able to retire. It's not so black and white... so much more to this. My Husband and I are both entrepreneurs and both decided we will retire probably somewhere else other than Canada so our life insurance policy goes further for us to retire on. That is just the reality... luckily also for use he is a german citizen so we are able to retire in Europe if we choose to. But not everyone gets those luxuries and unfortunately most are pay gob smacks of money to live in retirement homes with nothing left to even feed themselves. My aunts rent for a dimentra home is looking like 18k a month 😳 I was completely shocked. So when we did the math of all she had saved and the house she has about enough rent for 10 years.... crazy....
Way back in the early 2000's. The price of chicken and dairy was exorbitant in Ontario because the government controlled pricing. I can't even imagine how much it is now.
Interesting comparisons - to make it even more challenging, think about age. When you are younger, you may be far less concerned about health, but more concerned about opportunity. You may also be more optimistic that you will be at “the top” of your career. However, being able to establish yourself, buy a home, or start a family may be concerning. Then, as you age, health and stability may become more attractive (and you may realize that “average” is the norm (by definition) and not everyone is in the top 20% (again, by definition). It’s at that point where priorities realign and things shift.
I've found through talking to people on both sides that if you're creative, like to engage in new ventures, and don't mind taking a bit of risk, the USA will reward you more. But if you value stability and a predictable life, Canada might be better.
If money and job prospect/career growth is not an issue Canada all day. However that could be the dominant factor when consider where to live in many cases
What an amazing video! I appreciate how you've compared every important aspect to consider when living somewhere. I've visited Canada once about a decade ago (Toronto and Montreal), and would like to visit again. I can even see these differences between U.S. states. I was born in New Mexico (quite a poor state, but plenty of job opportunities in the arts), and moved to Wisconsin (fewer opportunities in the arts, but a wealthier state). Both states have a similar (low) cost of living, however.
Thank you so much-I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Moving from New Mexico to Wisconsin must’ve been an interesting shift, especially with the trade-offs in arts opportunities and incomes. How have you found the arts scene in Wisconsin compared to New Mexico? Also, I hope you get the chance to visit Canada again! Toronto and Montreal are fantastic, but the smaller cities have such a unique charm too. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
earning around median household income as a singler person, im living quite comfortably other than having roommates and not having a car. compare to my friends who moved to canada about that same time i did and are still working at low paying jobs, im very fortunate and i can definitely feel their stuggle.
This reminds me of Germany just before the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. There were lots of folks 'escaping' East Germany and resettling in the West. Who was doing this? Almost exclusively young men. Not the elderly, not women with children. The East German social welfare system took care of people in a way that would not have been possible if they had tried to relocate. I was a tourist there at the time and a very wise older female politician gave me the broader perspective. It comes down to values. If you want to take care of your neighbours through equality of education, health and other social welfare, then Canada it is. If you believe in rugged individualism, then the US wins.
Interesting video, I live in So Cal. For me, I would add more categories, like weather, politics, food, people and things to do. I've been to beautiful Vancouver and I can't wait to see the rest of Canada. Peace and blessings
8:20 - "Free" healthcare does not exist; we pay a buttload of taxes for this "free" healthcare, it averages to $9,000 per year for every human in our country - whether they're employed or not. Since only 50% of our population works, we're looking at an average of $18,000/year in medicare costs that each working individual has to shoulder. So, while one would think we must have an amazing medical system considering how much our "free" medicare costs, the reality could not be further from the truth. Our medical system is so overloaded that I don't know ANYONE in Canada able to get treatment unless they're dying. Compare this to the USA, where unless you're working in a food truck you will get employer supplied medicare, and your $160 a month plan gets you access to literally the world's best hospitals and doctors - So, sorry, but Canada can no longer claim "medicare" as an advantage since we don't actually have services.
@@quasimodem5260me too, cancer survival with multiple health issues needing frequent inventions and follow-ups, would have lost my house and be in major debt if it wasn’t for the Canadian healthcare system. I had the best Doctors and prompt care when I needed it most. We have our problems but I won’t trade it for anything
@@quasimodem5260 What year did you get treatment? And as I stated above, you'll only get care if you're dying, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't cancer kill people? For the record, I am sick, I'm speaking from my lived experience, on a 1.5 year waiting list for a necessary surgery after paying taxes for 30 years, but I was told it could be fatal if my condition gets worse and if I think I'm dying go into emergency and they'll do the surgery right away. In the meantime my quality of life is in the toilet. But seriously, what year did you go through this? Try and get any treatment in 2024, let me know how it works out.
I think the difference is, Working, young Canadians, pay for most of the old people who simple come (or return) to Canada to retire. Prescription meds in USA are about 1000 times more expensive than most other countries. Canadians can still pay for an insurance if needed just like US, Immigrants don't get free healthcare so they have to. Canadian healthcare can be bad, but over the last 5 years as an immigrant, my medical bills have far exceeded by insurance cost, and my insurance covered anything. In US, health care is more accessible but is really skewed by how much i pay and most affordable insurance don't cover anything expensive, and it's illegal to get medication from abroad. As a 20-sth guy, life is tough in Canada, 100%, but in a few years if i wanna have a family, if i want to have work life balance, raise my kids to have a normal childhood, US is terrible place to do that.
IMO, if you could get data or statistics let say numbers of moving out of CANADA versus USA because of their life experiences based on all categories/concerns, etc. discussed in this video.. Basically, you will get an idea which country has a better life or not... No pun intended...
Man, you blind or what? you want compare orange with orange or apple with orange? In USA there is some areas with tropical climates, the taxes are lower, hardwares for house and car parts and fuel is much cheaper in the usa. The house cost much less in the usa. and engineers and corporate jobs salaries are much higher in the states
Again it's how people behave, especially with the fact there are more guns than actual people in the USA, healthcare is a short road to bankruptcy unless your income is a minimum of 6 figures, and if you work in the service industries as a server, hourly wages are less than $5. US poverty levels is the highest in all G7 countries.
As a Canadian now living in the USA, Healthcare in Canada may be free but it’s not great and the waits are ridiculous. Ours isn’t perfect, but you can go wherever you want and not wait for treatment.
This is a 31 minute video that just says, "Idk, it depends." You should have named the video something like "Life in Canada compared to Life in America".
The knowledge that you are covered for health insurance from birth to death with no copays that's not dependent on your employer is unquantifiable. I'm a Canadian living in the USA, and this country has, hands down, the worst healthcare system in the developed world, unless you are a billionaire.
A Canadian who lived 25 years in the US as a lawyer in NY city came back to Montreal, saying he made good money during his career, but Canada is better. He started a successful local business in specialized competitive bikes that he sells all over the world. Just another opinion.
the last 13 years I worked, I would start usually at 4 AM on Monday, a few time much earlier, sometimes late Sunday night. And I would finish on Friday night, I did get home every night for at least 6 hours a night, but by the end of Friday night, I had over 80 hours in. And that was done driving truck in what I call the Ontario Elephant
Such an amazing video on this comparison. This for sure would help a lot for people struggling to decide whether to move to the US because of a very high cost of living in Canada esp. Vancouver or vice versa for people who want more security in life. Thank you
I've travelled the world and met a lot of interesting travellers and some those travellers ask me ? where is best place to live Canada or the states? I tell them if you want a good life move to Canada, if want to be rich move to the States. Also I'm Canadian living in Australia!
Canada was good 15-20 yrs ago. We’re over taxed , over regulated and overwhelmed with mass migration. I agree there are pros and cons but overall usa is far better.
I've lived In Canada for my entire 30 years, 11 of which I've been here in Toronto and it's sad to say but the country has fallen dramatically over the last decade. The average cost of a house in Toronto has risen to 1.2 M, the average income is 60k, food cost has risen over 20% since the pandemic and the influx of low skilled Indian immigrants is completely out of control. Trudeaus carbon tax is actively attacking Albertas gas and oil sector and the cost will certainly be passed onto the Canadian people. Our economy has fallen and will take a LONG time to recover. The best thing to do at this point is cash out my investments and GTFO out of dodge...
Don't most Americans have insurance through their employer? Healthcare costs in the US sound ridiculous, but i have read that outcomes are better. Another factor is public health. Covid should uave taught is that if your neighbors are sick, you are sick. One thing that is unappreciated about universal healthcare is that it makes for a healthier population.
Sadly, less than 50% of Americans get their health insurance through their employers, these days. Small businesses do not have to offer it. As you get older, paying your own health insurance premiums can get very expensive. I was paying over $900 USD per month for health insurance, plus there was a $4,500 per year deductible and co-pays, too. Conversely, even with employer health insurance, it's not unusual for a family to have over $20,000 USD per year in healthcare costs - premiums, co-pays and deductibles. It's crippling.
Montreal is supposed to be cheap, but rent is extremely expensive and groceries are much much more expensive than anywhere in the US! I didn’t have to worry about rent and groceries in the US while on minimum wage, not the Biden minimum wage but when it was 7.25 and 8.. in Canada, it’s impossible to find affordable rent!! Even finding a place to rent has become a dream.. Americans dream about owning a house.. Canadians dream about renting a place or seeing a doctor!! To see a doctor in many cases you have to wait for a few years!! Only thing that’s better in Canada is they don’t have as many shootings as the USA, but every other country can say that!! The homeless in the streets of Canada are everywhere!! Even smaller towns and Canada has only some 30ish million inhabitants.. I feel like 10 percent of all Canadians are homeless junkies, sleeping on house doorsteps and tent encampments everywhere!! It
Montreal and Canada in general is going down the drain. Canadian dollar is to low in comparison with the us dollar what makes moving to others countries even harder. now I will pass to pay 85 % of my salary in rent no way I can save. Ah health system here is horrible been 3 years waiting for a dr and medicines are expensive not all are cover, insulin that is also no cover.
"Americans dream about owning a house.. Canadians dream about renting a place or seeing a doctor!!" Sorry about Canada not being good to you, but this sounds like a bitter rant by someone who just doesn't like Canada. The home ownership rate is slightly higher in Canada than the US, yet people are supposed to believe that it's impossible to buy homes in Canada?
Dude, you absolutely don’t understand american and canadian health systems. In the US, you can see a doctor sooner, not because millions can’t afford to see a doctor but because in Canada everything is totally mismanaged and in the USA, fortunately this is not the case yet. In many countries in the world you can get a high quality medical care fast and for not much.
I really appreciate this video. It was well done and easy to follow. I'm in Vancouver in healthcare getting a lot of hate for saying I'm considering Settle as people are telling me it's so much worse and shouldn't leave. I just want to be able to live, not simply survive
I live in Canada and have no doctor, so healthcare here for me is terrible. Also I think Canada is declining at a faster rate than the U.S. After the last 8 or 9 years of the current liberal government Canada's standard of living has dropped enormously. Still wouldn't leave for the U.S. though, I'd look further afield. Was recently in Japan and Australia and I liked both of those places.
The winters are much, much colder in Ottawa. With the windchill, it's often -30 degrees Celcius (-22 degrees Farenheit), with a lot of snow that is usually on the ground for 5 months. Most Canadian retirees who live around there who can afford to, spend their winters in the US (snowbirds), as there are 4-5 months of very intense winters there. If you love winter you might not mind, but if you're older and slip on an icy road or sidewalk, it can be a broken hip, and can be more difficult to stay active and have a good quality of life if you tend to hibernate more in the 5 months of extreme cold and snow.
@@polishtheday Toronto has tropical winters compared to Ottawa, so I'm not sure what your point is. Ottawa winters are drastically colder, snowier and last longer than Chicago.
I’m in Montreal, which has a similar climate to Ottawa. Winters are a bit colder, but people tend to exaggerate how cold and long they are. They’re getting shorter and warmer due to climate change. The biggest change you’ll notice is the size of the city. Ottawa doesn’t have an exciting downtown like Chicago. It’s mostly suburbs with single-family homes. But if you’re craving the big city, you can always get in a car or take a plane or train to Toronto or Montreal. If you like the outdoors, you’ll be just minutes from it in Ottawa. The one thing that impresses me every time I visit Ottawa is how friendly people are there compared to other Canadian cities. A large number are highly educated, if that’s important to you. They also seem happy, which makes me wonder if that’s because of a high population of retirees. Quite a few are former civil servants getting relatively generous defined benefit pensions. Ottawa also obviously has a lot of civil servants and those with high incomes. It often makes the top of the list as the best place to retire in Canada. I wouldn’t hesitate to move there, and I’m fortunate to have lived in the two best Canadian cities - Vancouver and Montreal (sorry, Toronto).
@@polishtheday I've lived most of my life in Ottawa as well as all over North America, so you clearly don't know what you're talking about, having only visited Ottawa, compared to having lived there for years and knowing a factual comparison of it to Chicago, like me. Ottawa is factually drastically colder, snowier, and much more of an extreme winter, lasting 5 months or so compared to Chicago.
Interestingly, many Americans look upon Seattle as VERY expensive. Perhaps you can answer a question I have about housing in Canada - the Canadian government keeps talking about assuring that more housing would be built. Why are they involved in housing construction? Private companies don't build the housing?
The Canadian Government is trying to provide incentives to municipal and regional governments to loosen high density residential zoning restrictions and increase the speed at which construction permits are issued. Canadian municipalities are notorious for refusing to provide permits for anything other than single family suburban homes, it's very difficult to build high density housing in Canada. Canadian real estate developers also have a bad habit of sitting on land and permits rather than building anything while they wait for real estate prices to increase, so they can huck their shoe-box condos and plywood cabins for millions of dollars a piece.
It's all just politicians gaslighting people. I work in the architectural business, it is like pulling teeth trying to get permits to build here, and they are only increasing regulation despite their talk. Canada is rapidly declining in standard of living.
@@JollyOldCanuck True. Canada's provision of housing to people is a terrible system. Regulations are labarynthine and infuriating to navigate. Developers are greedy as hell though, on top of all the other dysfunction.
I am from Winnipeg, and I now have lived in Chicago for about 5 years. And while cost of living is cheaper in SOME USA cities, I still believe life in Canada Is better. Better work life balance and overall people are more community based in Canada. Americans make free health care sounds like it’s an insane idea and why should they pay for other people’s health care. But for me I can’t afford health care. It’s 200USD dollars a month through my employer. I choose not to do it but it’s so risky and I’m terrified I’ll have a health issue, but 2400USD a year is too much and a system that is designed to favour the upper class. As a whole America feels designed for the upper class and is honestly brutal. Canada is a much better place to live and much more secure unless you’re upper class.
I'd happily pay 2400 usd out of pocket per year for top quality healthcare. Canada's health care system is a joke. I live in Victoria BC and have no doctor and know many people who don't. My old doctor ditched half his patient load so he could start an online mental health business. He has no qualifications for that and was an average doctor at best, but at least I had one. Almost impossible to find a doctor now. New immigrants get a doctor before people born in Canada. This country is a sorry shadow of what it used to be.
How tf can you move to chicago and not pay 2400 a year. That’s the min if you’re not getting covered by employers. Dude people like you suck. They want government to do everything and complain and complain about systems. You should have stayed in Canada.
My brother $2400 isn't much at all. You save enough in taxes to afford that. When the upper class does better it uplifts everyone else too as there's more money in the economy. In the US, the middle class is also significantly richer
Your video was extremely interesting and very well researched. I have a suggestion that may help you make a determination. One person you interviewed summarized it very well. In the US you have more of the pluses and more of the minuses. This translates to greater variability. Borrowing from finance you would say risks vs rewards. Thus your choice would be based on your appetite for risk. Are you a risk seeking vs a risk averse person?
I lived in the States for 3 years, Portland OR. It was 3rd world compared to Canada. Portland is a beautiful city but compared to Calgary it was dirty, violent and I felt cut off from the rest of the world (Media in that country is VERY Americentric). Given the gun violence, lower life expectancy and political climate I'll never set foot in the states again. What good is money if you are dead.
As someone who's lived in both countries (currently in Canada) here are a few additional things you may want to consider: - Vacation time: Many US companies do not offer their employees any time off, including federal holidays. I know tech workers who never got a single vacation day and had to work on Christmas, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. In addition to the minimum of 10 paid of vacation days Canada requires employers to provide, they also give their workers statutory holidays off (or pay them 150% for working on a stat holiday + holiday pay). - About 15% of workers in Seattle work in tech, compared to around 9.6% in Vancouver. Tech workers tend to make higher incomes compared which could help explain the differences between the two cities. - Pre-covid I had an urgent medical issue and I got to see a specialist and have lots of testing done within a few days (I was in Ontario). I also went to see specialists for non urgent medical issues and most of them took no longer than a month or two (with one exception, a specialist that had a year long wait time). My understanding is that things have gotten worse in terms of wait times over the past 4-5 years (since the pandemic hit), but some places in the US are also facing massive healthcare worker shortages and lengthy wait times. - In the US, if you have the money and a comprehensive healthcare plan, you have more freedom in terms of choosing healthcare providers and the course of treatment. But depending on your state and plan, so does your insurance company. Especially if you have a lower tier HMO plan. Some insurance providers often refuse to cover basic essential medical procedures claiming they're "not necessary" or delay treatment requiring patients to try something else first (e.g. a cheaper medication, physical therapy, etc). This often causes harm to the patient and in some cases, irreversible damage and death. This is a massive issue. I know people who are still suffering years later because their insurance company got greedy and refused to cover necessary care. - The US can easily lock you up in a mental institution for no reason. I know several people who had this happen. All it takes is a call from a "friend", relative or whoever due to a misunderstanding or just to spite you and you're stuck there for 72 hours. I honestly don't get how this is legal. I think some of them ended up having to pay for the unnecessary "treatment" (not cheap!) and had expensive drugs shoved down their throat (big pharma has to make $$$$ off this). - Some US states don't allow women to control their own bodies (e.g. abortion is not allowed). - Online stores are bigger, faster and better in the US. They often provide a wider selection of products and services and faster shipping times (e.g. Amazon, Walmart, etc). Personally, I prefer Canada! Things to watch out for in terms of healthcare coverage (US): -- Make sure the healthcare facility/clinic your going to is in network (when possible). Out of network facilities are much more expensive. -- I'm not sure how things work in New York in terms of coverage and healthcare networks, but in some states, some healthcare providers in "in network" hospitals are "out of network".
Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed comment! You’ve raised some really important points, especially about vacation time, tech industries, and healthcare nuances in both countries-it's clear you've thought about this a lot.
The data isn't accurate though lol when he showed how many hours people worked in Canada in 2023 being astronomical - that's because people can't afford to live in Canada anymore. The stats for 2024 are likely just as high or higher - yet he chose to remove that data cause he thought it was an anomaly. He seems to be unaware of how bad things have gotten in Canada in recent years and literally removed that data from his analysis lol (People in Canada often have 2-3 jobs now, and work incredibly high amounts of hours just to make ends meet, so the 2023 data wasn't an anomaly, it's the current figures. He literally used data from 2022 and earlier for his analysis, which is completely inaccurate for how things have been in Canada the past 2 years, in 2023 and 2024.)
@@k4t1155 It's the same in the US. The cost of living has gone up in both countries (and many others) and people in both countries have to work 2-3 jobs now to make ends meet. Greedflation has been a massive issue in both countries, not only here. th-cam.com/video/5gyE8ulCWYA/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/Dn9QhjJ18HM/w-d-xo.html
One thing you didnt cover was the school systems. From what I understand, canada is way out front on that important factor. Only tge wealthy get a good early education and are then ready to go on to higher level
It depends who you are, where you are, How you make your money, and how much you make. Theres pros and cons to both, but if you are poor, or need a lot of medical care, then Canada. If you are a decent earner, arguably the US. Theres slums and mansions in both, so as far as money, your class is far more important than your pasport. Averages dont mean that much. If you are a professional, you will make double in the US. If you are working class, you are pretty broke either way. A good number of Americans loose all their wealth at the end of their life due to predatory health care. So have insurance or savings, because old folks homes are just disgusting, or maybe getting cancer with out health coverage, not really sure on that one, im 44 and been healthy so far. And yes American cities have more grit and homelesness, and yes gun crime is higher, but if you stay in your lane, ie dont live a dangerous lifestyle with drugs and prostitutes etc, then it is basically just as safe. Downright boring most of the time. Like if getting struck by lightning was 3 times more likely would you be worried? Its still so so rare in reality. I dont live in fear in the US at all. I think thats part ignorance, part racism, and part propaganda against the US. Which is a real thing. Canadians be "hatin" but they just go on what they see in movies and tik tok. Its not reality. Most Americans live in quiet suburbs, and the cities are not even that bad. AND if find Americans FRIENDLIER and its easier to make friends here. Canadians are usually friendly but often reserved and have all these cliques. Americans are so friendly and open.
As a legal immigrant before justin trudeau was elected, I would've absolutely recommend Canada to anyone if this was 15 years ago, but nowadays, don't come here, it is hell. Architecture: EVERYWHERE IS JUST ASPHALT! Entertainment: mostly nothing to do unless you like nature cost of living: ∞ Culture: Bland, boring, no dreams, no inspirations Happiness: literally see people living in 3rd world have happier lives. If you go out of the big cities, it will be mostly fine. Politicians: we have an idiot for a government, and the blue party has a politician with his whole entire point being "atleast I ain't Trudeau" Healthcare wait time: ∞
Good things that remain in Canada People: despite living in a mess, they are kind Landscape: Nice, but Vancouver really carries it. Food: despite being controlled by mostly fast food (Tim Hortons has fallen), their cooking feels humble.
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I understand some viewers expected a definitive conclusion given the video’s title, and that’s a fair point. If you came to this video expecting a clear verdict, I can see how the lack of one might feel frustrating. I’ll keep that in mind for future videos.
This video was never meant to hand out a neat, one-size-fits-all answer to a nuanced and deeply personal question.
If I had said, ‘Canada is better’ or ‘the USA is better,’ I’d be oversimplifying something that depends entirely on who you are, what you value, and what your life circumstances look like. That’s why I laid out all the factors-income, cost of living, healthcare, career opportunities, social benefits, and livability-and gave you the tools to weigh them against your own priorities.
Let’s be real-if I claimed that one country is definitively ‘better,’ a lot of people would have (rightfully) called me out for ignoring the nuanced and subjective nature of the topic.
Instead, I made the conscious choice to present an even-handed, data-driven analysis while also sharing my own experiences and the experiences of my guests. My goal was to help you reflect on what’s “better” for you based on what you’re optimizing for.
As for my honest take, I did share it. I said Canada feels safer and offers a better social safety net, while the USA provides unparalleled opportunities for career advancement, which align with my goals right now. That is my honest answer, and that’s why I’m here in the US.
At the end of the day, my goal is to encourage critical thinking, deep conversation, and reflection, not to hand out easy answers. I respect that you might feel differently.
Thanks for watching, and I appreciate everyone who engages thoughtfully in this conversation.
Isn't Canada overall better in terms of healthcare and social safety
where did you get 16:12 data
I'm an RN. I will never get a $85 US plus per hour in Vancouver. I rent a room in Seattle and bring my US$ income and still live in Vancouver. I work blocks and get a long days off in Seattle and drive back to Vancouver. My Healthcare benefits are paid off by my employer in Seattle and still have full free healthcare benefits in Vancouver. In life you have to reap the benefits on both worlds. Life is good!
You're Hannah Montanah
Because you're getting the best of both worlds...... I mean countries
How are you getting tax?
Wow, talking about being well-positioned. Congrats!
My father (American) retired to Canada after meeting a Canadian woman and as he was well off, lived comfortably in Victoria BC. He enjoyed it and unlike most other parts of Canada, the climate is temperate. I visited him many times but had no interest in moving there, and he wouldn't be there unless he had the bank that he had earned in the US and the Canadian spouse to get a sponsorship visa. Sadly, many Americans don't understand that Canada isn't a 51st state that you can choose to live in when it strikes your fancy or the election results don't go the way you like.
Thanks for sharing your father’s story! You're totally right to point out that moving from the USA to Canada (or vice versa) isn’t as straightforward as some might think. Your point about having the resources and a sponsorship visa really highlights how much privilege and planning it takes to make a big move like that, thanks for sharing your perspective.
Sounds like a typical Victoria situation. Guys like your Dad have driven the cost of living up here tremendously.
@@supermash1 His dad isn't driving up cost of living... take a chill pill.... immigration on a large mass is what our problem is... Immigantion is necessary but we in Canada can't support it the way we allowed it to happen. Those who come to the country with mass immigration with no money are taxing to the system... but a lot of it is we do not have the infrastructure to support mass immigration. We can't build homes fast enough to support it so we have fewer homes which becomes more valuable and the cost of housing increases with less available to more demand. That is the real issue at hand. All the red tape it takes to get permits, to see if the land can be developed on.... it's insanity. I know because we are looking to buy land to build and its crazy how hard it is to find good land and also get permits to build.
That last part was personal to the Democrats💀
I'm in southern ontario, we tend to have better weather where i'm at across from Detroit. our temps are 4 or 5 warmer then Toronto for the most part.
I find it crazy that the weather was not really mentioned. I don't love the heat.. but Vancouver being known as the good weather Canadian city and Seattle is known as one of the worst in the US is interesting noting their almost identical climates.
The Us has some places have much better weather than Seattle but Canada is cold and colder! Lol
@notjoesaveragegardening6231 Seattle one of the worst? Same as VBC. Try North Dakota, Buffalo, Houston for extremes.
Theres additional things that should be considered which is general insurance. It also dramatically varies between each province and state, but when I hear people say theyre leaving ontario to go for cheaper living in Florida, and then hear them complain about housing insurance and land taxes the difficulty to not say 'i told you so' grows. Also I suspect with their 'cheaper' healthcare policies as soon as theyre seriously ill, they'll come running straight back to Canada for almost free treatment.
Samuel was my student at a local coding school in Vancouver. So good to hear from him about his progress in Vancouver and that he is still calling Vancouver his home. Do pass on my regards to him. Wishing him the best.
I was an international student in Canada a long time ago but eventually moved to the US and became an American citizen. Much prefer the US. The problem with Canada is that a lot of new comers (like when I was an international student myself) only went to Canada because they thought it’s similar to the US but much easier to move to permanently… the minute they can move to the US they don’t walk they run (myself included)… “you don’t want someone date you because you look like a hot guy that’s too difficult to date… you want someone to date you for who you are.” The US is not perfect but if you have to choose between Canada and US, the US has so many more economic opportunities and the landscape is so much more diverse. However I would say that if you are dirt poor it’s better to be in Canada but if you are middle class and above, USA is the place to stay
Also the curious case of Vancouver - simple answer is that those who can afford living in Vancouver did not make their money in Vancouver. They earned them money elsewhere and park/spend their money there
Or we started a long time ago
It's more of a - people made money before shit hit the fan and those people are still here getting by. Immigration and lack of housing have just made this once great place to live a financial housing crisis money pit with over priced groceries.
But to get back to what your were saying.. yes we made our money here. (except for the ones who bought in here anyways..)
Regarding salary I am in electrical engineering and generally these careers are paid so much higher in the US to my knowledge. There also are other factors like auto insurance or buying a home for example.
Also taxes here in Canada if you make 100 k do increase a lot.
@@radirandom Canada has far higher taxes and in United States, you have more bills to pay that’s not in taxes
I've lived in Vancouver longer than I have lived in my birthplace and I can truly attest to your Canadian facts and observation. From my age group perspective, I can add that if you're still young (20's to early 30's) and moving to the US, it is definitely a vast ocean of opportunities for you. If you're still adventurous even in your late 30's, I think there's still lots of opportunities in career growth. As for me, I moved to Canada in my late 30's and I felt the need to ground myself already as I have started a family then. All my friends who moved to the US surely made it more in dollar figures than me, but it doesn't mean that they are better off than me. I am happy and at peace here while I still get to have a taste of the US experience. So again, for me, it depends on your season in life and how you perceive success and contentment. Keep it up and shine brightly!!
i have always thought of any age less than 40 as young
Canadian healthcare isn’t “free”. It’s tax funded. Basically people who work pay for the “free” healthcare for those who don’t work.
Yes, but NO one in Canada has to declare bankruptcy if they get sick, or worse…die! Emergency healthcare is done immediately. Yes, we wait for elective surgeries or for non emergencies but I’d rather know that ALL Canadians are looked after by MY taxes. I lived in the US. OMG. Most vile healthcare on the planet…unless you’re wealthy.
As a Canadian who has had a lot of experience with both countries - my grandfather was born in the U.S., my son is a U.S. citizen, I had five years of U.S. schooling, I lived in the U.S., my ex-wife is American, I have traveled extensively in the U.S., my childhood best friends were American - I can say what country is the best is very individual.
If I wasn't a single parent raising a special needs son I would probably live in the U.S. The services my special needs son receives in Canada could not be matched in even the most progressive east coast states. In Canada he is covered for dental, ambulance, optometrist, and special needs aids. He receives a benefit income, has door to door transportation, is in a full time program and is even enrolled in a special go'vt savings / investment plan. As a child his teacher to student ratio was 1:1 to 3:1. His school funding revolved around his needs.
Now if I hadn't been a single parent I would have lived in the U.S. because in general I like the company of Americans a lot more. In Canada you generally need an invite to a group to make friends whereas in the U.S. there is a general willingness to befriend complete strangers. Also Americans are risk takers that appreciate and respect that in others; not so much in Canada. In Canada as a car crasher I was mostly alone whereas in the U.S. I would have been part of a larger community. Just my two cents.
Thanks for sharing such a nuanced and personal take!
I'm a Gen-x Canadian, currently in LA, who has lived across the US during five discrete stays for a total of 15 years over the last 25 years. The difference between the two countries is the balance between quality of life versus quality of work. Quality of life is much better in Canada, but quality of work is much better in the US. Safety, work leave, cleanliness, and medical expenses, I say that as someone who has surgery a few times in both countries, are better in Canada. Yet, irrespective of income differentials, the scope, value, and quality of work I'm asked to provide in the US is commensurate with the full scope of my Canadian engineering training. While in Canada I'm asked to provide services far beneath my skill sets as Canadian industrialization beyond raw material production is nascent and lacking boldness. I moved back to Canada a few times for work but found myself reporting to people with far less competency and exposure due solely to Canadian lackluster industrialization.
As someone who values developing creative work product, the US and Eurasia are far more enticing, but I often long to move back home to Canada. If only the work was there...
Thank you for this comment it was very informative
Quality of life vs quality of work is a really thoughtful comparison! I didn't think about it like that. Thank you for such an insightful comment.
This is a super helpful comment. i work as an architectural designer in Canada, was involved in multiple award wining projects in Toronto but I must say, I feel what you described almost every day working in Canada. Businesses are not interested in innovative approaches or higher productivity tools (such as software in my case). The general public is not interested in developing our cities and NIMBY's are dime a dozen, they just want to live in an imaginary world of 1970s, frozen in time. US is a lot more innovative and business oriented, clearly.
I have to disagree. I lived here in Vancouver BC for the past 35 years, with relatives in Seattle which I visit often. Canada is far worse place to be. The taxes and cost of living are doubled and wages are only 2/3 of the states. Yes we got beautiful mountains but the unaffordability is taking a huge mental stress on most canadians here
@XMG3 Vancouver is not the Canadian Seattle, but San Francisco. An honest assessment would be between those two cities. Please go to San Francisco with all the junkies and human waste on the sidewalks and compare it to Vancouver.
I have never lived in Canada and am not qualified to compare them, but even in theory, I find the difference in climate to be a compelling factor. I grew up in Boston and found life quite miserable in winter. As an American, I take for granted that I can resettle in Los Angeles, Arizona, Florida, etc. The fact that the winters in Boston are milder than almost anywhere in Canada blows my mind a little bit.
It's not a factor that probably would matter that much to most people, but for me it's been a major factor in quality of life.
Yeah, the weather can be a big deal. Vancouver has better "Winter" than Boston, although maybe more expensive.
I lived in Montreal for 15 years and visited Boston many times. I now live in Denver. I can tell you that once you head south from Montreal and get over the green mountains it is shocking how much warmer it is just a few hours south in the US. The winter in Boston is considerably milder than Montreal. Not even close.
I lived in both countries. This guy deliberately doesn't consider one of the most important factors to make Canada look better than it is. LOL.
I'm in Windsor, our weather is usually pretty great. we miss most of the worst of the storms due to where the great lakes sit don't get more then a few inches of snow every other year. we are also close enough to everything anyone could need within a 4 or 6 hour drive, both sides of the boarder. we used to be the cheapest place to live but unemployment sucks. the big difference is Canadians are too complacent politically and don't actually know what's going on in office. If they did know we wouldn't have a lib con duopoly and nether would ever hold office again.
@@TheInsaneupsdriver Agreed. Canadians are very complacent whereas Americans have a rebellious spirit to some degree. Canadians freedoms have steadily eroded over the decades but they put up no fight. Canadians overall trust in government leaves me shaking my head.
For the last 25 years, I’ve worked in the USA but live in Canada as a self-employed individual. My observation:
1) For me, taxes are significantly less in Canada because of lower corporate tax rates (SBD for CCPCs in Canada is the significant factor) and lower “Social Security/CPP/EI” tax. I’ve done my tax returns in several states and compared those to what I file in Canada, with an average of 30% savings.
2) Comparable housing is less expensive in Toronto than in similar US cities. I use my Toronto home and neighborhood as a benchmark. If you want to be in a larger, modern home in a safe neighborhood in the US, you will pay a premium. There are few “bad” areas in Toronto, but you must be selective in US cities. Yes, the cheapest homes in Toronto are shoebox Condos for US$400K, and yes, I can buy sub-300K fully detached homes in South Chicago, but I’d prefer being in a vibrant community.
3) The weather is better in the USA. But I can take a low-cost trip to Cuba to avoid the weather.
4) I have a family Doctor in Toronto I see regularly (for no cost). Canadian Healthcare is proactive, so I’ll see a specialist before the average American who waits for things to get bad before going to the Doctor.
5) The cost of Canadian Universities is much lower. Student debt isn’t an issue in Canada like in the US. Canada has three universities ranked in the top 50 in the world (the University of Waterloo, which you referred to in the video, is not one of them).
What I notice most in the US is that people have given up on demanding from their government. Canadians still expect efficient services: excellent healthcare, maintained infrastructure, safe streets, and first-rate public schooling.
The fact Canada has a government that works for its people is the main deciding factor for me.
💯🎯
Excellent summary. Remote work has opened a lot of doors; as people can live in Canada while earning USD working for a US company.
Trudeau works for Canadians? Are we living in the same Canada? They have a real constitution. We have no legal rights here. Weather is massive for day to day living. Now compare hidden taxes like on housing, sales tax, luxury vehicle tax, carbon tax etc. The cost of everything here is much higher. Our universities being cheaper sucks. Our higher taxes pay for it, and then the vast majority leave for the USA right away. Not sure there's a country on this earth that gets more ripped off than Canadians. Certainly not our peers - Australia / USA. Look into how much better things are in Oz. It's insane.
@@CommoditySC wow you really need to do your research. You have no clue what you are talking qbout
Why did you not talk about the house prices in Canada? This is one of the biggest issues for millions of people.
And the communist ltb
The State/Province you’re in likely has a greater effect on quality of life.
Canadians have "excellent public transit" that has to be a joke right? takes them 20 years to build a new subway line man
Canada's terrible public transit is better than the non-existent public transit in many parts of the US.
Some US cities have almost no public transit
What counts as "excellent" public transit, bike networks, or pedestrian infrastructure really depends on what you’re comparing it to.
For instance, in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, you’ll find extensive public transit systems (like subways, metro lines, and buses), growing bike networks, and highly walkable neighborhoods.
Are these cities on the same level as Amsterdam or Tokyo? No.
Is there significant room for improvement? Absolutely.
But are they better than what you'd find in car-centric U.S. cities like L.A., Houston, and Atlanta, where public transit is almost non-existent in some areas? Without a doubt.
As @MrKongatthegates pointed out, some U.S. cities barely have any public transit at all. Most large Canadian cities, even with their flaws, have functional public transit systems as a baseline.
That said, I also recognize that smaller Canadian cities or suburban areas can be a completely different story. I grew up in a car-centric Canadian suburb myself, so I know the struggle firsthand.
Canada has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to public transit, but it’s still far ahead of what you'd find in many American cities.
@@MrKongatthegates neither do 90% of our cities with the exception of like 4 or 5
@@georgepintilie8647 Hmm, you don't want to take the subway in the U.S. unless you're willing to take a risk with your life.
If I was rich I would live in Canada, but for avg folks US just fares better unless you get sick!
You left out a big factor for some of us…weather…also entertainment, food, variety, beaches, etc. love Canada but as a person with seasonal affective disorder it isn’t for me.
it seems like the US is great if you're wealthy, and can afford to live in a nice area/provide for all your potential healthcare needs.
for regular working/middle class people, Canada is probably better overall, unless there's a specific niche industry that you need to be in the US for.
If you ever want to get rich beyond your wildest dreams AND don’t mind working your butt off to achieve it yet not having free health care at the start of your journey then go to the US. It’s a risk but if you win you can win big.
Otherwise, if you don’t mind not making as much money no matter how hard you work, and paying a bit more in taxes but you and you and your fellow citizens get free healthcare (dentistry not included) and a decent pension and would like to receive a decent but temporary social net if you should lose your job then go to Canada. Lower risk, lower reward.
You may struggle to find housing in both countries ao that point is moot.
Housing is cheaper to buy relative to average income in the US by far.
@@MrKongatthegates@MrKongatthegates Yes, but the property tax is higher, and the mortgage rate (on average) is higher in US. If you look at a monthly payment for 30 years, you will pay the same $ and get a house 1.5 times the price in Canada.
Pensions won’t be funded for future generations with the debt and deficit. These older people who write these comments have zero economic understanding. Lol
@@MrKongatthegates Not everywhere. Don't jump to conclusions. Additionally, the "cheap" homes will likely require significant work and permits to fix up.
@@ilsa_xo Dude the average Canadian home is nearly at a million dollars nation wide. America its still less then 500k...
I have visited Seattle multiple times and I have lived in the Vancouver area and parts of Vancouver are worse than Seattle..
I'm from Hamilton Ontario. We have a lot of unhoused people here. In the winter, it's pretty bleak. I was always terrified that I would end up homeless because people literally freeze to death out here. Obviously there are cold places in America and warmish places in Canada but I always thought that if I'm gonna be homeless, I'd rather be homeless in somewhere like califonria where at least I can actually stay alive in a tent as opposed to freezing to death (and there is more plant food year-round whereas plant food is all dead in the canadian winter so you can't survive off of things like community gardens if you had to. You would have to either steal, dumpster dive, use a food bank if theres any food left there, or tackle a squirel and roast it yourself) Of course, this is changing with climate change as people start dying of heat stroke.... basically nowhere is safe anymmore
on a side note: I've personally had a really bad experience with canadian medical system and I have 0% faith in it. I cannot get an appointment with my doctor if my life literallay depended on it, and at best I can get a phone appointment. and even that is lucky becuase sooo many people can't even get a family doctor at all here. also I've never gotten appropriate medical attention here and I have permanent nerve damage in my legs now because I had to wait over two years for a spinal surgery I really needed.
also I'm sorry but did you say Canada has excellent public transit infrastructre? Imo i's just Toronto that has basically good transit but even that is often sh**. I have only lived in ontario so I dont know about other canadian places but toronto is the only city im aware of with decent transit. Missiagaua downtown core isn't terrible in my experience but isn't anything to write home about. Hamilton's public transit is actual garbage (outside of the strict downtown area) despite being a pretty big city. I do think canada is a bit more walkable and probably better for cycling but not great.
Such a well thought out video! It really is up to each of us to decide what is best for us because there is no “one size fits all” answer. Thanks for sharing your perspective and all of this information!
I could see this being closer maybe 10 years ago. But right now: America wins, every single category HANDS DOWN, it's not even close.
Income: US people get paid MUCH higher, especially that their dollar is stronger.
Cost of Living: MUCH cheaper in the USA with lower taxes and higher incomes and more places to live at.
Career Opportunities: There is a reason why everyone is leaving Canada to move to the US. America is just the best hub for Careers for English speaking people.
Health Care: Hands down USA. Yes it's expensive. But at least you will get to see a doctor without waiting to die. Literally. My mom nearly died waiting for a doctor for a surgery she could have got after 1 day in USA. Sure it could have bankrupted her, but she would still be alive.
Livability: USA you have every single climate any weather that you could want. Pick and choose, and U-Haul away.
When he showed how many hours people worked in Canada in 2023 being astronomical - that's because people can't afford to live in Canada anymore. The stats for 2024 are likely just as high or higher - yet he chose to remove that data cause he thought it was an anomaly. He seems to be unaware of how bad things have gotten in Canada in recent years and literally removed that data from his analysis lol
(People in Canada often have 2-3 jobs now, and work incredibly high amounts of hours just to make ends meet, so the 2023 data wasn't an anomaly, it's the current figures. He literally used data from 2022 and earlier for his analysis, which is completely inaccurate for how things have been in Canada the past 2 years, in 2023 and 2024.)
@@k4t1155 yeah doesn't surprise me he would skew data to fit his own narrative to say canada is still "ok" when its actually not. the living in standards for canadians is incredibly low when compared to other developed nations
In a nutshell.
USA: Higher Risk. Higher Reward
CAN: Lower Risk. Lower Reward
There's also confirmation bias in this... A healthy person who didn't get sick in their life and was able to earn enough to become wealthy will have a different opinion... than someone who endures a tragedy.
I would say when you're younger and healthier you would rather be in the US. But then as you get older and want to settle, especially if you're not a high income earner, Canada is better.
But again, the housing affordability and the declining healthcare and safety that we are experiencing in Canada kinda tilt the balance towards the US a bit
The poorest states in the US have a higher per capita compared to major provinces in Canada. Health isn’t free it comes out of our taxes. Plus no dental. The prices of things are higher in Canada with lower salaries and taxes equivalent to the highest states in the USA. In US you can escape to a lower taxed state and still earn well, In Canada where do you escape to?
I’m an American who travels across the states and provinces frequently. One thing I definitely notice is that businesses in the provinces seem to always be out of products. For instance, I love Starbucks bagels. When I was in Canada last year, every store I visited across QC, AB and BC were always “out” of plain bagels and certain other items. Shelves were just not stocked like they are in the US.
I would say from my experience - Canada is better. The US you make more money on paper, but in reality that all goes towards living expenses and taxes. You pay a lot of money in taxes, healthcare costs etc and you don't get much back for your investment. Everyone here has a headless chicken mentality, where they work themselves into the ground, constant work, and honestly I can't even picture being able to retire. The majority of people will end up working until they die in the US, without much travel prospects, bad quality food, air, infrastructure, etc. Not to mention the politics. US is great at selling you this fantasy idea but in reality unless you're fortunate to have a decent paying job, and place to live it's a shit show.
The cost for a one bedroom in downtown Chicago or for example a studio with one bedroom cost around $1500 USD next to the lake. Not $2400 USD like you mentionned
If Canada is that great like you think, why are most Canadians dying to move south of the border? Check out some imigration statistics. It's mostly Canadians moving to the US, not the other way around.
Exactly! The evidence is apparent. Talk is talk, but action is action. A lot of Canadians move to the USA. Few Americans move to Canada. Heck, I don't see American tourists like I use to see 40 years ago. When I was a kid all I would see were those green Vermont license plates everywhere. I don't remember the last time I ever saw one in over two decades now. Considering how cheap it is for an American to go on vacation in Canada, and they're still avoiding us. That should tell you something! I have known Americans who have moved here and the majority eventually moved back to the USA. When they earn 70 cents to the Greenback, taxed up their rear end, and especially when they experience our healthcare system, they're outta here! 😅 Also many sectors of work pay twice or more the salary in the USA as they do in Canada. Canada is a cheap country, within the developed nations, and the world knows it. US work culture is primarily based on competence. Our work cultures are based on that old British and French rule of who you know, what clic or culture you belong to, etc. That's why our country is behind in competition. We don't take advantage of our best and brightest.
Why are you offended tho?
They're not
The number of Canadians moving to the US has been consistent for the past 10 years, except 2022, as you said. Why do think that is? Was there a major world event that impacted migration between countries before '22? One year doesn't make a trend.
As an Ecuatorian looking for a country to emigrate, that is extremely usefull. Thank you very much for this amazing job
I live in vancouver. Climate wise probably the best in canada. Also variety of places to eat out. But i feel like canada has a lower energy vibe than in usa. Like everything is slower and productivity is lower. People seem more risk adversed.
I guess the best is be Canadian, get paid in USA, working in tech, and get healthcare in Canada xD.
lol have fun with the next round of layoffs
I've lived 5 years in Canada and 19 years in US. US is much better.
Negative buddy nowhere near on the scale of the United States ur farmers couldn’t compete with ours we have more rural good soil
Canada has very little farms The agriculture sector contributes 1.6%
of Canada's GDP, depending on the source and year:
to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, or about $1.530 trillion. 5.6%
That is literally the entire gdp of Canada and then sum and just in agriculture which accounts only for 0.7 in output of just farms
$139.3 billion) of GDP and employed 2.1 million people, which represented 11% of jobs in Canada which if u looked at is absolutely nothing.
4,180,000
Canada is so out matched it exports very little outside of Tim Horton. Not only that 70% of canadian oil fields are owned by Americans including most businesses.
Americans are leagues ahead of of Canada because whatever is new takes time to reach Canada
Edit: Shares are not taxable be either country so billionaires/Millionaires pay very little if any taxes which would account for 2%
@savagesurpreme7856 you have not much of farmland and also because of the climate and Canadian shield, do you're completely wrong about agriculture.
@ these are the numbers issued by the Canadian and Americans governments I can’t see how I’m wrong and arguing in comment sections isn’t worth my time
farms cover 62.2 million hectares or 6.2% of Canada's land area.
Agricultural land (% of land area) in United States was reported at 44.36 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources
Just take the L
@@yurig2530 I just realized were agreeing with each other USA USA USA
Niagara and Toronto and it is not any specially cleaner than comparable US towns and cities.
Why didnt you talk about home affordability and purchasing power?
I think there's a big flaw in looking at the numbers purely from a percentage basis. Say you live in a Canadian city where the income to cost of living ratio allows you to save 20% of your income vs an American city where the ratio allows you to save 12% of your income if that American city. You might count that as a win for the Canadian city. But if you're earning 50k USD in the Canadian city, saving 20% means saving 10k/year while 100k in the American city at 12% means saving 12k/year. When you look at the endgame of being retired, you are going to look at your nest egg as a total amount saved and not the percentage you saved. You should look at the absolute numbers.
An in-progress answer isn't a bad thing man, holy hell was this video informative!! Was honestly thinking about a lot of this stuff lately too, so it couldn't have come at a better time 😅 Amazing video Ameer
Sameee
Thank you so much! I appreciate you as always for being here from the start :)
Well done. A fair comparison. Im very happy to give a little more fir the security, comfort and beauty of Canada
I love my life in Canada. So much in the USA is so politicized. I’ve visited my cousins in the US many times. When I came home it was always like a breath of fresh air. 💖🥰
I'm from Ottawa Canada and I studied for 6 years at New England Conservatory in Boston just down the street from Berklee. And funny enough now I live in Montreal which is the city you compared to Boston. NEC is known for its world-class classical music programs and supplies many of the world's top orchestral musicians, chamber musicians and soloists. But unfortunately Boston in my opinion falls short in providing the population of musicians with opportunities to make a living, at least relatively speaking to Montreal. when living in Boston behind Symphony Hall, I was paying USD 1900 a month to live there, and now in Downtown Montreal near Place Des arts I'm paying Half that at about $1000 USD. Both of these locations are incredibly similar in their Cosmopolitan allure and access to the fine arts and education, but have such a huge affordability gap nonetheless. There is more work here in Montreal for Classical Musicians, It's way cheaper to rent centrally in Montreal Compared to Boston. i Don't know where you got your numbers from but after living in both places its no competition about affordability. there is absolutely no way an 18-year-old kid can afford $1900 per month in rent in Boston and pay US conservatory tuition (yes even with 90+% scholarships). but the same cannot be said in a place like Montreal. An 18-something-year-old can easily make rent, pay tuition at McGill, the Conservatoire etc.. and get more gigs even as a fresh starter in the industry. Boston is not nearly as friendly to its artists. I was only able to make it work because of good scholarships, generous gigs and education programs such as the Boston Philharmonic (youth) Orchestra and On-campus work (which aside from gigs is all my visa allowed me to do to earn money as a Canadian International Student).
Boston is known for having a ton of gigs in the area, but as you said the competition down in the US is much higher. Montreal just has more opportunity per person in our industry and yet maintains a similar competitive environment, but still manages to amaze me on how much easier it is to break into the scene. if you are reading this comment and thinking about going to Boston to Study music, don't go there to make money with the expectation of a high quality of life. go there to study with the world-leading musicianship you can encounter at the amazing schools, and go there to make connections with other incredibly talented young musicians. However, i would be lying to you if I told you Montreal cannot supply you with those same opportunities, and save you a ton of money.
i know this comment is rather niche and doesn't apply to most people, but I would be surprised if this doesn't apply to other people in different jobs and professions. i'd love to hear your experiences especially if you've lived in both cities!
Montreal is one of a kind. In my opinion, truly the best in North America. It shocks me that it ranks behind Calgary on these QoL indexes.
Montreal is the best city in NA.
I dont believe you the numbers don’t lie
The reason Montreal can provide such good musical education is the amount of money Western Canada provides to Quebec in the form of transfer payments!
I believe you about Berklee. It's always been way ahead in terms of contemporary music. However, a friend from our small Canadian city went to Princeton to study music. She was taken aback at the low skill level of the music students. She thought she'd be at the bottom of the pile and she ended up winning their piano competition. For example, many of the students were playing pieces that she (and most Canadian students, at least in the 80s) covered when they were 12 or 13. Whereas in Canada, if you plan to be a performance major in classical piano, you'd be expected to already be covering Brahms sonatas and intermezzi for your entrance exam.
I think it’s a matter of health, ambition, & what season of life you’re in. Generally speaking if you’re healthy spend your youth in the United States. When you’re ready to settle, start a family &/or retire Canada is the better choice.
This is a really informative video, answered a lot of things I have wondered about. I live in Surrey, BC, but i did wonder why you didn't mention MSP. It's still something Canadians in BC above a certain tax bracket have to pay, and certain institutions still require fees for using their facilities as part of their premiums. From what I have asked from some of my friends who live in Texas, they have so much opportunities to make a lot more than I do, and their increased opportunities and wealth far exceeds their needs, so they are able to have huge safety nets, and buy bigger things. I know Texas isn't the same as the rest of the US, but I think if you were to improve this video, interviews with people from other parts of the US would also benefit it, along with interviews from other parts of Canada.
Thanks for watching! You’re absolutely right that MSP is a unique part of B.C.’s healthcare system, and it’s worth addressing.
Direct premiums for MSP were eliminated in 2020, and the program is now funded through general taxes, including the Employer Health Tax for businesses. While higher-income residents no longer pay MSP premiums directly, they still contribute indirectly through progressive income taxes.
As for the fees you mentioned, like private hospital rooms or non-covered services, these are already reflected in the out-of-pocket spending data I cited at 8:29 from CIHI. The $97.33/month figure includes direct payments for non-covered services, co-pays, and prescriptions/dental/vision. I glossed over the details for brevity, but they’re definitely accounted for-good catch.
That said, I want to flag something important: the numbers I shared in the video were based on CIHI’s 2021 estimates, but they’ve since been updated with actual figures. The latest data shows Canadians pay an average of $1,243.40 per year (or about $103.62 per month) out-of-pocket.
I really appreciate you raising these points and leaving such a thoughtful, constructive comment!
@@AmeerCorro You've still earned my subscription! Just looking through your channel has peeked my curiosity a bunch.👏
In Canada you have only so many large, mid-sized and medium-small cities along a relatively thin invisible line mostly near-ish the border, assuming you want to live in an urban/semi-urban environment. There's so many more places you can go in the states, so much variety, that you are more likely to find a place that checks all the boxes for you with less compromises, unless your career is very niche and you have ambition to thrive in something, somewhere very specific.
Then there's sales tax (and other taxes), which wasn't discussed as a financial factor. In Canada, it's often 12-15% in many provinces and tax is applied on more goods/services, which you might be inclined to compare to putting the difference into a more manual emergency medical savings account in the US (assuming you can afford to), like $3000 to meet insurance deductibles and so forth, which is effectively below the average difference between yearly sales tax expenses alone. The average sales tax in US is roughly 7.25%. Sales tax varies state to state (and city/county), where you, if you have the blessing of opportunity to choose, have more say in what fits you best. Ultimately, it boils down to more freedom of choice in the US due to inherent differences and disparities of locales, again assuming you're free to chose, vs stability and homogenization of a social benefits backstop in Canada. Depends on what you want to roll the dice for.
Great fair video/analysis though; just thought to add a couple things I find myself thinking about often that I have noticed after living in both countries myself. :)
Thank you for leaving such a detailed and insightful comment! You’re absolutely right about the variety in the U.S.-the sheer number of cities, each with its own character, tax policies, and cost of living, definitely gives people more flexibility to find their ideal spot. Canada’s urban density near the border does limit options in comparison, which is an important trade-off to consider.
Your point about sales tax is also something I’ve been thinking about. The Numbeo data I referenced in the video should account for consumption taxes (carbon tax for gas prices in Canada, "sin" taxes for alchohol prices), but I wasn’t 100% certain, so I tried to avoid doubling up on it when factoring in costs. You’re right, though-sales tax in Canada is often much higher and covers more goods/services, which can make a big difference over time. This is definitely something I want to tighten up in future comparisons!
Thanks again for sharing these points; it’s clear you’ve given this a lot of thought, and I really appreciate your perspective!
@AmeerCorro There's loads of angles so it's quite a challenge to go over them all in such detail, however, I couldn't help myself this one time to add a couple since you provided great viewpoints.
The end result of your video is that it's not as black and white as many like to say, which is refreshing to see. You did a great job covering quite a few points to the calculus. That said, I do have to say thank you for giving a very balanced and fair analysis without falling into a fan bias, very rare to see! Both countries are great in their own way. Having a chance to choose is a heck of a blessing and I hope you're happy with wherever you settle with in the future!
Heath Care is the hardest one.... Because in Canada health insurance barely covers those with rare or disease that the western medical system do not know how to treat! I have late stage lyme disease.... It took me 8 years to get the diagnosis and 15k of debt... luckily for me my husbands company worked a way to cover most of my health bills but it wasn't free. There are a lot of issues with both systems... I would say Canada lacks just about the same as the USA. It is harder for those who have diseases to get the proper care in both countries... I just see more private clinics in the USA than in Canada. Also a lot of our doctors are also moving to the US because they can have a better life because of pay. I live in Vancouver that god awful city you mentioned with the 35 percent difference 🤣 I can attest to how bad it is! Luckily for us we have the cheapest rent in North Vancouver because our landlord didn't increase it for years and we are still sitting at a low rate. We arent moving until we have to!
For the paid maternity leave... this only applies for those working a 9 to 5 job... not entrepreneurs or anyone who runs their own business really. As a filmmaker, I will not be getting those types of benefits... On top of that child care is very hard to come by... there isn't enough space and most likely you will be having to be on a waitlist lucky if you even get a spot in time. So much to this. I can only speak to Canada not the US. The system has it's flaws as well because a lot of the time children are being expose to not the best situations. a lot of incidences where mistreatment have happened in recent years. Why I hear more parents are nervous of day care. Lots to this topic.
For retirement.... Unfortunetly they do not talk about in Canada is that a lot of elderly do not have much to live off of. Luckily for my aunt she has a 1.8 million dollar house she can sell and that will give her 10 years of rent in a dimentia home. only ten years so the question is will she make it and if she does what happens after that... crazy that's not factoring in her food and other things.... My grandma has a condo and pension luckliy but she still works at 83 because she can't retire completely. You will see a lot of elderly working in grocery stores, retail, and other low impacting jobs because they do not have the funds to afford to retire.... lots of facts for this. Alot of our veterans are homeless living on the streets, lots of drug use and elderly in Vancouver's downtown east side. So much again to this topic... Social support isn't that grand here in reality. Luckily my father-in-law and his girlfriend retired as captions otherwise they wouldn't have been able to retire. It's not so black and white... so much more to this.
My Husband and I are both entrepreneurs and both decided we will retire probably somewhere else other than Canada so our life insurance policy goes further for us to retire on. That is just the reality... luckily also for use he is a german citizen so we are able to retire in Europe if we choose to. But not everyone gets those luxuries and unfortunately most are pay gob smacks of money to live in retirement homes with nothing left to even feed themselves. My aunts rent for a dimentra home is looking like 18k a month 😳 I was completely shocked. So when we did the math of all she had saved and the house she has about enough rent for 10 years.... crazy....
Way back in the early 2000's. The price of chicken and dairy was exorbitant in Ontario because the government controlled pricing. I can't even imagine how much it is now.
Really great facts based analysis in a very well presented video! Loved it
Interesting comparisons - to make it even more challenging, think about age. When you are younger, you may be far less concerned about health, but more concerned about opportunity. You may also be more optimistic that you will be at “the top” of your career. However, being able to establish yourself, buy a home, or start a family may be concerning. Then, as you age, health and stability may become more attractive (and you may realize that “average” is the norm (by definition) and not everyone is in the top 20% (again, by definition). It’s at that point where priorities realign and things shift.
on income you should probably be factoring in sale taxes, carbon tax, fuel tax, property tax, etc.
I've found through talking to people on both sides that if you're creative, like to engage in new ventures, and don't mind taking a bit of risk, the USA will reward you more. But if you value stability and a predictable life, Canada might be better.
If money and job prospect/career growth is not an issue Canada all day. However that could be the dominant factor when consider where to live in many cases
What an amazing video! I appreciate how you've compared every important aspect to consider when living somewhere. I've visited Canada once about a decade ago (Toronto and Montreal), and would like to visit again. I can even see these differences between U.S. states. I was born in New Mexico (quite a poor state, but plenty of job opportunities in the arts), and moved to Wisconsin (fewer opportunities in the arts, but a wealthier state). Both states have a similar (low) cost of living, however.
Thank you so much-I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Moving from New Mexico to Wisconsin must’ve been an interesting shift, especially with the trade-offs in arts opportunities and incomes. How have you found the arts scene in Wisconsin compared to New Mexico?
Also, I hope you get the chance to visit Canada again! Toronto and Montreal are fantastic, but the smaller cities have such a unique charm too. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
earning around median household income as a singler person, im living quite comfortably other than having roommates and not having a car. compare to my friends who moved to canada about that same time i did and are still working at low paying jobs, im very fortunate and i can definitely feel their stuggle.
This reminds me of Germany just before the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. There were lots of folks 'escaping' East Germany and resettling in the West. Who was doing this? Almost exclusively young men. Not the elderly, not women with children. The East German social welfare system took care of people in a way that would not have been possible if they had tried to relocate. I was a tourist there at the time and a very wise older female politician gave me the broader perspective. It comes down to values. If you want to take care of your neighbours through equality of education, health and other social welfare, then Canada it is. If you believe in rugged individualism, then the US wins.
Interesting video, I live in So Cal. For me, I would add more categories, like weather, politics, food, people and things to do. I've been to beautiful Vancouver and I can't wait to see the rest of Canada. Peace and blessings
That's a pretty well balanced and comprehensive analysis. Love it !
8:20 - "Free" healthcare does not exist; we pay a buttload of taxes for this "free" healthcare, it averages to $9,000 per year for every human in our country - whether they're employed or not.
Since only 50% of our population works, we're looking at an average of $18,000/year in medicare costs that each working individual has to shoulder.
So, while one would think we must have an amazing medical system considering how much our "free" medicare costs, the reality could not be further from the truth. Our medical system is so overloaded that I don't know ANYONE in Canada able to get treatment unless they're dying.
Compare this to the USA, where unless you're working in a food truck you will get employer supplied medicare, and your $160 a month plan gets you access to literally the world's best hospitals and doctors - So, sorry, but Canada can no longer claim "medicare" as an advantage since we don't actually have services.
Breast cancer survivor here. Canadian healthcare totally took care of it quickly. I get your point but getting sick might change your mind.
@@quasimodem5260me too, cancer survival with multiple health issues needing frequent inventions and follow-ups, would have lost my house and be in major debt if it wasn’t for the Canadian healthcare system. I had the best Doctors and prompt care when I needed it most. We have our problems but I won’t trade it for anything
@@quasimodem5260
What year did you get treatment?
And as I stated above, you'll only get care if you're dying, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't cancer kill people?
For the record, I am sick, I'm speaking from my lived experience, on a 1.5 year waiting list for a necessary surgery after paying taxes for 30 years, but I was told it could be fatal if my condition gets worse and if I think I'm dying go into emergency and they'll do the surgery right away.
In the meantime my quality of life is in the toilet.
But seriously, what year did you go through this?
Try and get any treatment in 2024, let me know how it works out.
I think the difference is, Working, young Canadians, pay for most of the old people who simple come (or return) to Canada to retire. Prescription meds in USA are about 1000 times more expensive than most other countries. Canadians can still pay for an insurance if needed just like US, Immigrants don't get free healthcare so they have to. Canadian healthcare can be bad, but over the last 5 years as an immigrant, my medical bills have far exceeded by insurance cost, and my insurance covered anything. In US, health care is more accessible but is really skewed by how much i pay and most affordable insurance don't cover anything expensive, and it's illegal to get medication from abroad. As a 20-sth guy, life is tough in Canada, 100%, but in a few years if i wanna have a family, if i want to have work life balance, raise my kids to have a normal childhood, US is terrible place to do that.
IMO, if you could get data or statistics let say numbers of moving out of CANADA versus USA because of their life experiences based on all categories/concerns, etc. discussed in this video.. Basically, you will get an idea which country has a better life or not... No pun intended...
Man, you blind or what? you want compare orange with orange or apple with orange? In USA there is some areas with tropical climates, the taxes are lower, hardwares for house and car parts and fuel is much cheaper in the usa. The house cost much less in the usa. and engineers and corporate jobs salaries are much higher in the states
Again it's how people behave, especially with the fact there are more guns than actual people in the USA, healthcare is a short road to bankruptcy unless your income is a minimum of 6 figures, and if you work in the service industries as a server, hourly wages are less than $5.
US poverty levels is the highest in all G7 countries.
6:56 uhhh canada is a crop producing country ---what is this woman talking about?
Super Impressed with the analysis with clear cut backgroud details. Good Job
As a Canadian now living in the USA, Healthcare in Canada may be free but it’s not great and the waits are ridiculous. Ours isn’t perfect, but you can go wherever you want and not wait for treatment.
@AmeerCorro, great video! Any plan to make a video comparing the UK (even better if London) and Canada? Or if you could recommend one.
This is a 31 minute video that just says, "Idk, it depends." You should have named the video something like "Life in Canada compared to Life in America".
The knowledge that you are covered for health insurance from birth to death with no copays that's not dependent on your employer is unquantifiable. I'm a Canadian living in the USA, and this country has, hands down, the worst healthcare system in the developed world, unless you are a billionaire.
A Canadian who lived 25 years in the US as a lawyer in NY city came back to Montreal, saying he made good money during his career, but Canada is better. He started a successful local business in specialized competitive bikes that he sells all over the world. Just another opinion.
the last 13 years I worked, I would start usually at 4 AM on Monday, a few time much earlier, sometimes late Sunday night. And I would finish on Friday night, I did get home every night for at least 6 hours a night, but by the end of Friday night, I had over 80 hours in. And that was done driving truck in what I call the Ontario Elephant
Such an amazing video on this comparison. This for sure would help a lot for people struggling to decide whether to move to the US because of a very high cost of living in Canada esp. Vancouver or vice versa for people who want more security in life. Thank you
San Diego is so much cleaner than Montreal and you get Medi-Cal coverage if you earn under about 38k USD a year.
Thumbs up your video before even starting. I know its gon be a banger.
I've travelled the world and met a lot of interesting travellers and some those travellers ask me ? where is best place to live Canada or the states? I tell them if you want a good life move to Canada, if want to be rich move to the States. Also I'm Canadian living in Australia!
Canada was good 15-20 yrs ago. We’re over taxed , over regulated and overwhelmed with mass migration. I agree there are pros and cons but overall usa is far better.
I've lived In Canada for my entire 30 years, 11 of which I've been here in Toronto and it's sad to say but the country has fallen dramatically over the last decade. The average cost of a house in Toronto has risen to 1.2 M, the average income is 60k, food cost has risen over 20% since the pandemic and the influx of low skilled Indian immigrants is completely out of control. Trudeaus carbon tax is actively attacking Albertas gas and oil sector and the cost will certainly be passed onto the Canadian people. Our economy has fallen and will take a LONG time to recover. The best thing to do at this point is cash out my investments and GTFO out of dodge...
Don't most Americans have insurance through their employer? Healthcare costs in the US sound ridiculous, but i have read that outcomes are better.
Another factor is public health. Covid should uave taught is that if your neighbors are sick, you are sick. One thing that is unappreciated about universal healthcare is that it makes for a healthier population.
Sadly, less than 50% of Americans get their health insurance through their employers, these days. Small businesses do not have to offer it. As you get older, paying your own health insurance premiums can get very expensive. I was paying over $900 USD per month for health insurance, plus there was a $4,500 per year deductible and co-pays, too. Conversely, even with employer health insurance, it's not unusual for a family to have over $20,000 USD per year in healthcare costs - premiums, co-pays and deductibles. It's crippling.
USA for most people
I don't remember the last time I got an upload update from Ameer. Got a lot to catch up
Also, GREAT Video! S+ tier
Thank you! 🫡
Agree. USA has more opportunity to get ahead than being in Canada. Many Canadians moved to USA to get ahead than being in Canada.
so basically work in usa earn all that money then retire or canada, (or somewhere cheaper)
Most Canadian retirees who can afford to, go to the US or Mexico (snowbirds), because Canadian winters are often extremely cold and last 4-5 months
Montreal is supposed to be cheap, but rent is extremely expensive and groceries are much much more expensive than anywhere in the US! I didn’t have to worry about rent and groceries in the US while on minimum wage, not the Biden minimum wage but when it was 7.25 and 8.. in Canada, it’s impossible to find affordable rent!! Even finding a place to rent has become a dream.. Americans dream about owning a house.. Canadians dream about renting a place or seeing a doctor!! To see a doctor in many cases you have to wait for a few years!! Only thing that’s better in Canada is they don’t have as many shootings as the USA, but every other country can say that!! The homeless in the streets of Canada are everywhere!! Even smaller towns and Canada has only some 30ish million inhabitants.. I feel like 10 percent of all Canadians are homeless junkies, sleeping on house doorsteps and tent encampments everywhere!! It
Montreal and Canada in general is going down the drain. Canadian dollar is to low in comparison with the us dollar what makes moving to others countries even harder. now I will pass to pay 85 % of my salary in rent no way I can save. Ah health system here is horrible been 3 years waiting for a dr and medicines are expensive not all are cover, insulin that is also no cover.
"Americans dream about owning a house.. Canadians dream about renting a place or seeing a doctor!!"
Sorry about Canada not being good to you, but this sounds like a bitter rant by someone who just doesn't like Canada.
The home ownership rate is slightly higher in Canada than the US, yet people are supposed to believe that it's impossible to buy homes in Canada?
Dude, you absolutely don’t understand american and canadian health systems. In the US, you can see a doctor sooner, not because millions can’t afford to see a doctor but because in Canada everything is totally mismanaged and in the USA, fortunately this is not the case yet. In many countries in the world you can get a high quality medical care fast and for not much.
I really appreciate this video. It was well done and easy to follow. I'm in Vancouver in healthcare getting a lot of hate for saying I'm considering Settle as people are telling me it's so much worse and shouldn't leave. I just want to be able to live, not simply survive
Grew up in Montreal and moved to Toronto 🩷 of course Canada 🇨🇦 we've been all over America, and there's no place like home like Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
I live in Canada and have no doctor, so healthcare here for me is terrible. Also I think Canada is declining at a faster rate than the U.S. After the last 8 or 9 years of the current liberal government Canada's standard of living has dropped enormously. Still wouldn't leave for the U.S. though, I'd look further afield. Was recently in Japan and Australia and I liked both of those places.
I'm contemplating moving from Chicago to Ottawa. I have family in Ottawa and dual citizenship. And I'm retired. What would I be gaining and losing?
The winters are much, much colder in Ottawa. With the windchill, it's often -30 degrees Celcius (-22 degrees Farenheit), with a lot of snow that is usually on the ground for 5 months. Most Canadian retirees who live around there who can afford to, spend their winters in the US (snowbirds), as there are 4-5 months of very intense winters there. If you love winter you might not mind, but if you're older and slip on an icy road or sidewalk, it can be a broken hip, and can be more difficult to stay active and have a good quality of life if you tend to hibernate more in the 5 months of extreme cold and snow.
@@k4t1155He’s from Chicago. It gets cold in winter there too. It’s probably closer in climate to Toronto though.
@@polishtheday Toronto has tropical winters compared to Ottawa, so I'm not sure what your point is. Ottawa winters are drastically colder, snowier and last longer than Chicago.
I’m in Montreal, which has a similar climate to Ottawa. Winters are a bit colder, but people tend to exaggerate how cold and long they are. They’re getting shorter and warmer due to climate change.
The biggest change you’ll notice is the size of the city. Ottawa doesn’t have an exciting downtown like Chicago. It’s mostly suburbs with single-family homes. But if you’re craving the big city, you can always get in a car or take a plane or train to Toronto or Montreal.
If you like the outdoors, you’ll be just minutes from it in Ottawa.
The one thing that impresses me every time I visit Ottawa is how friendly people are there compared to other Canadian cities. A large number are highly educated, if that’s important to you. They also seem happy, which makes me wonder if that’s because of a high population of retirees. Quite a few are former civil servants getting relatively generous defined benefit pensions. Ottawa also obviously has a lot of civil servants and those with high incomes. It often makes the top of the list as the best place to retire in Canada.
I wouldn’t hesitate to move there, and I’m fortunate to have lived in the two best Canadian cities - Vancouver and Montreal (sorry, Toronto).
@@polishtheday I've lived most of my life in Ottawa as well as all over North America, so you clearly don't know what you're talking about, having only visited Ottawa, compared to having lived there for years and knowing a factual comparison of it to Chicago, like me. Ottawa is factually drastically colder, snowier, and much more of an extreme winter, lasting 5 months or so compared to Chicago.
Interestingly, many Americans look upon Seattle as VERY expensive. Perhaps you can answer a question I have about housing in Canada - the Canadian government keeps talking about assuring that more housing would be built. Why are they involved in housing construction? Private companies don't build the housing?
The Canadian Government is trying to provide incentives to municipal and regional governments to loosen high density residential zoning restrictions and increase the speed at which construction permits are issued. Canadian municipalities are notorious for refusing to provide permits for anything other than single family suburban homes, it's very difficult to build high density housing in Canada.
Canadian real estate developers also have a bad habit of sitting on land and permits rather than building anything while they wait for real estate prices to increase, so they can huck their shoe-box condos and plywood cabins for millions of dollars a piece.
It's all just politicians gaslighting people. I work in the architectural business, it is like pulling teeth trying to get permits to build here, and they are only increasing regulation despite their talk. Canada is rapidly declining in standard of living.
@@JollyOldCanuck True. Canada's provision of housing to people is a terrible system. Regulations are labarynthine and infuriating to navigate. Developers are greedy as hell though, on top of all the other dysfunction.
@@JollyOldCanuckHere in Surrey BC they are building huge sections of townhouses/ condos that look like ghettos.
I am from Winnipeg, and I now have lived in Chicago for about 5 years. And while cost of living is cheaper in SOME USA cities, I still believe life in Canada Is better. Better work life balance and overall people are more community based in Canada. Americans make free health care sounds like it’s an insane idea and why should they pay for other people’s health care. But for me I can’t afford health care. It’s 200USD dollars a month through my employer. I choose not to do it but it’s so risky and I’m terrified I’ll have a health issue, but 2400USD a year is too much and a system that is designed to favour the upper class. As a whole America feels designed for the upper class and is honestly brutal. Canada is a much better place to live and much more secure unless you’re upper class.
I'd happily pay 2400 usd out of pocket per year for top quality healthcare. Canada's health care system is a joke. I live in Victoria BC and have no doctor and know many people who don't. My old doctor ditched half his patient load so he could start an online mental health business. He has no qualifications for that and was an average doctor at best, but at least I had one. Almost impossible to find a doctor now. New immigrants get a doctor before people born in Canada. This country is a sorry shadow of what it used to be.
How tf can you move to chicago and not pay 2400 a year. That’s the min if you’re not getting covered by employers. Dude people like you suck. They want government to do everything and complain and complain about systems. You should have stayed in Canada.
My brother $2400 isn't much at all. You save enough in taxes to afford that. When the upper class does better it uplifts everyone else too as there's more money in the economy. In the US, the middle class is also significantly richer
Your video was extremely interesting and very well researched. I have a suggestion that may help you make a determination. One person you interviewed summarized it very well. In the US you have more of the pluses and more of the minuses. This translates to greater variability. Borrowing from finance you would say risks vs rewards. Thus your choice would be based on your appetite for risk. Are you a risk seeking vs a risk averse person?
I don't think Canada Post will exist in the future!!!
I lived in the States for 3 years, Portland OR. It was 3rd world compared to Canada. Portland is a beautiful city but compared to Calgary it was dirty, violent and I felt cut off from the rest of the world (Media in that country is VERY Americentric). Given the gun violence, lower life expectancy and political climate I'll never set foot in the states again. What good is money if you are dead.
As someone who's lived in both countries (currently in Canada) here are a few additional things you may want to consider:
- Vacation time:
Many US companies do not offer their employees any time off, including federal holidays. I know tech workers who never got a single vacation day and had to work on Christmas, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. In addition to the minimum of 10 paid of vacation days Canada requires employers to provide, they also give their workers statutory holidays off (or pay them 150% for working on a stat holiday + holiday pay).
- About 15% of workers in Seattle work in tech, compared to around 9.6% in Vancouver. Tech workers tend to make higher incomes compared which could help explain the differences between the two cities.
- Pre-covid I had an urgent medical issue and I got to see a specialist and have lots of testing done within a few days (I was in Ontario). I also went to see specialists for non urgent medical issues and most of them took no longer than a month or two (with one exception, a specialist that had a year long wait time). My understanding is that things have gotten worse in terms of wait times over the past 4-5 years (since the pandemic hit), but some places in the US are also facing massive healthcare worker shortages and lengthy wait times.
- In the US, if you have the money and a comprehensive healthcare plan, you have more freedom in terms of choosing healthcare providers and the course of treatment. But depending on your state and plan, so does your insurance company. Especially if you have a lower tier HMO plan. Some insurance providers often refuse to cover basic essential medical procedures claiming they're "not necessary" or delay treatment requiring patients to try something else first (e.g. a cheaper medication, physical therapy, etc). This often causes harm to the patient and in some cases, irreversible damage and death. This is a massive issue. I know people who are still suffering years later because their insurance company got greedy and refused to cover necessary care.
- The US can easily lock you up in a mental institution for no reason. I know several people who had this happen. All it takes is a call from a "friend", relative or whoever due to a misunderstanding or just to spite you and you're stuck there for 72 hours. I honestly don't get how this is legal. I think some of them ended up having to pay for the unnecessary "treatment" (not cheap!) and had expensive drugs shoved down their throat (big pharma has to make $$$$ off this).
- Some US states don't allow women to control their own bodies (e.g. abortion is not allowed).
- Online stores are bigger, faster and better in the US. They often provide a wider selection of products and services and faster shipping times (e.g. Amazon, Walmart, etc).
Personally, I prefer Canada!
Things to watch out for in terms of healthcare coverage (US):
-- Make sure the healthcare facility/clinic your going to is in network (when possible). Out of network facilities are much more expensive.
-- I'm not sure how things work in New York in terms of coverage and healthcare networks, but in some states, some healthcare providers in "in network" hospitals are "out of network".
Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed comment! You’ve raised some really important points, especially about vacation time, tech industries, and healthcare nuances in both countries-it's clear you've thought about this a lot.
The data isn't accurate though lol when he showed how many hours people worked in Canada in 2023 being astronomical - that's because people can't afford to live in Canada anymore. The stats for 2024 are likely just as high or higher - yet he chose to remove that data cause he thought it was an anomaly. He seems to be unaware of how bad things have gotten in Canada in recent years and literally removed that data from his analysis lol (People in Canada often have 2-3 jobs now, and work incredibly high amounts of hours just to make ends meet, so the 2023 data wasn't an anomaly, it's the current figures. He literally used data from 2022 and earlier for his analysis, which is completely inaccurate for how things have been in Canada the past 2 years, in 2023 and 2024.)
This video is more accurate for 5 years ago maybe, but isn't accurate or factual whatsoever for 2024.
@@k4t1155 It's the same in the US. The cost of living has gone up in both countries (and many others) and people in both countries have to work 2-3 jobs now to make ends meet. Greedflation has been a massive issue in both countries, not only here.
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Great video! Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. Looking forward to part 2.
One thing you didnt cover was the school systems. From what I understand, canada is way out front on that important factor. Only tge wealthy get a good early education and are then ready to go on to higher level
It depends who you are, where you are, How you make your money, and how much you make. Theres pros and cons to both, but if you are poor, or need a lot of medical care, then Canada. If you are a decent earner, arguably the US. Theres slums and mansions in both, so as far as money, your class is far more important than your pasport. Averages dont mean that much. If you are a professional, you will make double in the US. If you are working class, you are pretty broke either way. A good number of Americans loose all their wealth at the end of their life due to predatory health care. So have insurance or savings, because old folks homes are just disgusting, or maybe getting cancer with out health coverage, not really sure on that one, im 44 and been healthy so far. And yes American cities have more grit and homelesness, and yes gun crime is higher, but if you stay in your lane, ie dont live a dangerous lifestyle with drugs and prostitutes etc, then it is basically just as safe. Downright boring most of the time. Like if getting struck by lightning was 3 times more likely would you be worried? Its still so so rare in reality. I dont live in fear in the US at all. I think thats part ignorance, part racism, and part propaganda against the US. Which is a real thing. Canadians be "hatin" but they just go on what they see in movies and tik tok. Its not reality. Most Americans live in quiet suburbs, and the cities are not even that bad. AND if find Americans FRIENDLIER and its easier to make friends here. Canadians are usually friendly but often reserved and have all these cliques. Americans are so friendly and open.
Your answer is totally canadian. “Safe” answer.
Look at how many people are getting richer every year in both countries. Simple.
Montreal is better than New York.
But Texas might be a league of their own.
As a legal immigrant before justin trudeau was elected, I would've absolutely recommend Canada to anyone if this was 15 years ago, but nowadays, don't come here, it is hell.
Architecture: EVERYWHERE IS JUST ASPHALT!
Entertainment: mostly nothing to do unless you like nature
cost of living: ∞
Culture: Bland, boring, no dreams, no inspirations
Happiness: literally see people living in 3rd world have happier lives. If you go out of the big cities, it will be mostly fine.
Politicians: we have an idiot for a government, and the blue party has a politician with his whole entire point being "atleast I ain't Trudeau"
Healthcare wait time: ∞
Good things that remain in Canada
People: despite living in a mess, they are kind
Landscape: Nice, but Vancouver really carries it.
Food: despite being controlled by mostly fast food (Tim Hortons has fallen), their cooking feels humble.