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Any Canadian's considering moving to the USA? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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I'm kind of in a strange boat right now where I'm really comfortable in Canada yet I can't shake this feeling I need to get over to the US of A in order to take advantage of that strong USD. I, like many Canadians, work for an American firm and have a TN visa. Recently, my employer offered to sponsor me for a green card, if I ever choose to relocate to the USA. I can live pretty much anywhere I want as I'm a remote employee, but I do travel to the USA for client work.

It's a tough decision to make. While I consider it, I thought I'd ask the community. So, say you good lemmings?

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[–] 11 points 3 years ago* (2 children)

I moved to California a couple years back. I think it is absolutely worth the move. Especially as a software developer, you can make 4x what you do in Canada.

The biggest complaint I have is TN is annoying to renew, but overall it's not a big deal at all. If your work is sponsoring a green card, then that is the cherry on top.

My quality of life is greatly increased. I make way more, and also pay way less for groceries, cars, electronics, internet/cell phone. Los Angeles is literally more affordable for me than most of Ontario lol

I think moving would only be worth it if you're in a professional career that makes more in the US, otherwise your QOL will obviously be worse here.

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  • [–] 6 points 3 years ago* (2 children)

    I think a lot of Canadians have no idea just how cheap certain things are in the US. A lot of our food is imported from there and we pay the exchange. My grocery bill was tiny in Oregon relative to Quebec.

    Edit: Another one is shoes. Canada has an import tax that results in some shoes being literally 3x the price after everything is said and done.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Exactly, any "out of season" food is never out of season here in California. Avacados are so cheap here for example. Meat is also way cheaper too, even for organic products, not the bottom of the barrel. $2 street tacos are my lifeblood now.

    For me, cell phone service was mind blowing. I am paying $25 a month all in, for 15 gigs and unlimited talk/text.

    Taking a toll lane here is actually cheap too, $4-5 max per usage. I went on the 407 once by accident and was billed $20 for one exit lol

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (1 child)

    But all major freeways have toll while they're the exception in Canada. Avocados are cheap but you can't take a long shower because growing them is emptying all aquifers and droughts last for years... Food in general is cheap but it's subsidized as fuck... You're one car accident away from becoming bankrupt from uncovered medical bills even if the government spends more on healthcare per capita than any country with national healthcare (not even counting the extra people pay in private insurance).

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago

    But all major freeways have toll while they’re the exception in Canada

    That's not true in California at all. LA has like 2 highways that have toll lanes, not even entire highways.

    Avocados are cheap but you can’t take a long shower because growing them is emptying all aquifers and droughts last for years

    I don't change my personal habits at all, businesses can curtail their water usage if the droughts are truly bad. It literally does not affect my life at all.

    You’re one car accident away from becoming bankrupt from uncovered medical bills

    No I'm not, my healthcare plan is $750 a year out of pocket max. If you have a well paying job here, such as software developer, you're going to have a healthcare plan that covers most things.

    In Canada it took me 9 months to get a specialist appointment and 18 month wait for a surgery. I literally found a doctor, specialist, and had a surgery within 5 months in the states.

    I never said the US is better for the average person, but it's an absolute cope to think it's not better for people in higher paying professional careers.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    than most of Ontario

    Most of Ontario is small places that cost basically nothing to live in or empty space. Meanwhile you've got engineers living in campers at their employer's office because life is so expensive in California.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago* (2 children)

    Most of Ontario is small places that cost basically nothing to live in or empty space.

    And yet most people live in the GTA, because jobs are sort of required to live.

    A car is still the same price no matter where you are in Ontario, same with food, same with electricity. You also get paid 4x less. The camper stories are extreme edge cases.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    Cost of electricity is more than x3 in California than Ontario, certainly LA (24-28 cents USD per kWh) vs Toronto (8-11 cents CAD per kWh).

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    The only reason it’s that low in Ontario is because it’s hidden behind fees. Delivery alone would literally double my bill sometimes.Not to mention I don’t need to use heating in the winter at all. I still pay less in California.

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    'literally' (ugh) double your bill is still less than three times the cost. I worry you skipped math

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