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I didn't find Vancouver that expensive when I lived there--while I had a good paying job. As soon as that job dried up though--finding another was difficult and I found reason to leave relatively quickly. It's a place where you really need to know someone to get the best opportunities--not a great place to just show up unless you're willing to work for less than you're worth.
I was hoping for good news in this thread as I live in Houston, but have always loved Vancouver. I'll be the first to admit that I've only spent a few days there, but I loved it. Heck, I'd be besides myself if I found a job comparable to my own up there and convinced my wife to pick up the fam and move. Instead, this thread has portrayed the city to be too much like northern california: pretty, but too expensive to really live in comfortably.
I was hoping for good news in this thread as I live in Houston, but have always loved Vancouver. I'll be the first to admit that I've only spent a few days there, but I loved it. Heck, I'd be besides myself if I found a job comparable to my own up there and convinced my wife to pick up the fam and move. Instead, this thread has portrayed the city to be too much like northern california: pretty, but too expensive to really live in comfortably.
No, Vancouver is way worse than Northern California...North Cali is miles better.....San Francisco and surrounding areas can be and are very expensive but the opportunities (and salaries) are not comparable to Vancouver....night and day.
Trust me...stay in Houston which actually can be a nice city...a lot of people living in Vancouver would give an arm and a leg for a Green Card/US citizenship.
If you like the weather, Vancouver is a quiet, smallish and nice town with beautiful surroundings to retire once you are loaded...not to try to make a very good living....there is a joke among people living there...You know what BC stand for?? Bring Cash....
Another suggestion is that if, again, you like that kind of weather and natural environment, Seattle is by far a much better choice (especially for an American)...and Vancouver is only 130 miles north if you want to visit often.
Last edited by saturno_v; 12-11-2014 at 05:01 PM..
It looks like income taxes are much less in Canada compared to the U.S. We get taxed all to way to 39.6%
This does not include State Income Tax, that can add another 10 to 15%.
2014 Tax Rates & Tax Brackets
The IRS released the final 2014 tax brackets. Here are the federal 2014 tax tables:
Tax Rate Single Married Filing Joint Married Filing Separate Head of Household 10% Up to $9,075 Up to $18,150 Up to $9,075 Up to $12,950 15% $9,076 – $36,900 $18,151 – $73,800 $9,076 – $36,900 $12,951 – $49,400 25% $36,901 – $89,350 $73,801 – $148,850 $36,901 – $74,425 $49,401 – $127,550 28% $89,351 – $186,350 $148,851 – $226,850 $74,426 – $113,425 $127,551 – $206,600 33% $186,351 – $405,100 $226,851 – $405,100 $113,426 – $202,550 $206,601 – $405,100 35% $405,101 – $406,750 $405,101 – $457,600 $202,551 – $228,800 $405,101 – $432,200 39.6% Over $406,750 Over $457,600 Over $228,800 Over $432,200
That actually is not true. You have to compare the the marginal rates and the income level they apply to The majority of Americans fall in the first 2 brackets of 10% and 15% whereas Canadians with a similar income will have higher rates. The Canadian provinces also have income tax which is in addition to the federal tax. Their rates are typically higher than state income taxes are. Some states don't have any state income tax.
That actually is not true. You have to compare the the marginal rates and the income level they apply to The majority of Americans fall in the first 2 brackets of 10% and 15% whereas Canadians with a similar income will have higher rates. The Canadian provinces also have income tax which is in addition to the federal tax. Their rates are typically higher than state income taxes are. Some states don't have any state income tax.
States with no income tax at all: Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, Florida, South Dakota, Alaska, Texas
Sates with income tax under 5%: UT, AZ, CO, NM, ND, MS, AL, IL, PA, MI, NH
States with no sales tax: OR, MT, NH, DE, and AK almost no sales tax (1.13%).
Only 8 states with sales tax above 8%. NY, NC, TN, IL, LA, OK, CA, WA
All Canada provinces have sales tax and all above 10% with one exception.
All Canada provinces have provincial income tax.
States with no income tax at all: Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, Florida, South Dakota, Alaska, Texas
Sates with income tax under 5%: UT, AZ, CO, NM, ND, MS, AL, IL, PA, MI, NH
States with no sales tax: OR, MT, NH, DE, and AK almost no sales tax (1.13%).
Only 8 states with sales tax above 8%. NY, NC, TN, IL, LA, OK, CA, WA
All Canada provinces have sales tax and all above 10% with one exception.
All Canada provinces have provincial income tax.
Just to clarify all of Canada.
Alberta has no sales tax. Nunavut has no sales tax. The Yukon has no sales tax and the NWT.
Also BC has a provincial sales tax of 7%. Not hall provinces have merged the GST into a HST.
Also, these comparisons of places with or without sales tax, or State Income tax are not so black and white.
You have to include ALL taxes, such as property taxes etc. In states where there is no State Income Tax, property taxes are usually higher.
Also some of those states without State Income Tax, tax retirees on investment income. So anyone living off investments doesn't get away without paying some sort of tax.
Alberta has no sales tax. Nunavut has no sales tax. The Yukon has no sales tax and the NWT.
Also BC has a provincial sales tax of 7%. Not hall provinces have merged the GST into a HST.
Also, these comparisons of places with or without sales tax, or State Income tax are not so black and white.
You have to include ALL taxes, such as property taxes etc. In states where there is no State Income Tax, property taxes are usually higher.
Also some of those states without State Income Tax, tax retirees on investment income. So anyone living off investments doesn't get away without paying some sort of tax.
According to the Numbeo cost of living comparison, Vancouver is much more expensive than Portland in all categories. Numbeo is very accurate and up to date.
Consumer Prices in Vancouver are 26.89% higher than in Portland, OR
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Vancouver are 22.52% higher than in Portland, OR
Rent Prices in Vancouver are 14.88% higher than in Portland, OR
Restaurant Prices in Vancouver are 17.54% higher than in Portland, OR
Groceries Prices in Vancouver are 42.55% higher than in Portland, OR
Local Purchasing Power in Vancouver is 16.18% lower than in Portland, OR
Local purchasing power is what is important as that is a measure of what one can buy based on cost of living vs income. A person living in Portland can purchase 16.18% more goods than a person in Vancouver.
I would be willing to pay 16% more for everything if I could live in Vancouver instead of Portland. It's a much better city so it's totally worth it.
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