moving from Phoenix, AZ to Vancouver/Burnaby (best city, real estate)

[ashand]

Hi all,

I hope someone here might be able to help me. I am in the process of considering an offer from a company in Burnaby but my issue is I have no idea or concept of the cost of living difference from Arizona in the states to Vancouver. I know the income tax is more but I am not clear on how much more.

Does anyone have any idea how the cost of living compares to Phoenix AZ?
I know it is not an exact science. Maybe you might be able to compare Vancouver with another major US city?

Or point me to resources that might help?


**edit: I also might as well ask the best city to live for a family of 4, 2 young kids (elementary) we have a dog so we would want a yard, and I would be working in Burnaby so I would not want to be far.

Thanks in advance!

[ZX14TJ]

The cost of living difference is very significant. I am an American living in Canada. I have never lived in Vancouver but I have lived in Phoenix. I can say that Vancouver will be MUCH more expensive than Phoenix.

The greater Vancouver area has a population of approximately 2 million people. The best city to compare Vancouver to would probably be Seattle although the Seattle MSA is much larger with 3.3 million people.

In general, everything in Canada costs quite a bit more than in the US. In my experience, this applies to groceries, clothing, other consumer goods, car insurance, fuel, and just about anything else you can think of. Here are some examples...

Sales taxes - 45% higher in BC
Phoenix - 8.3% (state, county, and city combined)
British Columbia - 12% (GST and PST combined)

Gasoline - 35% higher in BC
Phoenix - $3.88/gal
Vancouver - $5.23/gal

Housing (purchase) - 414% higher in BC
Phoenix (Maricopa County) - $222,450 average house price
Greater Vancouver - $921,000 average house price
Phoenix House and Condo Prices - Phoenix Real Estate Prices - March 2008
Average house price in Greater Vancouver nearing $1-million mark

I have found income taxes to be more here in Canada as well. If your employer in the US currently pays all or most of your health insurance, you will personally pay out more through taxes in Canada. On the other hand, if you have been paying all of your own health insurance premiums in the US (very rare), you might actually save money on health related expenses.

The cost of living picture looks pretty bleak on the surface. However, if you can make significantly more money in Canada and, more importantly, will enjoy life more here, I wouldn't let it stop me. I personally like living in Calgary and have no regrets about moving here. Although, this may have been different if I lived in any other province. Alberta has the lowest tax rates in all of Canada. There are things I dislike, like the medical system, high tax rates, and high cost of goods but those do not outweigh the job I love and the great friends I have made here.

Good luck

[mikeyyc]

And always remember, BC stands for Bring Cash.

[occdn]

If you want to purchase, avoid Vancouver. Try the lower mainland. If you're fine with renting, good deals CAN be had in the English Bay/Kits Beach area if you look around. Especially if you don't mind having room mates.

Frankly, Burnaby is craptastic. I lived and worked there for 6 months and honestly I'd rather die of AIDS than live there again. That's just me.

I like the lower mainland in that it's a bit cheaper. The problem is that transportation is horrible. 1 lane roads from Maple Ridge to Mission... clogged fraser bridger from Abbotsford to mission, etc etc. If you're heading to the outskirts and smaller areas you may as well plan to make your drive a weekend trip.

(Born in Mission, visited the LM my entire life - lived in Burnaby and English Bay. Currently live in Orange County, CA and moving to Houston TX)

[ashand]

Thank you both for your feedback. I am very close to getting an offer and this will help arm me with knowing what I need to know to be able to survive. Amoung other things it will help me weigh the other offers I will get in comparison.