Moving from Canada (Orlando: low income, real estate, apartment)

[Sonamor]

Dear Internet my partner and I are planning a move in about a year to the Orlando area. I have lived there before in one of the citys worst neighborhoods,(8 years ago) so I already know how bad the city can be. I hope to work in Orlando I work for sunglass hut and know its not difficult for me to transfer my job, and maybe get my own store (I am in lower management). The only thing I know I will dearly miss about this cold land is the mountains, But I could sacrifice that for a weekend drive to the beach. I guess what I really need to know is where should I live in the orlando area, and what does rent look like on an average apartment or house. I live in a super booming area where if your a redneck-highschool drop out you can make $30-$50/hour but I opt to make significantly less in retail because I love people. I cant see myself loosing very much in salary as its pretty much minimum wage as it is. SOO main questions what are taxes like, Where should I avoid living, Whats crime like now, how is the commute, What are gas/grocery prices like? I do not have kids so schools do not matter.

Thank you for reading and please don't be a debby downer I will move either way. I would just like to know what people who live there think.

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by Sonamor

Dear Internet my partner and I are planning a move in about a year to the Orlando area. I have lived there before in one of the citys worst neighborhoods,(8 years ago) so I already know how bad the city can be. I hope to work in Orlando I work for sunglass hut and know its not difficult for me to transfer my job, and maybe get my own store (I am in lower management). The only thing I know I will dearly miss about this cold land is the mountains, But I could sacrifice that for a weekend drive to the beach. I guess what I really need to know is where should I live in the orlando area, and what does rent look like on an average apartment or house. I live in a super booming area where if your a redneck-highschool drop out you can make $30-$50/hour but I opt to make significantly less in retail because I love people. I cant see myself loosing very much in salary as its pretty much minimum wage as it is. SOO main questions what are taxes like, Where should I avoid living, Whats crime like now, how is the commute, What are gas/grocery prices like? I do not have kids so schools do not matter.

Thank you for reading and please don't be a debby downer I will move either way. I would just like to know what people who live there think.

I'd figure out where you'll be working first. It's best to live near your work.

[Sonamor]

I used to live on Americana Blvd and OBT and it wasnt the nicest place, I would like to know what is a step up? I've been thinking of winter park. And what are average taxes on your paycheck, right now I'm at almost minimum wage im paying 25-30%. Also is healthcare as expensive as it sounds its free here, But you still have to pay for a lot if your work doesn't cover it.

[lizardman860]

Originally Posted by Sonamor

I used to live on Americana Blvd and OBT and it wasnt the nicest place, I would like to know what is a step up? I've been thinking of winter park. And what are average taxes on your paycheck, right now I'm at almost minimum wage im paying 25-30%. Also is healthcare as expensive as it sounds its free here, But you still have to pay for a lot if your work doesn't cover it.

Dude, if you're making minimum wage in Canada, your not paying 25-30% in taxes. Unless the minimum wage where you is extremely high. They don't even tax like the first 12k you make.(ie ZERO TAXES). Then in some provinces they give you money back at the end of year just for being low income. I'm guessing you're from Alberta based on rednecks making 30 bucks a hour.

Minumum wage in Florida is like 7 something an hour = Around 13,000 a year. Higher taxes in Canada is a big myth for low income earners. It's only when you start making a middle class income that you start getting hit harder than the U.S. counterparts with taxes. Of course you have free healthcare so it's a better deal.

[sunnyisfl]

Originally Posted by lizardman860

Dude, if you're making minimum wage in Canada, your not paying 25-30% in taxes. Unless the minimum wage where you is extremely high. They don't even tax like the first 12k you make.(ie ZERO TAXES). Then in some provinces they give you money back at the end of year just for being low income. I'm guessing you're from Alberta based on rednecks making 30 bucks a hour.

Minumum wage in Florida is like 7 something an hour = Around 13,000 a year. Higher taxes in Canada is a big myth for low income earners. It's only when you start making a middle class income that you start getting hit harder than the U.S. counterparts with taxes. Of course you have free healthcare so it's a better deal.

Yes, but it's lousy heathcare. I have relatives and friends from Canada that are amazed at the great healthcare we have here!! I could write you more, but I won't.

[lizardman860]

Originally Posted by sunnyisfl

Yes, but it's lousy heathcare. I have relatives and friends from Canada that are amazed at the great healthcare we have here!! I could write you more, but I won't.

haha....ok keep believing the propoganda fed to you by the racket called insurance companies. True, if you have a blown acl(ie non life threatening), you'll get seen much quicker in the u.s. Might have to wait 6 months in Canada. Canada isn't perfect.

So for a poor person- non professional working at a minimum wage job offering no benefits, is it better to have no health insurance in the u.s.(like 50 million Americans..more than the population of all of Canada) or to be in Canada with free health care?

Kind of an obvious answer

In most health insurance policies, you'll lose everything you own anyway if someone in your family gets a long term serious illness. They'll drop you.

Also, don't forget it's also costing your employer a small fortune to provide you with health insurance. Money that could be going in your pocket. Talking like 20k a year. Basically a tax. Oh and then your employer jacks even more money out of your pay check. What a scam!

BEST healthcare in the world is in the Scandanavian countries. Well known fact. We are too greedy in the U.S. to ever offer free health care for all. Obama is being attacked constantly for giving a crumb to poor people.

Next will be paying for police insurance and the police will not respond if your being raped and murdered because you didn't pay your policy. Something as important as healthcare should not be farmed out to the private sector and given to sharks in the biggest racket on the planet.
Healthcare is matter of public safety. Not something your a premium on every month.

EVERY other modern country in the free world offers free healthcare to it's poor people.

Oh....want free health care in the U.S.?

COMMIT A FELONY. Free healthcare and dental plan in prison! So homeless people or someone working 3 part time jobs get thrown on the street, but convicted felons get free healthcare? hahaa

Honestly, there's so much stupidity in this system I could go on forever, but I digress. Just my opinion. Have a nice day.

[lizardman860]

Don't forget they want to take away medicare too! Socialism for the rich and sacrifices by the poor!

[Swan Dive]

I live in Orlando, from BC originally.

healthcare is not free( nothing is, MSP plans,taxes etc etc etc,) nor is it better up there.It's amazing what people say on here. There was a story about a girl with an obesity problem up there that waited 10 years to get her surgery. The VP of my then company flew to Oregon to get his knee done otherwise he would have to wait, the president flew his wife to Arizona to get her the treatment she needed because she couldn't get it up there, all this was in 2006. The list goes on.

Being in Orlando now I pay half the insurance on my car and groceries are 30% less. not including HST

it cost me 55$ to fill my tank here and 80$ up there. Real estate is more affordable down here compared to vancouver.

Honestly as an International transplant floridians have it better than they think

[lizardman860]

Originally Posted by Swan Dive

I live in Orlando, from BC originally.

healthcare is not free( nothing is, MSP plans,taxes etc etc etc,) nor is it better up there.It's amazing what people say on here. There was a story about a girl with an obesity problem up there that waited 10 years to get her surgery. The VP of my then company flew to Oregon to get his knee done otherwise he would have to wait, the president flew his wife to Arizona to get her the treatment she needed because she couldn't get it up there, all this was in 2006. The list goes on.

Being in Orlando now I pay half the insurance on my car and groceries are 30% less. not including HST

it cost me 55$ to fill my tank here and 80$ up there. Real estate is more affordable down here compared to vancouver.

Honestly as an International transplant floridians have it better than they think

I lived in Canada and was actually able to see a doctor when something went wrong, unlike here. Health care is free for poor people in Canada. The rich get taxed to pay for it. You're telling me someone making 15k a year is paying for their health insurance in Canada with zero deductible and total coverage with any pre-existing condition? Explain that to me! From what money?

You pay less for food in America because of cost of scale and how rich the U.S. is and the strength of the u.s. dollar vs. Canadian in a global economy. New york city is way more expensive than Vancouver. Same thing with oil. Of course a car is not a necessity. It's a nice luxury to have for sure and I wouldn't want to go without one, but you can always take public transit. Vancouver real estate is outrageous, but L.A., NYC, Chicago ect. are all way more outrageous. No trickle down effect. Live in a area with a lot of rich people? Your cost of living goes through the roof.

Canada basically is the U.S just with free health care.

[annerk]

I noticed that you forgot one pretty major detail. Work visas. I tend to doubt that Sunglass Hut would sponsor you when there are plenty of well qualified people in retail already in this area. And even if they are willing to sponsor you for a work visa, it's not a Green Card and there's no guarantee of renewal. It also won't cover your partner.