Life in Canada?

I've always dreamed of moving to Canada (currently in the US as a permanent resident). I would really like to take up a full-time job in Canada, in the field of Software. But I talked to a few friends who have worked in Canada (under non-immigrant visa) & they tell me that the salary is not as good as what one could make in the US (which I can understand), but also they say that the actual salary earned is only 30% of what the company pays at best, and the remaining 70% goes off as taxes! Which is worse than that in the US.

Is that true? Do you really earn very little and pay lot of taxes, if you work in Canada as a non-immigrant?

Taxes are very high, depending which province you live in. In Ontario you will pay 15% total on everything you do or buy (sales + GST), which makes cost of living high. If you live near in or near a big city(ie Toronto, Vancouver...), housing, etc is expensive. Each province is different and income tax is high also, I think about 50%....but salary depends on the type of job and where you live. Regarding US vs Canada - I made WAY more there (teaching) than here in the US....but, not paying for health insurance gives you a nice break too....so if you can take the weather....give it a try! You can always come back...good luck!

well Microsoft just opened a new place in Canada you should try to look for opportunities there if you are good at software.

do you want to give up your US green card? Unless you are working for a US company, or commuting back and forth everyday, that would be the case. Might want to give it more thoughts.

You have universal health care in Canada and a government that is working for the people. I'd focus more on the social benefits than taxes.

The quality of life is not impacted by violence to the degree it is in the US.

Right now the real estate in Canada (as far as I know in Alberta) is extremely high.

You'll have to pay tax to Canada AND the United States.
You're scrood.
That's why I refuse to work overseas unless the company I work for compensates me for the double taxation that I'm subjected to because of silly tax laws in the USA.

Well, wherever you maybe employed...you are subject to pay your taxes. Here in Canada, we pay 30% taxes on our gross income and not 70% .

U.S. Citizens abroad get to exclude up to $80,000 in income plus a housing allowance in some cases. You also get a foreign tax credit, so while you have to file taxes in both places, you really only pay your Canadian taxes.

Yes the tax thing is true -

There is by US standards only 3 cities here -Toronto Vancouver and Montreal - There are some that say Calgary is the fourth - I have my doubts but Calgary has had unpreceded growth as of late -

The lowest income tax bracket yolu can be in is a little less than 20 % including everything CPP (Canada Pension Plan ) is a mandatory deduction EI (Employment insurance) is another mandatory deduction etc

Sales tax federally is 6 % (GST) and 7% for the Province of Ontario

Before you move to Canada -

Or anywhere - the next town in your present State another State or another nation

Go visit - stay a few weeks - walk around - walk around at different times of the day and the year - etc

Get a subscription to a few newspapers and have them delievered to you in the US - You won't be "current" but it gives you a good idea of what goes on where and who etc

The Globe and Mail , a national paper the classifeds are for upper echelon positions

The National Post - another national paper - again the jobs tend to be pretty high end

The Toronto Star - fairly left middle class - and widely widely read

The Toronto Sun - Blue collar right wng - Great paper to buy a stereo set

Go to CBC's web site and watch the news clips there -

I guess the shorty version of this is do your homework


Here is a government web site Statistics Canada - It will list EVERYTHING you can think of -

http://www.statcan.ca/menu-en.htm

Belize, Australia, Canary Islands all have much more as in privacy, safety, asset protection.... if one is independent and work from home/home office.

in canada you pay alot of taxes no matter who you are.It's crazy.But this is where I was born and due to my circumstances of just getting by Canada is where i am stuck.Canadian by birth NOT by choice!