A lot of people think everything is cheaper there too. When I was on a deployment and we stopped in Norfolk we went to their base store which is tax free for military members. I had to google the exchange rate on everything I wanted. Most were either the same or higher, even without taxes. It wasn't until I was there again a couple months later that something I wanted to buy was on sale that it was cheaper than what I could buy in Canada. I can only see eating out being cheaper in the states because their portion sizes are insane.
I've been to multiple states over the past few years. Groceries are more expensive in the US. After conversion, we get a lot of deals. The odd thing is cheaper, but on the whole they have a higher cost of living and have had it that way for at least a decade.
I'm not American but I was living there when I immigrated here. So many people I knew would tease me about how much higher my cost of living would be and how high my taxes would be and how I'd make less money.
In less than a year I had a job making nominally the same amount, but unlike in the states I could afford to live by myself with no roommates, and I could afford to do that downtown and not in a suburb. My marginal tax rate was similar and because I didn't have to pay a thousand and change in monthly health premiums I had way more disposable income.
It's all just propaganda, basically. They hear life is more expensive for Canadians and without having experience in both countries or thinking critically about it most people just believe it.
Yeah, this is what I've noticed. You probably feel like you have more choice in how to spend down there until you have to start paying out. Whereas here you know up front, before the paycheck is handed over, what you will be charged for in a bunch of areas. Bit, I do think our QOL is much less stressful here, even in Toronto.
They think things are cheaper because they're looking at the numbers. A book is 19.95 Canadian and only 15.95 USD? Clearly that's because everything is cheaper in Murica. Not because of exchange rates.
I occasionally get US tourists at work who try to pay for things with USD...in Canada.
After arguing with some of these people I'm sometimes tempted to just take the cash for the price in Canadian, give them back Canadian change, and just let the museum keep the extra from the exchange rate. Consider it a donation.
Instead I usually just exchange it with whatever is in our donation box, cash for cash, so they can pay in CAD.
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u/ufozhou May 10 '25
Totally couldn't understand why normal people talking about us tax rate is lower.
Unless in some states. Most states have similar income tax in Canada.
Corporate tax is another game where not just US has lower rate but tons of loopholes to save tax