Differences between canada and USA

[ali017]

Dear

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[Reba]

Mark, the answers to all of your questions will depend on what state you're intending to move to. Some states have income tax, others do not. Some states charge property tax on vehicles as well as real property, others do not. Some states have mandated health insurance (Mass.) most do not, and its always very expensive. Quality of care and cost of care will also depend on where you intend to live.

Some states (not many any more) will do a direct transfer of a Canadian driver's license, but in most states you will have to at least take the 'written' test, if not the road test.

I would not argue that quality of life is better in the US than Canada, not in the least. Economists are saying to expect a recession (some areas, like where I live, could now be considered depressed already), basic human rights are vastly different than in Canada. Again, every area is different, even from one end of a state to the other. But no, I personally would not say its "better" here in the US. I wouldn't say Canada is necessarily "better either. Just IMO, its less worse. If you follow.

[Steven]

- culture
- friendliness of people
- society
- laws, aggressiveness
What are the pros/cons of living in the states

When moving to the states,
- what were the key things you needed to do as a newcomer to get settled? eg. car insurance, visa, etc.

Not a short answer sort of question. First of all you need to get in, and that is hard, unless you fall into the TN-1 category, so look that up. Even if you have close relatives who are US citizens it still takes awhile.

To get settled you need to all thing you would do if you were moving from one Province to another, essentially, with a few additions like getting a social security number in addition to all the immigration BS. Also expect your health care costs to go up, but taxes are usually lower so that compensates for it (to some extent).

In terms of culture, friendliness of people, society, etc. there is very little difference between Canada and the States that border it, the main differences come from the ethnic mix as there are more blacks and hispanics and less asians (including south asians such as Indians) per capita in the US.

The further south you go the more different it gets. Increasing numbers of hispanics and Spanish-speakers, increasing lack of knowledge of anything to do with Canada being two of the most noticeable. Larger areas of poverty particularly in the SE.

As far as the law goes, the US generally has less laws and less bureaucracy (unless you move to California) than Canada, however enforcement is a very different business. The penal system in the US is very stone age compared to Canada, longer sentences, little attempt at rehabilitation, prisons in the US are basically social garbage cans and the US has the highest prison population per capita in the world with the possible exception of China. The mental health care system is also a joke, which I'm certain is one of the reasons the US has such a high crime rate compared to Canada.

You will find in the largest cities that people are less friendly overall than they are in Canada, but that's true of all really urban places I have been around the world, with the possible exception of Japan.

The US is however a lot warmer, especially further south.

Salaries also tend to be higher on average at the national level, but if you compare say, Alberta to Alabama you're better off in Alberta.

[Steven]

Some have mentioned that even though the taxes in Canada are more, at the end of the day you end up paying similar expenses in US and Canada.

It really depends on where you're moving to, several US States have no income tax, e.g. Florida, Washington, Texas, Nevada, New Hampshire and I think South Dakota, but you still have to pay Federal tax. (New Hampshire also has no sales tax, the only State without either tax).

Plus Hawaii has a decent healthcare system, California has a decent school system but everywhere else I would say is either on par or worse than Canada in that regard. Healthcare costs really depend on the state of your health - if you're young and healthy it can work out better than some Canadian provinces, especially here in Alberta I would say where the healthcare system is currently a total shambles.

Property tax is the thing to watch out for, the States that have no income tax generally have powerful localities, e.g. Clark County, NV and Miami-Dade county, FL and they can have really high local taxes.

Personally I find wherever I move to (and I've lived outside the US and Canada) there's always some kind of "gotcha" that means you end up paying the same but I have to say Alberta is a really cheap place to live, although I think Florida was a bit cheaper, although my utility bills are lower in Alberta because I'm not paying so much for electricity (no AC).

The US tax system is not enforced very well so they tend to emphasise business taxes. Thus the US has high corporation taxes and lower personal taxes to encourage compliance. You have to be careful if you're starting a business there because corporate rates usually work out way higher in the US than in Canada, depending on what business your corporation does. Hence many people are self-employed or use "S" corporations, which are basically for self-employed people and are subject to personal income tax rates.

But talk to an accountant who specialises in cross-border issues before you go, especially if you are thinking of starting a business or you are in a high tax bracket.

[Steven]

Americans are so quick to be ignorant towards other people that you end up feeling like outsiders.

The one major difference I have noticed between Americans and Canadians is that Americans do tend to have a: "We are right because we are Americans" attitude. They still think in WW2 terms often. A lot of people there just don't realise the world has moved on since the Cold War and especially with the rise of China, the US is really just another country, more so than it has been since the end of WW1 at least. The US has nothing really special about it anymore, Canada and many European countries are much better in many regards. It's like Brian Williams tells them once in awhile that the US ranks twenty something overall in math but they just don't really want to believe it.

Canadians have a more worldly outlook, mainly because Canada is a much smaller country in terms of population and also because it's a Commonwealth country, so they actually know that England is part of the United Kingdom.

Although I have to say having lived in the UK for many years, they're just as bad as Americans, the last German Chancellor many English people can name is Hitler. A real condescending attitude. Which is no doubt how Britain managed to conquer a quarter of the planet: "we know better than you do". Unfortunately the Americans also thought that, and thus there was the Revolutionary War.

[northexposure]

I'm an American who has lived for 11 years in London, Ontario after 30 years in New York, Virginia, Los Angeles, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Ohio and Tennessee, the last four places relatively shorter stays for work, internships, etc.

Of all the places I've lived, I'd rank London near the bottom, but I would never conclude that my experience here is somehow indicative of all of Canada. Picking one of the qualities asked about -- Friendliness -- I find that generally, people in London are much less open and friendly than the people I've known in most places I've lives in the U.S. -- but Londoners also seem less friendly than many of the Canadians I have met from western and eastern Canada. In short, I would take with a grain of salt the opinions of Canadians who base their belief of Americans on their experience living in a single town or city.

With more than 300 million people and a livable land mass far bigger than Canada, there are so many choice in the U.S. You should really decide what qualities you are looking for and then consider American locales that best match your desires.

You should also consider the cost-of-living, which also vary widely by location, especially housing. In general, goods and services are cheaper, more varied and far easier to obtain in the U.S. because there is so little competition in Canada.

Some fields offer far more expansive career choices in the U.S as well and better pay too - the average income is considerably higher than in Canada.

If I wasn't tied to the London-area through my wife's family, I would move in a heartbeat -- though I would certainly consider other places in Canada, Vancouver, for example, as well as American cities. Again, I think it's rather small-minded to dismiss a country for the experience in one community.

I hope the Canadians don't take this the wrong way (my kids are Canadians, by the way) but I find some Canadians carry a big chip on their shoulder about Americans, an inferiority complex of some sort, that has them looking for the worst in Americans and taking great offense if their Canadian-ness is ignored or teased. What I have found in my vast experience in the US and more limited experience in Canada is that Americans, at least the middle class professionals I lived and worked with, are far more willing than Canadians to look honestly and openly at their country, warts and all, and certainly don't go around thinking the US is somehow better than any other country. Like any place, the US has wonders and woes, opportunities and risks. Seek out the good and chances are you'll find it.

[Steven]

I always say the national pastime in Canada isn't hockey, it's comparing Canada to the US. The mistake that a lot of Canadians make imx is comparing Canada to somewhere in the US that is a lot different than Canada. However if you compare BC to Washington for example there isn't that much of a difference. Alberta is different from Montana because it's more wealthy and there are large cities, but there isn't that much difference between upstate New York and southern Ontario. And the Maritimes aren't that much different from Maine. The main difference I notice between those places is the ethnic mix, BC has a lot more asians.

I find some Canadians carry a big chip on their shoulder about Americans, an inferiority complex of some sort

Yeah I noticed that in Ontario. Not the case out west though.

[northexposure]

Steven makes some excellent points. Hard to feel an inferiority complex in booming Calgary - it's the fastest growing economy in Canada by a wide margin and has to be near the top of fast-growing cities in either country. I also think Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver have been innovative in planning growth. Since I've lived in Ontario, we've done most of our trips to the US, but I do really look forward to traveling to Western Canada.