Mr fixyou

As the title says really, has anyone moved to Canada, specifically BC and taken a drop in salary for an increase in quality of life? I'm set to do this and just wondered if anyone has done the same and if so was it worth it?

dbd33

Where in the UK would you be moving from? It matters because, if you currently live in Kensington or Hampstead, then moving to Vancouver on less money might be viable.

Almost Canadian

I believe that most will take a pay cut initially, on the assumption that they will increase their salary relatively quickly.

There are some on here that live on a very low income and did so deliberately for the "quality of life" it provides to them, I doubt that many would do so.

Of course, as Dbd33 has stated above, it is all relative in any event, but I very much doubt that most on here would believe it would be a good thing to move across the Atlantic for a permanently lower income unless the lifestyle issue was very heavily weighted in favour of Canada.

iaink

The majority of those coming without a pre arranged job would by my guess...

Mr fixyou

I'm currently living and working in Cheltenham on the edge of the Cotswolds where I grew up, but I've lived in London, bournemouth, Manchester and Liverpool.

Souvy

I took a 100% pay cut when I came in 2000. From £43k to SFA.

iaink

Didnt your better half have a cushy government job though to tide you over?

R I C H

+1

I lived courtesy of an RBC credit line for the first 6 months here.

Souvy

Hardly. A sergeant's pay doesn't go far in Oakville.

Souvy

Savings in my case (or rather the proceeds of liquidating my assets in the UK). Something of an exercise in bridge-burning.

I never did find a job here and it wasn't for lack of effort.

R I C H

I had no residency status here, and had to cough up $60k in GST on the business property I purchased. I convinced RBC that once I had status I'd be claiming a tax refund back the following financial year, and the credit line I needed to live off would be repaid. Fortunately the business took off and the plan worked.

iaink

An investment bankers pay doesnt go far in Oakville... but at least you had the income, thats the point...

Alan2005

I had a "cost of living adjustment" - or a pay cut as most people would call it - although it was only a few percent on the then exchange rate (at today's rates I earn quite a lot more in GBP terms). Ironically I also had a cost of living adjustment in Thailand, but because that was considered a hardship posting I got a pay rise. I guess this is what happens when HR departments use that economist survey to work out expat salaries.

jericho

I was earning an average salary (for my job) in the UK, but it practically doubled when I moved to Canada.

foxytri

It's a bit tricky my situation - before I left the UK I was teaching and earning F'All - however previous to that I worked in IT in the investment banking industry.

In Vancouver I'm working in IT again and it's a slight decrease on my previous IT salary (but a major increase on my teaching salary) and I had plans of living in Vancouver but after a few months here I decided to live in Langley instead to get more space for my money (renting). I lived in London and find that things are very expensive here but is manageable if you are savvy with your spending - e.g. wait for sales, shop around for food and make lunches to bring to work, etc.

On the whole I love the quality of life and have never been happier, just seeing the mountains on a clear day makes me feel like I'm made the right decision.

To be honest moving to another country has to be like buying clothes - no matter how good it looks on someone else you should always try it on yourself. Good luck.