Calgary or New York City?
Apr 11th 2014, 6:21 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Getting ready to head back down under!
Posts: 99
Calgary or New York City?
I'm considering two offers of employment, one in Calgary and one in New York.
Both are very similar roles and the benefits, relocation and visa are the same.
The NYC one is paying about USD$135k base + a realistic bonus of $40-70k
The Calgary one pays CAD$90,000 base + a realistic bonus of $50-80k
I'd really appreciate any advice on the standard of living i could expect on those salaries in those cities please.
I have a gf (wife if moving to NYC!), no kids, want to live in good quality accommodation with a short commute.
Thanks
Both are very similar roles and the benefits, relocation and visa are the same.
The NYC one is paying about USD$135k base + a realistic bonus of $40-70k
The Calgary one pays CAD$90,000 base + a realistic bonus of $50-80k
I'd really appreciate any advice on the standard of living i could expect on those salaries in those cities please.
I have a gf (wife if moving to NYC!), no kids, want to live in good quality accommodation with a short commute.
Thanks
Apr 11th 2014, 6:26 pm
#2
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Calgary or New York City?
I'm considering two offers of employment, one in Calgary and one in New York.
Both are very similar roles and the benefits, relocation and visa are the same.
The NYC one is paying about USD$135k base + a realistic bonus of $40-70k
The Calgary one pays CAD$90,000 base + a realistic bonus of $50-80k
I'd really appreciate any advice on the standard of living i could expect on those salaries in those cities please.
I have a gf (wife if moving to NYC!), no kids, want to live in good quality accommodation with a short commute.
Thanks
Both are very similar roles and the benefits, relocation and visa are the same.
The NYC one is paying about USD$135k base + a realistic bonus of $40-70k
The Calgary one pays CAD$90,000 base + a realistic bonus of $50-80k
I'd really appreciate any advice on the standard of living i could expect on those salaries in those cities please.
I have a gf (wife if moving to NYC!), no kids, want to live in good quality accommodation with a short commute.
Thanks
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living...New+York%2C+NY
Apr 11th 2014, 6:32 pm
#3
Concierge
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Oakville, ON, CA
Posts: 8,320
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Have you visited either of the two places? I can't help but feel like it's kind of comparing apples and oranges.
Apr 11th 2014, 6:32 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,371
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Both cities would offer dramatically different lifestyles. Does this factor into your decision?
If you're seeking an urban lifestyle with excellent public transit and the best cultural and restaurant scene on the continent, move to NYC. If you're seeking a suburban lifestyle where you'll be reliant upon a car to get anywhere, go to Calgary. The bonus with Calgary is that the Rockies are nearby.
If you're seeking an urban lifestyle with excellent public transit and the best cultural and restaurant scene on the continent, move to NYC. If you're seeking a suburban lifestyle where you'll be reliant upon a car to get anywhere, go to Calgary. The bonus with Calgary is that the Rockies are nearby.
Apr 11th 2014, 6:32 pm
#5
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Well NYC is a major city, Calgary is a medium one.
Given that the USD is worth 10% more than the CAD, I'd say NYC wins going by the salary levels you've quoted. Obviously the cost of living is way, way higher in NYC than in Calgary so I assume you've been offered an intracompany transfer.
The housing market in Calgary is very thin at the moment. Plus the winters are longer and colder in Calgary but it snows more in NYC.
If you're earning $140,000 in Calgary you could live anywhere pretty much, assuming you can actually find something.
Immigration hassles are less in Canada and the tax system in Alberta is way simpler than in NYC, which has Federal, State and local income taxes.
Strangely Calgary gets compared to NYC a lot because they're roughly the same size, except NYC has ten times the population, so obviously you would have a bigger home in Calgary.
Probably less of a culture shock moving from Perth to Calgary but do not underestimate the weather here. 190 days on average with temperatures below freezing (not necessarily all day). Average of 4 days a year with temperatures above 30 C.
Calgary is very isolated but not by Perth standards.
Given that the USD is worth 10% more than the CAD, I'd say NYC wins going by the salary levels you've quoted. Obviously the cost of living is way, way higher in NYC than in Calgary so I assume you've been offered an intracompany transfer.
The housing market in Calgary is very thin at the moment. Plus the winters are longer and colder in Calgary but it snows more in NYC.
If you're earning $140,000 in Calgary you could live anywhere pretty much, assuming you can actually find something.
Immigration hassles are less in Canada and the tax system in Alberta is way simpler than in NYC, which has Federal, State and local income taxes.
Strangely Calgary gets compared to NYC a lot because they're roughly the same size, except NYC has ten times the population, so obviously you would have a bigger home in Calgary.
Probably less of a culture shock moving from Perth to Calgary but do not underestimate the weather here. 190 days on average with temperatures below freezing (not necessarily all day). Average of 4 days a year with temperatures above 30 C.
Calgary is very isolated but not by Perth standards.
Apr 11th 2014, 6:33 pm
#6
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Calgary or New York City?
NYC is a large and exciting city, comparable to London. Calgary is a suburban type of place, comparable to Basingstoke. One could live in quite a large house in Calgary and it might be near to mountains. Excitement vs. room dimensions, it's not a choice anyone can make for you.
Apr 11th 2014, 6:45 pm
#7
Professional Cat herder
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: TORONTO- yay!!!
Posts: 5,707
Re: Calgary or New York City?
What health care package comes with the NY job?
Apr 11th 2014, 6:48 pm
#8
Concierge
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Oakville, ON, CA
Posts: 8,320
Re: Calgary or New York City?
And holiday time!
Apr 11th 2014, 6:48 pm
#9
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Calgary is 280 sq miles - but that area is actually bigger than the city proper. NYC is 468 sq miles and is surrounded by dense suburbs (e.g. in NJ, Long Island, etc) outside the city boundary. In reality, there's quite a difference in size between the 2 cities and an enormous difference in size between the metro areas.
Technically speaking, Calgary is "bigger" than Toronto (243 sq miles) which emphasizes the point that official city boundaries don't mean that much in terms of the actual size of a city. Jacksonville, FL is 885 sq miles.
Apr 11th 2014, 6:55 pm
#10
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Huh? I've never heard anyone ever compare Calgary to NYC!
Calgary is 280 sq miles - but that area is actually bigger than the city proper. NYC is 468 sq miles and is surrounded by dense suburbs (e.g. in NJ, Long Island, etc) outside the city boundary. In reality, there's quite a difference in size between the 2 cities and an enormous difference in size between the metro areas.
Technically speaking, Calgary is "bigger" than Toronto (243 sq miles) which emphasizes the point that official city boundaries don't mean that much in terms of the actual size of a city. Jacksonville, FL is 885 sq miles.
Calgary is 280 sq miles - but that area is actually bigger than the city proper. NYC is 468 sq miles and is surrounded by dense suburbs (e.g. in NJ, Long Island, etc) outside the city boundary. In reality, there's quite a difference in size between the 2 cities and an enormous difference in size between the metro areas.
Technically speaking, Calgary is "bigger" than Toronto (243 sq miles) which emphasizes the point that official city boundaries don't mean that much in terms of the actual size of a city. Jacksonville, FL is 885 sq miles.
Apr 11th 2014, 6:57 pm
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 7,861
Re: Calgary or New York City?
New York City. Obviously.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
Apr 11th 2014, 7:31 pm
#12
The ride never ends
Joined: Sep 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 2,481
Re: Calgary or New York City?
On the basis that a city in Canada, by default, is probably the superior option I'd go with Calgary.
If you dislike -30 and snow you might have a different view however.
If you dislike -30 and snow you might have a different view however.
Apr 11th 2014, 7:44 pm
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 320
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Stay in Perth. Its a way better option than either of those two locations.
Apr 11th 2014, 8:04 pm
#14
Analyst for hire
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,698
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Which, if any, are you legally allowed to live and work in?
Apr 11th 2014, 8:18 pm
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 466
Re: Calgary or New York City?
Is this a serious question?