UxSims

Oh I understand that. I guess for us is different because we still aren't living full time in Canada. I see that due to my last post people are under the impression that we have already moved permanently. We didn't.

So when we go up and down or when my partner and I are dealing with anything financial, usually we get to speak about where things are cheaper. We often delay buying something until we are either in the UK or in Canada, exactly because of this.

Hurlabrick

Yeah - good point!

BristolUK

In broad agreement. Of course, a lot depends on the exchange rate. When I moved over it was around $2.25 (as high as 2.40) but then it fell to around $1.50.

When I moved it seemed to me to be quite a bit cheaper - especially with so many groceries costing half as much in Store A as Store B 'this week' and the reverse 'next week'.

Later, a comparison made things look more expensive, but only if one had (some) UK income.

But here we are, 13 years after I moved, and there are very many things I still pay the same $$ price I was paying originally or a little more, or the size is a little smaller.

I go green with envy that you can still by a decent wine in the UK for a fiver when it's $15 here.

Yes, decent cheese is expensive but it's largely offset by the cheap beef.

I'm never sure how electricity compares when you need so much of it for heating costs at -20 or colder. I reckon I was paying £40 a month tops for gas/electric in the UK (Zoopla says £86 now). Equalised payments here are $264. That's an enormous difference, albeit for a bigger house.

BristolUK

Try shift and 3 for the # if keyboard set to UK English.

Otherwise (hold) alt and 156 and release.

Paul_Shepherd

Thanks Bristol, I had tried to change my keyboard, but believe it or not there wasn't a UK English option! pah!! So the extended character number will do it... .

Look... £££.

Paul_Shepherd

Your right about expensive cheese being offset by cheap beef.....had a fantastic steak last night for half the price of what it would cost in the UK.

Best to plan steak nights instead of wine and cheese nights! lol

ScotinCanada

We’ve been looking at costs as we’ll (hopefully) be moving from London to Toronto. Seems to me that Canada will, generally, be more expensive. BUT we would be earning more money so relatively it will be (a bit) cheaper! I find the costs of cheese and wine very alarming

Siouxie

What you have written in the past helps us to help you


I think the most important factors are

a) - Housing costs - and where you want to live which will reflect on this, together with the mortgage rate attainable in either place, if applicable
b) - Income - Canada v UK
c) - Unavoidable expenses (utilities, cell phone & etc)
d) - Grocery costs
e) - Vehicle costs
f) - Other costs (clothing, socialising)

It's impossible to compare like with like unless you ascertain the level of income that you would likely to have in Canada. If you are earning £15 an hour and a pint costs you £3 in the UK - or an average of $34 an hour and a pint costs you $7 in Canada, then you can say which is the more expensive. A straight comparison doesn't really work, in my opinion. I've usually worked out how expensive something is by working out how many hours I need to work to pay for it!

JamesM

Everyone has their own basket of goods so it's difficult to compare.

The biggest hit here is the price of a beer in the bar. Seldom a full pint, costs more and you are expected to tax and tip.

That being said here a nice Hooters girl brings it to you whilst you relax. In England you elbow your way to the bar where an old man with no teeth gives it to you.

Atlantic Xpat

True that. We had a selection of half a dozen cheeses & some beer on Saturday night and it certainly cost way more than some decent steaks from Costco.

The subject that is rarely discussed is comparing the cost of living between different parts of Canada. I find Ontario to be the fabled land of milk and honey when it comes to groceries & alcohol compared to Newfoundland. Something to do with bigger markets and shorter supply chains. In general terms I'd suggest that Canada, housing excepted, is more expensive than UK but, after 13 years, I no longer make the comparisons regularly as there is little point. (as others have said).

quiltman

That's exactly how to compare prices!Many economists use this to compare. It used to be a McDonalds meal , then a Mars bar but now I believe they use a 500ml bottle of Coke since that's available in virtually every country in the world. For example, 95octane petrol here is around 65p a litre, sounds cheap compared to UK BUT the average wage here is £10 a DAY so one hours work here would buy around 2 litres, but on minimum UK wage of £8.75 hour ??? , that would buy you around 6 litres in UK so petrol here is actually 3 times the price of UK petrol in terms of time worked to earn a litre.
Oh, a coke 500ml in the supermarkets here is around 30p.
OK, so it's relative in terms of say a holiday when you can say that's cheaper/dearer than the UK but is valid for permanent living. Living here on UK pensions we are much better off than in UK , but if I had to live on the average wage here then we would suffer.............

dbd33

I think it's all in the price of property. Most things are more expensive in Canada but cheaper housing makes Canada viable. Housing is such a large proportion of one's budget that cheaper housing compensates even for the outrageous cost of running a car and buying a pound of cheddar.

not2old

your OP at the time I responded up thread was clear too me & I responded accordingly, then again maybe I was having a senior moment.

I'm not so sure now if you 'are arguing' or 'want an argument'?

Did you get this sorted with your "partner"?

Have the "opinions" expressed & posted in this thread to your OP satisfied your 'curiosity"?

Howefamily

In my opinion in Nova Scotia specifically; houses, gasoline, childcare are substantially cheaper than in the UK.
Food, unless you shop smartly can be expensive (cucumber at $2.99) but you have options like Walmart, Costco or buying when items are on sale and storing (we do this). Cellphones and alcohol also are expensive.
Electricity can be costly but its a similiar price per kwh to the UK at a 1.5 fx rate so dont heat with electric baseboard.


Therefore to me I can afford a home, gas to get to work and childcare should I need it. I have cheap clothing options should I need that (Walmart)
For the non essentials its more expensive (bottle of wine), cable TV


That to me makes more sense than not being able to afford my own home but having access to GBP3 a bottle wine in Asda, and a really cheap smartphone plan but each to their own.

Hurlabrick

£3??!!!! Really!!

I don't shop in Asda, but I would never buy a £3 bottle of wine - aaaarrggghhhh!

I know what you mean, you can still get a half-OK bottle in the UK for £5 or 6.