Re: Location advice
 

This news story might be pertinent reading for the OP with respect to Labrador/Quebec and mining:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...ke-layoff.html

Re: Location advice
 

Tough question, for us I though on average the cost of living was higher there but my husbands wage was significantly higher so we found things about the same. It's not something I can really answer as it varies so much depending on what you do and where you choose to live. As always on this forum there are people that say they are better off and others that say they were worse of financially.

The best way to compare is to do up a spreadsheet with all your estimated expenses and income. Cheap the real estate/rental websites and find an online grocery shopping website and do a mock shop to see how much things cost. You can get a pretty good idea for household expenses by reading through the forums and/or asking questions.

So, sorry I can't really answer your question. I would say on the whole that things are most expensive but higher wages do help compensate.

Re: Location advice
 

Part of me is surprised, part of me isn't

What puzzles me is why Rio Tinto would spend a considerable amount to travel to Dublin and pay for a stall at the expo (not cheap I would guess) to recruit new personnel if iron ore demand/prices had fallen to a level where production was negatively affected

What doesnt surprise me is that there are layoffs - the same thing has happened (probably on a larger scale) in Australia - less demand from China has made prices plummet and the result is major layoffs

Re: Location advice
 

You really are torn!

From what I can tell, in my profession the same job in Australia will make roughly the same cash or maybe a little more than in Canada (unless you go to the mines but I dont think thats a long term thing)

I have done a spreadsheet for Australia (but not Canada) and from what I can tell your money goes further in Canada (only looked at housing costs etc which are extortionate in Oz) so if the wages are the same-ish.......

Thanks for the help

Re: Location advice
 

Australia vs Canada

Do you like to celebrate Xmas in your shorts or throwing snowballs?

Re: Location advice
 

The weather was one of reasons I first considered the move and thats what made me look initially at Australia

The second (and probably more important) reason is the standard of living - things are tough in the UK right now and there aint much light at the end of the tunnel (I read an article last night that some properties in my locality are worth around a third of what they were at the property peak 5 years ago)

I really dont want to move to a country that is/will probably experience similar in the near future and Australia seems to be on a similar path to what happened here (boom - bust) and has all the hallmarks like an inflated housing market, people starting to lose their jobs etc etc

For those reasons, although I`m not ruling out Australia completely (I have an interview in the next week or so for an Australian company), I feel like Canada is a safer bet

Whilst there will be no shorts at Xmas there will be skiing;), and the summers cant be any worse than the UK, can they?:huh:

Re: Location advice
 

Regarding boom and bust - that's a crap shoot and if the UK is in a bust then the boom must be coming.

As far as properties go again a crap shoot. Some major cities in Canada will always see an increase in property value but they are expensive to get into.

But then again, you can always ski in your shorts during spring skiing ;)

Re: Location advice
 

I share your sentiments and see your logic - I also believe that a boom (to some degree) is on the horizon but it wont be anytime soon - things here are pretty bleak economically right now

Regarding property being a safe bet - I have witnessed property in my locality (all property types) have an amazing fall from grace - and it aint over yet it seems

So are you saying that in spring its warm enough to ski in shorts but that theres still snow around?

Re: Location advice
 

Yup

Re: Location advice
 

That's very location dependent though, plenty of places in the UK where prices are still rising, including where we lived until last year, despite it being announced that HS2 is going to be routed through the village!

Re: Location advice
 

*Thread Revival*

I have pretty much ruled out Labrador as an option and am concentrating on Alberta

I am trying to narrow down my list of locations where my potential company have offices and have "edited" my list from a previous post (that mandymoochops contributed too - many thanks:))

Basically I`m trying to find somewhere civilised with decent shopping (at least enough to live from week to week - I can go further afield for treats/more unusual things every once in a while), a cinema, reasonable range of restaurants with a range of affordable housing and relaxed pace of life (little traffic etc) - I feel that the bigger cities (Calgary & Edmonton) would be too claustrophobic for me as thats not what I`m used to (but I`m not ruling them out)

For the shopping trips etc to the bigger cities I would like to be within striking distance (an hour or so would be perfect) of the cities and as close as possible to the mountains/national parks for recreation

I keep looking at the list of possibles and going round and round in circles - for example location wise Calgary is best placed with heaps of amenities, an airport etc and little over an hour to the Rockies but its probably too busy for my liking - every place has strengths and weaknesses (ie close-ish to the cities but hours from the mountains or vise versa)

Am I dreaming with my list of requirements or is there a magical place that would suit? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Re: Location advice
 

Cochrane?

Have a friend that lives there and commutes to Calgary for work. Close enough to Calgary that it doesn't take that long to get there (unless the weather sucks - then it takes awhile) and the housing is cheaper

Re: Location advice
 

Strathmore is driving distance to Calgary. I know someone who lives there and works in Calgary.

Re: Location advice
 

Sundre? Olds?

Re: Location advice
 

Hmmmm lovely views of the mountains and not far to go for a drive to the back of beyond either. Not sure what property prices are like there though.

There is also Airdrie, Innisfail??? We have family that live in olds and they love it.

Personally i'd rule out Drum, Rocky and Nisku (and this is just a personal opinion)

Drumheller - eveyone I have known that moved there moved out bar one. Its kind of a backward town but there are some lovely people there and the scenery is stunning in the canyons.

Rocky Mountain House. So yes you have the scenery right on your doorstep, but the town from my visits is run down, and a bit backward.

Nisku will drive you absolutely bonkers because of all the olfield traffic that goes through it. It's very industrial.

If you are looking in that area try Beaumont. It's next to nisku, big lovely houses though a bit expensive as people live there and commute into Edmonton (probably 20 mins to the centre not in rush hour).