BristolUK

I think I can safely say that answers the question.

Howefamily

wow defensive much.
LOL, yes I work full time as an Accountant. My husband has always worked shifts so he has a good grasp on looking after small children too. I had mat leave and I know full well how hard it can be to stay home with small children, how utterly exhausting it can be.
So yes... I am a professional and yes I can more than support the household budget which may come as a shock to you.
But I am also incredibly fortunate to be well informed due to having experienced both levels of "the heavy work"
Your reply btw comes as absolutely no surprise to me.

Bleecher

I would say at least 100k + to make any headway in Vancouver

Tangram

I don't live there or have any knowledge of Vancouver living, but it sounds jolly expensive to me

scilly

It is ..

or at least housing (rental or owning) is incredibly expensive.

Gas (petrol) at the moment is about 30c more expensive than anywhere else in Canada ............... not only is there a Transit Tax added in Vancouver, but most of our gas comes from 2 refineries in Washington State both of which are undergoing renovations or updates.

Food is about the same price as elsewhere in Canada ........... some things cheaper some more expensive.


We're retired and have an annual income of around $90,000, but I agree that $100,000 a year is pushing it for a family of 4 wanting to rent a 3 bedroom condo in Metro Vancouver, own and run a car, AND enjoy the lifestyle posited by the OP.

We live in Vancouver, have owned the same house for over 40 years, have no mortgage, run 1 car, pay around $5,000 a year on our city taxes, do not ski or pay for any other activities other than going to the theatre or opera, put money aside to pay for essential repairs to the house, spend about $5,000 a year on medical expenses (including new glasses, dental, physiotherapy, etc), etc ........... and manage to save enough to spend around $10,000 on an annual holiday. No more camping in tents for us

But there are some months when the bank balance gets very low


EDIT:- btw ........... that is gross income, before the feds and provincial take their "share"

JonboyE

I understood the OP was asking what salary he should accept for his new position. A question we cannot answer until we know what the role involved is.

A separate question (and almost as difficult to answer) what combined income would they need to live the lifestyle the OP describes, given the need for childcare. Likely somewhere north of $150k.

scilly

........... that sounds more like the amount needed, if he wants to live in Vancouver, or North Vancouver

It could be less if he was willing to move out to the Tri-Cities, or up the Valley.

Danny B

That's bollocks.

Plenty of people I know work for far less than that and have an OK life. There are things you want in life, and there are things you need in life.

Driving a new car, weekly skiing and eating out are not things you necessarily need.

Lychee

Agreed. You can live quite frugally in Vancouver if you're strategic. Living walking or cycling distance to your workplace is a phenomenal way to save money. The culture in Vancouver right now is to downsize your daily consumption/commute time/home for a variety of economic, environmental, and practical reasons. The overall trend for UK immigrants moving to Canada is to upsize. Vancouver is a rather expensive city if upsizing is your goal. Upsizing with children? Even more expensive. However, if you do not need the single family home with a large yard, etc, etc. Vancouver's fine. If you intend to embrace the outdoors and all the free activities (hiking) while keeping your accommodation to a condo, you will be fine.

Danny B

You have hit the nail on the head 100% with that statement.

Brits don't want to move from their 4 bed semi, give up their German company car to slum it in Coquitlam with a 10 year old Dodge Caravan.

However, my Filipino side of the family are perfectly happy renting a 3 bed condo in Burnaby, driving a 1990 Honda Civic and only eating out on Birthday's. Anything is better than living in Metro Manila.

Horses for courses...

Oink

I agree. Depending on your housing expenses, I'd say at least a combined income of $200k+ and even with that, you won't be doing too much holidaying or joining a private/country club.

JonboyE

The "how much do we need" question really is difficult to answer. The happiest people I know are (Canadian) husband with an immigrant (from a first world country) wife and three children. They have seen two kids through university and are now set for their third. The husband earns around $45,000 pa, the wife does not work. They inherited their home so at least they do not have a mortgage or rent, but they still have to maintain their home from that. They have everything they need. Even manage a holiday now and then.

I have a client who is an engineer and earns between $150,000 and $200,000 a year. He is as miserable as sin as he is always broke.

The "how much do we need" for an immigrant who wants to live in Canada and will do what is necessary to make that happen is a lot less than for an immigrant who wants to leave the UK for an Ex-Pat lifestyle. I got the impression (maybe unfairly) from the OP that they were the latter.

not2old

Good for you scilly

Wait till the OP reads this

bloody hell, that is a lot of income for a retired couple living in Canada, above average I would think?

Retired couple, Mortgage free, $90K gross income, minus the $5000 property tax, minus $5000, medical bills, minus $10,000 holidays - there has to be surplus cash?

withabix

....or the husband could stay home all day and the wife go out and earn the big bucks!

spouse of scouse

Or the husband could do sweet FA while the wife held down 2 jobs, looked after the kids and the house. No wonder I'm not married to him anymore