After reading all the different posts, some sound a bit depressing. I guess this is reality, BUT one has to be positive and with the right research and if it is right - go for it. This is my belief.

Surely everybody is intitled to there opinion. Everybodies situation is different but it does not discount there opinion. You may strongly think NS is more expensive I do not. It is opinion it is not your place to rubbish opinion it is the original poster choice which to take and research each opinion!

I didn't say your opinion was rubbish. What I meant was that if so many people think differently, it is very difficult to ascertain who is right.

I also didn't say NS was more expensive than the UK if that is what you are saying ( if not apologies ). It isn't.

What I meant was I cannot see without drastic reduction of outgoings such as large mortgage to negligible, that a parity of # amount in salary such as suggested would work to make one better off eg. $40k from £40k.

To be fair to Tangram, I should point out that your opinion is incredibly unusual on this forum - the general consensus is that for an equivalent lifestyle you need to multiply whatever you spent or earnt in GBP by 1.7. It's even in the Wiki! http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Cost_of_Living_in_Canada

You are the only person who's ever said that the same amount in CAD as GBP gives a similar standard of living, so your circumstances must be very different from everybody elses, although your opinion is just as relevant/interesting.

You make a good point and you provided some information for the original poster to substantiate your opinion. However I find it hard to believe I am the only person with this opinion or situation. If I am then I am very pleased with my unique situation and I moved to NS to avoid the rat race. By the wiki calculation I would have to find a job paying almost $80k for myself and OTher half. I work with many happy Expats none of which have a combined income anywhere near $160k so it must be possible to live a good life in NS for less than the figures quoted. I will admit I would like more money but then it is the old saying, won't what you got not get what you won't. Oh and apologises if people got offended by my opinion but there are two sides to every debate and the OP deserves both I think even if we don't agree.

Just to support this a bit too, as I agree with Tangram:

Minimum wage Ontario $10.25 http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/...de/minwage.php
Minimum wage UK 5.93 GBP http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employme...ge/DG_10027201

Not far off the 1.7 multiplier.

Interesting point but remember I am talking about NS. The minimum wage here I think is $9.65. In Alberta it is only $8 and when I was there it was much dearer than here in NS.as we all seem to agree the whole point is that this debate is subjective. It is for the original poster to calculate his/her outgoings and see if it is viable to live in Canada on a given wage level.

Was just looking at direct debit on bank statement from UK when we left.
Council tax £141 (1.7* =240)monthly
House tax here $300 monthly however house twice as big.
Food at tesco £80 (136) food here 90-110 per week.
Petrol £55-65 (100) petrol here $48-55 per week bigger car here but mostly hyw miles
Electric £65 (110) here $180 bimonthly but bigger house.
Heating oil seems similar but no figures as always fill tank when empty.
I can eat out here for around $50 per person although in UK pubs it would be much cheeper and wine and beer here are much more expensive.
So in summary it is all very subjective. in my OPINION in NS it is nearer to UK wage multiplied by 1.25 than 1.7
Enjoyed the debate though! Happy new year

I sympathize with Winston Green's point of view. Having lived in Nova Scotia for many years, all the while in contact with the realities of the UK, I think it's fair to say that the comparable costs depend on how much you incur of each. For example, if you live in a town in the UK you pay high water and sewage rates. Here in Nova Scotia you are as likely to have your own well and septic system, something that I have and value extremely highly. My water and sewage costs are next to nil. I'm not sure about power rates but I believe electricity is cheaper here (as much as we complain), gasoline is way cheaper here, and housing is way cheaper. These are huge amounts in your basic budgets. So, depending on your lifestyle and expectations, things can be a lot cheaper here in Nova Scotia. Also, if you want to see negative differences, there are many to be found. It's reflective of your point of view.

Whenever I have visited the UK I have found that, almost without exception, whatever I pay a dollar for in Canada I pay a pound for in the UK.
Nova Scotia does have some of the highest taxes in Canada though.

Measured over five years, sure. Measured over fifty years, they're not, a new well or septic is a considerable expense; the difference is just between paying a little each month and a lot every couple of decades.

If you were renting in the UK and renting in NS, a huge cost saver is not having to pay Council Tax. As the property owner pays the equivalent in property taxes. Of course the property owner includes the property tax to your monthly rent.

I still find rent cheaper in Halifax than when I lived in Edinburgh and i'm not paying council tax.

Hello folks , happy new year.
I must say its good to read about all the knowledge about NS because i have spent the last month trying to compare lifestyle i would have there if i moved.
And after all its the same , 1pound/1 dollar its what you do with it that counts really.
I'm not sure if i want to leave what i have here to start over a new life there? but will see soon.
Best of luck to you all for the new year to come.

Thanks for some of the comments above it's quite helpful. For what it's worth I should be on the equivalent of around £30k in the UK (I work contracts so price differs on each job/contract), so I have been assuming I will have to look around the $45-55k market in Canada (dependent upon the area), I thought working on the $1=£1 was a bit optimistic (but I'm a pessimist though ). Good luck to everyone out there.

This is partly true. The whole truth is that a rural home already has the high value of a well and septic system included in it when you purchase it. Therefore the already much cheaper Nova Scotian home has additional huge value that the equivalent home on municipal mains does not have. A reasonably well maintained well and septic (cost here is minimal) should outlive the occupant.