Good afternoon.

I'm currently discussing an opportunity with my employer to work in their Toronto office on either a secondment or transfer. Other than some basic shipping and temporary accommodation costs we'd be responsible for living there and obviously managing our situation at home in England.

At this stage the discussions are just that. No offer. A 50/50 opportunity that might result in nothing but at the same time result in an opportunity to move over.

Some information about us:

- Husband, wife and two very young kids
- I'd be the only one working
- We own our home in England
- I expect any offer to be around $110,000CAD (this could be $100K or $120K)
- We would rent in Canada

I want to understand, before I hopefully begin the process of a negotiation, what $110,000 would get me. I understand that spending £1 in the UK is the equivalent of $1 in Canada. I also understand that the housing marking in Toronto is very similar, if not more expensive, than London.

We currently live a comfortable lifestyle here although I earn no where near £110,000 in the UK, which would get us a long way. Comfortable would include:

Personal taxes
Housing costs including property taxes
Bills and utilities including internet and mobile phone
A car plus public transport commuting to work
Gym memberships
Family dinner once or twice a month
Savings
etc.

I've been to Canada a couple of times in the past and always understood $100,000 to be a lot of money to live on, however, more recently and through my online research it seems as if $110,000 might be the same as earning £50,000 in London i.e. not much.

Your insights would be much appreciated.

^ Welcome. We get these sorts of posts all the time. No-one will agree with each other about what "comfortable lifestyle" means.

People who earn a lot less than $110k will say you'd be like a pig in shit on that.

People who earn a lot more will say it'd be barely possible to survive.

Sorry.

Once again getting all this info is great BUT if this happened COULD you actually get a work permit as an Intra Company Transferee.
These positions are for Executive and Senior Managers or those with very specialized knowledge and there are requirements you have to meet.
International Mobility Program: Canadian interests – Significant benefit – Intra-company transferees – General requirements [R205(a)] (exemption code C12)
International Mobility Program: Canadian interests – Significant benefit – Intra-company transferees – Qualifying job positions for specialized knowledge workers [R205(a)] (exemption code C12)

Using the '1.8 times' rule, the $110,000 would be equivalent to approx £61,000 in terms of cost of living if that helps at all?

That's about right, give or take a few things.

Renting a decent unfurnished two bedroom apartment in the city of Toronto budget $2000 - $2500/mth. Tenants do not pay the council/property tax here, that is the responsibility of the owner

that is a good salary, a very good salary & I expect that you will have benefits to go with that.

Use the following basic calculator to get a guide of deductions & take home pay

Take Home Pay Calculator

As for expenses & cost of living, in the following long discussion thread will give you some insight

http://britishexpats.com/forum/maple...-spend-845708/

.

Yes, around £50-60K equivalent, so comfortable, but not very exciting. Factor in the desire to explore the continent and return trips to the UK and you will find it a bit lacking. In general, groceries are slightly more expensive in Canada, and fuel, much less expensive. CO's '1.8 rule' (?) sounds about right. My two cents (1.11p).

Hi, I don't know how others on this forum find this website, but I like it for a look from time to time:

Cost Of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom And Canada

I don't where you live in the UK (or I missed it) so can't put the data in for you.


S

I would say these are two misunderstandings.

A £1 will buy you more of most things in the UK than $1 will in Canada(certainly than in Toronto). The only obvious exceptions are fuel and property which for many people are their largest payments each month.

The housing market in Toronto is nowhere near as expensive as in London and this is where a person making the move may get more bang for their bang depending on their personal situation.

I recently calculated that my lifestyle in Toronto that costs me just over $4200 per month would cost me about £3200 in London largely down to rent in London being double for a decent located 1 bed flat including bills.

I'd say $110,000 in Toronto would be closer to £65/70K in London. But no individuals basket of goods is the same as another and there is no obvious correlation between the pricing of different items in the different countries either. Toronto may not be as advantageous at that money versus somewhere else in the UK.