Partially discharged

Your secret is safe with me.

On a Monday at the pub I consider my local a pint of a large craft brewery offering is $5 tax in.

jimmynoshoes

When we worked out expenses of UK vs Canada when we first started looking, we had no idea on general living expenses so I used what costs we have now and converted them accordingly, so like for like. I did adapt for car insurance being at $2000, but even when adjusting to $3000, we still overall, were much much better off. I based petrol prices on what I could find on google streetview of petrol stations listings.

Based on the minimum salary that my partner should get, we worked it out as being able to save around $1000 per month, and that is on one salary alone. I am unskilled so work will be harder for me to find/near impossible to line up a job prior to coming over.

The comparison was based on rental at around $1250 near Ottawa which had some bills inclusive. Again, without bills being inclusive, still saved a large amount. Not the worst area, but not the best areas either.

Comparison based against UK rentals/mortgage in Surrey area.

Without wanting to hijack this at all, could anyone enlighten us as to how much it costs to insure your cats/dogs?


Cheaper than UK lol, Around £4 in our local last time I went.

LDH087

Hi all, OP here.

Thanks for all of your helpful replies. They really are appreciated!

I think this will make decisions and deliberations a lot more in depth than originally hoped. (Provided I get a positive response at the end of next week when they have completed all interviews).

The role is basically in Burlington, ON. So whilst still in the GTA it does mean commutes should be able to be 15-20 minutes within our rental price range. (We had a brief explore of Dundas, Waterdown and Burlington areas to see what the neighbourhoods and housing estates were like, but if successful would be returning on a more detailed house hunting trip).

I think in order to maintain our quality of living I may need to push for slightly higher salary than I would expect in the U.K. As despite how exciting an adventure the move would be, there isn't much point moving just to be worse off!

I know people won't know exactly how much we will eat, or how much we will be driving etc. But I wondered whether anyone could help me fill in some approx figures for the items below. As these will probably be the main monthly big ticket outgoings... and already they are starting to sound like all but fuel are going to be significantly higher than in the U.K.

Rent ~ $2500
Utilities ~ $250
TV/Internet = ?
Car insurance (monthly per person) = ?
Commuting (Car fuel per month approx) = ?
Food - Groceries (2 adults - monthly) = ?
Mobile phone Bill (monthly per person) = ?

Many thanks!

dbd33

Based on our costs, near Guelph:

Car insurance (monthly per person) = $300 for one car. The number of drivers and the type of car don't make much difference.

Commuting (Car fuel per month approx) = A tank of petrol is $60, I put two in per week, the car goes 40,000 miles a year, primarily commuting. YMWV.

Food - Groceries (2 adults - monthly) = $200/week at Loblaws, $600/month at Costco. Lots more at the LCBO.

Mobile phone Bill (monthly per person) = $125 including 30 minutes to the UK per week.

Other people have differing costs but I don't think ours are excessive, we spend more on the horses. Obviously you could eat less and drive less. You can't do much about the car insurance and will likely have a car loan/lease payment as well.

neilcumming

If you are looking at paying $2500 a month for rent would it be a better idea to buy a townhouse or apartment? Im in Calgary and we pay $750 a month for 1 bed apt 10 mins walk to downtown,I know you are looking at ON but just to give you a comparison.
For internet/ TV Shaw have some good deals for new customers,we pay $80 for internet and $50 for cable but that goes up another $30 in August.
For cell phone have a look Freedom they have month to month contracts starting at $25.

neilcumming

Thats a good deal,maybe we should start a craft beer,Canadian prices v UK prices ,good deals thread.

reddiola

Hi guys,

Another thing to consider is probable increase in UK prices from next March due to Brexit. Although I have already noticed a slight rise in my shopping expenses...

dbd33

Brexit will be a disaster for the UK public, sure, but planning for it is too speculative. The Canadian economy is dependent on the US one so the whim of Trump determines the future here. Predicting both the path of both Brexit and Trump is too much for anyone.

reddiola

I know, I follow the news, quite recently Trump have found some problems with steel...and there will be more, I'm sure.
I just regret we haven't thought about emigrating to Canada sooner, though. It seems Brexit might bring us many obstacles to overcome and we are still in the UK looking at the prospects of landing in Canada.

Siouxie

$2500 for rent may get you more if you moved to Hamilton... I really like Burlington, but it is more expensive to live in. Hamilton is an easy commute to Burlington. If you were to consider it, I'd look on the Mountain area and outskirts as plot sizes are bigger. Here's some for rent in the area: https://www.point2homes.com/CA/Singl.../Hamilton.html / https://www.kijiji.ca/b-house-rental/hamilton/c43l80014 .. for Burlington https://www.point2homes.com/CA/Singl...hanged=&ajax=1

As an example, a family member lives in a detached side split (house) on Hamilton East Mountain. It has 3 bedrooms and family bathroom on the top floor; lounge/diner and kitchen on the main floor; 2nd lounge, 1/2 bath and bedroom on the lower main floor and 2 further rooms in the basement, which have been used in the past as bedrooms - as well as a laundry room, shower and a large open area. They have a double width driveway and a fenced back garden (yard, as it's known as here). They pay $1,700 a month, plus utilities.

Utilities will depend on what form of heating / cooking you have (and the level of comfort you require). Avoid electric heating/cooking if possible as electricity is expensive in Ontario. Apartment rentals normally include water and heat/air conditioning, but not electricity - house rentals generally don't include any of them. City taxes (the equivalent of Council Tax) are payable on owned property, rarely on rentals. You'll probably want to get some kind of contents insurance too.

For a 3 bedroom bungalow (small) with gas heating/cooking - 2 adults

Electricity and water- $120 a month (more in summer)
Gas - $60 a month (more in winter)
TV/Internet - Rogers rip off prices - $200 a month
Mobile phones - 2 separate plans - mine with Freedom ($50) son has Tellus ($80) - both are unlimited calls/texts and 5GB data
Groceries and sundries - around $600 a month

We don't have a car, so can't advise there (Hamilton has a good public transport system).

I'd suggest getting a real estate agent to look for a rental for you, if your hope is to move in shortly after you arrive. In Ontario, a lot of rentals are advertised 60 days before they are available.

LDH087

We are looking at 2/3 bed townhouses. But the wife is keen not to go back to an apartment (plus we have a dog, so ideally want a garden/yard).

We currently own in the U.K., but don't know yet whether this will be a move for the length of the VISA (I.e. 3 years) or whether it will be permanent. Due to the question mark over this, the plan would be to keep our house in the UK and to rent it out. If we love it in Canada then we would sell up in the U.K. And look at buying in Canada... but renting initially lets us try an area, the commute etc, and learn more about everything before committing to a mortgage over there.

Unfortunately we wouldn't have enough in savings to put up a 20% deposit and have a mortgage in Canada and in the U.K. Although the U.K. Rental income would help with offsetting costs etc...

We are more looking for a house a short drive from work and from some walking trails etc... rather than an apartment close to downtown.

Thanks again!

neilcumming

Oh ok you have a dog I see now.My wife would like a dog but the apt we have is no pets so I see where you are coming from.Well good luck on your move.

Aviator

A lot of rentals are no pets, so that could limit the options if you have a dog.

biggayowl

Council tax is a major hit if you're a renter - we obviously didn't have to pay it in Canada, returning to UK- it's an extra 150 quid a month.

Electricity / Gas - always found BC Hydro dirt cheap compared to what you pay in the UK ....

R I C H

I'm not a renter, but everyone pays council/property tax one way or the other - either directly or indirectly bundled in with your rent.

I'm not finding utility bills any more expensive in the UK as usage (for heating in particular) is far lower.