biggayowl

Our rent in Vancouver was $1,600 a month. Now paying 1000gbp in rent. so roughly equivalent. Plus 150gbp in council tax - $275 extra - I don't know how much was built in to our monthly rent but knowing our landlord we were probably just paying their property tax - damn Boomers

Surprised about the heating costs. Depends on comparable building type quality, size etc.

Paul_Shepherd

Thats interesting...when I first came to Canada (Ontario) almost 9 years ago, I found it considerably cheaper (except for cell phones and car insurance) but now I am not so sure...I have seen a few people commenting on how much cheaper the UK is compared to parts of Canada now.

What made you return to the UK after 14 years in BC? was it a choice or did circumstances dictate the move?

R I C H

You can only compare your own relative costs, as there are so many variables involved.

I owned a 2,500 sq/ft home in a ski resort which cost as much to heat as my next home which was a 6,000 sq/ft property in a more temperate BC location (Kamloops).

Back in the UK I'm purchasing a 600yr old thatched property, for which utility bills are very similar.

R I C H

Family circumstances - ageing parents that need closer attention/care.

Paul_Shepherd

Sorry to hear that, but totally understandable.

Would you ever return to Canada? or would you class it just a period in your life that you experienced and now moving on to new adventures so to speak.

I know its slightly off topic, but just wondered as I may have to consider a return to the UK too (different circumstances) I would imagine you will find it a challenge to settle back in after 14 years in BC, however you still sound a fairly young person so that does help.

R I C H

I'm 48, so don't particularly want to hop between countries, and realistically given current family commitments, it could be near my retirement age before having the freedom to move again. Canada wouldn't be top of my list for places to retire to, but I did enjoy living there.

I'm enjoying catching up with close friends and family again, and there are pros and cons in both places. Overall I'm quite comfortable with the need/decision to move back.

Oakvillian

If you can keep your commute to a minimum by staying in Burlington itself, I'd do that. Despite Siouxie's recommendation, I'd be a little wary of heading up the mountain in Hamilton if your job means you're travelling in peak hours. The 403/QEW and Hwy5 through Waterdown both get very busy eastbound in the mornings and westbound in the afternoon.

$2500 should get you a decent place in Burlington. For many various and complex reasons my family is moving temporarily into a 3+1 bed rental in Oakville for which we're paying around that rate.

My commute from Oakville into Port Credit (around 15km each way) takes me 20 minutes or so in rush hour. 150km per week in a car that returns about 11l/100km real-world economy costs me around $20 per week in gas (not counting all the other, mostly local, journeys: real fuel costs average around $30 per week for that car).

I pay too much for cable/phone/internet - there have been many discussions about dropping the home phone line and/or cutting the cable altogether, but with three kids and family in the UK there is considerable inertia preventing that decision. Around $180 per month for bundled services including unlimited broadband, a somewhat profligate TV channel package and an hour or so of international phone calls per week.

I think dbd eats rather better than I do. We feed a family of 5 plus a dog for about $220 per week or so in groceries plus occasional take-out/restauraunt visits. That probably adds somewhere around another $200 to $250 per month. He probably spends more in the LCBO than I do, too...

Mobile phone is difficult to gauge as we have four phones on a family plan with varying data packages etc for which we pay $250 per month or thereabouts (depending on whether teenager #1 has to top up data...)

You've heard the bad news on car insurance from others, so I won't add to the misery. It's expensive but necessary. As a renter you'll need tenants' insurance, which is much less ruinous. Shop around; costs will vary a lot depending on location and type of property and the breadth of coverage you need.

HTH.

pquick

If you do decide to rent your uk home, do not forget to get a valuation for CGT purposes. You will need it if selling while living in canada and if you return to uk to live

Mule deer

is Atlantic Canada expensive compared to Alberta or BC

Atlantic Xpat

I don't have experience of BC or AB, but I do travel to Ottawa once a year & occasionally elsewhere in ON/NS and Newfoundland is definitely more expensive for food, groceries, insurance. Some of which can be explained by either the expense of shipping to this part of the world or the small, regulated marketplace.