Sorry for this question.
I have US L1 visa and Canadian WP (as well as my family members) and I am really confused which of these two countries will be most suitable for migration. The most I have used in these two countries is 2month, and I guess too short to make this decision.

I am an experience IT consultant with business background from UK and mostly concern about my children and wife to have top standard of living as we are feed-up of UK.
1) good std of living, education for my three young boys
2) future opportunities for my children
3) decent salary for my wife (an accountant)
4) easier to settle down as per permanent resident acquisition etc..

I really appreciate your input while I struggle to make my decision.
Thanks a million.

Less chance of getting shot in Canada, we have gun control!

After 11 years here in canada more or less I would say there is no right answer.

Canada and the US are similar in practice, and lifestyle I think probably varies far more by East to West, rather than Canada vs US....by which I mean there is probably a stronger similarity between say Montana / Alberta or Maine / New Brunswick than there is between say Alberta and New Brunswick .

Canadas healthcare and welfare provision result in a less "us and them" or "have / havenot" society, but if you are a well paid professional with a job with health benefits, and you are going to live in the burbs, then one place is much like the other in practice. Canadas public schools probably edge the US ones on average, but there are good US public schools Im sure if you are in the right area.

Pay in the US has traditionally been higher, but PR and citizenship is easier to get in Canada.


Thats a canadian perspective though, so maybe you should ask in the US area too? Im certainly happy to bring my kids up in Canada with all it has to offer.

CANADA.........NUFF SAID!

For the same job??

Everyone one of us can give an opinion, but you have to decide. USA or Canada is too wide a question in my opinion, you'd be better off choosing a couple of major cities in each country and asking questions of these.

The weather is going to be a big difference depending on where you move, BC isn't like Alberta, which is different agin to Manitoba or Ontario, etc. Same with the US.

Some like summer activities and the beach, others prefer winter sports on the mountains. Some like living in a big city, others like suburban or rural life and deal with a long commute to work.

Where are you more likely to get a job is the first important question I suggest asking yourself.

Unless you have a chance of qualifying for a U.S. visa the "USA or Canada" question is largely theoretical.

The OP may qualify for both, but it's also important to think about the pathway to permanent residence. Usually the USA is more difficult, but there are exceptions such as inter-company transfers at manager/executive level.

I was thinking more of where in the US or Canada would the OP be thinking of. I can appreciate that there can be a considerable difference in PR requirements, but I think it's important to go where the work is at the moment.

Why? What, apart from the method of provision of healthcare, differentiates life in the east (or west) of one from life in a similar region of the other?

No gun control in Ontario, they let me litter the house with firearms. Is it a western thing?

Tough question. I've lived in both countries (Vancouver and Miami). Like comparing apples to oranges really.

Wages have typically been higher in the US, although they are really hurting at the moment. House prices are probably better due to the fact that there market as completely crashed. Taxes are lower in the US, although work around a typical us city and you can see where they don't spend the extra tax dollars.

Medical costs can be crippling.

Southern states have a better climate. Southern California has the perfect climate. I spent time in San Diego - great place but very expensive.

In Canada, its a lot easier to find what you are familiar with. British tv shows, HP sauce, decent tea, good beer, etc. The US to me as always felt 'off centre' I could never quite put my finger on it. I also always felt on edge in a major us town late at night - never once felt threatened in Vancouver.

Good luck

Thanks to everyone who have replied to this thread. To answer some of the concerns raised in the replies: Whichever one I choose between the two great countries, we prefer to be in the east coast. For US around New York/Washington radius. If it's Canada, definitely in Toronto. Thanks

I had a similar dilemma - I could have gotten an inter-company transfer to either. I chose Canada because I didn't trust the company I work for to follow through with the US green card process and could have ended up having to go home. Here I control my own destiny with respect to permanent residency and I expect to get it much quicker and easier (though at my own expense) than I would a US green card.

So, I chose to come here on the border - got the benefits of being in Canada with the ability to go over to the US when the need arises.

My advice would be to find out what your company is willing to offer in terms of permanent residency, that could be the deciding factor...

I may however change my mind at a future point if they were to guarantee me a green card and the opportunity was worthwhile.

No, I can buy as many guns as I want out here.
However, I don't think most guns used by crims are legal, nor have their users got their PAL or RPAL

Washington DC weather (Scroll down for monthly averages)

New York weather

Toronto weather

Note the the figures for Fahrenheit are in brackets on the Toronto weather figures.