|
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by dingbat
(Post 4508563)
I went back to the UK at the end of January this year. Food is approximately half the price I pay in BC, quality and selection are far better in the UK than here.
To Northernbird, yes, standard of living is subjective, to a point. I should have added one of those IMO thingies before I posted. :) Something does not gel here .......... My sister was here over Christmas and she assures me that the price of commodities here are far cheaper and of better quality than the UK ......... in particular she was most impressed at the quality of meat. Maybe we are not in sync with BC but here in South Western Ontario food prices most definately are not our major concern. There are exceptions at this time of year with regard to produce since we have to import from the USA ........ but this is offset in summer by Ontario's own produce industry ...................maybe we should be talking to that nice Mr Harper............................................ ....:rofl: |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by atfab
(Post 4508587)
Something does not gel here .......... My sister was here over Christmas and she assures me that the price of commodities here are far cheaper and of better quality than the UK ......... in particular she was most impressed at the quality of meat. Maybe we are not in sync with BC but here in South Western Ontario food prices most definately are not our major concern. There are exceptions at this time of year with regard to produce since we have to import from the USA ........ but this is offset in summer by Ontario's own produce industry ...................maybe we should be talking to that nice Mr Harper............................................ ....:rofl:
|
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=418689
Heres the post referring to food being more expensive, i have no idea about food costs in Canada because i have never done my grocery shop there.$200 does seem extremely silly for a basic shop, i think you'd even struggle to spend that much on a basic food shop in M&s food-hall. |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by dingbat
(Post 4508864)
Ontario is cheaper than BC. I was also there recently and noticed the difference. A shop today at Safeway cost me $458. 63 and it will need to be topped up with milk, bread and fruit by Thursday. Quality - no, I beg to differ, but everyone has different tastes and expectations. :)
Since I last posted I have spoken to my Sister in the UK and mentioned this topic and she reaffirms that which was said on her last visit ... that the price of food generally is cheaper here in Ontario and of better quality than in the UK ... notice I said Ontario because I have it on other peoples observations that prices in other regions are different. One must also bear in mind that when my Sister is with us she is on Holiday and we obviously tend to shove the boat out a little but that being said it is more by way of quantity ...... the content and quality remain the same. It is interesting to note that a straight currency converstion is not the best way to compare prices .... what would be more accurate would to see how long it would take one side or the other to earn the desired article or commodity. I think there is probably no end to conjecture .... everyone will see it as they want to and everyone that thinks the UK is the place to be should obviously make every effort to achieve that. Here is a link to some information that makes for interest and I can assure you that the two of us living here in Canada would not be spending anything approaching the amounts shown in this report..........................;) http://www.workgateways.com/working-cost-of-living.html |
Cost of Food in BC Compared to Rest of Canada or UK
[F]Hi there,
I just wanted to echo what people are saying about the high cost of food. Again, we're in BC, and food costs seem significantly higher that either the UK or Ontario. We last visited the UK 6 months ago, and did a number of food shops. I had forgotten how dramatically different a Tesco is, compared to anything we've found in BC. We've shopped in Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Washington and Oregon, and not found anything come close to Tesco for quality, choice and price. We regularly return food to our local supermarkets in Powell River. We have Overwaitea (that's the old name for Save on Foods) and Safeway. Even though these are major companies, we still find produce decaying and bread sold past it's freshness. Tescos, Sainsburys. Morrisons etc could teach them how to manage large stores. One thing that brings it home to me how expensive food is: Canada has a large network of food banks for the poor. Collecting donations for these outlets are well-publicized and high profile. Low income families in the UK benefit from the major supermarkets having loss-leaders. However, in Canada, you would be hard-pressed to find the equivalent of the Tesco value range or even an equivalent or Quik Save (or whatever that chain is called now). Before we came to Canada, we thought that higher food costs wouldn't affect us greatly. However, the extra time we take in shopping and having to be incredibly careful with weekly spending gets you down after a while. We avoid buying alcohol like we used to. It is reserved as a treat for my partner :huh: We have eliminated all processed meals/prepared foods etc to save costs. Of course, none of this matters if you're well off. However, a family could easily spend $200 on a food shop, and not even fill a trolley. [/FONT] |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Hello,
I just have to shop for myself, and yes, groceries are definitely more expensive here than in Tesco or Sainsbury's. I do not believe the quality is necessarily lower in Canada, there is definitely greater variety but there is a noticeable price difference. I am definitely missing M & S ready meals, baked goods etc. Can't wait to return... PS Did anyone else find the weather in Vancouver this weekend so incredibly depressing??(non-stop rain from Saturday am til Sunday night!!) |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by pat12
(Post 4510383)
Hello,
I just have to shop for myself, and yes, groceries are definitely more expensive here than in Tesco or Sainsbury's. I do not believe the quality is necessarily lower in Canada, there is definitely greater variety but there is a noticeable price difference. I am definitely missing M & S ready meals, baked goods etc. Can't wait to return... PS Did anyone else find the weather in Vancouver this weekend so incredibly depressing??(non-stop rain from Saturday am til Sunday night!!) |
Re: Cost of Food in BC Compared to Rest of Canada or UK
Originally Posted by SarahBC
(Post 4509909)
[F]Hi there,
I just wanted to echo what people are saying about the high cost of food. Again, we're in BC, and food costs seem significantly higher that either the UK or Ontario. We last visited the UK 6 months ago, and did a number of food shops. I had forgotten how dramatically different a Tesco is, compared to anything we've found in BC. We've shopped in Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Washington and Oregon, and not found anything come close to Tesco for quality, choice and price. We regularly return food to our local supermarkets in Powell River. We have Overwaitea (that's the old name for Save on Foods) and Safeway. Even though these are major companies, we still find produce decaying and bread sold past it's freshness. Tescos, Sainsburys. Morrisons etc could teach them how to manage large stores. One thing that brings it home to me how expensive food is: Canada has a large network of food banks for the poor. Collecting donations for these outlets are well-publicized and high profile. Low income families in the UK benefit from the major supermarkets having loss-leaders. However, in Canada, you would be hard-pressed to find the equivalent of the Tesco value range or even an equivalent or Quik Save (or whatever that chain is called now). Before we came to Canada, we thought that higher food costs wouldn't affect us greatly. However, the extra time we take in shopping and having to be incredibly careful with weekly spending gets you down after a while. We avoid buying alcohol like we used to. It is reserved as a treat for my partner :huh: We have eliminated all processed meals/prepared foods etc to save costs. Of course, none of this matters if you're well off. However, a family could easily spend $200 on a food shop, and not even fill a trolley. [/FONT] |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by JoD
(Post 4429397)
Canada is a beautiful country, but we missed family and friends too much and we didn't feel that we "fitted in" with the lifestyle over there - it is very different from the UK in many ways. We found we didn't really have anything in common with the Canadian families, although they were nothing but kind and friendly towards us.
At any rate, good luck in whatever you do (to the OP). |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by pat12
(Post 4510383)
Hello,
I just have to shop for myself, and yes, groceries are definitely more expensive here than in Tesco or Sainsbury's. I do not believe the quality is necessarily lower in Canada, there is definitely greater variety but there is a noticeable price difference. I am definitely missing M & S ready meals, baked goods etc. Can't wait to return... PS Did anyone else find the weather in Vancouver this weekend so incredibly depressing??(non-stop rain from Saturday am til Sunday night!!) To the argument on food costs: It's definitely a BC thing for food costs to be so astronomical. When I lived in London I noticed a difference, and I couldn't understand why people said the food costs so much there. Now I know why. It's because I've lived here all my life (in BC) and knew no different. To the O.P. - If you are thinking of coming to Canada I would highly recommend researching which province you're headed to. I'm sure you had planned on that anyway, but just as an extra caution. It's so different in all of our provinces. I recommend avoiding BC! You might notice there are a lot of posters here from BC who don't have a lot of positive things to say about it here, and that's me included being born and raised here. There's a reason for that. As pretty as it is, it's down right dull, expensive, and full of superficial people who can be very unfriendly! Make sure to check your sense of humour at customs. :rofl: There is no "taking the piss" here. People just get offended. Anyway, good luck to you... :) |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Can i ask in what way do you find the canadian culture/way of life so different to the uk? please bear in mind i have yet to go to Canada so im really intreaged as to how canadians live differently on a day to day basis , are they so much more relaxed than we are in the uk?
|
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by sarahbegood
(Post 4510848)
Can i ask in what way do you find the canadian culture/way of life so different to the uk? please bear in mind i have yet to go to Canada so im really intreaged as to how canadians live differently on a day to day basis , are they so much more relaxed than we are in the uk?
The pace of life in Vancouver is slower than London. People are a bit too laid back IMO. Generally you wouldn't be commuting for a long time to get to work, traffic is less etc. (compared to London). People appear less materialistic on the surface. People are not as interested in fashion and brand names in Vancouver as they are in London. These are the differences I have noted in 18 months of being here. |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by pat12
(Post 4510958)
The way of life here is very different to the UK, again it depends on which part of the UK you are in and which part of Canada you are coming to. BC is great for outdoor enthusiasts, hiking, skiing etc. If that's your forte you'll love it, but forget about "culture" as I know it (being from London). There are no museums, art galleries, history, theatres etc. Obviously, the sports here are different - ice hockey is the national sport, they also play baseball and American football, and Canadians spend a lot of time discussing these things. I have found that general dinner party conversation here is far less stimulating or intelligent than what is generally discussed in England. Many Canadians (at least the ones I've come into contact with in BC) don't seem to know or care about what is happening outside of their little world. I am generalising here (and this doesn't apply to all Canadians) but there tends to be a lack of sense of humour, and as for sarcasm, forget about it - they don't get it at all. I heard (before coming to BC) that Canadians are very friendly people, this may be true of Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, but it certainly isn't true of Vancouverites who are generally more stuck up (and I don't even know why) than Londoners. Never ever criticise Vancouver to a Vancouverite as this is the insult of insults and you will forever be an enemy to that person, narrow-mindedness is something I was not used to in England but is the general mentality here. Canadians are very proud of their cities and love insulting other cities in their own country when most of the time they haven't been to the other cities eg. Vancouverites insulting Toronto and vice versa.
The pace of life in Vancouver is slower than London. People are a bit too laid back IMO. Generally you wouldn't be commuting for a long time to get to work, traffic is less etc. (compared to London). People appear less materialistic on the surface. People are not as interested in fashion and brand names in Vancouver as they are in London. These are the differences I have noted in 18 months of being here. The friendliness of Canadians varies I'm sure just like it does in England but quite a lot of the time I have found this to be 'surface' friendliness. It often takes a long time to get to know someone well, they aren't always forthcoming with invitations for coffee etc and some I have 'known' for 3 years I still haven't gotten any further than the hi, how are you? It's not for the want of trying I can tell you! I actually get on much better with the Chinese population here and I will miss that when I go back. |
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
I cant live with out sarcasm its what us brits do best, what do canadians find funny? are you happy that you moved to canada?is it everything you thought it would be?sorry for the multiple questions .
|
Re: Is anyone returning to the UK from Canada?
Originally Posted by pat12
(Post 4510958)
forget about "culture" as I know it (being from London). There are no museums, art galleries, history, theatres etc. Obviously, the sports here are different - ice hockey is the national sport, they also play baseball and American football, and Canadians spend a lot of time discussing these things. I have found that general dinner party conversation here is far less stimulating or intelligent than what is generally discussed in England. I am generalising here (and this doesn't apply to all Canadians) but there tends to be a lack of sense of humour, and as for sarcasm, forget about it - they don't get it at all. I heard (before coming to BC) that Canadians are very friendly people, this may be true of Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, but it certainly isn't true of Vancouverites who are generally more stuck up (and I don't even know why) than Londoners. People appear less materialistic on the surface. People are not as interested in fashion and brand names in Vancouver as they are in London.
|
| All times are GMT -12. The time now is 2:19 am. |
Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.