ITT (in this thread) I tell you why the United-States is better to live than Canada (or for Quebec at least)
this, of course, assuming you have a relatively good job in either countries so you can compare - please also note this is from a perspective of someone who lived in the states
I lived 5+ years in the US and now live in Canada, and I can safely say that U.S is better in large variety of aspects (obvious for some of you, but in reality new immigrants can't see the difference)
- Shopping online sucks: nothing is shipped to Canada, many of international brands and manufacturers won't ship anything to most of Canadian provinces. We are limited to local brands and lower quality brands
- Computers/Electronics/food/gas are expensive: Ridiculous prices everytime you go to Best Buy or Future Shop (same company, same management same prices, few feet away... can't explain that), no competitions whatsoever...
- Cars/Insurance: up to $3,000 difference for a european car brand manufactured in michigan. Insurance coverage freaking expensive, basic liability is 100$/month if you're lucky, in the states $60/month.
- Malls/Stores close at 5PM the weekends: Lol at this one, seriously how in the hell are these guys making money?
- Limited franchise chains: First thing I noticed was the absence of famous chains, where is IHOP, applebee's, TGI Friday's, Dennys, Taco Bell, and so forth
- 12% taxes: Provincial + federal, not more than 9% in New England
- Wages are low: entry level salary for a fresh graduate is 55K+ minimum in the states. Here new grads should be happy with a ridiculous 35K.
- Universities/Education: international students who decide to study Canada are sorry but idiots, if you are going to pay 25k+ a year for tuitions, just GO TO A U.S UNIVERSITY, best education in the world, best degree ever... why the F*** would you come to canada??
- No Mastercard/visa debit cards: heard RBC is going to start doing it (finally), let's hope that Interac (crappy debit card system) will DIE. Basically in the states when you open a checking account, you're given a VISA card, even if you have 0 credit history, the card acts like a credit card and allows you to makes purchases online, and buy whatever you want in the whole world. In Canada the bank gives you an Interac card, you can't use it online and can't use it internationally... enjoy spending only with it in the super market or getting cash from the ATM
- Expensive fees everywhere: drivers license is $100/year, change of address $120/year, checking account $5/month, ridiculous condo fees 25-75c/ftsq...
boring cities, nothing to do
no real industry, etc...
of yeah and everybody goes to Cuba for vacations... EVERYBODY, that's like the only country in the world where to spend time off, what the f**ing f***
that's all I can remember for now folks
Discuss
this, of course, assuming you have a relatively good job in either countries so you can compare - please also note this is from a perspective of someone who lived in the states
I lived 5+ years in the US and now live in Canada, and I can safely say that U.S is better in large variety of aspects (obvious for some of you, but in reality new immigrants can't see the difference)
- Shopping online sucks: nothing is shipped to Canada, many of international brands and manufacturers won't ship anything to most of Canadian provinces. We are limited to local brands and lower quality brands
- Computers/Electronics/food/gas are expensive: Ridiculous prices everytime you go to Best Buy or Future Shop (same company, same management same prices, few feet away... can't explain that), no competitions whatsoever...
- Cars/Insurance: up to $3,000 difference for a european car brand manufactured in michigan. Insurance coverage freaking expensive, basic liability is 100$/month if you're lucky, in the states $60/month.
- Malls/Stores close at 5PM the weekends: Lol at this one, seriously how in the hell are these guys making money?
- Limited franchise chains: First thing I noticed was the absence of famous chains, where is IHOP, applebee's, TGI Friday's, Dennys, Taco Bell, and so forth
- 12% taxes: Provincial + federal, not more than 9% in New England
- Wages are low: entry level salary for a fresh graduate is 55K+ minimum in the states. Here new grads should be happy with a ridiculous 35K.
- Universities/Education: international students who decide to study Canada are sorry but idiots, if you are going to pay 25k+ a year for tuitions, just GO TO A U.S UNIVERSITY, best education in the world, best degree ever... why the F*** would you come to canada??
- No Mastercard/visa debit cards: heard RBC is going to start doing it (finally), let's hope that Interac (crappy debit card system) will DIE. Basically in the states when you open a checking account, you're given a VISA card, even if you have 0 credit history, the card acts like a credit card and allows you to makes purchases online, and buy whatever you want in the whole world. In Canada the bank gives you an Interac card, you can't use it online and can't use it internationally... enjoy spending only with it in the super market or getting cash from the ATM
- Expensive fees everywhere: drivers license is $100/year, change of address $120/year, checking account $5/month, ridiculous condo fees 25-75c/ftsq...
boring cities, nothing to do
no real industry, etc...
of yeah and everybody goes to Cuba for vacations... EVERYBODY, that's like the only country in the world where to spend time off, what the f**ing f***
that's all I can remember for now folks
Discuss