I've also traveled to Canada to see things in person.
It's definitely a high cost-of-living country. Wages are much lower for my profession (devops) than in the USA. The author of this book makes some good observations.
However, after all of my research, I still believe that Canada is right for me and my family.
The trick is in getting the Canadian government to agree with me.
Taxes are high and getting higher, and a couple duopolies have captured the entire economy.
I am glad I got out when I did.
You are crazy to leave USA for Canada.
This is by far the most horrifying component of being Canadian. Every single thing you interact with in your life is dominated by 2-4 companies with, collectively, 100% market share, and they all have tacit or actual agreements with each other not to tread on the other’s territory or to rock the boat in any real manner. Prices are way higher than they should be in nearly every aspect of your life.
But we feel good about not being American because we don’t have mass shootings or Trump. Honestly, our entire coping mechanism is looking at the worst aspects of America and ignoring the best.
Better take-home pay only counts if you don't need the things taxes pay for, or (apparently) don't need a supporting community that does need them. That situation, though, is a lot like saying "I'm a CEO with my own jet - I don't need no stinking' roads" but then can't sell anything because all of their product and all of their employees need roads to get to work, to ship, to function.
What if you're retired and have no taxable income, only financial gains from some investment portfolio?
I've heard this from other people who moved to America and had to pay for their healthcare. Back home, they had to barter things or having connections to get appointments or good care as well.
