Moving to United States from Canada
What to Expect
Considering a move from Canada to United States? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Canada to United States, you would find that United States is 25.0% more expensive than Canada overall. A CA$104,494 salary in Canada would need to be roughly $93,043 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Canada and United States.
What does your salary buy?
CA$104,494 → $93,043
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 18.3% more
Groceries
pay 16.3% more
Transportation
pay 4.9% more
Housing
pay 27.9% more
Childcare
pay 92.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.6% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Canada to United States.
people moved from Canada to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
13.793,897
Canada
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Canada.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Canada performs better than United States across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Canada generally does better on environment, though United States leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Canada performs better than United States across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Canada generally does better on family life, though United States leads in education spending.
Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ottawa | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ottawa | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service of Canada,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Canada passport holder visiting United States
Visa Free
United States passport holder visiting Canada
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United States than Canada?
On average United States is around 24% pricier than Canada, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Budget about $23,261 for 3 months in United States (based on a CA$104,494 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United States?
Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United States safe for expats?
Canada performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Canada?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 25.0 in Canada. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Canada?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
