Moving to Canada from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Canada — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Canada, you would find that Canada is 14.7% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly CA$84,230 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Canada.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CA$84,230
To maintain the same standard of living in Canada
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 15.2% less
Groceries
pay 7.0% less
Transportation
pay 1.8% less
Housing
pay 21.4% less
Childcare
pay 48.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.7% less
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?
How many people actually move from United States to Canada, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Canada · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Canada?
Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.
- 720,083
- 699,190
- 633,547
- 537,504
-
5.273,226
United States
- 254,831
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States 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 significantly 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
United States generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.
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 significantly 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: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Meteorological Service of Canada
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Canada
Visa Free
Canada passport holder visiting United States
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 Canada than United States?
Yes — Canada is on average about 19% cheaper than United States. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Canada?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CA$21,058 in Canada on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Canada?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Canada has 42.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Canada safe for expats?
Canada performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 88% of people in Canada feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Canada compared to United States?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 36.1 in United States. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Canada compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Canada?
The official languages in Canada are English and French. In United States, the official language is English.
