Moving to Canada from Wisconsin

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Wisconsin to Canada? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Wisconsin to Canada, you would find that Canada is 2.9% cheaper than Wisconsin. A $75,000 salary in Wisconsin would need to be roughly CA$102,000 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Canada cheaper than Wisconsin?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.8% less

Groceries

pay 2.7% more

Transportation

pay 8.8% more

Housing

pay 2.1% less

Childcare

pay 48.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 6.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Canada?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → CA$102,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Canada cost about 3% less than cities in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin

Appleton 61%
Kenosha 58%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Canada

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Wisconsin to Canada.

Moved in 2023
10,640 ↑ 2% vs 2022

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.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Canada compared to Wisconsin.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

WI
37.8%
CA
26.0%

Canada performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

WI
89.5%
CA
94.3%

Canada performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WI
3.0%
CA
6.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

WI
$59,333
CA
$55,698

Wisconsin generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

WI
77.7 yrs
CA
82.1 yrs

Canada performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all family life metrics.

Weather in Canada vs Wisconsin

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Milwaukee Rain: 34.8 in/yr (883 mm)
55° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Toronto Rain: 32.8 in/yr (834 mm)
55° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Milwaukee Toronto
Jan–Mar 35°/21°F (1°/-6°C) 34°/23°F (1°/-5°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/47°F (18°/8°C) 64°/49°F (18°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/61°F (25°/16°C) 76°/61°F (24°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/32°F (8°/0°C) 46°/35°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Milwaukee Toronto
Jan 29°/16°F (-1.7°/-9.1°C) 30°/19°F (-1.1°/-7.3°C)
Feb 33°/19°F (0.3°/-7.1°C) 32°/21°F (-0.2°/-6.3°C)
Mar 42°/28°F (5.8°/-2.4°C) 40°/28°F (4.6°/-2.0°C)
Apr 54°/37°F (12.1°/2.9°C) 52°/39°F (11.3°/3.8°C)
May 65°/47°F (18.3°/8.1°C) 65°/50°F (18.5°/9.9°C)
Jun 75°/57°F (24.1°/13.9°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.8°C)
Jul 80°/64°F (26.7°/17.5°C) 80°/64°F (26.4°/17.9°C)
Aug 78°/63°F (25.8°/17.2°C) 78°/63°F (25.3°/17.3°C)
Sep 71°/55°F (21.8°/12.7°C) 69°/56°F (20.7°/13.2°C)
Oct 59°/43°F (15.2°/6.2°C) 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.3°C)
Nov 46°/32°F (7.8°/0.0°C) 45°/36°F (7.4°/2.2°C)
Dec 33°/20°F (0.4°/-6.6°C) 35°/25°F (1.8°/-3.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Can you move from Wisconsin to Canada?

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

United States passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Canada without a visa.
Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting United States

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter United States without a visa.

Data: 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 Wisconsin?

On average Canada is about 3% less expensive than Wisconsin, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

Budget about CA$25,500 for 3 months in Canada (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Canada?

From major Canada cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Wisconsin and Canada are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Wisconsin?

Canada performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Canada compared to Wisconsin?

The average high temperature in Toronto is 55°F, compared to 55°F in Milwaukee. Toronto receives around 32.8 in of rainfall per year, while Milwaukee gets 34.8 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Wisconsin, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CA
Population 5,972,787 41,651,653
Currency United States Dollar ($) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages English English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 11 6
Emergency number 911 911