Canadians :)

[Sid70]

Hey there,
I am here to ask a general Canadian public, what place do you think fits the best to adjust for a newcomer in Canada?

I am thinking Calgary ( living cost, tax, education, medicine wise ), Ottawa ( central, capital, nice looking, food, close to USA) , Victoria ( all bad except it's warm ).

It's about a family with high school / college kids.

And, I am an old fart 50+.

Shoot.

[Klen]

Whatabout Vancouver ?

[Biggie Smalls Web Writing]

Originally Posted by Klen

Whatabout Vancouver ?

Its great if you dont mind rain and the expensive cost of living

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Biggie Smalls Web Writing

Its great if you dont mind rain and the expensive cost of living

I was told Surrey and Mission might work but it's remote.
As I understand, Vancouver is warm in a Canadian sense, it's still kind of similar to Central Europe but even more humid. Plus, yeah, it does cost a lot.

Why I mentioned Victoria, it's more affordable but on the island and I hear if it storms ferry would be closed and the only way is flying which is also expensive.

In terms of 'warm' I'd choose Europe to retire, not Canada.

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Klen

Whatabout Vancouver ?

CAD 1600 for 1 bedroom in Vancouver vs CAD 1300 for 2 bedroom in Calgary.

[Sid70]

My concern is LONG COLD WINTER. I mean, I know shopping malls were invented in Canada and they are good, but still, it seems like a need to buy real bad ass winter jackets and boots I never had living in Europe

[the Shemp]

Originally Posted by Sid70

I was told Surrey and Mission might work but it's remote.
As I understand, Vancouver is warm in a Canadian sense, it's still kind of similar to Central Europe but even more humid. Plus, yeah, it does cost a lot.

Why I mentioned Victoria, it's more affordable but on the island and I hear if it storms ferry would be closed and the only way is flying which is also expensive.

In terms of 'warm' I'd choose Europe to retire, not Canada.

bro, this is Mission, BC...you might like it ...

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by the Shemp

bro, this is Mission, BC...you might like it ...

LOL

No!

I need a city

[O MARINA]

yo yo Oh Canada.

If I were you I would find the LEAST expensive province, city, area and build from there just like millions of other immigrants always do here. Once you are here you can go explore. Prices for everything and cost of living in big cities are getting out of control. It's hard to advise based on no info. What can GFY'ers really tell you, just google it and check Facebook groups. Only certain provinces are providing medical coverage after a certain period of working here.

[just a punk]

Originally Posted by Sid70

I need a city

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by O MARINA

yo yo Oh Canada.

If I were you I would find the LEAST expensive province, city, area and build from there just like millions of other immigrants always do here. Once you are here you can go explore. Prices for everything and cost of living in big cities are getting out of control. It's hard to advise based on no info. What can GFY'ers really tell you, just google it and check Facebook groups. Only certain provinces are providing medical coverage after a certain period of working here.

Yeah, someplace where they never go out of the house
How actually cold is it? I mean you tell me compared to Ukraine, is there anything like Odessa in terms of climate at all?

[O MARINA]

Originally Posted by Sid70

Yeah, someplace where they never go out of the house
How actually cold is it? I mean you tell me compared to Ukraine, is there anything like Odessa in terms of climate at all?

it's the same, 4 seasons, depends where.
I mean we don't always live in igloos just few weeks out of the year are bad.

[Shedevils]

Originally Posted by Sid70

CAD 1600 for 1 bedroom in Vancouver vs CAD 1300 for 2 bedroom in Calgary.

Add $1000 to both of those to get closer to current costs. Studio apartments in Vancouver are over $2K.

[O MARINA]

Ya I was going to correct him as well, you are not living anywhere in the big cities for less than 3k+ rent for a family size.

[Klen]

Originally Posted by Shedevils

Add $1000 to both of those to get closer to current costs. Studio apartments in Vancouver are over $2K.

Yikes, i suppose 500 EUR for flat in Prague is super cheap compared to that lol

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Shedevils

Add $1000 to both of those to get closer to current costs. Studio apartments in Vancouver are over $2K.

VC area might be ok too, I mean this :


One bedroom https://www.rentfaster.ca/bc/vancouv.../448159?-RSYNC
just for the sake of water climate

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Klen

Yikes, i suppose 500 EUR for flat in Prague is super cheap compared to that lol

Well, in Canada, as far as I understand, getting a mortgage loan, is easier than in the EU.

CZ, Poland they are incomparable, you should compare to Munich I think.

My thinking is, if the kids make it to the college it might be more opportunities than in EU.

For myself personally, the first bummer is with my 25 years of driving history I will have to re-take the exam to drive, Canada accepts only those 'real' western countries to exchange the DL directly.

Ah, and the monthly car insurance to start is about my yearly one in Poland )

Fuck, where am I heading? lol

[Evil Chris]

Oceanfront for $379k (cdn)
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/2...-port-dufferin

[Evil Chris]

That property is less than 2 hours from Halifax. Not bad at all.

Another place I've heard tell is Miramichi, New Brunswick. A friend of mine, recently divorced, packed up his belongings and left Ontario to live in Miramachi. A 90 min drive from Moncton and the cost of living is a fraction of what he was paying in London, ON.

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

Oceanfront for $379k (cdn)
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/2...-port-dufferin

Yeah.

A newcomer would look into an apartment, walkable areas, transportation and so on...

So far, I liked Ottawa's Sandy Hill, that would fit very well.

The only reason I'm looking around VC is to see if there is anything to afford for the sake of warmer climate.

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

That property is less than 2 hours from Halifax. Not bad at all.

Another place I've heard tell is Miramichi, New Brunswick. A friend of mine, recently divorced, packed up his belongings and left Ontario to live in Miramachi. A 90 min drive from Moncton and the cost of living is a fraction of what he was paying in London, ON.

I'll take a look at Halifax itself now, but something is telling me the Atlantic coast this North will have hellish cold / humid winters

[Evil Chris]

Boo hoo it's cold. It's snowing.

The funny thing about people who need warm climate is that they're sitting in their air conditioned house 90% of the time anyway.

Meanwhile, I am outside ski-doing, skating, and skiing. Winter is awesome, and Canada has it mastered.

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

Boo hoo it's cold. It's snowing.

The funny thing about people who need warm climate is that they're sitting in their air conditioned house 90% of the time anyway.

Meanwhile, I am outside ski-doing, skating, and skiing. Winter is awesome, and Canada has it mastered.

Know what you mean, I'm not about Thailand or Dubai gigs, no.
I am comparing to Northern Italy mostly that offers a lot more than skiing only, except for work and study opportunities.

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by Sid70

Know what you mean, I'm not about Thailand or Dubai gigs, no.
I am comparing to Northern Italy mostly that offers a lot more than skiing only, except for work and study opportunities.

Good luck in your hunt.
As a Canadian who grew up in Ontario/Quebec and has also lived 4 years in central Europe, I can tell you I'd never move to BC or Alberta. Nice places to visit, though.

[Sid70]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

Good luck in your hunt.
As a Canadian who grew up in Ontario/Quebec and has also lived 4 years in central Europe, I can tell you I'd never move to BC or Alberta. Nice places to visit, though.

Thanks for your input, a no-no for a European because of? Cold? Cost?

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by Sid70

Thanks for your input, a no-no for a European because of? Cold? Cost?

Vancouver and area is nothing like Europe. Neither is Victoria. But if you want overpriced everything and views of the ocean and little mountains, then it's for you.

Alberta is just... gahhh

[escorpio]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

Boo hoo it's cold. It's snowing.

The funny thing about people who need warm climate is that they're sitting in their air conditioned house 90% of the time anyway.

Meanwhile, I am outside ski-doing, skating, and skiing. Winter is awesome, and Canada has it mastered.

Cold weather sucks. I don't spend 90% of my time indoors when I'm in Arizona, just summer afternoons.

[fuzebox]

Vancouver is still the best city in the country.

Cost of living? Bootstraps...

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by fuzebox

Vancouver is still the best city in the country.

Cost of living? Bootstraps...

wow just wow

[O MARINA]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

wow just wow

Tell OP about the prices of University tuition and colleges..

[Dmcontent]

I lived in Toronto for almost 30 years with the sporadic few months in other countires , in 2011 moved to Europe and it was best move I ever made. Great food and weather.

I still visit family and friends in Toronto often but could no move back unless something important made me too.

[dcortez]

Originally Posted by Sid70

Hey there,
I am here to ask a general Canadian public, what place do you think fits the best to adjust for a newcomer in Canada?

I am thinking Calgary ( living cost, tax, education, medicine wise ), Ottawa ( central, capital, nice looking, food, close to USA) , Victoria ( all bad except it's warm ).

It's about a family with high school / college kids.

And, I am an old fart 50+.

Shoot.

I'm an even older fart, and I've been based in BC and Vancouver Island for 40+ years.

I started in Toronto, and I visited 6 years ago.

The biggest factor to which place is "best" involves your financial means.

I couldn't even recognize Toronto since my UofT days in the seventies. Condos, many sitting empty as money laundering assets for foreign investors, eat up the sunlight all day long.

Gentrification is rampant, since the pandemic started, everyone seems to be moving to the west coast. There are few rentals available, and the housing market is insanely expensive.

Of course, this may not matter if you're coming with money bags.

Either way, I would still highly recommend the west coast, Vancouver, or Vancouver Island - unpaved nature is still accessible to all.

If you like winter sports, both Vancouver and the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island are close to world class ski hills.

If you like water sports (the non-GFY kind), get a boat and a trailer, and you'll be in paradise.

Either way, welcome!

[Brian mike]

Originally Posted by Sid70

VC area might be ok too, I mean this :


One bedroom https://www.rentfaster.ca/bc/vancouv.../448159?-RSYNC
just for the sake of water climate

In Vancouver check out carefully each ads if include utilities or not. MANY DOES include it hence why the High rates but check it out.

Also if you live in a cheap or old building in Vancouver ( Humidity is very high ) you will have mold eventually. Doesn't show right away after a freshly painted rental but once you move in take a couple of weeks and it will show

When you visit a place to rent make sure to look carefully at the closet wall and inside the cabinet to give you an idea. Mold is the worst enemy