" This country has a lot of problem , but so does every rural area . "
It’s time to face the facts: in a lot of ways, Canada lives in America’s shadow. When travelling, people always wrongfully assume we’re from the US, and many Americans can’t even locate Canada on a map (hey!!! We’re right here!!!). They also loooove to joke about moving here whenever things go wrong.
But guess what? Some people have actually moved here, and see the… differences… in being an American versus Canadian. And they involve more than just being able to order a double-double or grab a bag of ketchup chips whenever you want.
So, to get a sense of what moving to Canada is really like, Reddit useru/TheGuiltyMan1414asked: “Any Americans who moved to Canada? In what ways are you happier?”. Ex-Americans chimed in with their brutally honest thoughts:
1.“I love the stability, free healthcare, and paid mat leave. If we could fix the housing crisis, that would be great.”
– u / Shortymac09
2.“My husband is from Los Angeles and he would never move back to the US for political reasons.”
He like : The survival of the fittest nature of stale , inhuman winters ( I know that exist in the US too but not in Southern California ) , the beauty , the gun law , the health care ( I mean it sucks , and we have an insane doctor shortage , but overall it ’s easier than the US ) , the general attitude towards our First Nations cultures being mostly a constant United States Department of State of learning , the French , the wide - open route , and how it is overall just more smooth than the US .
We also produce a monolithic amount of talented artists across all genre given our lowly population and they usually deport a certain humbleness . "
– u / superfluouspop
3.My life in Canada is cushier than any of my friends or family’s lives in America. Every life event: I gave birth twice and went home with tons of support; my friends went home with a hospital bill and stress of figuring out childcare because they were expected to go back to work. Cancer treatments are vastly different experiences across the border."
" I spent 3 dark in the infirmary once and I never had to speak to insurance or choose from supplier lists . Meanwhile , my American supporter has no retirement plan left after 10 years of medical discussion . "
– u / Electrical_Ad3540
4.“My wife moved here a few years ago from Arizona. There are pros and cons, but mostly pros.”
" She does n’t fear for her child ’s life dropping them off at school every twenty-four hours . seemly public transit ; very pedestrian - friendly ( this depends on the urban center , of row ) . No - automobile modus vivendi ( again , city - subject ) . safety equipment and less violence ; multitude are less strong-growing in world-wide . spare healthcare . "
– u / sexywheat
5.“I have children with disabilities — our healthcare and education system is far from perfect. But there are things that American families worry about that I’m really grateful I never have had to worry about.”
– atomic number 92 / VIslG
6.“For now, the biggest thing I’ve fallen in love with is all the public transportation.”
" It could just be the city I ’m in versus the city I ’m from , but while everyone around me is complaining about it ( it ’s too slow , it ’s too spicy , it ’s this , it ’s that ) , I ’m have the time of my living ! "
– u / hepsy - B vitamin
7.I’m happier in basically every way I could imagine. I always say there’s three things I miss about America, in order: 1, my family; 2, the food (Halifax food just isn’t as good as good ol' America); 3, the taxes (but those are worth it)."
– u / immigratingishard
8.“Canada being unaffordable, housing in particular, is a recent problem that we must fix. But the biggest thing in Canada for overall quality of life is education. We have some of the best public school systems in the world.”
" Consistently low crime charge per unit and pleasant liveable city like Toronto , Vancouver , Montreal are a bonus .
Will you make more money in the States ? Yes . Will that money go further ? Also yes . But money is n’t everything . "
– uracil / calimehtar
9.“I’ve been to many cities in the US, and some things are more expensive there than Canada.”
" Let ’s say Chicago Transit — 1 drive is $ 4.20 blackguard , while the TTC is $ 3.25 heel . Coffee in the USA is $ 3.30 hound , while Tim Hortons is $ 1.59 CAD . Rent downtown are the same if not more expensive . "
– u / rockyon
10.“I see my family a lot more now. Things are cheaper. I kept my American job so my income goes a lot further than in the states for everyday things. There’s a lot more greenery. Even in the city. So the air feels a lot cleaner.”
– uranium / JKYDLH
11.“I’m American. Canada is a nice place to live! I’m very happy to be here. With that being said, I don’t personally feel like I absolutely must stay here the rest of my life.”
" Rather , I ’ll belike have to move home at some point ( for a variety of reasons ) . I just endeavor to enjoy my time , determine new things about Canada , and take that with me when I leave . "
– RadioDude1995
12.“I worked full-time while going to college in the US to avoid student loan debt — when I went back to school in Canada, there were tons of scholarships and grants to apply for; I almost had the majority of tuition and books covered by those.”
13.“I’m an American that immigrated to Canada in 2018. I became a Canadian citizen this year. Canada is basically a sane version of the US.”
" Whenever I go back to visit Florida , I feel foreign there . I ’m very beaming to be a Canadian citizen . "
– u / beefstewforyou
14.“I love not being terrified to go to the doctor.”
" Now , with that said , Canada is n’t a utopian Shangri-la . We ’re see MAGA kinsfolk produce in intensity and frequence . Also , I ’ve establish that racism is STILL an issue here . It ’s just sneakier and quieter .
I like being here , but I cognise we can still be good . "
– u / Mister_Sosotris
15.“The lifestyle was more or less the same, except I paid more for everything. Higher gas, food, travel, housing (emphasis on this one!), clothes, all while earning less.”
" Higher taxes too , and combining this with the price of ethical drug drug , I in reality paid more in Canada for my healthcare … never was capable to set ashore a primary aid Commerce Department , let alone a specialist I need for my chronic disease direction . "
– u / Marrymechrispratt
16.“I moved here in May 2022 along with my spouse and son who is now about to be 7. He was getting ready to start school and I didn’t want him to become a statistic. I wanted something better for my son than to have to grow up around those people.”
" There are thing I miss from home ( e.g. Target , taxation - free dress ) . But I live only a few time of day from where I grew up , so we can go back middling much as often as we want . And we do . But I ’m glad I got us out of that and bid we had done it sooner .
I ’m not naïve enough to believe Canada is perfect . But it ’s certainly safer and saner . I wish more of my fellow Americans cared as much about our kids as they do guns . "
– u / KR1735
17.“Coming from Florida, Montréal’s urbanism and transit system is amazing. I can live my life without really desiring a car. The dichotomy of French majority but significant English minority allows me to both feel like I’m in a totally foreign land one day while feeling at home the next.”
It ’s probably the safest city I lived in , and there is a luck that I admire about Québec and Canadian society in how it provides wellness insurance to everyone .
Otherwise , I ’ve become quite miserable here . There ’s no other way to say this : the wintertime fucking sucks , and I do n’t recollect I ’ll miss it at all . "
– u / Dakatsu
