So the family and I are throwing around the idea of moving from Southern California to Montreal due to job offers. I attempted to look up cost of living comparisons to get a feel, but all of the sites I checked were able to run city-to-city comparisons within the same country, but not comparing cities from two separate countries.

-What's the weather like?
-Roads for lowered cars?
-Taxes?
-Rent for a house within the $2000-2500 range?

This was just a curveball thrown at me, so any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

TIA,
Rick

 

I don't live in Montreal (from Toronto), but from the times I've been there - road conditions are pretty bad - pot holes everywhere.

 

-Weather is decent. Not as good as you would get in Toronto, but still good enough to enjoy a few months.
-Roads are not in the best of shape, because of the cold winters.. You planning on driving your Z, Rick? IIRC, you were pretty slammed.. but should be alright for the most part.
-We get slammed on income tax in Canada.. depending on your salary range, it can get frustrating.. (You will be shocked, coming from the US)
-You will easily find a house to rent for that price
Check out www.realtor.ca
or
http://www.realtor.ca/map.aspx?&vs=V...e;chkAll:false


Post up if you have more questions, we have a few regulars from the Montreal area who can surely provide more accurate info.

GL!

 

Thanks for the post! I will probably drive my 300, but the weather sounds pretty brutal. If we do make the move, i'm hoping that I can have a nice sized garage to work on my Z since I don't plan for Canada to be a long term thing.

From the pictures I saw online...it looks like snow is everywhere. Hmmm, Subaru? lol

 

I spent 3 summers in Montreal.

No doubt a fun city. When I was there in the winter it was brutally cold.

As Reality said, the worst part about Canada is the provincial + federal income tax. Make sure you factor that into your salary expectations before making the move.

California.
If your income range is between $47,056 and $1,000,000, your tax rate on every dollar of income earned is 9.3%.
USA
25% $35,351 – $85,650
28% $85,651 – $178,650

Quebec
0 - $40,100 = 16%
$40,100 - $80,200 =20%
$80,200+ = 24%

Canada
85K-132K = 26%

So if you make 100K in California your tax rate is 37.3%
If you make 100K in Quebec your tax rate is 50%

That's a big difference in pocket money. "free" health care.

 

its only 50% on what u make over the 80gs

 

yes true, but still makes a huge dent in your take home pay.
The more you make the more it makes sense to leave Canada.

 

Thanks! I looked in to the tax brackets and the 50% tax rate was a major turn off. I don't see the move happening any time soon because of this and the weather.

 

I dont know what sort of tax agreements there are between Canada and the US or what your company will offer you. I work in china and I get a major tax break for working overseas. I work enough days to qualify to pay income tax in china and the company I work for covers everthing over what I should pay in Canada. There is a chance your company could offer something to help out with the tax jump.

 

canada. 11% tax across the board.( not income tax)

 

Although quebec is the highest tax rate in Canada, for 100k its actually only 32%. Anything above that is taxed higher, but that is your average tax rate for the year.
There is also a high sales tax of 14.5% on everything.


Aside from the money, southern cali to montreal is a HUGE change. Both in climate and culture. I would say spend a weekend in the city before you even consider it. Come up for F1 in May

Im not sure there is a US city to compare montreal to. Maybe Boston, if it was French lol

 

Lol out of everyone who answered about Montreal, none of you are from here lol.

But most of you are right, The roads are horrible, espcially in the spring before they 'patch' it all up.. I just took my Z out today, its sitting on stop suspension and I have no problems. Taxes, well wtvr, we do have free health care.. The weather can go either way, we just had a really mild winter with barely any snow. Summers are gorgeous though..

There`s ups and downs where you live. But theres something about Montreal thats like no other place in Canada..

my .02