Moving to Canada from the US: the money math
Updated July 2026 · computed from cityparity's engine data at Vancouver rates
Canada is the lowest-friction move on this list, and the math is closer to the US than people expect: higher income tax, far lower healthcare exposure, and childcare mid-transformation under the $10-a-day program. The catch is supply: the subsidized price is real, the waitlist is too.
The short version
- Effective tax at a $150k-equivalent salary: 31.6% (single filer, Vancouver, no regime applied).
- Inbound tax regime: no real salary relief.
- Childcare: CAD 620/mo full-time preschool ($10-a-day national childcare (CWELCC), where you can get a slot).
- Time off: 15 vacation days + 11 holidays, parental leave 50 weeks at 55% (≈ 28 full-pay weeks).
- Healthcare: universal, not tied to your job.
- Run your own salary and family for the number that actually decides it.
What a salary actually keeps
Single filer, Vancouver rates, salary converted at current exchange rates and run through the real brackets and employee contributions, no special regime applied:
| US-equivalent salary | Effective tax rate | Net (USD-equivalent) |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | 26.8% | $73,204 |
| $150,000 | 31.6% | $102,594 |
| $250,000 | 39.0% | $152,552 |
Gross-to-gross comparisons stop here. The lines below are why they mislead: they all move money in ways no salary number shows. The concept that nets everything out is the equivalent salary.
The tax regime question
No special inbound regime is modeled for this country.
How the regimes across Europe compare, what each is worth, and where the expiry cliffs are: expat tax breaks, decoded.
Childcare: $10-a-day national childcare (CWELCC), where you can get a slot
Full-time preschool-age care runs about CAD 620 a month at our Vancouver rate, and the engine counts about CAD 3,600 a year of standing subsidy against it. Set that against $1,650 to $2,400 a month in major US metros, paid from after-tax income, with help that cliffs out at moderate incomes. The full family math is in what it really costs to raise kids, and the by-country table is at childcare costs by country.
Healthcare
Coverage is universal and funded through the taxes already counted above. Typical out-of-pocket spending is about CAD 600 a year, and none of it is tied to your job. For contrast, KFF puts the average US worker's share of a family premium at $6,850 a year before deductibles.
Time off, priced
15 vacation days plus 11 public holidays, against a US norm of 26 with no statutory floor. Parental leave runs 50 weeks at an effective 55%, roughly 28 weeks at full pay, and families receive about CAD 3,000 per child per year in cash benefits. What that time is worth at your salary: the hidden paycheck.
Run a real comparison
Worked city-level comparisons against US cities, with take-home, costs, and the safety net netted out:
Or run your own salary and family through the calculator →
FAQ
How much tax will I pay in Canada?
At the local equivalent of a $150,000 salary, our engine computes an effective income-plus-payroll rate of about 31.6% for a single filer in Vancouver, before any special regime. There is no special inbound regime to soften it.
Does Canada have a tax break for foreign workers?
No special inbound regime is modeled for this country.
How much does childcare cost in Canada?
Full-time preschool-age care runs about CAD 620 a month at our engine's Vancouver rate, before an annual subsidy of about CAD 3,600.
How does healthcare work in Canada for a family?
Coverage is universal and funded through the tax system; typical out-of-pocket spending is about CAD 600 a year and is not tied to your job.
Figures come from cityparity's per-city engine, computed from official sources with a per-value audit trail; currency conversions use rates from 2026-07-06 and drift daily. Treat any single number as a strong estimate and run your own. See the methodology.