If you’re seriously considering living in Canada or the UK, there are many factors to consider before making your decision.
In this article, we’ll look at the Pros and cons of living in Canada vs UK including the cost of living, entertainment and travel options, weather, healthcare, the job market, and safety factors such as crime rates and pollution levels.
Pros and cons of living in Canada vs UK
Look below for the pros and cons of living in Canada:
Pros of living in Canada
1. Healthcare
Canada’s healthcare system is one of the best ways to save money. For example, if you are an individual with a pre-existing condition, you may be able to get coverage for that condition under provincial/territorial health insurance plans.
In contrast, the NHS will not provide medical care or funding for any medical conditions you had before you came to the UK.
You can also apply for private health insurance in order to have your own personal doctor which might be more convenient than waiting at your local GP office.
2. Employment opportunities
The UK offers more employment opportunities than Canada. In the past five years, unemployment rates have been higher in the UK than they have been in Canada. This may be due to the difference between the two countries’ respective economies.
Many people immigrate to the UK from places such as Ireland, Poland, and India for work because there are fewer job opportunities back home.
Conversely, many immigrants come from places such as China or India to settle in Canada because of better employment prospects.
3. Housing prices
House prices are significantly lower in the UK than they are in Canada which means it is cheaper for experts to buy their own home or rent a place with a mortgage loan.
4. Free education
Education is free for all children in the UK from the age of 5-16 years old. This means that students can attend a public school or a private school, and their families will not have to pay any tuition fees. In contrast, Canadian students are responsible for their own education costs.
They must pay tuition fees to attend public schools, which range from $4,000-$10,000 each year. Private schools are even more expensive with annual tuition rates ranging from $12,000-$30,000 per year.
5. Affordability
There are many affordable housing options available in Canada, which is especially great for those just starting out. Canada’s cost of living is also much lower than the cost of living in the UK.
With a higher minimum wage and less expensive food, people have more money to spend on other things. If you’re looking to start a family or save up for retirement, then you’ll be happy to know that there’s more opportunity to build wealth here than anywhere else.
Cons of living in Canada
1. Long winters
It’s not all good in the Great White North – while there are a lot of benefits to living here, it also has its downsides. One of the biggest downsides is the long winters.
Some Canadians might be used to four or five months without any sunlight during winter, but many people from other countries find this difficult to adjust to.
The temperature can go as low as -40°C (-40°F), so it is important to dress warmly when going outdoors, even on short walks.
2. Not as much sunshine
Living in the UK means you will have more sunshine than if you lived in Canada. In the winter months, there is a lot less sun, but on the flip side, it doesn’t get as hot.
If you’re looking for a place where it’s warm all year round, then maybe the United Kingdom isn’t your best bet.
On the other hand, some people might be happy with that trade-off because they don’t want to deal with extreme heat.
A lot of people who live in the UK complain about not getting enough sunlight. For example, Glasgow gets an average of only 1,000 hours of sunshine per year. You also might not like how cold it can be during the winter months since there are long periods without any sun at all.
3. Higher cost of living
According to Numbeo, the cost of living is currently around 27% higher in the United Kingdom than in Canada. This means that groceries are going to be more expensive, taxes will be higher, etc.
This might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but it can add up quickly with the British pound being worth less than the Canadian dollar. For example, rent for a one-bedroom apartment could run $1,600 per month in London versus $1,200 per month in Toronto. That’s an extra $400 just for the location of your residence!
4. Colder weather
This is a downside to living in Canada. It can be cold for much longer than it can be in the United Kingdom, which means you have to find ways to keep yourself warm.
Another downside is that there may not be as many job opportunities because people are more willing to move from warmer places like the United States, Europe, or Asia to live in warmer climates like Canada.
A benefit could be that it’s easy to get healthcare insurance and things might cost less, but on the other hand, they also might cost more. The benefits of living in the UK include the culture from food and art to language and how English is spoken widely throughout most of Western Europe. Some drawbacks include the higher cost of living (rents and groceries) and colder weather.
5. Harder to travel
One downside to living in the United Kingdom is that it can be more difficult to travel. It’s not possible to drive from one side of the country to the other, meaning you must either fly or take a train.
If you plan on driving around Europe, then this won’t be an issue for you, but if you want to explore Britain, then it might make things more difficult.
Is living in Canada better than living in the UK?
If you are considering moving to Canada or the United Kingdom, there are a number of factors that may impact which country is better for you. Both countries have their own unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to compare them on an individual basis.
The cost of living is generally lower in Canada than in the UK. However, if you are coming from a high-cost country (such as the U.S.), this will be less significant.
Are salaries higher in Canada than the UK?
Possibly. In the United States, for example, the average salary for a plumber is $40,000 annually. The average salary for a plumber in the UK is £22,000 annually.
How much do mortgages cost?
A mortgage on a home in Calgary, Canada would cost roughly $1,800 per month while an equivalent mortgage on a home in London, England would cost around £1,500 per month.
Is Canada safer than the UK?
Canada is not safer than the United Kingdom. In fact, crime rates are much higher in Canada than they are in the United Kingdom.
There are a number of things to consider when deciding whether or not you would feel more at ease residing within one country over the other, such as language, political systems, and culture.
What if I can’t speak either English or French?
If you cannot speak English or French then you may find it difficult to live in Canada because the vast majority of Canadians only speak those languages.
Is their food similar?
The food available in Canada varies by region, but overall it tends to be less diverse than that which is available in Britain. Canadian cuisine does borrow from many different cultures though, including Asian, African, and Latin American cuisines.
Is Canada colder than the UK?
This is one of the first things you will notice when you visit a country. In general, the climate is cooler in Canada. The average temperature during winter months is -3 degrees Celsius while it can be as high as 18 degrees Celsius in summer.
This means that if you are used to hot summers or cold winters, this may not be a place for you to relocate.
Is it worth moving to Canada from the UK?
Moving to Canada from the United Kingdom has both its pros and cons. People may choose to move to Canada because they have family there, or they may be looking for a new job opportunity. However, it can be difficult for people who do not speak English as their first language.
The Canadian healthcare system is also different than the British system. The Canadian healthcare system is funded by the government whereas the British healthcare system relies on private insurance companies.
Are houses cheaper in Canada than the UK?
For a country with the world’s third-largest economy, housing prices in the United States are surprisingly high. For example, the median list price for a home on Trulia is $225,000.
In comparison, the median list price for a home on Trulia in Canada is $184,000; this difference of $41,000 represents an approximate 15% difference.
And while that might not sound like much, it can make or break your budget depending on where you live.
Let’s say you buy a house in San Francisco for $250,000 just barely within your budget and then have to relocate to Vancouver because your new job requires you to be on the west coast.
Conclusion
There are many Pros and cons of living in Canada vs UK. The above-listed are a few points to help you make a decision about where to live.
