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Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

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Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#11

Post by artartart »

dennybritz wrote: post #5

I'm actually in that situation. I'm originally from Europe but I have permanent resident status in the US and have studied/worked there for most of my adult life. I don't understand why people on HN are crazy about moving to the US (or the bay area). It looks glamorous from the outside but it's not as great as people make it out to be. If it wasn't necessary to stay in the US to keep my resident status I'd be gone in…

I'm currently in Bangkok and wanted to add that if you keep on the low and spend your money here there are no problems. It sucks as soon as you try to speak up, buy property, make money from this place, or do anything where the rule of law is important. You will miss the rule of law, i.e. republic, of well-established nations.

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#13

Post by dennybritz »

artartart wrote: post #11
dennybritz wrote: post #5

I'm actually in that situation. I'm originally from Europe but I have permanent resident status in the US and have studied/worked there for most of my adult life. I don't understand why people on HN are crazy about moving to the US (or the bay area). It looks glamorous from the outside but it's not as great as people make it out to be. If it wasn't necessary to stay in the US to keep my resident status I'd be gone in…

I'm currently in Bangkok and wanted to add that if you keep on the low and spend your money here there are no problems. It sucks as soon as you try to speak up, buy property, make money from this place, or do anything where the rule of law is important. You will miss the rule of law, i.e. republic, of well-established nations.

I'm currently in BKK as well. Hit me up if you want to grab a drink, email is in my profile.

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#14

Post by yitchelle »

miguelrochefort wrote: post #3

Canadian here. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat. - Access to most online services on day one (Pandora, Netflix, etc) - Amazon.com - 35% less taxes - Groceries are 50% cheaper. - Restaurants are 25% cheaper. - Fuel is 25% cheaper - Salaries are 200% to 300% higher (in tech) - Housing is cheaper (on average) - Superbowl ads - Best TV shows - Better health care - More exciting politics - Less regulation - Better cultur…

> - Amazon.com

Really??

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#15

Post by miguelrochefort »

maclo wrote: post #6
miguelrochefort wrote: post #3

Canadian here. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat. - Access to most online services on day one (Pandora, Netflix, etc) - Amazon.com - 35% less taxes - Groceries are 50% cheaper. - Restaurants are 25% cheaper. - Fuel is 25% cheaper - Salaries are 200% to 300% higher (in tech) - Housing is cheaper (on average) - Superbowl ads - Best TV shows - Better health care - More exciting politics - Less regulation - Better cultur…

Thanks for your perspective. I don't know a lot about Canada but from what I know, I think most of what you say is true. Except: > 35% less taxes I'm not so sure. In a state without income tax, if you are single and make $100K, your average federal tax is 18%. In California, you probably own another 7%. So 1/4th of your income goes to tax. How about Canada? > Better health care Everywhere I read, healthcare in Canada…

> I'm not so sure. In a state without income tax, if you are single and make $100K, your average federal tax is 18%. In California, you probably own another 7%. So 1/4th of your income goes to tax. How about Canada?

According to this [1] website (for an income of $100,000 in my province):

"Your average tax rate is 35.3% and your marginal rate is 51.8%."

Add 15% sales tax on top of that.

> Everywhere I read, healthcare in Canada can't possibly be worse than in the US. I remember a research pointed out that the per capita cost for healthcare in Canada is like half of that of the US.

You read that from people who don't know. I've been waiting years for a family practician. An appointment with a specialist (i.e., a dermatologist) can easily take 6 months. You'll wait years on a list to get a non-urgent surgery. Average waiting time in emergency rooms is 21 hours. If you can't wait, you need to pay $200-300 per visit at private clinics.

In the US, a private insurance would give me MUCH better services, and might even cover non-basic treatments, eye care and dental care.

[1] http://www.tax-services.ca/income-tax-calculator-canada/

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#16

Post by miguelrochefort »

yitchelle wrote: post #14
miguelrochefort wrote: post #3

Canadian here. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat. - Access to most online services on day one (Pandora, Netflix, etc) - Amazon.com - 35% less taxes - Groceries are 50% cheaper. - Restaurants are 25% cheaper. - Fuel is 25% cheaper - Salaries are 200% to 300% higher (in tech) - Housing is cheaper (on average) - Superbowl ads - Best TV shows - Better health care - More exciting politics - Less regulation - Better cultur…

> - Amazon.com Really??

What's so surprising about that?

Amazon.ca barely has 0.1% of what's available on Amazon.com, and most items are 50% to 100% more expensive there. Shipping is rarely free.

I don't think you realize how convenient being able to shop on Amazon.com is. If anything, that would be in my top 3 reasons to move.

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#17

Post by miguelrochefort »

victorhn wrote: post #4
miguelrochefort wrote: post #3

Canadian here. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat. - Access to most online services on day one (Pandora, Netflix, etc) - Amazon.com - 35% less taxes - Groceries are 50% cheaper. - Restaurants are 25% cheaper. - Fuel is 25% cheaper - Salaries are 200% to 300% higher (in tech) - Housing is cheaper (on average) - Superbowl ads - Best TV shows - Better health care - More exciting politics - Less regulation - Better cultur…

>Canadian here. ... >Too bad immigration is so difficult. What about TN1 ?

They won't let "Software Developers" get one. I would need to somehow demonstrate that I'm a "Computer Analyst". Doesn't seem to easy from what I read, on top of the fact that it's unreliable and arbitrary.

Also [1]:

> Canadian citizen must demonstrate an intention to return to his/her home country upon the expiration of the TN visa.

[1] http://www.canadiansinusa.com/Working-in-the-US/tn-visa.html

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#18

Post by yitchelle »

miguelrochefort wrote: post #16
yitchelle wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - Amazon.com Really??

What's so surprising about that? Amazon.ca barely has 0.1% of what's available on Amazon.com, and most items are 50% to 100% more expensive there. Shipping is rarely free. I don't think you realize how convenient being able to shop on Amazon.com is. If anything, that would be in my top 3 reasons to move.

This is surprising for me because access to a specific online business is not typically on a list of requirements to relocate, for me anyway.

Is there an online business, equivalent to Amazon, that is killing it in Canada?

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#19

Post by TuringNYC »

yitchelle wrote: post #18
miguelrochefort wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's so surprising about that? Amazon.ca barely has 0.1% of what's available on Amazon.com, and most items are 50% to 100% more expensive there. Shipping is rarely free. I don't think you realize how convenient being able to shop on Amazon.com is. If anything, that would be in my top 3 reasons to move.

This is surprising for me because access to a specific online business is not typically on a list of requirements to relocate, for me anyway. Is there an online business, equivalent to Amazon, that is killing it in Canada?

I would be surprised as well, but then i moved to the middle east. Want to buy a closet rod...fly to Dubai to get it, or pay $30 to have a $4 item shipped internationally. Want to buy a particular brand of children's clothing, pay a 150% premium.

You dont realize how good you have it until you lose it!

Re: Ask HN: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

#20

Post by AnimalMuppet »

miguelrochefort wrote: post #3

Canadian here. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat. - Access to most online services on day one (Pandora, Netflix, etc) - Amazon.com - 35% less taxes - Groceries are 50% cheaper. - Restaurants are 25% cheaper. - Fuel is 25% cheaper - Salaries are 200% to 300% higher (in tech) - Housing is cheaper (on average) - Superbowl ads - Best TV shows - Better health care - More exciting politics - Less regulation - Better cultur…

You can't get Super Bowl ads in Canada? That one's easy. Wait an hour after the game, and they're on YouTube.
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