DISCUSS WHICH CITIES ARE BETTER IN JOBS-LIVING-HEALTH-TRANSPORTATION.

[mr.Hope]

HI

I know, NO TWO CITIES CAN BE EASILY COMPARED, as each one has their own pro's/con's.
This topic hasn't been dealt recently. so please share your advice/s.

TO NAME FEW CITIES, WHICH MIGRANTS ARE PREFERRING THE MOST:- CALGARY, EDMONTON, TORONTO, VANCOUVER, VICTORIA, HALIFAX, WINNIPEG and so on.

COMPARISONS CAN INCLUDE :- JOBS, HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, WEATHER, EDUCATION, SOCIO-CULTURAL EQUALITY, FAMILY LIFE, TAXES and so on.......

Note: The comparison is not limited to the above mentioned cities and an overall subjective assessment is also welcome.

Below are few recent comparisons:

Cost of living in Toronto is 124% more expensive than in Taichung City
Cost of living in Toronto is 21% cheaper than in New York City
Cost of living in Toronto is 21% more expensive than in Montreal
Cost of living in Toronto is 63% more expensive than in Taipei
Cost of living in Toronto is 8% cheaper than in Tokyo
Cost of living in Toronto is 24% cheaper than in Singapore
Cost of living in Toronto is 5% more expensive than in Vancouver
Cost of living in Vancouver is 4% cheaper than in Toronto
Cost of living in Toronto is 18% cheaper than in San Francisco
Cost of living in Toronto is 33% cheaper than in London
Cost of living in Ottawa is 4% cheaper than in Toulouse
Cost of living in Montreal is 17% cheaper than in Toronto
Cost of living in Vancouver is 36% cheaper than in London
Cost of living in Vancouver is 16% more expensive than in Montreal
Cost of living in Toronto is 18% more expensive than in San Jose
Cost of living in Vancouver is 22% cheaper than in San Francisco
Cost of living in Toronto is 49% more expensive than in Beijing
Cost of living in Vancouver is about the same as in Seattle
Cost of living in Vancouver is 13% cheaper than in Tokyo
Cost of living in Ottawa is about the same as in Montreal

 

[mr.Hope]

ONE DISCUSSION MADE BY - ZEPHYR BACK IN 2009.


http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/toronto-vs-calgary-vs-vancouver-t13781.0.html

Hi
I have lived in Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal and Toronto and part of my family are living in Calgary.

Pros:
Vancouver has easy access to nature (but skiing can cost a pretty penny). Seawall.
Entertainment that is decent: Hockey, Bard on the Beach, Kits, beaches, Commerical Drive.
It rarely snows.

Cons
Vancouver real estate is the highest in Canada. Cost for a one bedroom condo in downtown core (what will actually hold value.. location location location) is higher than $350,000 + Rent is over $1300/month
The summers are getting warmer and air conditioning is rare in ANY condos.. even new ones.
The city lacks any culture or entertainment. People who think it is decent haven't travelled. The art gallery is horrifyingly small, many of the interesting night clubs are closing.
Car Insurance is a surprise because it's provincially governed by ICBC so there is no competition... there for the cost is high.
Gas cost is higher than all other Canadian cities.
Food cost is higher than all other Canadian cities.
There is no banking financial base in Vancouver other than HSBC. All the other hubs are in Toronto or Montreal.
There are no highways. Traffic congestion is surprisingly bad for such a small city.
The homeless and homicide rate is higher in Vancouver than ANY of the other cities.
It rains... around October until May. Almost every day. So if you get depressed easily don't move here.
During the Olympics it will chaos.. but fun.

Toronto

Pros
In terms of job opportunities its one of the strongest.
Transit is pretty good compared to most cities but expensive.
Food is cheaper.
All purchases... can be cheaper.. as long as you look. Insurance, gas, food, items, clothes... competition makes it more affordable.
It's multicultural... truly..
Entertainment is probably one of the best... Basketball, hockey (they suck), Stratford, club districts, AGO, ROM, and the various neighbourhoods... and restaurants are cheaper!!!
Better access to schools, universities, libraries and healthcare than other cities... far better in fact.

Cons
It can overwhelm you, people are more competitive.. which may not be a bad thing depending what you like.
It snows... brrrr
Pollution but it's getting better.
Rent downtown is expensive.. about the same as Vancouver but the quality of the building may be a bit better.
Traffic can be hell.. use transit.
Lake Ontario stinks in the summer.

CALGARY

Pros
Opportunities!! but it may have died down since the boom is now over.
I think housing is dropping.. the hype has left.
Highways!! transit isn't bad either.
Cheaper food/merchandise cost.
It's SUNNY!!!! and has mountains.. real ones..
People are really nice here unlike Vancouver or toronto!

Cons
Now this city is REALLY COLD
No water...
Small city.. less excitement..
Conservative... no recycling!!

 

[emiiuki]

There are quite a lot excelent threads burried under the bunch of repeating ones. This is one of them. Thannk you for this!

 

[mr.Hope]

There are quite a lot excelent threads burried under the bunch of repeating ones. This is one of them. Thannk you for this!

you're right. But, we need info on the present trends which will be handy for everyone.

 

[sunnytheshine]

How about Halifax??
What r ur view about settling in Halifax, Nova Scotia

 

[mr.Hope]

How about Halifax??
What r ur view about settling in Halifax, Nova Scotia

LITTLE INFO ON HALIFAX , FOUND IT ON YAHOO ANSWERS.

I like Halifax. The city centre is beautiful. The centre is, however, very steep, so doing lots of walking there can be exhausting.
Nova Scotia winters are "Canadian", but if you are close to the Ocean it's not so bad, mostly.

As for food prices, there are some food items that can be ridiculously expensive, like dairy; and sometimes even fruit&veg., even though they are grown less than an hour away. But since everything in Britain is expensive, you'll find more than enough things that make life in NS cheaper than in the UK.
There are several universities in Halifax (with Dalhousie probably being the most renowned), and the schools seem to be OK (from what I heard).



There are some problems though:
The whole of Nova Scotia only has about 1 million inhabitants. Half of them live in and around Halifax. So when you leave Halifax, there's nothing there (civilisationwise) - so living in Halifax has sort of the feel of living on an island. If you wanted to get to another "real" city (shopping trip, etc.), you'd have to drvie all the way to Quebec City, I guess.

That would not be such a problem, if Halifax "had it all", but some things are missing that a city its size should have. The field of opera/theatre/classical music, for example, seems rather "thin" there. As for shopping, there are a lot of very nice and interesting small shops in the city centre, but it's not a mecca for shoppaholics. Maybe the malls (they are in the suburbs) are better, I don't know them.

Outside of the Halifay conurbation, you have lots and lots of breathtaking countryside, and if you have any hobby that has to do with the outdoors (walking, hunting, fishing, etc.) you will never be bored.
You can also find some nice quaint tourist spots (Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove, the Historic Gardens at Annapolis Royal), and some manor houses (think of your average National Trust property, but only 1/10th of the size). The thing is, though, that the whole tourist industry (as far as houses and museums are concerned) shuts down for 8-9 months, and is only operating from early June till September/early October.

Rural poverty also is an issue, as capitalgentleman mentioned; especially as some areas are so thinly populated, that there is simply nothing there: no jobs, no shops, no gas stations (which can be a problem, if you are a clueless tourist travelling by car), sometimes not even a chance for a cellphone connection. I noticed these things in particular along the coastline from Lower Burlington all the way up to Amherst (except the Truro area, of course), and the (much more beautiful) southern coast from Halifax/Dartmouth all the way up to Guysborough.

 

[mr.Hope]

MORE INFO ON HALIFAX :

Nova Scotia Major City

Halifax
Halifax is not only the capital of Nova Scotia; it acts as the economic centre of Atlantic Canada. The population of Halifax is approximately 375 000, though the surrounding area brings this figure even higher. The city has long been one of Canada’s most important ports, especially for new immigrants. Halifax’s Pier 21, which was once the main entry point for newcomers to Canada, has now been converted into an immigration museum.

As a provincial capital, government at all levels is an important employer in the Halifax area. Along with the offices of the Government of Nova Scotia, Halifax is also home to central operations for Canada’s Department of National Defense. Another major employer in the city is the Port of Halifax, one of the most important ports in North America. Like any major modern city, Halifax is home to a thriving service industry and many private sector companies. With the growth of offshore oil and gas production, this sector is becoming an increasingly important employer in Nova Scotia.

Halifax is a center for learning and culture. The city is home to a large number of post-secondary institutions, most notably Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University. The community enjoys a bustling artistic scene, one which produces some of Canada’s top musicians. Halifax has also grown recent years as a center for film production.
SOURCE : http://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-immigration-information-nova-scotia.html

 

[mr.Hope]

just to start with Vancouver

http://moving2canada.com/city-guides/moving-to-vancouver/living-in-vancouver/

http://www.livingin-canada.com/living-in-vancouver.html

PERSONAL NOTES BY ANABELLE
http://www.anabellebf.com/dont-move-to-vancouver-why-i-changed-my-mind-after-6-months/

 

[mr.Hope]

Even though there are many important factors to consider in a province, the primary one would be the kind of Occupation one is in and which Province got more prospects for that occupation.

 

[mr.Hope]

9,400 jobs lost in June: StatsCan

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says the economy unexpectedly lost 9,400 jobs last month as the unemployment rose one-tenth of a point to 7.1 per cent – the highest since last December.

Ontario was the big loser, shedding almost 34,000 jobs in June, all in the youth 15-24 age group.

Economists had expected another big month of job creation following May’s 25,800 gain, but June resumed what has become a year-long trend of weak demand for workers.

Over the past 12 months, the economy has created only 72,000 new jobs, split evenly between part-time and full-time workers.

If there was a silver lining in the bleak report, it was that full-time employment rose by 33,500, partly making up for the loss of 43,000 part-time jobs.

The agency says the major setback was among youth workers, who gave back almost all the job gains of May with a drop of about 44,000, most in Ontario.

 

[hardworkpays]

ONE DISCUSSION MADE BY - ZEPHYR BACK IN 2009.


http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/toronto-vs-calgary-vs-vancouver-t13781.0.html

Hi
I have lived in Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal and Toronto and part of my family are living in Calgary.

Pros:
Vancouver has easy access to nature (but skiing can cost a pretty penny). Seawall.
Entertainment that is decent: Hockey, Bard on the Beach, Kits, beaches, Commerical Drive.
It rarely snows.

Cons
Vancouver real estate is the highest in Canada. Cost for a one bedroom condo in downtown core (what will actually hold value.. location location location) is higher than $350,000 + Rent is over $1300/month
The summers are getting warmer and air conditioning is rare in ANY condos.. even new ones.
The city lacks any culture or entertainment. People who think it is decent haven't travelled. The art gallery is horrifyingly small, many of the interesting night clubs are closing.
Car Insurance is a surprise because it's provincially governed by ICBC so there is no competition... there for the cost is high.
Gas cost is higher than all other Canadian cities.
Food cost is higher than all other Canadian cities.
There is no banking financial base in Vancouver other than HSBC. All the other hubs are in Toronto or Montreal.
There are no highways. Traffic congestion is surprisingly bad for such a small city.
The homeless and homicide rate is higher in Vancouver than ANY of the other cities.
It rains... around October until May. Almost every day. So if you get depressed easily don't move here.
During the Olympics it will chaos.. but fun.

Toronto

Pros
In terms of job opportunities its one of the strongest.
Transit is pretty good compared to most cities but expensive.
Food is cheaper.
All purchases... can be cheaper.. as long as you look. Insurance, gas, food, items, clothes... competition makes it more affordable.
It's multicultural... truly..
Entertainment is probably one of the best... Basketball, hockey (they suck), Stratford, club districts, AGO, ROM, and the various neighbourhoods... and restaurants are cheaper!!!
Better access to schools, universities, libraries and healthcare than other cities... far better in fact.

Cons
It can overwhelm you, people are more competitive.. which may not be a bad thing depending what you like.
It snows... brrrr
Pollution but it's getting better.
Rent downtown is expensive.. about the same as Vancouver but the quality of the building may be a bit better.
Traffic can be hell.. use transit.
Lake Ontario stinks in the summer.

CALGARY

Pros
Opportunities!! but it may have died down since the boom is now over.
I think housing is dropping.. the hype has left.
Highways!! transit isn't bad either.
Cheaper food/merchandise cost.
It's SUNNY!!!! and has mountains.. real ones..
People are really nice here unlike Vancouver or toronto!

Cons
Now this city is REALLY COLD
No water...
Small city.. less excitement..
Conservative... no recycling!!

why do you say the boom is over?

everyone says alberta is the most suitable for engineering jobs?
and calgary is at the center of all in alberta.....

isnt that the ground reality????

 

[mr.Hope]

why do you say the boom is over?

everyone says alberta is the most suitable for engineering jobs?
and calgary is at the center of all in alberta.....

isnt that the ground reality????

the above content was discussed in 2009.
FYI - ALBERTA contributed the maximum number of jobs for 2013-2014, when compared to rest of the provinces.

info on ALBERTA LABOR FORCE
http://work.alberta.ca/documents/labour-profile-immigrants.pdf?utm_source=mailoutinteractive&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20immigrant%20labour%20force%20in%20Alberta

 

[hardworkpays]

the above content was discussed in 2009.
FYI - ALBERTA contributed the maximum number of jobs for 2013-2014, when compared to rest of the provinces.

info on ALBERTA LABOR FORCE
http://work.alberta.ca/documents/labour-profile-immigrants.pdf?utm_source=mailoutinteractive&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20immigrant%20labour%20force%20in%20Alberta

Thanks

Buy then why do you say the boom is over?
Thats a thing to worry about....
We shd not reache when the music is already stop
And there is no chair left for new comers

 

[mr.Hope]

Thanks

Buy then why do you say the boom is over?
Thats a thing to worry about....
We shd not reache when the music is already stop
And there is no chair left for new comers

could you please share your NOC and which city are you landing ?

 

[hardworkpays]

could you please share your NOC and which city are you landing ?

NOC-2133 and Calgary