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Canada vs United States
United States is {pct} {word} than Canada. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United States to match Canada.
Canada vs United States at a glance — United States is 8% cheaper than Canada overall. Average net salary: $4,300/mo vs $3,300/mo. Top income tax: 37% vs 33%.
| Canada | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Cost of living index | 114 | 105 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 33% | 37% |
| VAT / sales tax | 5% | 0% |
| Social security (employee) | — | 7.7% |
| Corporate tax | 26.5% | 21% |
| Capital gains | — | 20% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $3,300/mo | $4,300/mo |
| Minimum wage | $1,900/mo | $1,257/mo✓ |
| GDP per capita | $55,698✓ | $90,027✓ |
| Inflation (annual) | 2.1%✓ | — |
| Life expectancy | 82 yr✓ | 79 yr✓ |
| Quality of life | ||
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | High |
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | No |
✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Canada cheaper than United States?
United States is about 8% cheaper than Canada overall — its cost-of-living index is 105 versus 114 for Canada.
How much do you need to earn in United States to live like in Canada?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Canada is worth about $68,805 in United States. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Canada or United States?
Canada has the lower top income-tax rate — 33% versus 37% in United States.