Moving to Canada From the US? The Honest Pros and Cons

Every few years, “moving to Canada” trends in the United States. Most of those searches never turn into a move. The ones that do often hit the same surprises.

Canada really is a good place to live. It is safe, it is next door, and daily life feels familiar. But it is not a soft landing. Getting permission to stay is hard. Healthcare is free at the point of use, but you may wait months for it. And taxes, housing and winter all cost more than people plan for.

This guide sets out the real pros and cons of living in Canada, with 2025 and 2026 figures. It is written for Americans, because that is who asks us most. If you want to compare Canada with places that make moving easier, see our guide to countries that offer retirement visas.

The pros of living in Canada

1. It is much safer

Canada recorded 788 homicides in 2024, a rate of 1.91 per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. The US rate that year was about 5 per 100,000, according to FBI data. So the risk is roughly two and a half times lower.

For many American families, this is the main reason they look north. Gun violence is far less common, and most cities feel calm at night.

2. Your dollar goes further

At the start of October 2026, one US dollar bought about 1.42 Canadian dollars, according to Exchange-Rates.org. If you earn, save or draw a pension in US dollars, a C$100 bill costs you only about US$70.

Rents are also easing. The national average asking rent was C$2,034 in September 2026, down 4.2% from a year earlier. That was the 24th month in a row of falling rents, CP24 reported from Rentals.ca data.

3. Healthcare costs you very little

Each province runs public health insurance. Once you are covered, doctor visits and hospital care are paid for. You will not get a surprise bill after surgery. For Americans used to deductibles and networks, this is a real relief.

It is not perfect, and the waits are covered below. But the financial fear around getting sick largely goes away.

4. It is close and familiar

You can drive home for Thanksgiving. English is spoken almost everywhere outside Quebec. The shops, the TV and the way people work will feel familiar within weeks.

Some Americans can also start working quickly. Under the trade agreement known as CUSMA, US citizens in about 60 professions can get a work permit with a job offer from a Canadian employer. Accountants, architects and dentists are on the list. You can often apply at the border, CIC News explains.

5. A clear path to citizenship

Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after three years of living in Canada within a five-year window. Canada allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to give up your US passport, BrightTax notes.

If you have Canadian roots, check this first. Since 15 December 2025, a new law has extended citizenship by descent. Some people born abroad with a Canadian grandparent or great-grandparent may already be citizens, as Mondaq explains. If that is you, you may not need a visa at all.

The cons of living in Canada

1. Getting in is the hard part

This is the biggest downside, and it surprises most Americans.

Canada has cut immigration. Its target for new permanent residents is 380,000 a year from 2026 to 2028, the Canadian government says. That is down from nearly 500,000 in 2024.

The main route, Express Entry, is points-based. It now favors people in healthcare, science and tech, skilled trades, and French speakers. Age, education, language and Canadian work experience all count. If you are over 40 and do not speak French, your score will be harder to build.

2. There is no retirement visa

This is the con that matters most for our readers. Canada does not have a visa for retirees who live on savings or a pension, BrightTax confirms. Buying a home does not give you the right to stay either.

Americans can usually visit for up to six months at a time. That works well for snowbirds in reverse, who spend summer in Canada. But visitors do not get provincial healthcare. The program that let citizens sponsor their parents and grandparents was also paused on 15 July 2026.

If you plan to retire abroad, countries like Portugal, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica all have retirement visas that Canada does not.

3. You may wait a long time for care

Free care is not the same as fast care. The median wait from a family doctor’s referral to treatment was 28.6 weeks in 2025, the Fraser Institute found. That is more than six months.

It depends a lot on where you live. Ontario had the shortest wait at 19.2 weeks. New Brunswick had the longest at 60.9 weeks.

There are other gaps too. Several provinces make new residents wait up to about three months for public coverage, so you need private insurance at first. Dental care, glasses and prescriptions usually need private cover.

What to plan for: Budget for private insurance for your first months. Keep a supplemental plan for dental and drugs. If you need regular specialist care, check wait times in the province you choose.

4. Taxes are higher, and you still file in the US

Federal income tax runs from 14% to 33% in 2026, according to Fidelity Canada. Each province then adds its own tax. In British Columbia, the top combined rate reaches 53.5%. Sales tax is often 13% to 15%.

And because the US taxes its citizens wherever they live, you must still file a US return every year. You will usually get a credit for Canadian tax paid, so most people do not pay twice. But the paperwork is real. You must also report Canadian bank accounts on an FBAR once they pass $10,000 in total. Popular Canadian savings accounts like the TFSA are not tax free in the eyes of the IRS.

What to plan for: Use a cross-border tax adviser who knows both systems. It is worth the fee in year one.

5. Housing is expensive

The national average home price was C$666,538 in September 2026, according to CREA. Toronto and Vancouver are far higher. Even after two years of falling rents, an average apartment still costs over C$2,000 a month.

The strong US dollar softens this. But compared with most US cities outside the coasts, you will get less space for the money.

6. Winter is long

There is no way around this one. In most of Canada, you will have snow for several months, short days and real cold. Vancouver and Victoria are milder but rainy. Many people love it. Many others underestimate it.

What to plan for: Spend a January in your chosen city before you commit. It is the cheapest test you can run.

A note for retirees

If you do get permanent residency, perhaps through a Canadian spouse, your US Social Security keeps paying. Under the US-Canada tax treaty, it is generally taxed in Canada, and only 85% of it counts as taxable income, according to Taxes for Expats. How this applies to US citizens can be complicated, so check it with an adviser.

For the bigger picture of what changes for Americans abroad next year, see our guide to expat rule changes in 2027.

Who Canada suits, and who should look elsewhere

Canada is a strong fit if you:

• have a skill on the Express Entry priority list, or a Canadian job offer
• have a Canadian spouse, partner or grandparent
• want a safe place to raise children, close to family in the US
• do not mind cold winters

You may be happier elsewhere if you:

• are retiring and do not have a family link to Canada
• need regular specialist care and cannot wait months
• want lower taxes or a warm climate

If Canada is on your list, our guide to the nicest places to live in Canada can help you choose a city. And if you like this honest format, read our take on the disadvantages of living in Puerto Rico, the other “easy” move many Americans consider.

FAQs

What are the biggest pros and cons of living in Canada?

The biggest pros are safety, public healthcare and a familiar way of life close to the US. The biggest cons are how hard it is to get permanent residency, long waits for medical treatment, higher taxes, expensive housing and long winters.

Can an American just move to Canada?

No. You can visit for up to six months, but to live and work there you need a permit or permanent residency. Common routes are Express Entry, a provincial nominee program, a CUSMA work permit with a job offer, or sponsorship by a Canadian spouse or partner.

Can I retire in Canada as an American?

Not easily. Canada has no retirement visa. Most retirees who settle there have a Canadian spouse or family link. Others spend up to six months a year as visitors, without provincial healthcare.

Is healthcare free in Canada for Americans?

Once you are a resident and enrolled in your province’s plan, most doctor and hospital care is free at the point of use. Visitors are not covered. Several provinces make new residents wait up to about three months, and dental care and prescriptions are usually extra.

Do I still pay US taxes if I live in Canada?

You still file a US return every year. Most people owe little or no US tax because they can claim a credit for Canadian tax paid. You may also need to file an FBAR for Canadian bank accounts.

Sources

Source	What it supports
Statistics Canada, Dec 2025	788 homicides, 1.91 per 100,000 in 2024
Al Jazeera on FBI data, Aug 2025	US murder rate of 5 per 100,000 in 2024
Exchange-Rates.org, 1 Oct 2026	US$1 = about C$1.42
CP24 on Rentals.ca data, 7 Oct 2026	Average asking rent C$2,034, down 4.2%
CP24 on CREA data, 16 Oct 2026	Average home price C$666,538
Government of Canada, Mar 2026	380,000 permanent resident target, 2026 to 2028
BrightTax, moving to Canada 2026	Express Entry priorities, 2024 figure, citizenship rule, US filing, FBAR, TFSA, health wait
BrightTax, retiring in Canada 2026	No retirement visa, six-month visits, parents program paused
CIC News	CUSMA professional work permits
Mondaq, citizenship by descent	Bill C-3, in force 15 Dec 2025
Fraser Institute, Dec 2025	28.6-week median wait, provincial range
Fidelity Canada	2026 federal rates, BC top rate
Taxes for Expats	Social Security under the treaty, 85% inclusion

About the Author

Isha Sesay is Escape Artist’s Editor-in-Chief. Born in London, she has spent the past decade living and working across the globe, and now calls Spain home.

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