What is the salary in Canada compared to the US?

Asked by: Destini Stracke  |  Last update: December 11, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (51 votes)

According to Statistics Canada, the Canadian median income was $68,400 CAD in 2021, whereas in the same year, the US median income was $70,784 USD, according to the US Census. It doesn't look like a massive difference but keep conversion rates in mind — $68,400 CAD is equal to $50,348 in USD.

Are salaries higher in Canada or the US?

The United States has a higher average salary compared to Canada, but the difference is more substantial as it may initially appear. Two North American powerhouses, the United States and Canada boast robust economies and high standards of living, though the citizens in both nations often earn vastly different amounts.

Is it cheaper to live in Canada or the USA?

Overall, Canada is more affordable than the US, but the US has a higher median income. Comparing the cost of living in both countries is tricky because living costs vary dramatically within each city. It's important to consider the hidden costs and savings of public goods and services when comparing costs of living.

Is $70,000 a good salary in Canada?

You can live comfortably anywhere in Canada with $70k. It's not enough to afford a house in Vancouver or Toronto, but you could still afford a modest 1br apartment in any city, afford a car, and still have plenty left over for eating out, etc.

Is 80,000 USD a good salary in Canada?

The average salary in Toronto is $62,050, which is 14% higher than the Canadian average salary of $54,450. A person making $80,000 a year in Toronto makes 28.9% more than the average working person in Toronto and will take home about $59,519.

How Does Canada's Cost of Living REALLY Compare to USA?

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What salary do you need to live comfortably in Canada?

Comfortable Living: For a more comfortable life with room for savings, occasional extras, and potential childcare costs, aim for a combined annual pre-tax household income of at least $95,000 (increased from $90,000 in 2023). This allows for a more balanced lifestyle in most Canadian locations.

Is $300,000 a good salary in usa?

Is $300,000 a Year Considered Rich? Given that the average salary in the U.S. is about 21% of $300,000, yes, many would consider someone earning $300,000 per year by themselves to be rich. However, in most states, you'd need to make substantially more than $300,000 per year to be in the top 1% of earners.

What percentage of Canada makes over 100k?

Percentage of Canadians Having an Annual Salary of $100,000 or More. Research shows that 21.2% of Canadians had an annual income of $100,000 or more in 2021 (Statistica). As expected, the average pay varies greatly according to: Industry.

Is 150k a good salary in Canada?

$150,000 is $87,950 more than the average yearly salary of $62,050 in Toronto. A salary of $150,000 per year means that you would be taking home about $103,225 per year after taxes, or $8,602 per month to pay for things like housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment.

Can you live off 70k in Toronto?

A salary of $70,000 per year means that you would be taking home about $52,699 per year after taxes, or $4,392 per month to pay for things like housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment. The average household income in Toronto is $121,200.

Is there a downside to living in Canada?

Housing, transportation, and food costs can be expensive. Weather: Canada has long and harsh winters, with snow and ice covering much of the country for several months each year. This can be challenging for those who are not accustomed to the cold.

Are taxes higher in Canada or the USA?

In 2024, Canada's top federal income tax rate is 33%, while the US's top federal rate is 37%. However, when combining federal and provincial/state taxes, Canadians often face higher marginal rates across various income levels.

Is healthcare free in Canada?

In Canada's health care system, some services are free at the point of service while others require the patient to pay a fee. Roughly 70% of health care spending in Canada is covered by the government, paid for with tax dollars. (Some of those services may still require some payment from the patient.)

What is the poverty rate in Canada?

In 2022, according to Canada's Official Poverty Line, the poverty rate was 9.9%, and about 3.8 million people living in Canada were in poverty (Statistics Canada, 2024f).

What is a rich salary in Canada?

What Is Wealthy In Canada—The Top 1% And The Top 10% In 2021, the top 1% of people in Canada earned about $194,000 (CAD 271,300) or more from all sources, and to be considered in the top 10% of people in that same year, you would have had to have made about $76,000 (CAD 106,700) or more.

What jobs pay $150,000 a year in Canada?

150k jobs
  • In-Home Sales Representative [$65k-$150k/yr] New. ...
  • Technical Sales Consultant. ApolloTechné Inc. ...
  • Branch Manager - Environmental Division. METRO Testing + Engineering3.7. ...
  • Luxury Car Sales Representative - BMW Durham. ...
  • Corporate Executive Chef. ...
  • Strengthen your profile. ...
  • Salesperson & Junior Finance Manager. ...
  • Executive Chef.

Is $200000 a good salary in Canada?

The average salary in Toronto is $62,050, which is 14% higher than the Canadian average salary of $54,450. A person making $200,000 a year in Toronto makes 222.3% more than the average working person in Toronto and will take home about $130,076.

What is the top 1% salary in Canada?

Statistics Canada data for the 2021-2022 period reveals that average income for the top 1% fell by 5.1% to $586,900, while the top 0.1% saw a 6.9% decrease to $2,073,000, and the top 0.01% saw a 9.9% decrease to $7,436,400.

How much tax is in Canada?

According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA, these are the federal tax rates for tax year 2024: 15% on the first $55,867 of taxable income. 20.5% on taxable income over $55,867 up to $111,733. 26% on taxable income over $111,733 up to $173,205.

What is the average cost of living in Canada?

Canada is the 12th most expensive country in the world. For a family of four, the estimated monthly expenses are around $5,211, with an additional $3,017 for rent, bringing the total to $8,228. For a single person, the monthly cost of living is estimated at $1,450, with rent adding another $1,877, totalling $3,327.

What jobs pay $300,000 a year in Canada?

300k jobs
  • Associate Dentist. Garden Dental & Orthodontics. ...
  • Account Executive. Sardine. ...
  • Enterprise Account Executive. Spexi. ...
  • Performance Marketing Manager. Clever Digital Marketing. ...
  • Staff Machine Learning Research Scientist. d-Matrix. ...
  • Strengthen your profile. What are your desired job types? ...
  • VP, Engineering. Klue. ...
  • Dentist.

What salary in US is considered rich?

According to a 2024 study from SmartAsset, you need $787,712 to be in the top 1% of earners nationwide. Based on that figure, an annual income of roughly $800,000 or more would make you rich.

How much mortgage can I afford if I make $300,000 a year?

Here's an example: If your gross annual income is $300,000, that's $25,000 per month. So with the 28/36 rule, you could aim for a monthly mortgage payment of about $7,000 — as long as your total debt (including car payment, credit cards, etc.) isn't more than $9,000 per month.