Retirement Guide to Canada
This beautiful country to the north of the U.S. has many great places to retire. Although its winter climate is colder than many people want, parts of it are somewhat temperate along the coasts. It has very low crime rates, a lower cost of living, and an excellent government provided health care system. An advantage that the French and English have is being able to speak more or less the same language. Montreal and Quebec City in the east coast are very cosmopolitan and beautiful cities with world class museums, historical sites, and restaurants. Turn off Google maps and one might think they are in Europe. (Aug. 2023).
There are many small cities and villages both on the coast and inland that are great places to retire. Halifax on the Southeastern coast is very popular as a tourist destination and with retirees.
Canada is wonderful country for retirement for many reasons. There is great beauty with some of the most beautiful lakes, seacoasts, and mountains anywhere. The fishing in in its clean lakes is remarkable. Restaurants deliver top notch food and the people are friendly.
Establishing residency and visa. Establishing residency in Canada is not as difficult as some countries, depending on your nationality. It is relatively easy for residents of the U.S. and the Commonwealth to retire in Canada. U.S. residents can enter without a visa, but if your stay exceeds 180 days you will have to apply for a visa. There is no retirement path to becoming a Canadian resident, but you can apply under several different programs.
Medical. Modern medical facilities and highly skilled medical practitioners are available in Canada’s excellent government health care system. Non-citizens can access this system, but they will most likely have to pay. One can buy health insurance to take care of that. Medicare is not accepted here. You should consider buying health insurance, possibly as part of your travel insurance package.
Crime and Security. Canada is a very safe country, although there is some crime in the cities.
Taxes. Canada and the U.S. enjoy excellent reciprocal tax status. Generally an expat will not pay income tax unless it is earned in the country.
Cost of Living. The numbeo.com price comparison (CPI plus rent) shows Canada as ranked 24st highest in the world, compared to the U.S. at 12th. On average the cost of a home in Canada is 40% higher than in the U.S., a difference which was accelerated by the Covid pandemic. Vancouver in British Columbia is one of the most expensive cities in the world for real estate.
Weather. Canadian weather is generally famed for cold winters and mild summers, but there are differences by region. Its Canadian Pacific provinces are relatively mild year round while the Prairie provinces have big extremes.
Best Places to Live. Canada has a range of small towns and cities to retire in. The coastal areas are especially beautiful, with places like Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. See the list of Canadian towns which we have reviewed in the top right column.
Pluses and Minuses. The people are very friendly and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Many retirees head south for the winter – Arizona, Florida, the Caribbean, and southern Europe are common snowbird destinations.
