Should I move to Seattle?
Canada TC 320K USD US TC 400K USD I have real estate assets here in Canada. Kids below 6 years. Have a side hustle making me 20-30K CAD a year. No complaints on Canada as such. Yes cost of living has gone up crazy and taxes but I accepted it :) I’m thinking is it really worth saving additional 100K USD a year or so (if at all) through lower taxes in Seattle? (This difference can go higher as I gain more experience or job hop) It’s not like I’m trying to buy my first home or so in Canada. I have a few. I’m just worried if I’m going to get my family in trouble with some unexpected visa issues or crimes in US. Please pitch in your opinion. Thanks! #canada #seattle #vancouver #toronto
Alaska is better
I'd be happy to welcome you to Seattle. We can always use more good people. I hope you decide to join us. 😊
This sounds like a trap
Haha yeah it does. Sorry about that. 😋 Not a trap though. It's a good area. The more the merrier 🙂
Is your family criminals? Why would you be afraid of getting in trouble due to crimes? So if nothing else changed, living in US for 10 years results in 1+ million dollars extra than working in Canada. Why would you not? You want to have to work until you die?
If your immigration situation is not a problem come and work sometime in US. You can always go back.
I have similar numbers as you and also thinking on Seattle, I may even have net delta savings of less than 100k… Plus I will need to pay departure tax like 100k… But even that… numbers seem to make sense. Taxes at 54% give a lot of room to optimize… My reasoning is that we may not be able to make this amount of money in Canada neither USA 10 years from now… so let’s save and invest as much as we can…
What is departure tax?
Paying unrealized capital gains for all your assets(excluding main home)
If you have kids at least live on the east side. Seattle itself is a 3rd world country, police defunded, drug addicts and crazies everywhere. Old and run down city except for the Amazon offices downtown (they have security to keep bums and rioters away).
Generalized statement. Is your experience based on vanpool commute from Bothell ?
A place like Laurelhurst or Magnolia is a million times nicer than anywhere on the east side. Seattle neighborhoods have mature trees, parks and cafes and in walking distance, and beautiful craftsman homes.
You're 10 years too late. Seattle is insanely expensive now.
The reality in this market is you can be laid off now at any time with no warning. Ensure you are prepared for this scenario.
Kids are small. Never a bad idea to take risks at this time. Plus US market is better and the teams in US might be doing more impactful work. So I would say go ahead. It's not like you are going to the other end of the world. Depending on where you live in Canada, it is literally a hop away from Seattle.