- One millennial said moving from Vancouver to Los Angeles had a “life-changing” impact on his social life.
- He said the move did not help the family finances much because of the high cost of rent and food.
- The “most anxiety-inducing” part of the move was the transition to the U.S. health care system.
Stuart Martin had always wanted to live somewhere new, but the idea of starting over always seemed daunting.
After all, his entire personal and professional life has been in Vancouver, Canada, the 33-year-old told Business Insider via email. But last April, an opportunity presented itself. Martin's company was expanding into the United States, and as part of the promotion, Martin was asked to lead these efforts in Los Angeles.
Last October, after months of traveling back and forth between Canada and Los Angeles, Martin and her husband secured visas and moved from suburban Vancouver to West Hollywood.
Although he doesn't like the rents in Los Angeles or the U.S. health care system, he said the move had a “life-changing” impact on one thing. It's social life.
“It was always difficult to meet new people, make friends, go out for lunch, drinks, dinner, etc., given that we used to be so far from the city.” he says. “Being in the hustle and bustle of West Hollywood has completely changed my quality of life in terms of friends. I'm meeting more people than ever before.”
Although many people have moved out of California in recent years, the state still has its fair share of newcomers. Roughly 818,000 people left the state and about 476,000 moved in from 2021 to 2022, according to American Community Survey data compiled by the Census Bureau. From July 2022 to July 2023, only Louisiana, West Virginia, Hawaii, Illinois, and New York lost their populations at a higher rate than California. Some people are forced to move out of the state due to factors such as the high cost of living, but other factors such as the warmer climate also lead to an influx of migrants.
Business Insider asked Martin what the biggest pros and cons of moving from Canada to California were, and whether the negatives were offset by an improved social life.
He's not saving money on rent, food, or medical expenses.
Although the promotion came with a raise, Martin said the move to Los Angeles has not had a positive impact on his family finances.
First, he said he didn't save any money on rent. According to Zillow, a typical two-bedroom apartment is more affordable in L.A. than in Vancouver, but the monthly rent for a typical two-bedroom in Vancouver is the same in West She, where Martin and her husband live. Almost the same as Hollywood's $3,850.
Martin said groceries seem to be a little cheaper in Los Angeles, but going out to buy food and drinks usually costs more.
“In Vancouver, a good meal costs around $25 to $40, whereas in Los Angeles it's $35 to $70,” he said.
Americans will spend more than 11% of their disposable income on food in 2022, the highest percentage since 1991, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of USDA data. High labor costs and shortages of some raw materials such as cocoa are among the factors pushing up prices.
While high rent and food costs are inconvenient, paying medical bills is “the most anxiety-inducing part of moving,” Martin said.
He said he rarely had to think about medical costs while living in Canada, which has a tax-funded universal health care system. Doctor's visits and hospital visits are always fully covered, he said. In the United States, citizens tend to bear the lion's share of the burden of health care costs.
“In Canada, I feel like we have a system in place to catch you, but in the United States, we have a system in place to trip you up.”
Two things he spends much cheaper in the U.S. are his cell phone bill and internet bill. He said he is paying nearly half the previous price for unlimited data and roaming.
Martin said there are several other economic factors Canadians should consider before immigrating to the United States.
First, exchange rates can affect your financial situation. Martin said her company pays her in U.S. dollars, but her grocery bills wouldn't feel as affordable if she were still using Canadian currency. 1 Canadian dollar is worth approximately 0.74 USD.
Additionally, they said their credit history was not carried over during migration, creating obstacles when looking for housing.
“When I finally found an apartment, I needed a guarantor living in the United States and had to pay four times the monthly rent,” he said.
Los Angeles' social perks offset economic challenges
Despite some economic downsides, Martin said he believes living in the United States will increase his chances of earning more money in the long term.
“Compared to the Canadian market, the cap on salary increases is two to three times higher in LA,” he said.
Overall, Martin said moving to Los Angeles was a “great opportunity and decision” for him and his husband. If his company's U.S. business develops as expected and it can renew its visa, he said he envisions it being around for at least four more years.
Their social life is a big reason for this. Martin said he typically goes out three to four nights a week to network, meet people and experience the city. He said he has become friends with several other Canadian movers.
“It's very easy to connect with people who have recently moved to the city,” he says. “We're becoming more ingrained in L.A., so it's hard to imagine wanting to live anywhere else right now.”
Recently moved to a new state and want to share your story? To contact this reporter, contact: jzikula@insider.com.
