Personal Taxes: How Green Is the Grass on the Other Side?

The difference in the personal tax burden between Canada and the United States is often mentioned as one of the major reasons for Canadian skilled personnel leaving for the United States.

Document Highlights

The purpose of this brief is to estimate the magnitude of the tax difference, applying actual tax rates on three levels of household income. The difference in cost of living is also a key determinant of living standard. A city may have a low overall tax burden but be expensive in terms of housing, transportation, utilities and groceries; therefore, this brief takes account of the cost of living.