[neptunespear]

> Software Engineers in Vancouver make ~US$45,000 a year...

Which is $60K CAD. If you get roommates, rent can be $600-1000 (again, CAD)/month. Health insurance is $72/month, single-payer, and increasingly being 100% covered by tech companies. You don't have to worry about a car if you live downtown, and transit is good enough that living downtown isn't your only option if you don't want a hellish commute. (e.g. Hastings-Sunrise, Metrotown, New West)

[aianus]

If you get roommates your rent in SF will be ~$2800 CAD, meanwhile you're earning $220,000 CAD a year and your other expenses are pretty much the same as Vancouver.

No way Vancouver is more affordable than SF (if you have to work in tech for a living).