[vkou]

The highest marginal income tax rate in Vancouver, BC is 47%.

The highest marginal income tax rate in California is 52%.

For that tax money, in Vancouver, you will also get free* healthcare.

In San Francisco, you will get... Actually, I'm not sure what you'll get. The biggest prison system in the world? The biggest military in the world?

* At the higher tax brackets, you will need to pay a $1,800/year MSP premium for a family, or $900/year for an individual.

[drpgq]

Yeah but where do those highest marginal rates kick in? Especially with the Canadian dollar this week being around 74 cents.

[vkou]

Compare for yourself.

https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-tax-calculator#IrgvH...

https://simpletax.ca/calculator

At wages of (All amounts are in USD):

$100,000 USD, $200,000 USD, and $400,000 USD, you will pay:

$32,000, $69,000, and $159,000 in taxes in California. $28,000, $73,500, $169,000 in taxes in BC.

But that's just income tax. There's also Social Security/Unemployment Insurance contributions. In the US, 13%[1] of your salary up to $130,000 will go to social security contributions. In Canada, 10% of your salary, up to $40,000 USD will go towards the CPP and Unemployment Insurance.

So, at the $100,000 USD salary, you will pay $45,000 in taxes in California. In BC, you will pay $32,000 in taxes.

At $200,000 USD, you will pay $86,000 in taxes in California. In BC, you will pay... $77,500.

At pretty much every tax bracket, you will pay more taxes in California, and get less for them, then you would in BC. As it turns out, maintaining twelve super-aircraft carrier groups is expensive.

Mind you, BC is not all flowers and roses. The provincial government runs the place with all the integrity and forward-thinking of a banana republic.

[1] Yes, your employer pays half of it. That money would have otherwise gone towards your salary.