[AnthonyWnC]

Also Toronto native; was making just under 100k ~ 3 years ago in SysEng/devops role. Now working in NYC in similar role at ~ 185k (Cdn). Even with CoL (housing) of NYC, my savings is much higher.

Personally I much prefer to live in Toronto but the salary is just too low.

[robbrit]

Agreed. I moved from Montreal to SF a few years back and although my rent tripled, so did my income. The net result is much more savings than I would have gotten if I had stayed in Canada.

If you're a saver/investor then it makes much more sense to move to the US for a little while, save up a decent sized nest egg, then move back.

[Apocryphon]

One wonders how difficult is it to work remotely for a US firm while in Canada.

[robbrit]

Based on my anecdotal experience, it would depend entirely on you: your experience, your reputation, and your negotiating ability. If you're a top senior engineer or a celebrity like Tim Bray (https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/) then you can probably swing something with the BigCos, but for a regular junior/intermediate developer you'll have a tougher time getting a deal like that.

[nasalgoat]

I decided to look for a remote job recently. I went down a list of various job sites specializing in them, and a few days later I had a remote job that pays six figures.

I would say it's not difficult at all - there were hundreds of job listings.

[apercu]

I did it briefly. It was fine, but made easier because I have citizenship in one country and the right to work in the other.

[infinite8s]

How difficult is it to move that nest egg back to Canada?

[stuxnet79]

Out of curiosity, why would you prefer living in Toronto vs NYC (setting salary aside)?

[AnthonyWnC]

Toronto is a much cleaner and nicer city, I can drive around everywhere (initially I thought I would not miss my car; I was wrong). I am also Canadian so I prefer to stay in Canada if possible.

[elevenoh]

"Toronto is NYC if it was run by the Swiss."