i thought this was good

[squash junky]

After having lived in other countries (and heaven forbid made good money even though the airfares were lower than here...) I have noticed the cost of living in Canada is very high. Having paid more than $300 for a 35 min. flight many times I thought this was a good piece.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/airfare-sky-h ... 02499.html

[Cat Driver]

Somebody has to pay for socialism.

Where better to get it than from the working public?

[Diadem]

With the exception of medevacs, no one needs to fly. It's a luxury, and if people weren't willing to pay the going rate, airlines would lower their fares. It's like complaining about the cost of steak or beer; both of them are cheaper in the US, but that doesn't mean that you deserve to get those products for the same price. Airlines, just like grocery and liquor stores, are going to charge as much as they can for those products, and as long as people keep paying for them there's no reason they won't keep increasing their prices. Comparing the airline industry in Canada to those in the US and Israel is hardly a fair comparison too, considering the size of our country and the way our population is distributed. Of course prices for domestic flights are lower in Israel, where the entirety of the population lives within a few-hour bus ride of everywhere else and there are good alternatives to flying.
Ironically, Cat, your post is complaining about socialism, yet you seem to have a problem with the very capitalistic system that created the high prices you dislike. You can't have capitalism but also complain that you don't get everything you want for cheap; if the government keeps prices affordable for everyone, that's socialism.

[timel]

The day you get extra citizens in Canada, I am sure airplane cost will fall down.
We are spread around.

USA are like 300 million.
France that is about three or four times smaller than Quebec province, has 70 million people.
Germany and UK are like 70-80 million.


You can't compare the Canadian market with the American or European.

[ahramin]

What a terribly written article. Admits that comparing 1 random city pair doesn't mean anything then does it anyway. Says that it's the goverments fault by treating air travel as a cash cow but not a word on how, then says we need open skies (foreign airlines) to solve the problem. Makes absolutely no sense.

It's not journalism, it's an ill thought out rant.

[Cat Driver]

Ironically, Cat, your post is complaining about socialism, yet you seem to have a problem with the very capitalistic system that created the high prices you dislike. You can't have capitalism but also complain that you don't get everything you want for cheap; if the government keeps prices affordable for everyone, that's socialism.

Canada does not have higher taxes and fees.....read extra taxes than the USA?

Canada is not a socialist country?

[Liquid Charlie]

And what is wrong with a certain level of socialism -- canada doesn't have enough

[KK7]

Frankly I'm proud of our socialist side. That's not to say there isn't abuse, inefficiencies and mispent funds. But is that really any different than a less socialist country like the US? Do they really pay less? Sure they have less taxes to the government, but they spend more on privatized garbage collection, user fees and health care. Is life better in the US? I guess it depends how rich you are and what ethnic background you come from. We complain about the $55 user fee we pay here for each medical that gets processed... Try living in the US and see what kind of user fees you get.

I love how in one thread people will complain about the race to the bottom all in the name of lowering airfares, then in the next thread complain about how much we are paying for airfares.

[Diadem]

I love how in one thread people will complain about the race to the bottom all in the name of lowering airfares, then in the next thread complain about how much we are paying for airfares.

Bingo. As consumers, people bitch and complain about high prices, but when it comes to working as pilots they expect to be paid top dollar. You can't have it both ways. If prices are higher in Canada because our airline pilots don't make $17000 a year, then I'm willing to pay a bit more for it. You can't whinge about young pilots taking low-paying jobs if you're also whinging about how expensive it is to fly.
It's pretty amazing that a couple of generations ago people spent their life savings to travel for months on ships and trains to move to other countries, never to return home, and now we can fly anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours for a few days' pay. Frankly, if you're complaining about a trip costing $500 instead of $400, you shouldn't be taking that trip anyway, because like I said before, it's a luxury; you aren't going to starve or freeze to death because you can't fly. If you don't like it, don't pay for it. Not only that, but most of these travellers expect first-class service for what they're paying; don't complain when you pay $50 to fly on Allegiant, only to find out that the seats are filthy and food costs extra. You get what you pay for. Taxes and fees are higher in Canada, but so are base airfares, and expecting the government to step in to fix it while simultaneously complaining about government interference in everything is hypocrisy at its finest. If you don't like it, don't pay for it. No one is making you buy plane tickets.

[Pop n Fresh]

I agree heartily with kk7 and liquidCharlie. I like that any person can access some things beyond basic needs affordably and do not mind paying a small share of their cost.

Is life better in the US? I guess it depends how rich you are and what ethnic background you come from.

I like the US but it seems to be getting easier to be shot so that is not so fun sounding. It is very diverse regionally. More so than Canada I believe.

There have been a few cities I have seen or heard about where you can be in a very nice place, positioned a few city blocks from a very scary place.

[BKerns]

I think the real story that we should post is my one way cab ride in Thunder Bay costs about the same as my one way flight to Toronto (if you take the taxes and navcanada fees out). I have never really felt air fares are to expensive. It would be nice to have less direct taxes and subsidize all those pesky fee's so your ticket breaks down more like a domestic American fare. But I guess the people using a service should pay for it just like the gas tax.

[CpnCrunch]

But is that really any different than a less socialist country like the US? Do they really pay less? Sure they have less taxes

Nope, the USA doesn't actually have lower taxes. For a US$155k salary, here is the take-home pay in various countries:

USA (California, using paycheckcity.com): $93k
UK (using listentotaxman.com): US$101k
Canada (Alberta, using simpletax.ca): US$105k
USA (Nevada, using paycheckcity.com): $107k

So perhaps if you live in Nevada you'll pay $2k less tax than Alberta. However your health insurance will cost a hell of a lot more than $2k a year. Also you'll have to pay whatever equivalent to the CPP that you get in Alberta.

Anyway, Alberta is the place to be if you earn a massive salary and want to keep most of it.

[Pop n Fresh]

Or a crap salary. Winter is not bad so far this year either.

[complexintentions]

Anyway, Alberta is the place to be if you earn a massive salary and want to keep most of it.

Perhaps within Canada. But that's like saying Alberta is the leper in the colony with the most fingers.

The tax comparison is simplistic. Comparing one tax (income) is only part of the story. It's not exactly hard to figure out that the cost of living in the US is lower than in Canada. It should be, just from sheer economy of scale. Not to mention their currency is presently about 15% more valuable than the Canuck-buck.

I wonder if Americans wonder about stuff like this, comparing themselves to Canadians? Somehow I doubt it.

[Nark]

I sleep warm at night having left Canada for the US.

[white_knuckle_flyer]

That website must have some bugs in it. My brother live in California and our paycheques are similar. However, his house is twice the size of mine, he has 3 kids, an RV, several motorcycles, water toys, etc, etc. No website can convince me that his dollar doesn't go at least 20% further than mine. And his situation is not unique. When he comes up here, he can't believe what it costs to live and how much we pay in taxes.

[LousyFisherman]

Having lived in Silicon Valley and San Antonio, Texas, I always figured if you made under 60K/year you were way better off in Canada, between 60-250K there was no difference and over 250K you were way better off in America. Of course over $250K/year, does it really matter?

You cannot just base in on income though. Despite being very similar, they are 2 very different countries with very different costs. Property taxes in Texas for example. Ouch

As always, YMMV
LF

[Taiser]

I agree... I live near the border. EVERYTHING IS CHEAPER in the US! Some things can be explained by geography but not all. We get hosed on too many things. For instance why is a Sea-doo, made in Canada by Canadians CHEAPER in the USA than it is here??? And when you try to buy one down there, they won't let you because you are Canadian and the US dealers are told they will lose their franchise if they do. Lots of similar issues with car dealers as well. It's not just the income tax you take into account, it's all the taxes when you buy stuff including the hidden ones (like the BS "environmental recycling fees) our Ontarian Liberal$ overseers recently tried to sneak by. We are taxed to death here and billions are pissed away, especially in Ontario!!! With our current mess in Ontario, we haven't seen anything yet either!!!

[CpnCrunch]

Actually, due to the recent exchange rate movements, most things are cheaper here than the USA that I can see. Ipad mini 3, galaxy tab s, Ford F150, all cheaper here right now. The F150 is MUCH cheaper: C$29553 in USA, or C$20649 here, based on MSRP. No idea why the list price is so much cheaper here. Perhaps when you add in the delivery charges it won't be as different, or perhaps they have a higher base spec. Also you can probably get a hell of a discount on those things if you haggle, and I imagine you'll get a bigger discount south of the border due to more dealers.

Health insurance will cost you on average $5k in the USA for a single person. How much of your disposable income will that suck up? I run my own business, and in a lean year $5k would take a sizeable chunk out of my disposable income.

For most people the largest drain on their income is mortgage and other debt. Buying a house in the USA is generally cheaper than in Canada (unless perhaps you're in San Francisco). That's only due to the massive correction in the housing market, which we have yet to experience up here. Basically there are still lots of people in Canada who have invested in the housing market, pushing up prices. In a lot of cities in Canada, renting is a lot more financially sensible. Lots of people here are pissing their money away on mortgage interest on overpriced houses.

[Panama Jack]

One problem is that the Government milks the air transport sector like a cash cow.

Another is a lack of very viable alternatives. North America is the land of the automobile. Rail travel is not really a viable travel option and, although it may have improved, my memory of bus travel is that it can be a very spartan experience.

But I agree, comparing Isreal with Canada is a shot way out in left field.