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oentontoday at 6:09 AM1 replyview on HN

How much of your U.S. paycheck goes towards healthcare premiums?

How about much is daycare in the U.S. for 3 children? Conservative estimates put that at $4-$5,000 per month, and that's after tax.

Is there a reason your comment omits these key differences when comparing a SWE's quality of life living in the United States vs. Canada?


Replies

jjmarrtoday at 6:20 AM

I don't get free daycare in Canada either.

I'm not American, but I pay a few hundred dollars a year for the premium health insurance plan at my company. I also pay tens of thousands of dollars more in taxes to grant me the ability to wait for 72 hours in an ER hallway whenever I can't wait weeks for an appointment because urgent care isn't a thing.

My take home would triple if I lived in the USA as a new graduate because of things like favourable treatment of stock grants, less income tax, and the fact my salary would double.

I'm sure the $80,000 extra dollars is enough to pay for the healthcare premiums and daycare. My effective hourly rate would be high enough that going from a 72 hour wait to a few hours would be worth the thousands of dollars in ER bills. If I worked for the government or another lower paying profession it would not be good, but I am a well-compensated software engineer.

There's a reason why 90% of Waterloo immediately moves to the United States after graduation.

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