Canada and the U.S. might be neighbors, but a person’s daily routines can be surprisingly different. Many immigrants on both sides of the border report that they have to consciously re-learn things that they used to take for granted in their home country.
They often use different systems for managing money, health, and home life. These subtle differences can be a minor culture shock if you’re unprepared. So here are 10 changes Americans and Canadians notice in their daily lives.
Banking: fewer choices, higher fees
In the U.S., there are thousands of little local and regional banks across the country, which has created higher competition and more “no-fee” chequing accounts.
But Canada has just five or six national banking giants. With less competition, it is much harder to find a “free” bank account in Canada and most require a monthly fee of $5 to $30 unless you maintain a balance of several thousand dollars at all times.
Healthcare: the “One-Card” system
In the U.S., when you visit a doctor, you go through private health insurance companies, co-pays, and deductibles. In Canada, the healthcare system is a “single-payer” model.
At the doctor’s office, you show your provincial health card, then you’re done. No bill comes to your house for that visit. But this only usually covers visits to the doctor or the hospital; Canadians still pay out-of-pocket or through private work insurance for dentist visits, eye doctors, prescriptions, and more.
Sending money: Interac e-transfer
When Americans want to pay each other, they use third-party apps like Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle, while in Canada, every bank has their own built-in Interac e-Transfer service.
In other words, every Canadian bank account already comes with its own money transfer app for free. And sending someone money only involves typing their email address or phone number.
Cell phones: high fees, little data
Canada has some of the most expensive cell phone plans in the world. While “Unlimited Data” has become a standard and affordable expectation for the average American, Canadians often pay much higher monthly rates for much smaller data and speed caps. Canadian cell phone costs have started to drop in recent years. But Americans are still usually shocked by how much Canadians pay for basic mobile service.
Mortgages: five-year renewal
In the U.S., a standard mortgage is the “30-year fixed,” where your interest rate never changes over the life of the loan. Almost no one has a 30-year mortgage in Canada.
Instead, most Canadians renew their mortgage after five years at the current market rate. This means that if interest rates rise, a Canadian’s monthly mortgage bill can increase by hundreds of dollars if they stay in the same house after 5 years.
Childcare: a $10-a-day goal
Canada has been gradually introducing a new national “Universal Childcare” program. In several provinces, the government subsidizes daycare to bring the costs down to $10 per day.
In the U.S., daycare is almost entirely private and can easily cost thousands of dollars a month, making the subsidized Canadian system feel incredibly cheap to American parents.
Call 811: free medical advice
In most Canadian provinces, you can dial 811 on your phone and speak to a registered nurse for free, 24/7. This service is intended to help you decide if you need to go to an emergency room or if you can simply treat the symptoms at home.
While some U.S. insurance plans have private “nurse hotlines” that their customers can call, the U.S. doesn’t have a single easy-to-remember national number like 811 that all citizens can call for free regardless of insurance status.
Prescription drugs: a fixed price
In the U.S., the cost of a drug can vary dramatically depending on your insurance and what pharmacy you go to. In Canada, a government board sets a maximum price that can be charged for patented medications, keeping costs lower and more regulated than in the U.S. This also makes sure that prices stay relatively the same at any pharmacy.
Home heating & “hydro”
To an American, “Hydro” often means water power. But to Canadians, particularly in Ontario and BC, “Hydro” means your electricity bill. When a Canadian says “I need to pay my hydro,” they are referring to their lights and power.
Winter tires: law vs choice
In Canada, winter driving is often a strictly regulated thing. In the province of Quebec, it is actually illegal to drive without winter tires during the snowy months. In the U.S., even in snowy states like Michigan or New York, winter tires are almost always optional.
Many Canadians are also used to the “seasonal swap” where they pay a garage twice a year to switch their tires, a service that is much less common in the U.S.
The following sources were consulted in the preparation of this article: