Moving guide · British Columbia → Texas

Moving from Vancouver to Austin

Live music, tech jobs and warm winters. Here's how life in Austin compares with Vancouver, and what changes when you cross the border.

Austin is roughly 7°C warmer than Vancouver in January (about 4°C → 11°C), with around 65 more sunny days. A typical home costs roughly 40% less in Austin (about C$1,250,000 vs US$550,000, compared at a sample exchange rate), and everyday costs in Austin are close to the US average. Texas has no state income tax, compared with a medium provincial income tax in British Columbia. For lifestyle, you gain warm winters, live music and remote-work hub and leave behind beach, hiking and skiing. (Approximate figures.)

Weather
January average
4°C → 11°C (+7°)
July average
18°C → 30°C (+12°)
Sunny days a year
165 → 230
Snow a year
30 → 2 cm
Money (approximate)
Cost of living index
135 → 105
Typical home
C$1,250,000 → US$550,000
Property tax rate
0.28% → 1.8%
Provincial or state income tax
Medium → None
Health care in Austin
Private, ~US$520/mo (approx.)
Getting around in Austin
Airport
20 min
Ski hill
3h+
Beach or lake
15 min
Main industries
Tech, government, music
Lifestyle and risks
You gain
Warm wintersLive musicRemote-work hub
You leave behind
BeachHikingSkiing
Wildfire: Moderate Flood: Moderate Heat: High
Crossing the border

Moving from Canada to the USA

Staying vs. moving
As a visitor you can usually spend up to about 6 months a year in the US. Living or working there full time needs a visa or green card (TN, E-2, L-1, H-1B and others).
Mortgages
US lenders often want a larger down payment from Canadians and may need an ITIN or US credit. Some Canadian banks have US arms that use your Canadian credit history.
Taxes
Plan for both countries: US property tax, state income tax, and Canadian departure-tax rules if you become a non-resident. Selling later can trigger US withholding (FIRPTA).
Health care
Provincial coverage usually ends after a long absence. Budget for US health insurance from day one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm your situation with a licensed immigration lawyer and cross-border tax adviser.
Step-by-step: Canada → USA ›Legal must-dos ›Moving FAQ ›
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Climate, cost and risk figures are approximate and for comparison only. Prices are in each place's local currency.

Moving from Vancouver to Austin · Pinned