Moving from Vancouver to Palm Springs

Mid century style, pools and warm desert winters. Here's how life in Palm Springs compares with Vancouver, and what changes when you cross the border.

Palm Springs is roughly 10°C warmer than Vancouver in January (about 4°C → 14°C), with little or no snow instead of about 30 cm a year and around 135 more sunny days. A typical home costs roughly 29% less in Palm Springs (about C$1,250,000 vs US$650,000, compared at a sample exchange rate), and everyday costs in Palm Springs are above the US average. Income tax goes from a medium provincial income tax in British Columbia to a high state income tax in California. For lifestyle, you gain small town, warm winters and desert and leave behind beach, hiking and skiing. (Approximate figures.)