Moving guide · British Columbia → Washington

Moving from Vancouver to Seattle

Tech jobs, coffee and mountains on the horizon. Here's how life in Seattle compares with Vancouver, and what changes when you cross the border.

Seattle is roughly 2°C warmer than Vancouver in January (about 4°C → 6°C). A typical home costs roughly 7% less in Seattle (about C$1,250,000 vs US$850,000, compared at a sample exchange rate), and everyday costs in Seattle are above the US average. Washington has no state income tax, compared with a medium provincial income tax in British Columbia. For lifestyle, you gain remote-work hub and leave behind beach and nightlife. (Approximate figures.)

Weather
January average
4°C → 6°C (+2°)
July average
18°C → 19°C (+1°)
Sunny days a year
165 → 152
Snow a year
30 → 15 cm
Money (approximate)
Cost of living index
135 → 150
Typical home
C$1,250,000 → US$850,000
Property tax rate
0.28% → 0.9%
Provincial or state income tax
Medium → None
Health care in Seattle
Private, ~US$520/mo (approx.)
Getting around in Seattle
Airport
25 min
Ski hill
1h 15m
Beach or lake
10 min
Main industries
Tech, aerospace, trade
Lifestyle and risks
You gain
Remote-work hub
You leave behind
BeachNightlife
Wildfire: Low Flood: Low Heat: Low
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.
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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 Seattle · Pinned