Guidance-oriented planning notes for Canadians moving to the U.S. (not legal, tax, or insurance advice).
Cost of living — GA, FL, TX
Build a realistic monthly budget and compare apples-to-apples across states.
The 7 cost buckets that matter most
- Housing (rent/mortgage + deposits)
- Utilities (electricity can swing a lot in hot climates)
- Car costs (insurance, fuel, parking, tolls)
- Health insurance + out-of-pocket medical
- Groceries + household goods
- Childcare + school costs
- Taxes (income/sales/property)
Guidance
Use one “reference lifestyle” and apply it to each city. Don’t change assumptions mid-comparison.
Starter budget template (monthly)
- Rent: ____
- Utilities: ____
- Car insurance: ____
- Health insurance: ____
- Groceries: ____
- Phone/internet: ____
- Buffer (unexpected): ____
Where newcomers underestimate costs
- Deposits (rent + utilities) in the first month
- Auto insurance without U.S. credit history
- Healthcare deductibles and copays
- School/childcare schedules and fees
Reliable tools
- BLS inflation + regional data: bls.gov
- Local tax references (state revenue sites): GA/FL/TX official portals
City-level cost calculators can be helpful, but always sanity-check using real rental listings and insurance quotes.
Fast comparison method (30 minutes)
- Pick 2 neighborhoods per city.
- Grab 3 rental listings per neighborhood (average them).
- Get 2 car insurance quotes using the ZIP code.
- Estimate utilities using climate assumptions (hotter = higher electricity).
