The Canadian dollar... Ouch!

[Ofinn]

We spent two days in Vancouver in September prices were a lot higher than in the US. I didnt find it to be a great bargain. Its a beautiful city,but I would hate to visit without the favorable exchange rate.

 

[bcwife76]

We spent two days in Vancouver in September prices were a lot higher than in the US. I didnt find it to be a great bargain. Its a beautiful city,but I would hate to visit without the favorable exchange rate.

Vancouver is a very expensive city. Try living here We live 45+ minutes outside of downtown and rarely go downtown!

 

[Ofinn]

Vancouver is a very expensive city. Try living here We live 45+ minutes outside of downtown and rarely go downtown!

My family fell in love with Vancouver. We all want to go back. We probably will take a short trip this Summer. Although not cheap it's probably the cheapest it's going to get right now. Your lucky to live there.

 

[bcwife76]

My family fell in love with Vancouver. We all want to go back. We probably will take a short trip this Summer. Although not cheap it's probably the cheapest it's going to get right now. Your lucky to live there.

I don't know if I'd say lucky lol We think about moving to a lower cost of living city all the time, but it's really not feasible at this point in our lives.

 

[Flossbolna]

While it may sound like a horrible exchange rate, if you look at Purchasing Power Parity and exchange rate, the OECD currently rates the comparison between Canada and the US at 100, meaning that you get exactly the same amount of goods in each country for the same amount of money (exchanged at the current exchange rate):

http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=CPL

I do understand that pure statistics don't really apply to every individual's case. And I share the exchange rate frustration with you Canadians, the Euro seems to be in freefall as well (and most likely things will get even worse with the recent Federal Reserve decission).

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I wish Disney would let us pay in canadian dollars...

I think if DCL posted Cad. $ on their website I would run I have hard enough time with their US $ prices

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

just curious -
why is the exchange rate so bad?
How long has it been bad?
How does it get better?
Does it mean if I (US) go to Canada then my money would buy me more things? (meaning good for me to travel to Canada but bad for you traveling US)
Are your salaries more to make up exchange difference?

(I hope these questions make sense, just trying to learn)
Thanks

I think this has been answered by a few, but yes the main reason for the weak Cad. $ right now is the falling oil prices. Canadian economy is closely tied to it. It has been on a steep decline since March of 2015, right now the Cad. $ is at an 11 year low. At some point in the recent years the Cad. $ was on par with the US Dollar. It really just depends what's going on. Gas prices have been low in Canada too as a result.
You will typically pay higher prices for the same things in Canada than US, mainly due to less completion and much smaller population.
Canadians do actually earn higher salaries and have a much higher min. wage than in the USA, but this depends on the occupation and the province/state.
We know a bunch of Americans and have family in the States and they all earn quite a bit less for same occupations then they would in Canada. Canadians pay more in taxes though, more for housing and even things like electricity.
However all this depends on the actual city/province and the city/state you are comparing. Some states are very expensive to live in and some are not. It's the same thing in Canada.
Talking about Vancouver... it's probably the most expensive city in Canada. What you see there as far as prices, especially housing is not true for all of Canada. Toronto is bad too. Both beautiful vibrant cities to live in, would love to live there but too expensive.
I think as an American right now is a good time to come and visit Canada, there is so much to see and do.
Not so much for Canadians going to the States right now.
Mind you, still worth for Canadians to fly out of the American airports. Airfare in Canada is double in most cases. Again.. mainly due to less competition.

 

[gumbypee]

I think this has been answered by a few, but yes the main reason for the weak Cad. $ right now is the falling oil prices. Canadian economy is closely tied to it. It has been on a steep decline since March of 2015, right now the Cad. $ is at an 11 year low. At some point in the recent years the Cad. $ was on par with the US Dollar. It really just depends what's going on. Gas prices have been low in Canada too as a result.
You will typically pay higher prices for the same things in Canada than US, mainly due to less completion and much smaller population.
Canadians do actually earn higher salaries and have a much higher min. wage than in the USA, but this depends on the occupation and the province/state.
We know a bunch of Americans and have family in the States and they all earn quite a bit less for same occupations then they would in Canada. Canadians pay more in taxes though, more for housing and even things like electricity.
However all this depends on the actual city/province and the city/state you are comparing. Some states are very expensive to live in and some are not. It's the same thing in Canada.
Talking about Vancouver... it's probably the most expensive city in Canada. What you see there as far as prices, especially housing is not true for all of Canada. Toronto is bad too. Both beautiful vibrant cities to live in, would love to live there but too expensive.
I think as an American right now is a good time to come and visit Canada, there is so much to see and do.
Not so much for Canadians going to the States right now.
Mind you, still worth for Canadians to fly out of the American airports. Airfare in Canada is double in most cases. Again.. mainly due to less competition.

Thank you for your reply! It is interesting to learn about these things

 

[mevelandry]

I think if DCL posted Cad. $ on their website I would run I have hard enough time with their US $ prices

Well, yes and no. Once you've booked with a certain price, they cannot change it. ... (They can't do that, right? )

Right now, every single time we make a payment, we are victims of the exchange rate. With CDN prices, that wouldn't happen.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Well, yes and no. Once you've booked with a certain price, they cannot change it. ... (They can't do that, right? )

Right now, every single time we make a payment, we are victims of the exchange rate. With CDN prices, that wouldn't happen.

Very true!
I was just saying that DCL prices are so expensive even when looking at them in USD!