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Sorry bro, your wrong about Columbus Ohio. In every area of the city we have massive growth. Apartments, condos, townhouses, houses, major manufacturers and company headquarters are being built everywhere. Areas that were once considered rundown are seeing crazy turnaround. So much open and empty space is being snatched up and construction begins immediately. I have lived here all of life ( I’m 47 ) and never have I seen so much growth.

It all depends where you live in California. I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area and it's VERY diverse here. But when I lived in L.A. it was mostly segregated. I lived in a mostly Latino area the majority of the time I lived in L.A. and I had very few problems because I could pass for Afro-Latino. But my other Black friends who couldn't pass because they were darker skinned usually had issues with the Mexican gangs.

Yea not lock your door.. UNLESS\nyou live in the Following \n\nToronto -\nRegent Park \nJane st and Finch Ave\nFlemington Park\nBrampton where there have been a string of murders and shootings in the last 4 yeas more than any half decade before .. \n\nThat is just the GTA ( Greater Toronto Area) How do i know this.. Ive lived in 2 o the places mentioned ..Grew up in one of them

I love how people complain about crime in big metropolitan cities in the US, never once consider moving to the many thousands of small towns and rural areas in the US, but will instead move to a country with a much smaller population and then gloat about how crime ridden the US is. It's like, dude, why didn't you try moving to a small town first? Um, could it because you'd be living next to people who don't live and vote like you? Maybe the way you live and vote is how those big metro cities got the way they are.

Women are better looking in other countries. Even in the rural areas of other countries, the women look better than most American girls. The food is better in other countries. It's safer to live in Ukraine than it is to live in America. \n\nHowever, economic mobility and luxuries make America one of a kind. Also, our Constitution is superior to other countries.

I think you ladies are way out in left field and you really don't know what you're talkin about. Unfortunately for some people it doesn't work out for whatever reason usually because they do not want to assimilate very well. I grew up in Ontario to a french-canadian father and an Italian mother in my life in Canada was so perfect said if I had to dream up a better life I could not have done so. I grew up playing all the sports and enjoyed all the different sports and the changes of seasons. My parents had a summer home on the st-lawrence river and every summer we water-ski swam fished, play golf in the morning and barbecues every night right on the water. Even though my grandfather was in the hotel business I was all about sports and enjoying everything about it. I grew up in a town of about 50 thousand about 40 miles from Montreal. When I wanted some great nightlife just drove a short drive to Montreal and it had everything did anyone could want in Nightlife. I have lived in United States for forty years and I can tell you that it really isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Heaven forbid should you get some kind of catastrophic illness you are screwed. I knew a woman who work for travelers insurance for 30 years at the best insurance a money could buy had suffered a couple of strokes and was on the verge of going broke had she not died when she died. People think that insurance continues to pay his long as you're ill and nothing could be further from the truth. This lady was going to have to sell her house to continue paying for round-the-clock care had she not died when she did. United States middle class is getting wiped out. I've seen enough poverty and hardship in this country to last a lifetime. I find greed to be running rampant in this country. When I grew up in Canada there was always the grass is greener on the other side and when I did move over to the other side the US that is I can tell you unequivocally the dead grass is not greener on the other side. There are more millions and millions of people here that are one or two paychecks away from being homeless. And we're talkin 2023. Now let's talk about violence. There is a mass murder in the United States every single day of the year. And a mass murder is defined by four or more people being killed by one person at one time. Killing these so out of control in the United States that now even six-year-olds are shooting their teacher. I find a tremendous amount of built-up Anger from people. Food is very expensive and shelter is also out of control and non affordable to most people. Again I find United States being able to paint a much Rosier picture then does really exist. And there are more con artists and thieves , Crooks, con-artists, bamboozlers, cheats and scammers then anywhere that I've ever been. And I will say this is it it ain't getting any better and I don't see it ever getting better. I find it is everybody out for themselves no matter who they cheat. I live in Southern California and I can tell you that night life where I live is non-existent. Understand that LA and Hollywood they always have to glamorize everything to sell it to tourists. Just remember that things today are not what they were 40 years ago. Middle-class people in Canada would also be just middle-class people in the US. But if your life means anything to you as far as safety and raising a family then Canada wins hands down end of discussion. People that say Canada is boring is because they are boring. That's what I found to be pretty standard across the board. Life is what you make of it. But I will say that you gals definitely need to move away if you don't like Canada. Do not let the door hit your ass on the way out. And just for your information Canada ranks annually as one of the top countries in the world to immigrate to. Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area and next to Saudi Arabia has the third largest oil Reserves in the world. Canada has huge amount of freshwater which most of the rest of the world seems to be lacking and having spent my Summers on the Saint Lawrence River one of the Great Rivers in this world. I wouldn't change my twenty years in Canada for anyplace else in this world and I will be moving back shortly.

On the point of the nonmixing demographics, I've completely noticed and think it's really odd about the US. I grew up in Houston, and so far it's the place in the US I've witnessed actual mixing of demographics. Everywhere else feels and looks extremely segregated which is really sad. When I went to NYC was when I truly noticed the living together but segregated and cannot stop seeing it anywhere I go other than Houston. Hell even the restaurants had 1 demographic working inside really hammering it down. \nI also gotta with Aba, i hate the nonmixing most areas do. People do not talk to each other or travel within the US which creates a ton of misunderstanding of ourselves and surroundings constantly creating unresolved tension which politics breed off of

@Aba : Try the Great Toronto Area for cost of living!

I always laugh when I hear someone say they don't live in the US because of safety concerns. I've lived here my entire life and never felt unsafe. Personally, i dont know of a single person who's been murdered or even shot. I guess if I was in a gang maybe I'd be concerned or if I lived in a violent area in a big city. But man if you live in more rural areas violence just isn't much of a concern in most places. Seems like people who don't live here just like to use it as a dig against the US. As if the fact that crime is high in some areas in the US means it's a flat out dangerous place to live in. Which is completely unrealistic. There are many many towns in the US who haven't seen a homicide in decades. But of course Chicago or New Orleans or Houston is a different story.

So preach is the Canadian nationalist that things America is built stupid and all that s***. Florida is very compact unless you travel in between the sides. Is Canada is barely compact Because of all the inhospitable areas to live in there are too cold or mountains

When I lived in NJ, people would work in NYC but wanted to live in central or southern NJ. I had a job that paid me $22/hour back in like 2012. But I worked with a guy who quit his job in the city because he couldn't stand the commute. Him and his family moved to a cheaper area of NJ (still nice, but cheaper) and he took a job where I worked. He told me that if I was driven, that same job paid $40/hour. And even then, he couldn't really afford to live comfortably in the city. But eventually he found it most beneficial to take a lower paying job closer to home and find a cheaper place to live. That is city living though. It's always way more expensive. But I agree, living in a city in the US is ridiculous when it comes to cost of living.

I lived in Newark nj and worked and shopped in Newark nj..Only had to take 1 or 2 buses..But then I moved to Hershey pa! The culture was different,the vibe was different and the people was so DAMN FRIENDLY.. I lived in pa and Georgia,they hated me because I had that NJ “attitude” that they say..But the areas I was at had absolutely no transportation!! That part of pa and Georgia I was stranded..

I grew up in the Bay Area, CA, and I moved away 12 years ago to NC. Best decision ever. I miss the west coast because the views are world class (the drive up and down highway 1 is just breathtaking), but I can afford multiple homes where I am, and I'm not rural. Just live in a suburb right outside of a major city. I can afford to raise a family, send kids to private school. I can afford vacations....I can afford to live! It's also why I am not liberal anymore. After moving from a Democrat controlled area to a mostly Republican controlled area, I converted. Lower taxes, better cost of living, and less crime...It just makes sense. I'm also hispanic, and let me tell you, I appreciate the racism here! I know that sounds odd, but for one, there really isn't that much racism to deal with, but when it confronts you, you know it! It's not hiding behind some fake woke smile, it's blatant and obvious, and I'm good with that because I can just navigate around it vs constantly second guessing.

I was born in Cook County, Illinois. Lived in the burbs for first 8 years of life. Moved out to the country. Just moved to Iowa, this year. When I tell people where I came from, I pretty much say Chicago. Iowa's ok, but to be honest I miss the area I had been working at for like 6-1/2 years. Which was DeKalb. Just something about that area, that I called home.

In defense of Preach, I lived in the states for most of my life on the east coast. Been through the entire thing multiple times, lived in various areas and recently I moved to cali for 6 months before finally heading overseas to Japan. From my personal experience and even talks with other men who have been to even just only the east and west coast who live in the states; east coast women tend to be “rougher” than west coast women. The femininity thing is one angle sure, I think the New York style of talk is it’s own unique angle. But simply from a look’s perspective you are FAR MORE LIKELY to find attractive women on the west coast then on the east. I think a major contribution to this is the diet unfortunately. The diet on the east coast, the daily selections and just general culture around not eating clean really lends itself here. Many more overweight women on the east coast then the west. Overseas both coasts get blown out the water imho. Again largely due to what I suspect are better eating habits. Also what women wear around here tends to show better. America is really heavy on the yoga pants, buns in hair, etc. I rarely see that around here and if I do….. it’s an American women.

4:00 Thank you! It's super annoying when my Canadian friends and acquaintances complain about cost of living.\n\nIt boggles their minds and they can barely comprehend that things here in the SF Bay Area are so bad that I won't feel financially stable unless I make $140k+ because rent is so stupidly high.

California is like three different countries. Northern California (like up by Sacramento), the Bay Area, and Southern California. The Bay Area is very different from LA. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, but I've lived in Ohio, Maryland, and in the Caribbean. Plus I've spent some time in other states in the US. There are pockets of the country that are nicer than others. California's cost of living is Bananas but part of me loves it here. Chances are though that I will probably be retiring in the Caribbean. A much slower and simpler kind of life. More natural foods. I loved my time there.

I’m an American. I live rather close to Canada and spent over 2 years in time living there over summers mostly . I love both. If you aren’t going to a grocery store you are probably getting fat in America. I find it hard to eat when I’m outside of my larger metro area. honestly I don’t worry about my security because thankfully I work hard to pay the bills to live in an area I don’t need to worry about. Love y’all

Isn't the Greater Toronto Area the most condensed human population in North America? Like 1/5th of the Canadian population lives in Toronto (exaggeration but still).

I live in the States. Our public transportation is shit. If you don't have a car, you're not going anywhere and I hate it. Gang violence is bad in large cities. Stay away. Your best bet is to find an area with a couple hundred thousand or less and lower taxes.

You guys are out of touch. Not sure where you live but Ontario is less safe than the US in my opinion, and it correlates with the lack of self defense/firearms rights. Our population is 10x less and many urban areas aren't as densely populated as their American counterparts, so of course crime rates will be lower. That doesn't mean they're not still significant and rising at alarming rates. You can't even use your registered firearm to legally protect your home, let alone us pepper spray to defend yourself from a rapist. People are given the illusion of being safer, when in reality they are extremely vulnerable and defenseless.

That’s cuz you go to shithole areas in America like California. I’ve lived in sc most of my life, there’s danger everywhere - but at least in they south they polite when they rob you lol

Guyssss have you spent more than a day in Vancouver?? Yoooo, probably the most expensive city to live in North America, also very racially segregated in terms of where people live, downtown Eastside and now spilling into other areas insane high open drug scenes and crime.Decent transit though! Montreal must be something else...

I often find that poverty is so different in American than other places. I'm referring to more of the mindset. I noticed that when facing poverty like other countries people are still innovative and surviving. It feels like poverty culture here is really like people have given up on morality, honor, and based on greed. I grew up in a very gang infested area of wisconsin and it was like a lot of young people trying to make quick easy dollars slanging. It was really like people didn't care about family, friends, neighbor, or appearences. I find that poverty culture kind if embodied by american culture that pursuit of wealh at the cost of others. Why i felt like living in America was so different. Like in Barbados even if the area is poor everyone is your auntie, your uncle, your daddy, or mommy. If someone is acting out everyone in that neighborhood corrects you. Everyone comes out to celebrate you though too when you do good. People help and talk to each other. Yeah we it has poverty, crime etc. but it's nothing like how it is in America.

Aba’s observation of the racial separation is spot on. When I visited Toronto, it seemed common that all heritages intermingled without effort. Here in ATL, if I want a really good Thai place I generally have to head to Buford Highway given the ethnic makeup of the area. We try but it’s not evident. Where I live there may be 4 black households in this neighborhood. Granted I came during the pandemic/lockdown but to this day, I have to jump out of my skin to say hello to some of my neighbors. They are NOT interested. I’m a renter too so I’m not on the HOA board…but let there be an election…all in my face! Next few weeks, crickets. No wave, nothin’ once they realize I don’t have a vote.

SO true about the tap water, lol! I've lived in 3 Texas cities, LA, SF, Oklahoma and Ohio, but the ONLY place of those that had even remotely decent water was SF (and IN the city... the surrounding areas still sucked). Then I moved to Edmonton and lived in 5 different buildings and the water was great everywhere. My fellow Edmontonians beg to differ, but they don't' know what they got. But then I moved to the country and my well water is horrific. :( So we fill up jugs of water at my kid's place in the city haha!\n\nLegit, the best thing about moving up here though is the healthcare. One thing people don't think about is not only do you save on your actual doctor visits, but you save month to month as well. YES, you pay for it with your taxes, but I've found that my taxes here are almost exactly break-even with mine in California, and now I don't have to pay out of pocket for my insurance in addition. Not to mention for the same taxes overall things like roads, registries (dmv), and pretty much everything else the government does is more efficient and better. \n\nMain thing I miss from the US day-to-day is 1: food. Outside of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, you don't get much good variety. 2: good speeds and affordable f'ing internet. Canadian internet is EXPENSIVE as FACK and not overly fast compared to pretty much every other first world nation.

I am an American born in NY, raised in VA. I also lived in Van Nuys for a year, also lived in Texas before my job industry moved me to Canada. \ni have been in Canada for 7yrs, been to Vancouver, Toronto and MTL and to be honest i like a lot of things in Canada like the health care differences and of course the lower insulin cost for my husband but i still want to go back home. If anything i would stay in Toronto because it's the closest similarity to home but where Aba and Preach live, in Montreal, it's literally been my nightmare. I feel like the tap water at least in my area has gotten worse over time. \nOne thing i feel like they didn't mention that I have to tell people from America to watch out for is the credit card vs debit card thing. \nI grew up only having debit cards because i didn't want to get into debt. when i came to Canada i continued getting a debit card and realized the hard way that not everything accepts debit cards and you NEED to also have a credit card to access certain things.\nbut overall i do feel much safer in Canada even though the crazy trump lovers are showing up here and there it's significantly less than i see when I'm back home.

To me its crazy to see how different living in the city is from a rural or even Suburban area. Like cost of living in most burbs is no where near either countries city.\n\nIve been to a few places, several different parts of the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico and what they all taught me is i dont want to live in a city.

Well I want want I wouldn't be surprised by their tap water point but at the same time topwaters like different in almost every state because I live in the Bay and I can definitely tell you at least in the San francisco-oakland areas in Hayward areas the tap water isn't bad but in every other surrounding area one of the ways I know tap water is bad is when I wash my hands and then my hands look dried out

I can't do big cities. I don't want super rural, but Pensacola is too big of a city for me, I like living in the outer suburban areas like Navarre and Gulf Breeze between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. Everything I need is within 20-40 minutes. Most within 5-10

The best transit metro areas with good walkability either have too much crime or cost too much or BOTH. The best area for healthy living statistically is arlington VA but that place cost wayyy to damn much in a lot of neighborhoods. Philly is affordable comparitively but got way too much crime. We are so close to fixing that stuff, that if we do we covered, but mosy city governments are totally SCREWED IN THE HEAD!

My family moved to a suburb of Atlanta 15 years ago from LaSalle, QC. I am happy to be away from the language politics and snow, but the living areas here are so segregated. They call the US a melting pot, but from my perspective the individual parts aren't blending together. I was so used to seeing Italian, African, Irish, Indian, Caribbean, Native, Asian, Middle Eastern, you name it peoples everyday at work, shopping and at the gym. Based on where I live, I really only see African Americans. The funny thing is, if I travel just a few miles in a specific direction, the demographics change dramatically.

As a german, i can guarantee you, that population density, doesn´t really have that much to do with it.\n\nGermany is half the size of texas and has a fourth of the population of the ENTIRE U.S.\nThere IS more crime in the more populated areas, but it´s not even on the same scale.\n\nProbably most to do with social security, because if you have nothing, and don´t know how to get or don´t have the skills to get something, you gotta steal it. Simple as that.\nI´m not even mad at a lot of US criminals. Gotta live somehow and if noone cares about you, don´t care about noone either.\n\nFuck the gangs tho, that´s different.\n\nAlso:\nCanada and Germany Tap-water PRO´s\nHell yeah?

1. Aba’s right. I have family in Columbus, OH. Ain’t much to do up there. Sorry if you’re from there lol\n\n2. Correct about all of the fast food here in the U.S. Can’t stand it. That’s why if I DO go out to eat, it’s at the healthy options. Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Cava, etc.\n\n3. I was in Toronto a few years ago during a layover. I want to know why most of the employees I encountered at the airport were mean/rude af ? I know this is anecdotal so I’m not going to take it seriously. It’s just what I vividly remember.\n\n4. I live in the DMV. It’s a very diverse area but there’s a lot of neighborhoods that are segregated but I’d argue that it’s more of an economic issue. It’s visibly noticeable as soon as you hop on the metro. Start on the orange line on the VA side, the crowd is bright. But if you stay on long enough, go through DC and end in MD, it gets dark. I’ve lived here most of my life and it’s always been this way unfortunately.\n\n5. I need to go back to Canada to try that tap water. Y’all made it sound so good ?

I used to drink water straight out of the tap (and water hose) when growing up in Connecticut. Living in the DFW area, and all the water tastes like garbage - filter 100% required! Also, American CONSUMERISM - the desire to buy, buy, buy with only caring about 'brand' or 'status' (and neglecting quality) has put us where we're at today. I've already told my wife we're moving to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan later in life.

On the subject water, it varies from city to city. I live in a city called Quincy, just south of Boston. Friends and family who live in the same area, but in different towns like Randolph or Brockton, always say how good the tap water is here when they visit.

Montreal the cost of living is so low, because it's in Quebec - where little immigration happens. If you compare the cost of living/rent in Toronto/Vancouver and surrounding areas (basically where 25% of Canada's population lives) the cost of living is higher than most areas in the U.S.

Maybe because I live in a rich area in the states but Vancouver had no good food. I could spend $75 or $300 on dinner and it was always just mid. I'll call out The Victor that place is nasty.

You can't compare Montreal to LA lol. LA is 3.8 million people and LA county is 9.8 million. Montreal is 1.8 and the entire Province of Quebec has less population than that single county by more than a million people. \n\nGo to Jefferson County Kentucky. Louisville is a similar size population and you're looking at a drastically lower cost of living. \n\nOf course LA is super expensive. You were right when you said the US is like 50 different countries. But you don't have to go to super rural areas to find low costs of living.

I love America for its weather. I live in the DMV area. Having 4 seasons is amazing. Same reason I won’t move to cali or Florida. Same weather drives people crazy. Never visited Canada but will love to someday. Also it’s so true about diversity. It’s the same all over the states. There is an illusion of diversity.

I moved from the U.S. to Canada. Some observations:\n1. It's unbelievably safe in Canada. The most dangerous places in Canada are still very safe compared to much of the U.S.\n2. Outside of DC and New York and I guess Chicago and L.A. in the U.S. and Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, you need a car. I disagree that city planning is that much better in Canada.\n3. The maternity leave in Canada is great \n4. The unemployment insurance in Canada is great too\n5. I prefer the Canadian health care system. I never experienced any long wait times. My wife had literal brain surgery and it was free whereas it would've been hundreds of thousands of dollars in the U.S.\n6. Canada is further to the left and is much more woke than the U.S. Everything here is about equity, diversity and inclusion. Even many Canadian conservatives would be moderates in the U.S. but most people know this already.\n7. There is a better work life balance in Canada. I worked a lot more when living in the U.S.\n8. Most Canadians live by the U.S. border  so the weather is not that different than most northern American states. But once you go to northern Canada, it is as cold as they say it is.\n9. The U.S. is better for making money.\n10. It is much more racially segregated in the U.S. \n11. Outside cities like Montreal and Toronto, Canada is very white.\n12. Things are much more spread out in Canada. When I lived in the U.S. driving for 1 hour to go somewhere was a long drive. In Canada, that is normal.\n13. Canada is pretty great if you like the outdoors. There's only 36 million people here and outside the major cities, you find small towns and the wilderness. \n14. Canadians are quite friendly. I know my neighbors in the country. I never knew my neighbors in the U.S.\n15. Canadian politics is boring and I like this. However, in the rural areas, it seems that people really hate Justin Trudeau.\n16. Since Canada is so similar to the U.S. it is very easy to adjust to life here.\n17. Outside of Quebec, you really don't need to speak French. \n18. The nationalism of the Quebecois is very surprising. There is no group in the U.S. this nationalistic.

I worked in Vancouver a lot, which was really nice and pretty, but I don't recall the tap water hitting me hard lol. I grew up on the northwest chicago burbs and spent much of my life there and think it is one of the great areas to grow up and live in. The city itself has pros and cons for areas, like all cities, although crime seems up in even the better parts these days. Y'all are super on point with airlines - because of the competition across all the major airlines here, as well as competition across banks and co-branded credit cards, US citizens can take advantage of some pretty great deals and options uniquely available only here because of this competition.

Cons to Canada:\n\nGovernmental system that lacks fundamental checks/balances\n\nInsanely bland food (ik this is gonna trigger a lot of people, but American food almost everywhere is so insanely superior and cheaper)\n\nVery difficult to get guns (for some people pro)\n\nWeather (for some people pro)\n\nAirline prices (as what was mentioned)\n\nPeople seem to come off very mean or serious (at least in the Toronto area)\n\nPros to Canada:\n\nMore left leaning politics (for some people good)\n\nOverall a safer country\n\nTap water (although where I live in the US it is the exact same)\n\nMore regulation on harmful products\n\nPublic transportation, city layouts

I lived in Lon. Ontario for seven years and I have to tell you the air is so clean choked for a week clearing out Americans crappy air,the ghettos look like suburbs because at least in my area the properties are being taken care of,no I'm not going to say that wasn't any racism or no Gunplay it is minimum and the politics is almost as bad as United States but it's a hell of a lot better than what the state is offering you, yes there's more money in the States but you don't get a piece of mind like you do in Canada, and let me tell you about their beer store and how one of their beers is an equivalent to 6 US beers lol, I need to go back lol

Man the cost of living in NYC is ridiculous. I love almost everything else about my city, but man it's a struggle unless you're wealthy. Also, to add onto Aba's point about the diversity, even in NYC you'll see some form of separation among ethnic groups. So much so we even name some of the neighborhoods after the common demographic there. Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Dominican Republic, etc. Even so, having all of these areas easily accessible within the city is something I'm very grateful for.

Well....that's what happens when Canada's population is about the same as Texas ??‍♂️??‍♂️. More people= more problems. Also, isnt it like 90% of Canadaians are primarily living in one to 2 areas? So Im not surprised on the cost difference, crime difference, etc. I like Canada but in comparison, it's smaller so less chance of issues. Especially in a first world country

I’ll be there next year. I live in the Bay Area, I went in Montreal 2 years ago, I couldn’t believe the living cost…I went to the Mall, I was like is Tommy and Calvin Klein scamming people in US or what?

See, cities being less compact is something that I prefer. I hate super compact cities. Also, you can’t compare cost of living in LA to cities in Canada. The cost of living in California or NY is considered outrageous for most of the US. I’ve been to Canada and remember thinking it was way more expensive than where I’m from. You can say nobody wants to live in the other places, but I personally don’t mind. I have no interest in being in the “hubs.” Oh, and tap water varies here too. I’ve been all around the US and St. Louis area tap water is amazing whereas some places I’ve been it’s terrible. Really just depends.

The same thing can be said in America. You must have lived in some bad areas here lol

As someone who was born and spent decades growing up in Toronto who moved to the US years ago and spend time regularly in multiple states, I disagree vehemently with what Aba said about safety. Aba did not recognize that not only is the US like 50 different countries, with each state being somewhat unique unto themselves, but the cities are like an amalgamation of 2 or 3 different cities. What I mean by that is about the safety and security aspect, it all depends on where you live and where you hang out. Undoubtedly, US ghettos and the sketchy clubbing districts are generally worse than Canadian housing projects and such. If you live in the regular or especially good parts of the city, it's totally safe. \nBecause most US towns and cities are built around neighborhoods, security and safety is always a big selling point. As long as you avoid the ghetto and late night 'action' areas, it's generally safer than Toronto. Toronto suffers from an outbreak of car break ins, car thefts, home break ins and recently car jackings all over. Many US neighborhoods and areas have no such thing. On a side note, as a POC, I also have experienced far less racism in the US than I used to in Toronto. Without getting into a can of worms, if you live in a Democrat controlled city vs. Republican one, you are going to experience more crime, more homeless, higher unemployment, etc. You guys are referencing LA, which has become far worse, like San Francisco and New York. \nAnd the cost of living comment is ridiculous. Again maybe LA and NYC which are shadows of what they once were. Canada has far higher tax burden, way higher inflation, prices of food, energy, clothes and homes are off the charts. In Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Washington, we have ZERO income tax as well as lower tax than the HST. No way, Aba and Preach are dead wrong on these issues, because they are using LA or NYC as a reference. There's a reason the movies Escape From New York and it's sequel Escape From LA are such prophetic movies.