Banff vs Yarmouth

Banff is a stunning but brutally expensive mountain town where the jaw-dropping scenery comes with a punishing cost of living. With a monthly budget of $2,063 for a comfortable single lifestyle and an average salary of $2,717, you will be hemorrhaging nearly 80 percent of your income just to exist. The crime index is an enviable 10 out of 100, but the population of 8,000 means a small expat community and limited social options. Unless you are a hardcore outdoor enthusiast willing to live paycheck to paycheck, skip Banff and look at more affordable Canadian cities.

Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.