Bloomfield Hills, MI vs Burnaby

Burnaby is a solid, unflashy pick for anyone who wants Vancouver access without Vancouver rent, with a 1-bedroom outside the centre at $1,499/mo and a 3-bedroom at $2,163/mo. The trade-off is a local average net salary of $3,091/mo against a single person's non-rent costs of $1,101/mo, so budgeting matters more than the postcard suggests. An expat score of 86/100 and a safety index of 80/100 explain why Metrotown, Brentwood and North Burnaby keep filling up with newcomers. It is practical rather than thrilling, and that is exactly the point.

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.