San Francisco vs Abbotsford

Abbotsford is a practical, unglamorous pick for expats who want lower costs without leaving Canada. A 1-bedroom outside the centre runs $1,084/mo against an average monthly net salary of $3,054/mo, and the $46/mo transit pass plus a 4 km hop to YXX keep daily logistics cheap. The trade-offs are real: a small expat community, a retiree score of 54/100, and a FIRE score of 59/100 mean this is a work-and-save town, not a social or early-retirement playground. If you value safety (75/100) and a 77/100 cost of living index over nightlife and networking, it delivers.

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.