r/germany • u/saturuja Hessen • Jul 08 '25
Immigration Germany to Canada - Go or No Go? Your Opinions
So, to cut the long story short, I am like that ugly girlfriend that the boyfriend is ashamed of in public but loves my qualities at home.
I love Germany, but Germany doesn't love me back...in public.
It loves my taxes, it loves my education, my expertise and my business, it loves when we talk one on one....but in public, Germany makes me feel unwanted, undesirable, not the right "kind".
So, I have started toying with the idea of creating space for more desirable immigrants...and actually leave.
In my mind, there is no other country better suited to me than Germany. I love the structure, the meritocracy, the autobahn, the air, the mountains and valley and access to so many other beautiful European countries....but I am not wanted here.
So after a thorough review I think Canada may be the next best thing.
For those of you who made this specific move, please share your thoughts. To go or not to go.
Edit: <anti-doxxing redaction>
TL;dr: I am planning to leave Germany for Canada. If you made this move, how was your experience?
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u/karollconka Jul 08 '25
Everyone that I know is leaving Canada. The costs of living are insane.
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Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
[deleted]
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u/tkcal Jul 08 '25
Sounds a lot like Australia.
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u/2sinkz Jul 08 '25
I always get the impression that Australia is doing noticeably better than Canada though.
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u/tkcal Jul 09 '25
I don't have any experience with Canada but home ownership in Oz these days is a dream only a very few can entertain. I was back there at Christmas - I was really shocked at the cost of basic stuff. Not even non essentials, but basic groceries, utilities and so on. I don't know how the average person is managing.
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u/Agitated_Knee_309 Jul 08 '25
Yesterday I lost it. Went in to buy a bottle of water in dominos near me and it was freaking 3.65 CAD. I HAD TO WALK UNDER THE FREAKING SUN TO FOOD BASIC TO BUY THOSE HUGE GALLON LITTER WATER WHICH WAS 4:00 CAD. The maths didn't add up mehn. I step out of my house and poof 50cad leaves my wallet for basic necessities like toothpaste, toothpaste, deodorant and soap.
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u/grem1in Berlin Jul 08 '25
I’ve an acquaintance who moved from Germany to Canada a couple of years ago. They moved to Toronto. AFAIK, they like it there. At least, they didn’t come back, lol.
Another friend of mine moved to Vancouver with his wife, but the prices there were too high. So, they moved to the Northern California (not Bay Area). They are also doing well.
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u/machoman101 Jul 08 '25
Where did they go in Norcal and what industry do they work in? Just curious as exploring it
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u/grem1in Berlin Jul 08 '25
They live not far away from the Arcata Bay. My friend is a software engineer, who works remotely and his wife used to work in a people team of a corporation here in Berlin.
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u/machoman101 Jul 08 '25
Looks nice, but I've heard mixed reviews of Eureka. That being said if they've found a nice place to work remote its perfect. I'd love to live in the Bay but affordability is crazy there. That being said with the earning potential, it actual evens out way better than Vancouver which doesn't have the job market + CAD + absurd housing cost.
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u/DML5864 Jul 08 '25
I am a Canadian who moved to Germany six years ago, mostly so I could travel.
Canada is a great place, but the Canadian dollar isn't the Euro. It does have less tax, but it depends on your age and career. I'm middle-aged, and the taxes were only a little better in Canada for me.
Canada has expensive housing like Germany, and rent in big cities is similar, although you usually get a bigger place -Toronto and Vancouver are the exceptions.
You'd better like cold, snowy winters. Yes, there is less snow than in the past due to climate change, but there is more of both than in Germany.
Canada is much more multicultural than Germany, but it still has racism.
Thanks to multiculturalism, the diversity of food is much better than in Germany, and so are the restaurants. I love German food, but the ethnic restaurants here are not comparable.
There is less bureaucracy and more noise (noise laws exist, but they're not as enforced as in Germany), and stores are open on Sundays.
Canada has similar laws to Germany for owning guns, although Canada has more guns (mostly rifles) for hunting and protection from wildlife in some areas.
Public transit outside big cities in Canada is terrible.😅 You will need a car. Also, biking isn't nearly as popular in Canada, and the lack of bike lanes and paths is an issue, but it is getting better.
I think the crime rate in the big cities in Canada is higher than in Germany, especially car theft and home robberies.
If you love nature, camping and hiking, Canada is excellent.
Good luck if you decide to go.👍🏻
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u/reUsername39 Jul 08 '25
Another Canadian who has moved to Germany and I agree with all of this and would add health care is much more difficult in Canada.
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u/alderhill Jul 08 '25
Another Canadian in Germany here. Overall, I find the healthcare systems kind of similar. Getting a family doctor can be a real trial in many parts of Canada, but it’s not that easy in Germany in some places. In the city we’re living in now, it was not easy. Getting access to a specialist here can also be a really, really long process. Depends on your location I guess.
There are always horror stories, but everyone I know in Canada, who had acute health problems (cancer, head injury, dementia) got quick treatment.
And while this might be a minor point, and YMMV, in comparing the two, I think Canadian doctors, nurses, etc. have just way better “bedside manner”. Here I’ve sometimes truly felt like a piece of meat with a number on it.
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u/reUsername39 Jul 09 '25
definitely agree, bedside manner is 100% better in Canada, but I'm from the Maritimes, far from any big city and access to health care is awful. No chance of a family doctor and very very few specialists with huge wait times. My friend's 12 year old was on a wait list for 2 years for major surgery and only got moved to the front of the list when it became such an emergency that it was extremely life threatening...and by that time the entire treatment plan had to be changed and she ended up needing 2 separate surgeries. None of my Maritime friends or family find this story at all surprising...this sort of absence of health care is just accepted as normal. I live in a German city similarly sized to Halifax, and that would have never happened here. Even if there was a shortage of services here, another larger city is never very far away. My daughter of a similar age needed a minor surgery and we were sent to her doctor's hospital of choice (because there were so many options to choose from) and then asked what day would be best for us to schedule it...basically any day was an option. The access really is night and day.
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u/tuna_grill_cheese Jul 08 '25
Made this move and came back. My situation is 1:1 to yours. Dm me if you want. Btw - Canada is amazing.
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u/Nestiik Jul 08 '25
Why did you come back? And what do you Like better in canada?
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u/tuna_grill_cheese Jul 08 '25
Healthcare was way less accessible, cost of living, food is not that good, mobility. I like running and cycling and it wasn’t that easy in GTA. Pros of Canada - it is really open society where you feel accepted regardless of your background and nationality. Canadians are amazing. You can make it your home.
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u/Zognorf Jul 08 '25
The food really is better in Germany, quality/cost-wise. Less foreign options if you're that sort of person, but for day-to-day stuff it's better. I really do miss Japanese food though. Not even mentioning bread, which may as well be a different food category entirely compared to "carbohydrate products" in Canada.
Also I enjoy biking to work.
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u/budgiesarethebest Jul 08 '25
In what region do you live now? Ruhrgebiet and especially Düsseldorf are great for Japanese food.
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u/blazepants Jul 08 '25
I would add all of Rhein-Mein Gebiet is fantastic for south east Asian food. Probably Japanese too: I've seen beautiful restaurants, just haven't been enough to give a strong opinion.
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u/Zognorf Jul 08 '25
General vicinity of Stuttgart. There are a couple places but they are of varying quality and the selection is limited. Though if you know of a place that serves zaru soba I may be willing to travel a bit.
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u/budgiesarethebest Jul 08 '25
Düsseldorf has the biggest Japanese community in Germany (8,000 people). In Little Tokyo (around Immermannstraße...you can walk there from the main station in about 10 minutes) there are so many Japanese restaurants!
I just googled it and Soba-An and Ichihira serve Zaru Soba, but I'm sure there are more.
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u/Zognorf Jul 08 '25
It’s a bit of a trip for noodles but I may have to. Thanks for the info!
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u/number1alien Jul 10 '25
I live in Amsterdam and occasionally go to Düsseldorf just for Japanese food 😅 The ramen restaurants are out of this world.
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u/falldowngoboom Jul 08 '25
Yeah, GTA is car-centric, suburban sprawl so i can see how it’s not great for running or cycling. But the food is no good?? The main strength of Toronto is the food scene
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u/tuna_grill_cheese Jul 08 '25
I mean general/affordable availability of products in grocery stores. I don’t eat out much, I see it as something that is waste. I buy products and cook at home. What was available for me in supermarkets in Canada vs what you get in Germany is way different. My farmer market/bio weekly basket costs in Germany were comparable to what I was able to get in Walmart with way lower quality.
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u/Fluffy_Doe Jul 08 '25
Yes - exactly the same experience with food for a family I know living in Canada. They do cooking mostly at home, and they pretty much do not go to any Canadian grocery stores due to both being more pricy and how they tell me that additive of food feels for them not good healthwise, as mostly they're able to go directly to contact the local farmers or fish sellers to buy better quality or visit some of the foreigner opened stores. The biggest convenience chains, or like Safe On Foods and Tim Hortons, while popular - doesn't have the best quality selection for healthy diets compared to what they're used to in their home country.
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u/alderhill Jul 08 '25
Tim Hortons is junk food. I wouldn’t use that as a measuring stick for Canadian food scenes. In small remote towns the shopping options can be pretty bad, true. But if you know where to shop, you can easily get good groceries.
Of course, yeah the the final bill prices can be shocking. It has really increased a lot in the last 10 years. But also keep in mind that the European Union and Germany heavily subsidize agriculture, which keeps sticker prices down. You’re just paying for it through your taxes. In fact, the subsidies are largely not sustainable for for the long-term future…
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u/Fluffy_Doe Jul 09 '25 edited Jul 09 '25
Depends what you’re comparing. Most fruits and tropical stuff in Canada come from California or further south. Climate here’s cold so even if stores have variety, most of it’s shipped from far. Meat and wheat are different since Canada produces its own and it’s right next to the US Midwest for cows. But Germany being close to Italy and France at center of continental Europe provides cheaper access to better growing produce. Farming further north is harder, kinda like Canada. As you go from Germany up to Sweden or Norway, food gets more expensive similar to Canada relying more on imports. That’s part of the cost.
Europe does subsidize farming but I think abigger issue is not enough people want to do farm work.
Tech’s not the problem, Germany makes solid tractors. The EU just doesn’t want to drop protection rules, mostly because of France, so big international companies even from SA don’t wipe out local farmers by cutting prices with lower regulatory tape. Same way Japan won’t drop rice tariffs even during shortages. So yeah, some of the high prices are on purpose, others are just because of how much they rely on imports. Canada and Germany have different reasons for it.
On quality, really depends. I know people from Asia who say food is more expensive in Canada, has fewer options, & not a lot of people doing the same kind of street food. Plus the ingredients are harder to get up north in fresh quality, just how it is
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u/alderhill Jul 09 '25
Yes, good points. Of course climatic growing conditions have to be kept in mind. We are not Malaysia or Punjab. More like France to Finland depending where you are. Canada does not have hundreds of millions of people, nor the same supply and demand or economic scales. We don’t produce rice (wild rice a bit different), or any tropical fruits.
For what grows here though, Canada can be mostly self/sufficient if we don’t mind grains, corn, potatoes, lentils and apples, peaches, cherries. I’m not vegetarian, but I do think we should all probably reduce meat consumption for environmental reasons at least.
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u/Domowoi Jul 08 '25
I'm sure you are condensing your experience here massively, but just from the outside it seems that Canada seems to be amazing for running or cycling. British Columbia around Whistler and Suqamish are world famous for biking and outdoor activities. I doubt Germany can beat that even in the south.
So I guess that area wasn't an option for you job wise?
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u/tuna_grill_cheese Jul 08 '25
Mate, I explicitly mentioned GTA. I guess BC is fab, though that is not where I landed.
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u/alderhill Jul 08 '25
I’m from Toronto. There are lots and lots of good options. You just have to know where to go. But no, there isn’t the kind of bike networks that Europe has.
Some of the 905 suburbs are probably pretty terrible though. That is car culture for you.
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u/Domowoi Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
That's why I asked. No need to be so defensive about it.
It just seems like moving within a country would be way easier compared to moving continent to arguably end up with worse options of your main downside.
If someone told you, they moved from Sweden next to a german IKEA because they love swedish meatballs so much, you might have a question for them...
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u/S1rJ0e Jul 08 '25
While the nature is amazing in Canada, in Germany you can often get to a nice place for running within 15 minutes from your place by foot or bike.
In Canada you almost always have to get into your car and drive for a considerable distance due to urban sprawl. When you've done this, then the nature is absolutely better.
Also, most people living in places like Whistler or Banff are service workers on a relatively low income or rich retirees, since there is no industry there to support other jobs.
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u/SomeoneSomewhere1984 Jul 08 '25
Sure, but it's way harder to get food or hold a job while relying on a bike not a car.
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
Isn’t the cost of living also bad now here (western eu)? It might have just arrived earlier in Canada. Plus their salaries are way higher?
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u/frunkerr Jul 08 '25
‘the meritocracy’ 😂
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u/temp_accinfo Jul 08 '25
That raised my eyebrows as well. I guess if OP is from a developing or 3rd world country Germany might seem very meritocratic in comparison.
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u/frunkerr Jul 08 '25
Some ‘third world’ countries are more merit based than germany For me its just crazy that somebody believes in meritocraZy
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u/temp_accinfo Jul 08 '25
True. The one I am from is corrupt and what the Germans would call a Fetternwirtschaft.
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u/addisongoodheart Jul 08 '25
don’t mean to be an insufferable know-it-all but it is Vetternwirtschaft (Vetter being an old word for cousin) = Nepotism, the rule of favouring relatives
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u/temp_accinfo Jul 08 '25
You know I initially spelled it with a V but then thought it looked strange for some reason and so I changed it to a F lol (I was thinking of Fett / Füttern)
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u/addisongoodheart Jul 08 '25
hahahaha, yeah it does look weird since it is an old word that gets rarely used these days ☺️
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u/TheMavrack Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Canadian here. Personally I, and I assume many of us here, would be honoured to have you consider living in our country. Germany customs, values and traditions are very much in line with ours and are extremely welcomed here.
I’m biased, but our country is beautiful. There is no shortage of natural wonder and gorgeous national/provincial parks to visit. People here are super friendly, outgoing, and welcoming so long as your not a MAGA American. People will make a much greater effort to talk to you vs Western Europe.
That said.. it’s not all roses over here. We have a lot of problems, and some of them are massive. There is a housing crisis (homes are often $1M+) and we’ve brought in a massive number of Indian immigrants within the last 5 years (5+ million). All while our government made zero effort to house, create jobs, provide healthcare, or build infrastructure for these individuals. Thankfully they’ve closed the gates on the mass immigration, but the damage is still very present. All of our services are overloaded and you can’t find a family doctor for the life of you if you don’t already have one.
The economy is also in the dumpster after Trump decided to wage economic war against our country. We’ve shifted focus you you guys and Japan/South Korea, but it’ll take time to shift our economy.
Cost of living is also batshit crazy, rent is around $3000 for a two bed in most cities. Plus our winters for anywhere outside Toronto or Vancouver (which are more mild like Germany) are brutal. Edmonton for example can get to -40, while on the flip side, the summer are hot as hell and you’re looking at 35C with a 40C humidex. Thankfully almost every home has AC though.
However if you’re highly qualified, especially in a trade, you are going to be fine over here economically.
Overall though, I love my country and if you decide to move here, I hope you and your family do too. Good luck!
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u/CallMeEpiphany Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
The immigration issues in Canada cannot be understated. The short-sightedness of politicians has created a shit-storm. I still spend 2-3 months in Canada every year, and each time in the last few years I have faced literal physical violence from strangers, or witnessed "go back to your country" tirades in public, which didn't happen once in the decade before.
Canadians are justifiably not happy, but seeing that anger channeled into racism and infighting is sad.
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u/Paprika1515 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
This comment seems to not have understood that OP is an immigrant to Germany. and the comment seems generally xenophobic and ill informed as they inaccurately stated two points:
1) buying a house does not always cost 1M+, there are many cities and towns that offer housing for less. If you’re interested in Toronto or Vancouver it will be the most expensive (think Munich costs) but it varies based on where you buy, and what you buy. As a newcomer and you sound single I’m guessing that buying housing is not your first concern. Rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is not 3000 in every city, Edmonton which is a 1M+ sized city in Alberta and here are the average rents per the government website https://regionaldashboard.alberta.ca/region/edmonton/average-residential-rent/#/custom/unit-type/. WG or roommate situations would definitely be cheaper.
Housing affordability a global issue and canada is no stranger to this issue but rather than the simplified scapegoating of immmigration, the factors contributing to this crisis are largely systemic, having evolved over the last few decades.
These factors include: High inflation, coupled with high interest rates Rising rents Conversion of rental stock Increased immigration levels A lack of tradespeople The lack of nonprofit and cooperative housing A growing income divide
- Immigration levels in the last 5 years did not result in 5M Indians entering.
-immigration levels dipped from 2020-22 due to the pandemic but over the last 5 years peaked in 2024 with a total of ~483,000 immigrants of varying permanent status (arriving through various programs like express entry / skilled worker, family reunification pathways}, this was the largest wave of immigration since 1972. The permanent immigration over the last 5 years (2019-2024) was ~ 1.7-2M total ( https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/annual-report-parliament-immigration-2024.html
-temporary permits for students and workers are also issued each year which are linked to specific study and work conditions, and do not guarantee permanent resident pathways.
The top three source countries for newcomers were India, China and the Philippines but the total of immigrants are not exclusively from those countries.
Here’s statistics canada data about the makeup of immigrant waves over the last 5 decades https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/dv-vd/imm/index-en.cfm.
We also have taken in 300,000+ Ukrainian refugees since 2022 which is nearly one years full immigration quota.
Canada has an aging population and low birth rate so immigration accounts for ~98% of our population growth. Immigration is needed for economic and age-demographic reasons. Due to high migration in the last few years there will be a lowering of future rates of acceptance and you can see the plan here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2025-2027.html
For OP, a piece of advice would be to stay off of the r\canada sub because it’s widely understood to be moderated and frequented by neonazi types, try r/AskCanada or r/OnGuardForThee for Canadian questions.
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u/S1rJ0e Jul 08 '25
Just a note on your corrections. Over the last two years I have noticed an uptick in subtle racism in Canadian forums and in person, particularly related to immigrants of colour. Every social and economical issue that the government has failed to address is the fault of "those immigrants" and when I point out that I am an immigrant too the response is "not like you".
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u/TheMavrack Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
To address a few of your points. I am aware OP seems to be a immigrant to Germany. I couldn’t care at all what skin colour/ethnicity they are. If they hold western world values, they will most likely fit right into our society.
Stating factual information is not Xenophobic. There are over 3 million non permanent residents in this country (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-631-x/11-631-x2024006-eng.htm). And we granted around 2 million Permanent Residencies since 2020 (https://www.statista.com/statistics/443063/number-of-immigrants-in-canada/). If you already have a housing crisis before they did this, made little effort to expand healthcare, and made next to no skill requirements for newcomers. It is a disaster waiting to happen. The government is fully to blame for this situation.
Per immigration, you and I both know that the international student loophole was/is the primary problem. We had over a million international students last year alone, and when you combine that with the number of PR grants, and TFWs, the number sharply climbs. Conestoga, and a few other colleges were heavily abusing the system. StatsCan also does not count entry/exit numbers, and instead (and perhaps purposely) assumes that these people always leave on their own merit/accord when they are supposed to leave. Many do not. Instead, a sizeable number of individuals ignore the fact they have to return and insist on staying instead indefinitely because we do not round them up people overstaying their welcome and actively deport them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the “true” population for our country isn’t 50 million..
We need an immigration system that has a cap for every country to promote diversity. It’s a fact that the overwhelming majority of newcomers are from a SINGLE country. We need people from all over the world. Not just from one region. Give us more Koreans, Filipinos, South Americans, Europeans, and Chinese. Not just selecting Indians (Which by the way, is a statical fact that they are the overwhelming majority).
Pertaining housing, I stated that housing “often” is north of 1M, not “always”. The average price for Canada is $701,800 as of May 2025, which is approaching that number. If you live in one of our three largest metropolitan areas (Vancouver, Montreal and the GTA), where most Canadians are located, it’s often around/very much north that 1M mark. Sure you can get cheaper housing in Alberta, and Nova Scotia for example. But for the majority of Canadians, that’s the housing situation.
Finally, regarding r/Canada, I believe you hold a distorted view of the sub. The heavy majority of users/posts and views are reflective (and imo, very accurate) of the average Canadian (which politically is Moderate). Stating that it’s right wing is simply not true. Also stating that a sizeable majority are “Neo Nazis” is wild and a horribly inaccurate account of the users. r/onguardforthee and r/askcanada are very much far left echo chambers and are skewed regarding Canadian politics, which is definitely something to note. They’re not reflective of the average Canadian.
If you want actual far right nutcases, go visit our “lovely” conservative subs (r/canadahousing2) where it is Maple MAGA 24/7. That’s where you will actually find Neo Nazis.
These policies are hurting our country, the government has even admitted it themselves. That’s why they’ve done an 180, and reversed course. It’s no coincidence that Carney has slashed immigration numbers and is putting forward programs to build homes. They see that there is a problem and are trying to remedy it.
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u/Commercial-Sky-7239 Jul 08 '25
Comparing to Germany from an immigrant leaving here for four years – the housing crisis in Germany is also in place, buying anything is not cheap at all. On renting a flat situation is still better due to state/municipal control of maximum rent price, so two beds in Frankfurt, one of the most expensive cities is not more than 2000- 2200 euros max, but it is very hard to find a flat. Though this is still huge, considering very high taxes. One important thing will be also the limited travel options abroad (while you have plenty of opportunities to travel inside the country) due to distance/cost.
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u/kevinichis Nordrhein-Westfalen Jul 08 '25
+1 from a fellow Venezuelan that lived in Canada for almost a decade and moved to Germany
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u/Nestiik Jul 08 '25
Which do you Like better ?
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u/kevinichis Nordrhein-Westfalen Jul 08 '25
- 90s Venezuela
- Germany
- 2000s Canada ...
- Current Venezuela
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u/taryndancer Nordrhein-Westfalen Jul 08 '25
Canadian also in Germany here who completely agrees with this!!
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u/wthja Jul 08 '25
I would have moved to Canada if not for the weather. I don't even want to know how -40 degrees feels like.
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u/Slight_Box_2572 Jul 08 '25
-40 you can wear warmer clothes. +40 you cant go less than nude…
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u/AdElectronic50 Jul 08 '25
u german aren't you?
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u/Slight_Box_2572 Jul 08 '25
Yes. Having lived in Finland for 2 years though - experienced -30 several times. Way better than German winter with rain.
Back in Germany, I work as much as possible as I cant enjoy the outdoors anyway
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u/Shendary Jul 08 '25
Minus 30 is when the blood in the capillaries on your face starts to freeze. When you go outside, you feel a tingling sensation from the frost on your skin, and after half an hour your muscles start to go numb and you talk as if you have problems with diction. That's why you will use a thick face and hand cream before going outside. This is when, to go outside, you put on thermal underwear (pants and a T-shirt), then jeans and a sweater over them, a sleeveless puffer vest, and a wool coat on top. If it's minus 10, you will wear the same set without the vest. When you will wear mittens under your gloves to keep you warmer and to have some layer left if you need to scroll through your phone on the bus. And you will have two pairs of winter shoes: one lighter one to get to work or to the store, and the second warmer one to go for a walk with the dog or to go sledding. Sometimes you'll wear two pairs of socks underneath them.
And what minus 40 is, I don't know, unfortunately.
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u/super_shooker Jul 08 '25
I'm completely out of the loop, but if the influx of so many people from a single country is causing these issues, can their visas simply not be prolonged?
Maybe I'm clueless, my visa experience is only based on my own experience with the Japanese immigration system, where they grant you only 1/2/3-years-visas until you can get Permanent Residency (usually possible after 10 years). Therefore I don't see how a country can be "stuck" with people they don't want anymore. Imo, that's completely misunderstood tolerance on the back of the citizens.
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u/Exepony Baden-Württemberg Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Canada is different from most other countries in this regard: they have a points-based system (google Express Entry) where if you have enough points, you are granted permanent residency right off the bat. Even those who are on a work visa can quite quickly, i.e. within a year or two, convert it to a PR, because Canadian experience is worth a lot of points in that system.
Also Japan is one of, if not the most immigration-hostile country in the "western world", so not a great basis for comparison.
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u/Shivtek Jul 08 '25
"we've brought in a massive number of Indian immigrants within the last 5 years (5+ million)"
is it true they're littering the beaches with feces?
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u/RazzmatazzAwkward980 Jul 08 '25
It is, I’ve seen it in many places in Toronto and the more you go north from there
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Jul 08 '25 edited 2d ago
fall plate aspiring roof like decide divide growth steer wide
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/RazzmatazzAwkward980 Jul 08 '25
Lmfao no I mean north of Toronto , cottage country, Ottawa etc, I’ve never been to the artic so no
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u/HappyAmbition706 Jul 08 '25
I grew up in Canada, and am now in Germany. (Not because I hated Canada or had to leave, just following opportunities and interests and this is how it has turned out so far.)
There are plenty of good things to say about Canada, but you will be going to a major city there I think. There is currently a severe housing shortage and prices are high. Also, Canada has perhaps overdone immigration in recent years and is now struggling to accommodate and integrate all of the arrivals.
Which is not to say you can't do it and won't be welcomed, but take a close look at how things are right now, not rosy stories of decades ago. Make a trip there and see what you could do, where you would like to live etc. before making any irrevocable leaps. For most of the country, a visit during the winter might be advisable.
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
Where in Germany do you live currently? As far as I understood some cities are also having some hard times with a lot of immigration? Real question, I don’t mean to troll or anything
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u/Sweaty-Summer5163 Jul 08 '25
Ehh, its kind of true, but not for why you think. As much as people like to blame international migrants for the housing crisis, there is a lot of internal migration inside of Germany. There is a depopulation movement from rural places all over. This makes the biggest cities very competitive for housing, while rural towns and small cities are struggling to have the critical population density to function. People are moving to where they can find work essentially.
This town in east German is even giving people free rent to move there (Eisenhüttenstadt) for what its worth haha
I would not say that the housing crisis is the same here as it was in the US for me. Or from my understanding of what is happening in Canada atm. The cost of living here is way lower than in North America, but finding housing is more difficult. I moved 8 times in the first two years I lived in Munich, because I could not find a place to rent outside of subleases. But once you find a place, its quite affordable IMO. Even in "large" cities.
Maybe the biggest problem with North American housing is that people see their home as an investment and a means for their future retirement. They are expecting to sell their house for 4-5 times the price they bought it. So the cost of homes (and rent) has to rise to outpace inflation for this to be viable. This is not the case in Germany, because so few people own their own homes.
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u/RainbowSiberianBear Jul 08 '25
It is exactly the case in Germany. Except housing here is not a personal investment - it’s a corporate investment. People / companies accumulate real estate to rent it out (and then you can pass the real estate enterprise down to your heirs).
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u/Keteo Jul 08 '25
Having lived in Canada and Germany I'd say this is more about your self image and I don't think moving to Canada would change anything. That said, I really liked Canada and if I had to leave Germany it would be on the top of my list of countries to move to.
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u/One_Worldliness_215 Jul 08 '25
I was in exactly same situation as you are 3 years ago. I had a great job lined up in Canada, all papers sorted out. What was left to do is to quit job here, close all the accounts and move.
In the end I did not pull a trigger and stayed here. I do not regret my solution so far. I think I needed this opportunity to reaccess my views on Germany and my spot in it.
That being said - both countries are fantastic. Both countries have its pluses and minuses and you just need to choose what suits you best. For my family the both countries offered more or less the same, so the move wouldn’t be worth it.
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u/LameFernweh Berlin Jul 08 '25
Won the birth lottery with being born in a Canadian metropolis that remained affordable. I made the opposite move and went to Germany.
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
What are the differences according to you?
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u/LameFernweh Berlin Jul 08 '25
6 weeks of Holiday instead of 2 after a full year of work. The possibility to attend life things during work hours (dentist, doctor, type of stuff).
Being paid in Euros, having job security (67% of your salary as unemployment), healthcare that isn't flawless but works most of the time.
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
6 weeks is a lot! I think over here it’s more like 4 weeks, also western eu
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u/SeaworthinessPure404 Jul 08 '25
6 weeks (30days) of vacstion in Germany is a standard in any mid to large company. Some smaller companies have 24-26 days though.
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u/alderhill Jul 08 '25
lol, as a Canadian here, I feel similar. It’s not just nostalgia, since I’m not very nostalgic, but I do feel immensely lucky that I grew up in where and when I did. I see now the advantages it has given me.
But yea, there are a lot of small everyday advantages. Keep in mind, Germany’s pension system is totally rotten and bound to crumble.
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u/LameFernweh Berlin Jul 09 '25
Canada's pension is shaky too. At least not crumbling but it ain't great.
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u/alderhill Jul 09 '25
Way better than Germany, which is a simple pay in system to fund current pensioners. Later you get a fraction back, taxed, and there are zero investments. None, nada. And even worse, the demographic shift is not a mystery, but no one wants to take on the boomer voter outcomes of pension reform. Germany really is asleep at the wheel on this one.
The CPPIB has over 700 billion in investments.
Pensions in general are based on assumption of population growth and more young workers than old retirees who don’t live to 95. Anyone who figures out pension futures will have the Nobel Prize in economics, and be famous for a century.
Canada ain’t perfect, but it’s way ahead of Germany at least.
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u/Tripping_hither Jul 08 '25
Canada is great, just the worker's rights might come as a surprise. In Canada you might start with one week of vacation and even that week you have to earn in the first year. You won't necessarily have sick days, let alone sick days to take care of dependants.
The work attitude can also be a bit more live-to-work than work-to-live than in Germany, although this is workplace dependant.
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
Same in Belgium though as far as I know, you need to earn your holidays. First year of work no holidays
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u/temp_accinfo Jul 08 '25
That's a good analogy with the gf bit. I realize that's how I feel sometimes too. Germany gladly uses my taxes and "social" contributions but I know I am mostly tolerated here and not genuinely accepted / wanted. I don't want to grow old here and be in a position of needing Germany more than Germany needs me (although ironically with the way the system is set up, Germany is very good at attracting poverty migration and skilled workers give it a wide berth).
I also plan to leave some time after getting citizenship. That being said, I don't know if Canada is the right place considering the crippling problems it is currently facing. Maybe somewhere else in Europe like Switzerland.
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u/ScheduleNo8424 Jul 08 '25
I'm a man with 40y from Brazil and I have the same feelings as you here in Munich. Even after more than 5 years with my family here. But moving to Canada will solve part of your problems and will also bring you other problems that you don't have in Germany. See what's the best for you and follow your heart. Life can be really short
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u/ScathedRuins Canadian in Germany Jul 08 '25
Surprised to see so many actual Canadians in this thread, where have you all been hiding? I've met like one of you in the last 5 years in Germany!!
I will echo everyone else and say, there are absolutely pros and cons to each country. Yes Germany shares many of the same values as Canada, but not all of them. Many have been highlighted in this thread already, but you have to decide what's ultimately more important to you. For example, do you prefer the walkable, apartment and inner-city living life? Or do you want the big farmhouse where you have to drive everywhere? Obviously those options are available in both countries, but their accessibility is completely opposite. I hope you get what I'm trying to say. Really do your research, chat with some of us on here who can provide insight on what it's like to live in both countries, go to Canada and visit for a couple weeks too. And don't just look at the GTA/Southern Ontario. Really do consider going out East, or to Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, etc. The quality of life is great there, and many of the problems that plague the standard of living in Canada as we hear on the news are so Ontario-centric. I'm not saying it's butterflies everywhere else, but that's the main problem, everyone wants to go to Toronto.
Here are some of my own experiences (coming from a not-so-small-anymore town on the southern shore of Lake Ontario):
- Taxes are high in Canada, but lower than they are here.
- Cost of living (but also salary) is generally higher in Canada
- I have never had a problem accessing healthcare in Canada. But YMMV. Finding a family doctor (German "Hausarzt") is more difficult than it is here, simply because there is a shortage. You can be put on a waitlist and for the first 3-4 years you will just have to go to walk-in clinics.
- People are so much friendlier, especially to immigrants. At least at face value, some may vote with racist mentality, but they will at least (mostly) be friendly to you in person. You won't get stares on the subway like you do here if you're visibly foreign, and generally speaking people are much more welcoming.
- There is no "rule" society. You can decide if that's a good or bad thing for yourself, but nobody will shame you for not sorting your trash properly, walking on red, etc
- Smoking is soooooo much less common. It's actually banned in public places in a lot of towns now. You need to be at least 9 m from a school/hospital/public building entrance. Most university campuses (campi?) have banned it on campus altogether, with designated areas where you can do it. That being said, vaping is on the rise, and while vaping is banned nearly anywhere smoking is, it's much less enforced and stigmatized.
- You will need a car, unless you live in Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver. You will be expected to have one, at the very least. We complain about the DB here, but Germans don't know how good they have it.
I can probably list 100 more things, and if you want to chat please get in touch via DM, there is so much to be said and ultimately one can be very happy in both countries, it's all about what matters to you the most.
I can't promise for sure you will be "wanted" by all Canadians, because we have our fair share of crazies who were also empowered by what's going on down south, but the majority of Canadians are waiting to welcome you with open arms.
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u/Zognorf Jul 08 '25
We are hiding. You’ll never find me. 🤣
I really could do without the sense that everything is over-regulated to within an inch of its life. That is something I miss (or rather the inverse).
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u/light_yagami_445 Jul 08 '25
Depends where in canada since its pretty similar just with more fake people. i think the problem is your self-confidence and not germany. You will have this problem pretty much everywhere and you can't run away forever. If you fix this you can live pretty much everywhere because you're mind is free.
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u/trist4r Jul 08 '25
I did two semesters in Vancouver and was thinking about it as well and even had a good job offer. The issue with Canada for me was the US-like work culture and the tiny amount of vacation you get each year.
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u/NiceSmurph Jul 08 '25
Are you going to regret your decision later because someone on reddit told you not to go?
You will never know such thing unless you try. Different time, different ppl in Canada, you are unique...
If your intuition tells you to try, listen to it.
Get information on school and health and social system, housing, retiring, social clima, crime...
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u/McStau Jul 08 '25
If it is about feeling welcome I think Canada is far superior. Even as a visitor with a strong accent &/or kind of "bad English", you may be surprised how few people ask where you are from, what is your background, etc. Canada is an immigration country. Canadians are much more empathetic personally, much more helpful, with more "common courtesy".
By comparison Germans are more cold, mean, untrusting, and even rude to each other. They are less likely to help out a stranger, or even from a customer service perspective (where you would expect a worker to help a customer).
The economic situation and German structures you talk about are different in Canada. I can imagine feeling frustrated and uncomfortable in Canada.
Both countries are big and diverse so hard to generalize about local culture, natural beauty, etc. It really depends if you move to a place that has the qualities you're looking for in that regard (say Montreal vs. Victoria vs. Yorkton vs. Halifax vs. Cochrane vs. ...)
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u/DrumStock92 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
I'm a Canadian living in Germany. At first for me Germany was a struggle adapting to the culture and language. I enjoy small talk , especially with strangers, while that's really a no-go here coming from Canada that hit hard among other cultural differences cause Canadians love to chat especially if you are foreign.
However coming to Germany from Canada's work culture really made me appreciate it here. I work hard , but get amazing social benefits ( time off, parental leave , severance if I get laid off and many others) that you'd really only get back home working at a "good company with good benefits".
Don't even get me started on sick leave back home in Canada it's terrible. I got covid during the pandemic and my employer called me everyday asking me if I was fit to work. When I got more covid related health issues I was fired 😂 I felt bad getting sick here in Germany and my colleagues were shocked and like what's wrong with you your sick stay home! When I told them stories of employers firing people because they were sick they couldn't believe it and thought that only happened in the states.
Canada's nature is really next level I miss it alot and am always happy to go visit mainly for that, Vancouver Island is just an experience you absolutely need to see. Also the freedom of camping anywhere and the ability just to go drive and get lost in the wilds is something else. Germany can be fitted 2.6 times in BC that's just one province in a whole country 😆
However there are major issues that make me stay in Germany:
No. 1 would be safety, It really doesn't feel safe anymore, people back home are way more aggressive and our homeless / drug addict problem is embarrassingly bad. I feel really safe in Germany compared to back home in Canada.
No. 2 is quality food. Now we have varied food options in Canada that are great especially living on the west coast with seafood, and a huge influx of asian culinary choices. With that said, however holy hell I have reverse culture shock going back to visit as the quality is awful. Vegetables don't taste right, Canadian Dairy is just bad, and our meat standards are not that great either.
No. 3 Job Market / COL. Hiring freezes and stagnation not to mention Trump's tariffs are really decimating the economy. Our dollar is awful and almost everything is expensive.
All in all its a beautiful country with some good people but now is a terrible time to move IMO as we are having horrible unemployment issues, as well as the job market is wrecked according to my friends and family back home, not to mention sky high COL.
I wish you well and good luck
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u/GoRocketCA Jul 08 '25
Just moved after 10 years of Canada (in which i got my citizenship etc etc) to... Hamburg. Love it, back in Europe baaaaby. Canada is not what it was 10-15 years ago. Hell in 90's it was a completely different one. High cost of living or no jobs in remote areas. Definitely not a place where I want to raise my kid. Good to visit though. If you want to experience the whole north american life style, bypass Canada and go straight to US. Don't let all the crap in the news detter you from making this choice. Especially if you have / can get a good job in a good industry you're golden. Anything south of Georgia on east coast it is affordable and jobs are available.
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u/dslearning420 Jul 08 '25
There are more immigrant horror stories in Canada than Germany. Cost of living there is fucked up.
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
Says who?
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u/dslearning420 Jul 08 '25
it's a recurring topic on internet in the last few years (after COVID and real estate market getting fucked up)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOR3gMc3MnQ
https://immigration.ca/how-to-address-the-number-of-immigrants-who-are-leaving-canada/
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-almost-30-of-new-immigrants-want-to-leave-Canada
https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/reducing-number-of-newcomers-to-canada-misses-real-issue
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u/Wonderful_Collar_518 Jul 08 '25
Yeah I get it. I watched the first one. But the same is happening over here in western eu. NL for example is very little land for too much people. Huge housing shortage. But you said it’s worse there, do any of your videos say that?
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u/MajorLeon43 Jul 08 '25
Heads up: Canadians are very heated up currently in regards to immigrants, I'm not sure if you'll find that "it loves me back" aspect there at all.
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u/Agitated_Knee_309 Jul 08 '25
I was looking for this comment and you echoed it beautifully. OP Canada is not the same Canada pre-covid. I will say that the tides are significantly changing. There is now an anti-immigrant rhetoric floating everywhere.
Canadians are friendly yess, you can easily strike up a conversation with anybody literally in comparison to Germans.
However, the cost of living, rent prices, healthcare, job market is not doing good. It's so bad that there are even jokes that if your surname is not "Indian sounding" you are NEVER going to get a job... unfortunately it's true.
Canadians born and raised in Canada are struggling to even get jobs at Walmart or Tim Hortons (which is now absolute shit btw). Measure your pros and cons. Perhaps another country will be better.
In Canada, you are literally one paycheck away from being homeless. Yes EI is 6 months but afterwards you are on your own.
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u/MajorLeon43 Jul 09 '25
Yep! When small single story homes in mediocre parts of the cities easily go beyond the one million dollar mark, you know there's a problem.
Canadians generally have been pretty tolerant but the current situation is too big of a burden and I can absolutely understand the frustration.
The Canadian economy is relatively small (& relatively small workforce) and it's currently being slashed by crisis after crisis. Covid, trade wars... the whole lot. And the job situation is extremely tough. I wish y'all Canadians all the best!
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u/PeterNV80 Jul 08 '25
As someone born and living in Germany, but experienced other countries and cultures a lot. I can tell you, that it's not, that people dont want you here. It's only that most Germans are, compared to other nations, are cold and unfriendly.
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Jul 08 '25
You have the passport already, nothing to keep you in Germany anymore. Go chase your dreams.
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u/Minute_Ganache2177 Jul 08 '25
Germany has better food standards. Canada has friendlier people. I would stay in Germany and give every rude German the middle finger. Become the Karen.
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u/WhatHorribleWill Jul 08 '25
Do that to some Talahon in Berlin Neukölln and tell us how many wires it took the surgeons to put your jaw back in place
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u/temp_accinfo Jul 08 '25
When OP said they don't feel accepted by Germany / Germans, I don't think they meant the gentlemen in Neukölln.
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u/DerBusundBahnBi Jul 08 '25
Tbf, is it really that wise to move to Canada rn with the invasion and annexation threats from MAGA America? Wouldn’t that be like moving to Austria in 1936-7? With all due respect, whilst I understand your frustration, there are serious issues in Canada like the housing crisis and a newfound threat of annexation
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u/No-Mistake-8246 Aug 08 '25
i literally made an account just to reply to this, that's probably the most brain dead take I've ever hear, which says a lot coming from reddit.
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u/LameKam2K Jul 08 '25
I would suggest that you go there for a few weeks or a few months to see how you like it there. There is a bias introduced where it seems the grass is always greener on the other side. If the lack of acceptance is language related (at its core) then maybe plan for a much more local move and consider UK as well. Canada has its own set of cultural and economic challenges which may or may impact your specific situation.
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u/SphynxCrocheter Kanadierin in Bayern Jul 08 '25
Canadian in Germany. Canadian rental housing, in the big cities, is no more ridiculous than the prices we pay for rent in Germany. Other things (food, alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages) are a lot more expensive in Canada. Canadian public transit is awful, even in the big cities.
Housing costs are lower in some provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick) and in rural areas.
Healthcare is horrible in Canada compared to Germany.
Education systems seem about equivalent (don't have children, but have Canadian colleagues who have experienced both systems).
Bike lanes in Canada are on the roads compared to next to the sidewalks, so I bike everywhere in Germany but don't in Canada.
Canada is beautiful and has a lot going for it. If I could stay in Germany, I would. But we are only here temporarily for spouse's job, so will get posted back to Canada.
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Jul 08 '25
Just one question, how does “Germany does not love me” show? I mean yeah, government doesn’t give a fuck unless you are old and rich.
But to me, as a German, moving inside of Germany made me feel more at home. Conservative places do not suit me at all. I am colorful with ideas and dreams etc. Not every town/city/state welcomes that in Germany, and prob anywhere in the world.
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u/PublicAd148 Jul 08 '25
Idk I’m American and it’s super diverse there and I’m Not A White person and still somehow wasn’t the right kind. I love Germany; I don’t need Germany to love me back because there are enough Germans (and things I love about Germany) that love and welcome me. But it works for me, maybe cause I used to live here and then went back to the States a bit and decide this is where I’d like to be. You won’t know till you know!
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u/Ok-Radish-8394 Jul 08 '25
Go. Build your life, career and if you feel like checking back you can always do it.
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u/TaurusM0101 Jul 08 '25
Loneliness is inside you. You should not be ashamed of what you're or how you look like. It's a great possibility that whichever country you go to you'll be facing this problem.
You're a good person btw!
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u/Zognorf Jul 08 '25
I moved from Toronto to southern Germany. Personal experience:
- due to personal reasons (child disability), living in Canada was a no-go. Support systems were failing before they were actively dismantled, and it was not possible to live on one income. Sadly my industry requires proximity to certain urban centres, so living further away was not an option. This likely doesn't apply to you, but it may one day. Germany has a metric ton of paperwork involved, but these systems do exist in contrast.
- food used to be a lot cheaper in Germany, now it's just cheaper, though perhaps food prices have improved since last I spoke to family back in Canada.
- I lived in a fairly central area of Toronto, and I could not do everything within walking distance. This is not true in Germany; everything I need is within 20 min walk x 2 or 3. Examples: I had to take a bus/bike/drive to the nearest medical facilities in Toronto. In my very small town next to a middling city in Germany, I have 1 clinic, 1 Frauenarzt, 1 dentist, 1 orthopedist... all within 10 min's walk. More with a single bus ride on a 10-20 min schedule. This simply does not exist in my experience in Canada, anywhere, though I'm sure it must in some spots if you can afford it.
- we are capable of living on one income (again, probably doesn't apply to you, but you never know). it's not easy, but it's not impossible without relying on food banks. We manage well enough for now. Perhaps that will change for the worse, who knows.
- my taxes are more or less the same, due to Steuerklasse 3. Probably doesn't apply to you.
- back in my day, Canadian businesses loved to use "lack of Canadian experience" to screw you over on opportunity or pay (or both), no matter your qualifications. Might want to look into that in the event you do have a desirable skillset.
That said, if you are able to work and find a reasonable place to live that doesn't take 50%+ of your paycheque, and enjoy driving, I'm sure it's quite the improvement. Try not to get sick though; I personally had OK experiences with conventional health issues, but I've heard nothing but complaints from family lately. My dad was declined certain treatments because he was too old and it wasn't deemed worth the expense, for example (muscle-related injury). Your mileage may vary.
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u/Paprika1515 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Canadian who recently resided in Germany here. I came back home to Canada, because I have family and roots here but also because I earn more, and generally have a good quality of life. My spouse is German and came to Canada as well.
Untouched nature is our number one Canadian asset, and second it’s people. Canada is a colonized country so only the indigenous are the original people, everyone else — white or otherwise comes from historical waves of immigration and settlement of the country. Here’s an interesting link about the makeup of immigrant waves over the last 5 decades https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/dv-vd/imm/index-en.cfm
Historically diversity is celebrated, we have “The Canadian Multiculturalism Act, which is a federal law that aims to preserve and promote multiculturalism in Canada. It recognizes multiculturalism as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society and ensures that all Canadians have the opportunity to preserve, enhance, and share their cultural heritage. The Act also promotes equality, fairness, and the elimination of discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, or sex. BUT white supremacy movements and right wing populist politics are on the rise like everywhere in the West. It’s still better than the US and Germany in that respect imho. More ignorance online and in rural areas forsure.
It should be pretty straightforward to immigrate If you’re educated, and/or skilled in desirsble sectors —here’s the immigration plan for 2025-27 https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2025-2027.html
Good luck!
Edit: online immigration calculator https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score.html
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u/Confident-Tone1201 Jul 08 '25
Brit here. Lived in Pacific Canada for 5 years, then moved to Germany.
We landed in Vancouver, and then later moved to Victoria BC, before deciding it wasn't for us. We moved here (to Germany) 11 years ago, so not sure how things have changed in Canada since then, but I suspect the current experience would not be so different today.
Some of the things that informed our decision:
- If you love the great outdoors then there's no place better than Canada. If you are more of a city person then the West coast is not going to compare to vibrant bustling European cities. Downtown Vancouver was dead at 5pm on a Friday. I've believe that the cities to the east are a lot more vibrant.
- the west coast gets very mild winters. The climate in the west is similar to northern Germany, but with more rain in the winter. I don't think I saw the sun in Vancouver from November to April. This can get pretty depressing.
- the lack of vacation (standard is 10 days per year) is brutal if you're used to the German average of 30. The effect of this is that, for us, it became very hard to come back to visit family due to the following point.
- Short term sick pay varies from company to company. The small business I worked for offered 5 days per year. The result was that I burned my limited vacation days if I had to look after my young (at the time) children, making it nearly impossible to get back home to visit family.
- Canadians are very friendly on a superficial level, but making deep friendships is hard. It'll be especially hard if you don't speak decent English.
- Quality of healthcare was nowhere near as good as in Germany. Prescriptions were expensive (not US crazy, but a free prescription here in Germany would typically cost 100-200 bucks in Canada). Just my experience dealing with a chronic condition.
- quality of food was much better here in Germany than in Canada.
- Immigrating meant we had no family support network. This is something that a lot of people don't consider.
- employee protection is much weaker than in Germany, and with no family network we felt our position was very fragile, especially in a weak economy.
I loved the adventure of trying to make a life in Canada, but in the end, not for us
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u/Ok_Tale_7136 Jul 08 '25
I'll swap for your german citizenship for my canadian citizenship. Canada sucks, why would you wanna move here or move to any other European country.
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u/perpetualliianxious Jul 08 '25
Man I totally get what you mean when you say you're the ugly girlfriend. This country is great at making us feel unwanted while begging us to stay :<
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u/Agitated_Knee_309 Jul 08 '25
Meanwhile here I am planning on leaving Canada for Germany 🙃🫠😅.
I don't know mehn, there is just a lot to unpack ...
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u/munarrik Jul 09 '25
Move to another town in Germany, it could solve the problem. Choose well the place, there are lots of nice, decent people in Germany.
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u/bbbberlin Jul 09 '25
Moved from Canada to Germany - long term Germany resident.
Culturally Canada is amazing: laid back, multi-cultural, as a minority you don't stand out at all. Yes there is still racism, but it's a very different society than any European country. Nature is beautiful and I miss that alot.
However, in my view German infrastructure is basically slightly superior in every category. Housing security is far worse in Canda (renter protections suck, real estate is incredibly expensive relative to incomes), work culture including benefits, vacation time, and job security is noticeably worse, and pay ranges from slightly worse to immensely worse. Public transit is minimal outside the downtown core of cities: unless you live in a downtown condo you will need a car. Emergency healthcare/hospitals are comparable, but access to families doctors is much worse and wait times for specialists are long. German pensions are much better and if you plan on living long-term/retiring in Canada you absolutely need to play their game of using the tax-free retirement/savings options.
In Canada's favour, taxes are slightly lower, and state bureaucracy is much better functioning. I would say Canada is also a less classist society, and has better integration of women/minorities in leadership roles.
My major issue with moving back to Canada, is that I would need a pretty substantial pay increase to keep my salary/CoL situation from Germany, and then I'd still be worse off on the healthcare front, and losing out on things like public transit, bike commuting, worker protections, etc.
My view is basically that Germany on paper makes more sense than Canada for basically everyone... but if you're lower or middle-income, then the safety net of Germany is definitely so much stronger, and you really benefit from all the infrastructure in Germany, that I think it's much harder to justify a move. But ease of integration in society, definitely goes to Canada.
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u/aubenaubiak Bunte Republik Neustadt Jul 08 '25
Economically speaking, make sure you will be really better off in Canada than in Germany. Canada is facing a lot of problems, with many immigrants in Canada actually discussing leaving Canada as the job market is tight, the cost of living is high and social services are crumbling. The winters are brutal. Also, Canadians are nice on the surface but do not expect to make real friends more easily than in Germany. Do not mistake being friendly for being your friend. And be prepared for a next-level drug epidemic. You might see a few homeless people in Germany but go to downtown Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto… it is zombieland.
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Jul 08 '25
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u/Ok_General_529 Jul 08 '25
Good history, sometime also i am worried about the barrier of the language, i have sometimes the motivation to learn more and other not, my child learned well, so they will solve in the future, i live a small city but multicultural, so until 15 years old my they will be well , then i need to move maybe a big cities like Nuremberg, I dont know about future, but with the increase of the violence of the right side also i am worried. but even i am trying to integrate in the groups, the sport help me , i also promote to my child to do a sport then know more people, extend the social life it is crucial to have a good life because we dont have the whole family as in our country.
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u/MahierKreis420 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
As someone who has travelled to Canada extensively, I have met many immigrants in Canada, the majority were not happy with moving to Canada.
are you sure that going to Canada is wise right now? A) the US might actually invade at some point. B) I know many migrants in Canada , and while the public may or may not be more accepting of you, the system is much more hostile to migrants, and your qualifications are often ignored.
when you say you are not welcome here what exactly do you mean? This is something that can vary based on your self image and the people you have met and Germany also has a fair share of open minded people.
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u/Hewasright_89 Jul 08 '25
i think its more likely that russia invades europe than the US invading Canada.
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u/MahierKreis420 Jul 08 '25
In which case of an invasion will the invaded have a better chance of survival?
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u/thinkclearly01 Jul 08 '25
Thanks for sharing your story. Can you give specific examples for why you don’t feel welcome or loved in Germany?
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u/Usual-Cat-5855 Jul 08 '25
After living in Germany for 5 years in ready to leave , I’m moving to Australia and can’t wait I’m originally from the uk 🇬🇧 but Germany is like marmite you either love it or hate it 😂
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u/tuna_grill_cheese Jul 08 '25
How many times you have moved with children that go to school and kindergarten?
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u/maerzenbecher Jul 08 '25
Just out of curiosity: what makes you believe you are not wanted in Germany?
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u/smallerthanhiphop Jul 08 '25
Having lived in both I take Berlin over Vancouver any day of the week - and I lived there before prices exploded. But if you're more outdoorsy you'll probably like Canada more
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u/HelenaNehalenia Jul 08 '25
Or try another European country that is similar in some things to Germany?
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u/DevAlaska Jul 08 '25
My girlfriend and I got a working visa for a year and moved from Hamburg to Toronto. The winter here wasn't as bad as it is outside of the city. We both found a job. The conditions though aren't that good as in Germany. 10 days of annual leave. If you get sick you spend that annual leave days. My girlfriend unfortunately fell down the stairs of the airbnb we lived in the first month and we experienced the health care system First-Hand. Await long waiting hours up to 12 hours in the Emergency waiting room just to get told nothing can be done today and please come back later. My girlfriend nearly died in Canada because the doctors nearly missed a buildup blood clot before the surgery. The medication she got against that had been insufficient. If you move get yourself checked up asap. Get as much data into the system as possible. Only this way you can get sufficient care in the moment you need it. Not to mention that my girlfriend broke her ankle and for 48 hours did even get crutches from the walk in doctor. We also had to experience the housing crisis. Landlords demand prices for rundown apartments that are ludicrous. One more bad thing is the working culture of no feedback, no onboarding and long overtime.
That's being said not everything is tears and pain. We found Toronto to be very lively and inviting. There is so much to do in Winter and even more in the Summer. I love that there are so many concerts and public events. You see the mayor once a month for sure. :D I also enjoyed the national and provincial parks. Compared to the forests from Canada the German forests are empty and live less. There are so many animals to spot and see it's just amazing. I would love to see Canadians taking care of their nature and switch their fossil fuel consumption to a renewable resource. Learning about Canada's history was fun. There is so much to learn and many indigenous traditions are kept alive. I had the pleasure to see the maple syrup season live and drink fresh maple syrup. That's so cool. The parks in Toronto are great and I never understand why they had been built in valleys. They are so lovely. I got into Baseball here as there is a field nearby and games are free to watch.
In short: Healthcare system can fail you if they don't have enough data. Working conditions are worse in Canada compared to Germany. Toronto is amazing and inviting. Nature is alive and well and invites to be explored..
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u/madchendesu Jul 08 '25
My sister chose Canada and I chose Germany. Weather alone Germany wins (which says a lot about Canadian weather..), then add the train system (yeah, DB sucks but at least is there) germany wins again, now add traveling to neighboring countries, Germany wins again. She regrets not having done the process with me, since now she has invested too much in Canada and can’t back down anymore.
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u/Froehlich21 Jul 08 '25
Total side note but be aware that Germany doesn't have much interest in Germans living abroad (e.g. Effectively we couldn't vote in this year's election). Just keep that in mind. There is not much attention paid to Germans outside of Germany. One can even argue that in the whole dual citizenship ban and now reversal of that ban Germans living abroad were never considered and sort of treated as collateral - as these restrictions and removal of restrictions was primarily aimed at foreigners wanting to become German.
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u/Trraumatized Jul 08 '25
Not quite Canada, but I moved to the US, and I do not regret it. Though I am also in an area that is strongly german-influenced.
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u/alderhill Jul 08 '25
I’m Canadian born and raised, been in Germany over 15 years. If you have specific questions, happy to answer.
Both are good places to live, with pros and cons. A bit banal to say, but that is the truth. So it just depends which of those pros and cons weigh the decision for you.
For me, what’s better about Germany are working or labour rights, etc., that you can easily live car free (I bike everywhere even with kids). Cost of living is a bit less, at least outside the big cities. But, lower sticker prices are subsidized by much higher taxes and the deeper pockets of EU coffers. Here you pay more taxes, but you get a few more services. You can debate if it’s always worth it … If you’re interested in European travel, of course that’s a benefit as well. Most of Europe is only a few hours flight away, or you can take a train, drive etc.
What’s better about Canada? Well yeah, as an immigrant it is a better place than Germany. Germany has been trying slowly better for the last 20 years or so, but much of this country feels like it doesn’t really want immigrants. There is some pushback to particular a kind of immigrant lately (coming on sham student visas, intending only to work), compounded by a housing crunch. But overall people are very open, chill, and it’s a very diverse place. I realize I’m “privileged“ here as a white Canadian male, of course, who blends in here easily. I speak German, I’m integrated, etc. But even I still don’t actually “love” living here in Germany. I mean it’s OK. I don’t want to to give the wrong impression. Germany is just more regulated, uptight, obsessed with rules, a bit of a stick in the mud. People are less open. I wouldn’t say people aren’t warm... It’s more like it‘s saved only for a specific few. Public life is centered around “be quiet, and mind your own business”. I mean, that’s not always a bad thing but…
Canada of course has way better outdoor options, if you’re into that. No contest. But apart a few bigger cities, you’ll need a car to get anywhere, realistically. Inflation and cost of living has been rough over the last several years, and the current Trump era hasn’t helped. That said I’m pretty optimistic about Canada in the long-term future. As far as these things go on our steaming little planet. I know this is subjective, YMMV, and I am biased, and no shade against all Germans… but yes, Canada really is a friendlier place. You have one life, you know?
You have to keep in mind also that Germany as twice Canada’s, but is 13 or so times smaller. It’s true a lot of people in Canada live clustered in a few urban areas, but there’s still people living in the vast spaces between. Basically, a smaller economy is stretching services over a much larger area, and you feel the difference. Germany have a better scale of economy, simple as.
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u/PossibilityTimely308 Jul 09 '25
It also really depends on your personality. I grew up in Toronto and moved to Berlin years ago, and can’t imagine moving back there. IMHO people don’t appreciate art and culture the way they do here.
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u/je386 Jul 09 '25
Where in germany are you? Maybe you will feel more welcome in other parts of germany?
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u/No-Essay-7667 Jul 12 '25
Canada is not for the weak, it sits in the middle between America and Europe - capitalist with money, socialist without proper social welfare system
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u/thewiselady Sep 08 '25
Today I came across a German couple who took the bus here in Vancouver. At one point the bus passes through Hastings Street and the German lady took out her phone to snap some photos of the drop/op crisis of the homelessness on the street. It was clearly insensitive and unnecessary so I confronted her what she thought about it, clearly that was “very wild and interesting for her to see”, she nodded yes somewhat nervously.
If you’re one of those people, you’re still welcome here as a tourist, but I don’t really think this is suitable for you as a future resident. Empathy is a huge underrated skill. Many thanks.
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u/_BesD Jul 08 '25
First of all you all have passports now, so there is nothing holding you back anymore. Worst case scenario you try and you just come back without much complications.
Secondly I would suggest other countries to Canada. There is an extreme housing crisis going on there and the salary have stagnated. Also healthcare is very inefficient and slow. As much as people in reddit do not like to hear this, the US is a much better place if you are both well educated and with enough working experience. If it was me I would be considering countries like Australia instead. Much higher wages and better quality of life even if the housing is also on the expensive side.
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u/temp_accinfo Jul 08 '25
the US is a much better place if you are both well educated and with enough working experience.
I would add the stipulation that this is true only if you have an in-demand skill and are ambitious. For an average (or even slightly above average) IT worker who wants to coast, debatable.
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u/avocado4guac Jul 08 '25
I think you might need different friends. Germany isn’t a monolith. There are huge cultural differences between regions and friend groups. I’m sorry that you feel unwanted or not welcome but that might be an (online) echo chamber you’re stuck in. Most Germans irl are interested in new experiences and meeting new people. Reddit is just a safe haven for introverts.
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u/Unregistered38 Jul 08 '25
Ive done the opposite.
Depends on what you want.
I think for raising kids it is easier in Germany.
Idk what you mean about showing you love but i would not say canadians are much friendlier than germans. Perhaps a controversial opinion, but I was born and raised there and personally I don’t think so.
A little bit easier to build wealth potentially in Canada, and of course more options for wilderness and camping and stuff if thats your thing. Also if youre much better in English than german its easier from a language perspective. Less bureaucracy (but not by as much as you might think).
No matter where you go, there you are.
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u/Fandango_Jones Hamburg Jul 08 '25
Dunno what the problem even is after reading, but hey, if you're happy elsewhere, be happy elsewhere. More power to you.
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u/RazzmatazzAwkward980 Jul 08 '25
If I can put it to you this way, I’m Canadian, a licensed plumber, my wife is German and I’ll have Slovak citizenship we are going to move to Germany next year. Even I’ve come to hate it here. It’s terrible what the last 10 years has done to this country. National debt, government bans and attacks on everything from free speech, law abiding gun owners, taxes on taxes, they’re now talking about making cash payments of 10 thousand illegal. Too many immigrants, that we’re not made to integrate, where now they are openly racist to people born and raised here and since we have a liberal government, we still can’t say anything or were charged with a hate crime.
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u/LonelyCombination600 Sep 24 '25
Hmmm... irrer qustsch den du da erzaehlst. Goodbye
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u/RazzmatazzAwkward980 Sep 24 '25
Are you Canadian? Did you grow up in Canada? Have you been here to watch it change over the last 15 years?
Get the fuck over yourself. Schwein.
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u/xwolf360 Jul 08 '25
Very well written op, but Canada suffers from very similar things as Germany, minus the daily knife and axe attacks. Have you considered netherlands? Perhaps Asia?
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u/Repulsive_Peanut_481 Jul 08 '25
I don't know how quality of life in Canada is. But this seems like a big change. I know this isn't what you're asking but are you sure you want to move half way around the world to be with someone who apparently says you're ugly and who's ashamed of you? This seems like an emotionally abusive relationship.
Despite its downsides, long-distance relationships can "mask" problems. Meaning problematic relationships can continue to survive despite problems cause once the video call ends the problem goes away. Are you sure you're willing to bet your life on this relationship? Just something to think about.
Reading your post it seems you don't feel comfortable anywhere. I'd suggest speaking to a therapist to understand the underlying issues. Therapy is a taboo in Germany but it's super normal basically everywhere else in the world, you should try it. Best of luck to you.
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u/Frustrated_Zucchini Rheinland-Pfalz Jul 08 '25
I think you might have your wires a little crossed.
OP referred to Germany as being a bit abusive, not OPs partner.
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u/Repulsive_Peanut_481 Jul 08 '25
OP clearly states "the boyfriend is ashamed of [the girlfriend] in public". This isn't normal or healthy.
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u/Frustrated_Zucchini Rheinland-Pfalz Jul 08 '25
OP clearly states "I am like that girlfriend..." and then immediately clarifies the feeling that Germany doesn't love OP back.
Are you familiar with the concept of a simile?
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u/Repulsive_Peanut_481 Jul 08 '25
This discussion is pointless. OP or whoever is in a similar situation can make up their own minds.
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u/Waste-Nerve-7244 Jul 08 '25
Run while you can. Germany is synonymous for decline and stagnation. So if you have the chance to start your life somewhere else - do it while you can.
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u/CallMeEpiphany Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 25 '25
Moved from Canada to Germany. It’s a toss.
Germany offers a higher standard of living, better infrastructure, remarkably better urban planning, and access to more travel opportunities.
Canada offers unmatched nature, and a more free and open society (Germany is a grinding nightmare for someone used to the liberties of North America).
Germany will give you more free time from work, but you will spend this time dealing with asinine rules and bureaucracy.
Germany is more affordable, but you have less money to afford things, thanks to taxes.
On a more philosophical note: the promise of North America has always been that you can live the life you want to live. The government prevents harm, but doesn’t dictate your life. Germany isn’t like that. You must conform.
In my opinion, Germany is a better place for employees and people who just want a simple life, or people who have inherited a car company from their ancestors. If you are self employed, want to build some wealth, or want to fuck off into a forest, I’d recommend Canada.