Canada to Arizona: What You Need to Know

Happy Canada day! We may be an Arizona company – but we have helped a lot of Canadian families make the move. Whether for a winter home or permanent change, there are a lot of individuals making the move from Canada to Arizona. According to the Arizona Office of Tourism, Canadians spent $1.5 billion on Arizona Real estate in the last 12 months. Plus, when it comes to relocating from Canada, Arizona falls in the top 5 states. Some of these are our beloved “snowbirds” looking for a way to escape the cold, while dodging high property taxes and costs of living, others are young families and entrepreneurs following Canadian businesses.

Arizona has done a great job exciting Canadian companies who are on the hunt for a low-cost U.S. base of operations. Compared to other states like Oregon, Washington, Nevada, or California, Arizona offers a low-cost launching pad to the Southwest market, a pro-business environment, and plenty of cheap space. There are about 350 Canadian businesses operating in Arizona, with no signs of slowing down.

So, if you are a Canadian getting ready to make the move, ditch the parka, and dive into these 2019 Relocation Costs & Tips:

First, here are some fun facts about your new home:

• Population: Phoenix Metro area is estimated at 4.5 million
• Size Comparison: Phoenix Metro area would be comparable in size to Ottawa, just a little smaller.
• GDP Per Capita: $55,547 (2015)
• Currency: US Dollar. $1 US = $1.31 CA

When making the move, packing is one of the first things to tackle. You can check out our moving list here. If you want to use a container shipping, that starts around $851+ leaving from Vancouver. Keep in mind, that is just the shipping, and doesn’t include all your moving costs.

Housing Costs:
If you are looking to purchase right away, contact us and we can provide you with the right tools! The average purchase price is as follows:

• Price per square metre (10.7 sqft) in the City Centre: $1,900+
• Price per square metre (10.7 sqft) outside the City Centre: $1,200+

To give you an idea of the market, here are the average monthly rental prices in Phoenix:

• 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: $700+
• 1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: $640+
• 3 Bedroom apartment in City Centre: $1,030+
• 3 Bedroom apartment outside of City Centre: $957+

Compared to Toronto, we are 26.41% less expensive to live. Woo hoo!

Food and Groceries:
While it is true, a lot of restaurants and groceries are cheaper in Toronto, don’t let that detour you from sampling some of the amazing restaurants Arizona has to offer!

• Inexpensive Restaurant: $10 – $18
• Takeout Coffee: $2.75 – $5.00
• Bottle of Coke: $1.00 – $2.00
• 1L of Milk: $0.54 – $0.79
• Loaf of Bread: $1.21 – $3.86
• 12 Eggs: $1.75 – $3.00
• 1kg Chicken: $4.41 – $12.76

Transportation Costs:
Phoenix transportation is available and ran by Valley Metro. Both rail and busses are available and are a part of the same fare system. There is also an Express bus/RAPID bus option available for more money.

Here are ticket costs:

• Adult Single: $2.00
• One Day Ticket: $7.00
• Monthly Season Ticket (unlimited): $64.00

Most of the people living in the Phoenix area utilize a car for transportation. According to AAA, here are some sample costs of owning a vehicle in the Phoenix area:

• VW Gold: $21,175
• Gallon of Gas: $2.24
• Other fees: Arizona average for taxes, license, title, and registration is $665 per annum

Sunny Arizona can’t wait to see you! And don’t worry, anytime you get homesick, a quick 1-3 hour drive from the valley you will find cooler climate and SNOW!

Sources:

Moving to Phoenix? 

Phoenix Area Attracting More Canadian Residents

Why more than just snowbirds are flocking to Phoenix