2.5x sounds about right post tax, post expenses, including higher rent, for the same role. That's already a huge difference But as you mentioned, unless you co

2.5x sounds about right post tax, post expenses, including higher rent, for the same role. That's already a huge difference But as you mentioned, unless you compare different jobs: the same opportunities simply don't exist up there. Making 300k, 400k or more? Its certainly not common in NYC or SF, but if you try hard enough, and shoot for it, its possible. Up north? Maybe as an exec, but as an individual contributor or tech leadish style position? I wouldn't know where to start looking. While here there's a lot of options. There's not for everyone by a long shot, but they are there. Thus 8x or more becomes possible. And someone like a top Waterloo engineering graduate has an above average chance at those. But I don't know where they would without moving country.