I'm from Vancouver and have lived in Los Angeles for three years now. There are 'hidden costs' to living in LA/California. It just depends on what you prefer

I'm from Vancouver and have lived in Los Angeles for three years now. There are 'hidden costs' to living in LA/California. It just depends on what you prefer and where your priorities are. I would love to move back to Vancouver, because when you consider gas (living close to work vs living in a suburban sprawl), property (yes, you get a bigger house here, but unsafe neighbourhoods are just around the corner, and bad air), quality of education (Canadian primary and secondary schools outperform American ones), then is it really worth the trade off? For example, in LA, the concept of 'you get what you pay for' is truly taken seriously. You want the best? Get ready to pay thousands and thousands of dollars (more expensive than Canada, usually). If you just want mediocrity and barely get by, LA is super cheap, affordable, and you can raise 10 kids here, no problems. EDIT: With regard to poutine, that looks like the fancy poutines you get in Santa Monica. Savages! All of them! EDIT2: Added clarification