Down Under or the Great White North? Let’s take a look at Job opportunities in Canada and Australia, salaries, cost of living and general quality of life when you are considering which of these two great countries to make your new home.
Working in Canada has many benefits, such as being able to live in an immigrant-friendly, first-world country. However, both countries rank among the top five in terms of size, and they’re both top 20 in world GDP. English is the official language of both countries, with French being Canada’s second and both countries sporting a variety of aboriginal and non-indigenous languages.
Both countries have an outstanding reputation for providing a good quality of life and a high level of living. Both have also fared better than many other countries during the recent financial turbulence faced by the world during the pandemic.
Each country has significant minerals and, in Canada’s case, oil reserves. As global commodity demand has increased, so have Australia’s and Canada’s economic possibilities.
Many foreigners from all over the world, especially from China, India, the Philippines and the UK call Canada and Australia home. 30 percent of the population is foreign-born in Australia, while immigration contributes to nearly all of Canada’s labour force growth. Approximately 75 percent of Canada’s population increase is due to immigration, the majority of which is economic in nature.
| Population Size | |
|---|---|
| Australia | Canada |
| 26,068,792 | 38,068,872 |
Job Availability
On job-finding platforms across the internet like Indeed, you’ll find that Australia advertises around 156,715 jobs as currently available in 2022. These range from General Farmworkers to Nursing assistants.
Working in Canada affords you greater opportunities and range. Canada, however, boasts 459,930 jobs available that range equally from retail positions to healthcare jobs. With the continuous implementation of immigration programs in Canada, this number is expected to increase as the country’s economy booms. Comparatively, job opportunities in Canada are more available.
On closer inspection, you’ll notice that while Australia has more white-collar skills in demand such as nurses, engineers and IT Professionals, Canada needs skilled workers across the board. From doctors to nurses, butchers, bakers, IT professionals, farmworkers and truck drivers, there is a demand for everyone in Canada; you just have to be looking in the right place.
Salaries in Canada vs Australia
Over the previous decade, Australia’s economy has performed well. As a result, there has been tremendous economic growth, as well as low unemployment, inflation, and interest rates. Australia has an open and competitive economy, as well as a dynamic private sector and a competent workforce. It ranks 13th on the world’s largest GDP list. However, Canada has the world’s 10th-largest economy, with a GDP of $1.7 trillion.
It’s easy to compare salaries when you’re looking at working in Canada vs Australia at the exchange rate between the two countries is AUS $1 = CAD $1. The average salary in Canada as of the end of 2021 was $65,773, while the average salary of an Australian in the same time frame is about $67,512 per year.
While it is true that the minimum wage in Australia is higher, this statistic is based on the fact that Australia’s white-collar industry is substantially greater in proportion to Canada’s. As a result, it considers a lot more highly-paid experts with years of experience, whereas Canada’s economy is founded on strong blue-collar industries like agriculture, trades workers, and mining. As a result, everyone in Canada gets a more equitable salary and enjoys a cheaper cost of living.
Living Expenses
Whatever your salary is, it does not help to be earning more in one country than the other if the cost of rent, utilities, transportation and so on eats away more of your income, leaving you with less money in your pocket at the end of the day. Here is a breakdown of expenses you should anticipate.
Doing a comparison between Toronto and Sydney, Australia, we can get and idea of how much it we will be paying out every month:
| Living Expenses Per City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Sydney | |
| Rent | $1,632.92 | $2,622.22 |
| A meal for two | $70 | $80 |
| Public Transport | $143.25 | $159.96 |
| Childcare | $2,020 | $2,900 |
| A beer | $4.50 | $9 |
According to Numbeo which compares prices across different cities and countries, Consumer Prices in Toronto are 10.47 percent lower than in Sydney in general:
- Prices Including Rent in Toronto are 11.60% lower than in Sydney
- Rent Prices in Toronto are 13.41% lower than in Sydney
- Restaurant Prices in Toronto are 5.03% higher than in Sydney
- Groceries Prices in Toronto are 13.65% lower than in Sydney
- Local Purchasing Power in Toronto is 12.20% higher than in Sydney
Canada has generous government benefits in terms of food security and health care. Furthermore, compared to Australia, the cost of living is somewhat cheaper. It’s predicted that a single person in Canada would need $1,650 – $2,500 a month, while a family would need $5,158. Life in Australia is costly, having the 16th most expensive cost of living in the world.
Quality of Life in Canada vs Australia
Both countries have extremely low unemployment rates. Only 5.2 percent of Australians need social assistance, whereas 7.3 percent of Canadians do not work — in both cases, stay-at-home parents and students. Australians are taxed fairly hard, with the highest income category being taxed at 45 percent. Canadians benefit from a maximum tax rate of 29 percent on top-tier incomes.
The educational standards in each of these countries are comparable. In terms of education, Canada has a tiny advantage over Australia. Canadian educational institutions are less expensive than Australian schools, colleges, and universities.
In Canada, immigrants’ rights and advantages are well-defined, while in Australia, immigration isn’t generally encouraged. This is clear through their immigration policies. Canada has many immigration routes that make it simple for newcomers, while Australia is far more selective about who they grant permanent residency. As a reflection of this, Australia’s population is less accepting of newcomers, whereas Canada promotes tolerance and acceptance.
Weather and Landscape
Canada offers warm summers and snowy winters. Australia has a warmer climate year-round. If you’re a surfer, maybe Australia is for you. If you like anything else outdoors-wise, Canada has the Australian outback beat, hands down. Hikes in green mountains. Fishing for salmon in gorgeous rivers. Skiing down snow-packed slopes. Ice skating on frozen ponds. Relaxing next to serene, clear lakes. Only available in Canada! Both countries have their merits when it comes down to natural beauty; Canada just has a significantly more diverse landscape.
Getting a Work Permit
While both countries have skilled worker visas, it’s significantly harder to get an endorsement to work and get a work permit in Australia than it is in Canada. Working in Canada is not only easier but workers are protected by strong rights and privileges almost as much as permanent residents and citizens are.
There are various routes to apply for a work permit in Canada. You can apply for a Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), or if you want something more permanent, you can apply for an Express Entry Visa, or a Provincial Nomination Program.
When you’re ready to make a decision, contact us to chat with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), a professional in Canadian immigration. Let us assist with giving you a guided path to Canada whether you want to work, study or immigrate to the Great White North.
FAQs
Is Canada or Australia easier to immigrate to?
Canada offers the smoothest immigration procedure with a range of visas, more employment possibilities, the top colleges with inexpensive tuition, and the greatest government perks. Because the nation is sparsely populated, there is a scarcity of highly trained workers. In comparison to most other nations, obtaining a Permanent Residency in Canada is rather simple. Obtaining a permanent residency visa in Australia is feasible, but the procedure is lengthy.
Which country has a better information technology market, Canada or Australia?
Canada has a far stronger industrial base than Australia, but Australia is more well-known for its IT corporations and regional headquarters. As a result, blue-collar earnings are higher in Canada, whereas white-collar positions are higher in Australia. Because of its high house taxes, Australia has a higher cost of living. When compared to Australia, housing in Canada is now significantly more affordable. Regular living expenditures are likewise greater in Australia than in Canada. Taxes are the most significant expenditure that citizens in both Australia and Canada must face.
Despite the increasing emphasis on proficiency in English or French, the visa application process for Canada, if you’re an IT expert, is simpler. There are various Tech Pilot pathways to follow in order to immigrate to Canada as a web developer, cybersecurity expert or software engineer, for example.
