CA+US Parallel49
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Offer & Relocation Comparator

Comparing a Canadian offer against a US offer? A raw salary comparison misses payroll tax, your actual income-tax rate, the exchange rate, and cost of living — all of which move the real number a lot. General information only, not tax or financial advice.

Guide:Comparing a CAD Offer to a USD Offer, Properly — the mechanics, a worked example, and what this doesn't model.
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Heads up: the fields below are pre-filled with a made-up example — a $130,000 Ontario offer vs. a $170,000 Washington offer — just so you can see how the comparison works. None of this is your data. Replace each field whenever you're ready — or use the button to reload this example any time.

The Canadian offer

Not sure? Roughly 30-38% around $100-130k in most provinces, 40-46% around $150-200k, up to ~50-54% at the very top bracket in Ontario/Quebec/Nova Scotia.

The US offer

Not sure? Federal-only marginal rates run roughly 22-24% around $100-190k single, 32-35% around $200-500k. Add your state's own top marginal rate on top, if any.

Cost of living

Not sure? Check a cost-of-living comparison tool (e.g. Numbeo) for your specific city pair and enter the percentage difference here.

What each offer is really worth

Canadian offer, real value (USD)
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US offer, real value (USD, COL-adjusted)
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Estimated advantage
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US breakeven salary
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ℹ️CPP/EI and FICA/Medicare are computed for real
Those are federal-only, single-formula payroll taxes — the same rate applies regardless of province or state, so this calculator applies the actual 2026 CPP, EI, Social Security, and Medicare formulas rather than asking you to estimate them.
ℹ️Provincial and state income tax aren't computed for you
Unlike payroll tax, income tax brackets are genuinely different in every province and state — 13 Canadian jurisdictions and 50 US states, several with no income tax at all. Rather than modeling all of them (and risk getting one wrong), this calculator asks for your own combined marginal rate, the same way the Departure Tax Estimator does.
📋Employer retirement matching isn't included
A 401(k) match or an RRSP match is real compensation, but it's a separate question from take-home pay — this calculator compares cash in hand only. Factor in match differences yourself if they're material to your decision.

❓ Glossary & how this is calculated
CPP / CPP2
Canada Pension Plan contributions — 5.95% on earnings between the $3,500 basic exemption and the $74,600 first ceiling (YMPE), plus a second 4% tier (CPP2) on earnings up to $85,000 (YAMPE).
EI
Employment Insurance premiums — 1.63% of insurable earnings up to $68,900.
FICA
Social Security (6.2% up to a $184,500 wage base) plus Medicare (1.45%, uncapped, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 single / $250,000 married filing jointly).
Breakeven salary
The USD salary that would make the US offer's real, COL-adjusted value exactly match the Canadian offer's — holding your entered US tax rate and cost-of-living adjustment fixed.

All figures shown are in USD, since the cost-of-living adjustment is framed as "how much more the US city costs than home." See the full sourcing for CPP/EI/FICA citations.

Next: CoastFIRE Calculator — see how either offer changes your retirement timeline.
Figures current as of 2026
  • 2026 — CPP, CPP2, EI, Social Security wage base, and Medicare figures checked directly against CRA, ESDC, and SSA publications.
  • Last independently verified: August 2026.