I never thought I’d say this out loud—let alone write it in a blog post—but here it is:
I’m seriously considering leaving Canada.
Not because I don’t love this country. I do. I grew up loving the quiet beauty, the safety, the endless seasons, and the idea that Canada was the land where anyone could build a good life with enough hard work. I had recently shared a post about the government telling us to live a lower quality of life, when I work as much as I do you have got to be kidding me. I will not expect less for the amount of work I put in. We are all working day and night to be successful in our home country.
But lately? It feels like I’m working harder than ever only to hand over half of what I make to taxes and government fees. Groceries are becoming a luxury item. A simple grocery trip costs what a weekend getaway used to. And with inflation, carbon taxes, insurance hikes, endless fees on everything, and price gouging that nobody seems ready to stop… I’m tired.
Tired of paying more for less.
Tired of feeling sick and stressed.
Tired of the traffic, the hustle, and the draining anxiety that comes from being surrounded by people who are also exhausted and stretched thin.
Canada used to feel like freedom. Now it feels like survival.
And the truth is:
If you make a decent living here, you’re probably paying way too much in taxes. The harder you work, the more they take. The more you try to get ahead, the more the system pushes you back down. It’s exhausting, financially and emotionally.
So lately, the idea of living somewhere warm, calm, affordable, and genuinely free has become a lot more appealing.
Two places keep calling my name:
š“ Dominican Republic
Imagine waking up to fresh fruit, ocean air, and sunshine instead of slush, stress, and grocery bills that make you want to cry. The cost of living is dramatically lower, lifestyle is slower, and people smile at you—not because they want something, but because they’re genuinely happy.
š Ecuador
A peaceful, breathtaking country where a modest income stretches farther than you can imagine. Clean air, friendly communities, vibrant markets, and no need to spend half your life working overtime to stay afloat.
I’m starting to wonder…
Why am I killing myself to “make it” in a country that no longer feels livable?
Cheapest Places in the World to Live
(General list based on overall affordability, cost of food, rent, transportation, and daily life)
- Nepal
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Laos
- India
- Bolivia
- Ecuador
- Dominican Republic
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Indonesia (especially Bali off-tourist zones)
- Colombia
- Mexico (outside tourist hotspots)
These are places where your money stretches, your stress decreases, and your time becomes yours again.
Happiest Places in the World to Live
(Based on lifestyle satisfaction, community, environment, mental health factors, and general wellbeing)
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Switzerland
- New Zealand
- Canada… used to be higher on the list, but slipping
- Austria
- Australia
- Luxembourg
- Ireland
What do most of these places have in common?
Community, nature, balance, and governments that don’t financially crush their citizens.
So… Who’s Coming With Me?
I’m not saying everyone should pack up and move tomorrow. But I am saying it’s time to be honest:
Canada doesn’t feel like the land of the free anymore.
It feels like the land of the taxed, the squeezed, and the burned-out.
The dream of a comfortable, simple, financially stable life here is disappearing—and fast.
Maybe the answer is staying and fighting for change.
Maybe the answer is finding freedom somewhere else entirely.
But as for me?
I’m looking at the Dominican Republic. I’m looking at Ecuador.
I’m looking at sunshine, slow living, lower costs, more peace, and the chance to actually breathe again.
Life is too short to work yourself into the ground for a country that doesn’t feel like home anymore.
So tell me—who’s coming with me?
No comments:
Post a Comment