[WeWantOut] 30M/26F Canada -> CR/MX
Am I crazy to want to leave Canada ASAP?
My wife and I are both high-income earners, so this isn’t about housing affordability or struggling to get by.
What’s really killing my motivation is the feeling that the system increasingly penalizes people who are trying to build something and improve their situation, while a lot of that money is redistributed inefficiently.
We’re paying roughly ~40% effective tax, with marginal rates around 50%. Then add ~15% sales tax, plus additional taxes on things like higher-end vehicles. At a certain point, it feels like every extra dollar earned just doesn’t translate into a meaningful improvement in lifestyle.
What makes it worse is that public services don’t seem to match the level of taxation. Roads are in rough shape, healthcare access is getting worse, and the overall system feels strained. It’s hard to see where the money is actually going in a way that improves day-to-day life.
There’s also something off about how support programs are structured. I fully agree with helping people who genuinely can’t work (health issues, etc.), but for others, the system doesn’t seem to push strongly enough toward re-entering the workforce. It feels like there should be some kind of cap either on consecutive years or total lifetime years for certain benefits (excluding disability cases), just to keep incentives aligned and the system sustainable.
At the same time, it feels like people who’ve contributed for decades (retirees, for example) aren’t always prioritized in the way you’d expect. The balance between contribution and support just doesn’t feel right.
Another thing I’ve been noticing: more high-income individuals and business owners are starting to look elsewhere places like Florida or certain countries that actively attract entrepreneurs with lower taxes and simpler systems. It’s not something that’s heavily talked about, but if that trend picks up, it could become a real issue long-term. We’ve already seen examples of this in places like Norway after tax changes pushed some wealthy individuals to relocate.
Lately I’ve been asking myself what the point is working 80–100 hours a week in a high-stress environment, just to feel like the marginal reward isn’t really there.
My wife and I have been talking about pushing hard for another 5–7 years, then stepping back and moving somewhere quieter (maybe Costa Rica or Mexico) and just living a simpler life.
Curious if anyone else feels the same, or if I’m missing something here.