As a Canadian who moved away, I must warn you that Canada has a form of dutch disease. Resource extraction investments have a much better risk/return ratio, so the pay doesn't even approach US levels. Thus software doesn't approach the levels of investment you have in the USA. And you thought SF was bad, wait until you see what has gone wrong with the housing markets in Toronto and Vancouver.
I liked Canada and it's sad that I have to live away from my family, but I would be a fool to stay otherwise.
The "dutch disease" went away with falling oil prices. I agree that the housing markets in Vancouver and Toronto are nuts, but until today it looked like they were cooling down.
Unfortunately, we might see another spike in foreign investment in Canadian housing thanks to this election...
When I was interviewing in vancouver and seattle, the seattle offer was about double. Housing and everything else cost less and the income tax rate was lower. Back then the currencies were even. Now they are not, so its an even better idea to work in the USA. You pay off student loans and save money that much faster.
Soon after I moved to the bay area because the companies there were more interesting, but the pay was probably about even compared to seattle.
I liked Canada and it's sad that I have to live away from my family, but I would be a fool to stay otherwise.