Groceries are about the same price.
I wanted to buy a new laptop in Florida, went to Best Buy, and Brandsmart.
Couldn't find anything there, cheaper then in Canada.
So, I came home and bought 1 here, for about $100 cheaper.
But, remember I live in Alberta, the only province that doesn't have provincial sales taxes. In comparison, Florida has a 6.5% state sales tax, where as, I pay a 5% national sales tax here.(GST)
In other provinces, citizens pay anywhere between 12 and 15% combined sales tax.
And you tell me which place is cheaper to manufacture, giving these facts:
Corporate taxes at 16.5% versus 25%
Healthcare bennies at max $100 per month, versus +$1000 per month.
Retirement pensions at $70 per month versus +$300 per month
And, UPS wages, well they are different here. Loaders get a reasonable C$13 hr starting wage, and drivers earn max $27.00, however , now with the dollar exchange,
$27 = US$28. 40.
I give it another month or 2, and DS will have finally passed UPS US wages.
As to why cigs and booze are much cheaper in the US, is because they don't include sinn taxes that pay partially for your healthcare - here they do.