▲ 5 r/GPUK
UK GPs considering the move to Canada (Alberta) looking for real numbers and experiences
My partner and I are both at medical school and working towards working as GPs in the UK and seriously weighing a move to Canada, specifically Alberta, once we’re both qualified. Before we commit to anything I want to get past the surface-level “Canadian doctors earn more” narrative and actually understand what this looks like in practice.
A bit about our priorities, since I think they’ll shape what’s actually relevant:
• Housing in the UK feels increasingly out of reach for what we’d want: a proper family home with space, a garden, room for the kids to actually play in. We keep seeing that this is far more attainable in Alberta on GP-equivalent income.
• We want a good standard of education for our (future) kids without needing to sacrifice everything for private school fees.
• We’re tired of the UK’s unpredictable weather and the total absence of air conditioning in most housing stock though I’m aware Alberta swaps that for brutal extremes, so I’m not expecting a “better” climate, but how manageable is it?
• Family time, home gym/games space, and being able to travel comfortably matter a lot to us.
What I’d love from people who’ve actually made this move (either direction, or who are living it now):
1. Real post-tax, post-overhead numbers. What actually lands in your account each month as a family physician in Alberta after overhead, tax, and any incorporation structure, versus what a UK GP nets after tax, NI, and pension contributions.
2. What the move itself was actually like. Licensing/registration process, how long it took, how disruptive it was for family life, whether it was worth the hassle.
3. Real cost of living comparison for housing, childcare, groceries, vehicles, heating bills through an Alberta winter, insurance, etc.
4. Honest quality-of-life assessment. How work culture, patient list sizes, admin burden, and day-to-day GP life actually compares. Also curious how people who moved with young kids found schooling and settling in.
5. Was it worth it, ultimately? Especially interested in hearing from anyone who moved and would (or wouldn’t) do it again.
Any first-hand accounts, warnings, or “wish I’d known this beforehand” points are hugely appreciated.
u/Chigburt — 2 days ago