[Dr Nevergold]

Buffalo is interesting because you can see the difference it makes vs Ontario. Canada typically has high consumption taxes (sales taxes are by far and away higher than America, the higher GST is how they fund health and other services), but property taxes in Ontario - the actual mill rate - is about half of what you see in Buffalo. A $300,000 condo in Toronto might fetch $2,000 in taxes (if that), in Buffalo that condo would literally have several times that. I shopped for condos and homes in the two regions enough to know the difference is stark, Toronto has a fraction of the property tax and condos are popping up all over.

An economy cannot grow when its strangled to this level. I just recently lost my job and I opted not to stay in Buffalo partially because of this cost of living quotient. I feel well versed on the topic.