[Capsicum]

How common is it for Torontonians, Montrealers, and Vancouverites to live and work, or stay for some time in the big American cities like the Bay Area, Houston, Chicago, NYC, LA, etc.? If so, which combos of migration paths are most common?

It's always been common among those with skills and talent in Canada to try and make it big stateside, and occasionally there's job seekers that go the other way.

It's interesting that from my experience with both American and Canadian friends familiar with both countries alike is that there seems like a big divide between people with experience in either countries' big cities and who see North America as one big pool of opportunity of places to go (eg. a Torontonian might mention working at Wall street at some point, or a Vancouverite who went down at made it in the Bay Area), and people for whom staying within the big cities on their side of the border is more of a thing and who "don't really consider" the other side when it comes to looking for a place to live/work, even if they enjoy visiting there.