"I Did Not Anticipate This": SA Expat Reveals 5 Things She Wished She Knew Before Moving to Canada

• A South African woman living in Canada posted a candid TikTok sharing what she wished she had known before making the move
• @nosiphointhenorth listed five realities of life in Canada that caught her off guard, from brutal winters to a fiercely competitive rental market
• Her video sparked a wave of responses from fellow expats who said they related deeply to her experience

A South African woman living in Canada has gone viral after sharing five things that surprised her about life in the country. @nosiphointhenorth posted the candid, selfie-style TikTok on 6 August 2026, sitting outdoors with trees in the background, speaking directly to the camera in a warm and conversational tone.

What life in Canada really looks like

The first thing she flagged was the weather. She said she had always known Canada was cold, but nothing prepared her for winters that stretch across five to six months of the year. Even in what Canadians consider a warmer province, mornings and late afternoons remained grey, cold, and sunless.

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Housing came next. Finding a rental is far more competitive in Canada than in South Africa, and she described turning up for a basement flat viewing only to find ten other prospective tenants there at the same time. Applicants must provide proof of employment, references, and multiple forms of ID, then simply wait to be chosen by a landlord.

Healthcare was her third point. While it is technically free, she said waiting times are the real challenge. She had personally been waiting over a year to see a joint specialist.

Fourth on her list was Canadian work experience. Employers place enormous value on it, which makes landing a first job difficult for newcomers who arrive with solid qualifications and experience from back home.

Finally, she spoke about the cost of living. Having lived in both the United States and Canada, she said her monthly expenses typically eat through more than 50% of her income. For context, Canada's GDP per capita sits at around $55,800 (around R893,353.54), compared to South Africa's $14,300 (around R228,941.86), which means the financial gap between the two countries is significant for anyone making the move.

Viewers share their own stories

The video on the TikTok page struck a chord with South Africans who have made similar moves abroad:

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@Machethe Khutso said:

"I was sick; I went home in April right after my exam, I got to Steve Biko, got help in 4 hours and a diagnosis."

@LHQ shared:

"I am happy to visit. My wish in this lifetime is to spend 3 to 4 weeks in Canada. Just to spend a white Christmas there. My bank balance, on the other hand, is like... no way."

@christinebenza713 commented:

"Oh yes! Heavy on number 3!!!😭😂"

@blessingmud added:

"Sounds a lot like my experience in Australia, except for the weather part."

Watch her full Part 1 TikTok here:

More on South Africans living abroad

• Briefly News recently reported on hundreds of international graduates protesting in Calgary after Canada refused their post-graduation work permits.
• Reactions flooded in after the USA issued a "Do Not Travel" warning for a popular Southern African destination.
• A UK woman's scathing review of Rwanda, including its 1 AM curfew culture and lack of cinemas, left South Africans divided.

Source: Briefly News