I've been to Oz and there's a lot to be said for it, but if I knew a better country than Canada I'd be living in it.
The standard of living for {say} the average blue collar worker is way higher than in the Untidy Kingdom, yet the cost of living is lower than in the UK. Have a look at the type of house you can buy for 250,000 quid / $450,000 in Nova Scotia, or any other Province on...
MLS.ca
Or on...
Tradewinds
Here's one of my favourites, just down the road from us, we are on a Golf Course complex, with 2 free memberships, this development is on the Ocean Front, with one of the best surfing/fishing/kayaking beaches anywhere. The asking price is around 220,000 quid, but unlike the "offers over" system in Scotland in Canada most homes sell for 95% of asking price, could be even lower right now...
Beats Wigin, that's for sure...
Or...
Claussen Walters
The value for money on offer is of course one of the attractions of going abroad. I currently reside in Belfast and the house prices here would make you weep. On a par with the South of England despite wages and salaries being a 3rd lower. How it ever reached that is beyond even my maths.
If I was to make the step I would be on a 12 or 18 month contract. At the end of which I can make a decision on my permanent future. Having looked at rents though it also seems to be much lower. However, the city I work in probably won't be a free choice i.e. I'll have to make a choice between 3-4