Canada is even more puzzling. You can cross the border from Vancouver to Seattle and triple your salary, pay less in income taxes, and live in a city with less rent.

All over less than 100 miles.

I suppose that people really value being in Canada.

Some of us do, but I think majority would hop on an airplane at a drop of a hat. Indeed, if it weren't for pandemic I myself would be looking to move to the US.

Staying in Canada is very hard to justify for a software dev.

How much of the Canadian salary is taken in taxes?

For me (in BC), around 25-30% and I'm slightly below 100k. The deduction is usually a little more than if you use those online tax calculators.

For me ends up being 28%-ish percent if my math is correct. Ether way 25-30% is a good ballpark

It is weird, right? Same time zone as the US, so you can't use the argument "Europe has easier access to eastern European / Indian developers in the proper time zone"...

I don't think this happens across all trades either. Last I looked, a mechanic would make similar money in either country.