Why is everything always more expensive in Canada? (Car talk!)

So I have been browsing for cars and have my eyes set on the Volkswagen Golf 2011. What annoys me is how much more expensive it is in Canada than the United States. 
 
$23,600 CDN while the same car in the USA costs $21,585 USD. 
 
Prices in USD: 

Isn't the reason why the Golf comes with an automatic gearbox standard in the US because no one drives a stick?

Candian money is usuallly worth less, so you have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. Then again american money is going down the toilet these days. Is the minium wage the same in canada and the u.s? I think you earn less in the u.s, yet the money is worth more. There are alot of factors involved.

Your dollar worth more, and more special.  

"

Candian money is usuallly worth less, so you have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. Then again american money is going down the toilet these days. Is the minium wage the same in canada and the u.s? There are alot of factors involved.

"

Not only am I Canadian but I lived almost my whole life in the North (Labrador) which has extremely high prices and a high tax rate and sometimes pay double or more than what other provinces pay just for things like groceries.

" @supermike6: Actually, the minimum wage here is $10.25 an hour. Well at least in Ontario it is, but that is where most people are at anyways. "

It's weird to see magazines and things with the USD and CAD prices, usually a few dollars higher on the CAD side, and then seeing exchange rates where there really isn't anywhere near that kind of difference at all.

Where the car is assembled and where its being shipped to also has an impact on price.

Cheese is more expensive. Games are more expensive. GASOLINE and OIL two things we supply is more expensive. Alcohol and cigs are more expensive. Food is more expensive.
EVERYTHING IN CANADA is more expensive.
I dunno if its because of our higher wages or because of all the taxes. But It's complete bullshit.

There is probably at least a couple cents difference between the US dollar and the Canadian dollar which when multiplied by $21,000 could result in the extra $2,000. Also higher wages often yield higher prices.

" @HitmanAgent47 said:

"

Candian money is usuallly worth less, so you have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. Then again american money is going down the toilet these days. Is the minium wage the same in canada and the u.s? There are alot of factors involved.

"

Canadian money has been practically on par for the last couple years. Currently, one American dollar is worth about 1.01 Canadian, which doesn't really account for the high price. The minimum wage in Canada is $8.00, while in America it's $7.25. I don't see how that makes a difference though...  As for the OP, yeah. It's kind of annoying having to pay more. Fortunately, I live about five minutes from the border, so I can ship things to a city in the US, pick it up and bring it over to Canada without the higher prices. That doesn't exactly work for your case though.... "

" @supermike6 said:

" @HitmanAgent47 said:

"

Candian money is usuallly worth less, so you have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. Then again american money is going down the toilet these days. Is the minium wage the same in canada and the u.s? There are alot of factors involved.

"

Canadian money has been practically on par for the last couple years. Currently, one American dollar is worth about 1.01 Canadian, which doesn't really account for the high price. The minimum wage in Canada is $8.00, while in America it's $7.25. I don't see how that makes a difference though...  As for the OP, yeah. It's kind of annoying having to pay more. Fortunately, I live about five minutes from the border, so I can ship things to a city in the US, pick it up and bring it over to Canada without the higher prices. That doesn't exactly work for your case though.... "

I don't know where you got that stat for Canadian minimum wage but where I live (Ontario) it's $10.25 I believe. But the rest of your post is true, as far as I can tell. Canadian money has been pretty close to American for a while now, Kind of feels like some company's are just taking advantage of the idea that American money is worth significantly more, which most Canadians just accept as true. "

" Cheese is more expensive. Games are more expensive. GASOLINE and OIL two things we supply is more expensive. Alcohol and cigs are more expensive. Food is more expensive. EVERYTHING IN CANADA is more expensive. I dunno if its because of our higher wages or because of all the taxes. But It's complete bullshit. "

" @HitmanAgent47 said:

"

Candian money is usuallly worth less, so you have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. Then again american money is going down the toilet these days. Is the minium wage the same in canada and the u.s? There are alot of factors involved.

"

Canadian money has been practically on par for the last couple years. Currently, one American dollar is worth about 1.01 Canadian, which doesn't really account for the high price. The minimum wage in Canada is $8.00, while in America it's $7.25. I don't see how that makes a difference though...  As for the OP, yeah. It's kind of annoying having to pay more. Fortunately, I live about five minutes from the border, so I can ship things to a city in the US, pick it up and bring it over to Canada without the higher prices. That doesn't exactly work for your case though.... "

@keyhunter

" Cheese is more expensive. Games are more expensive. GASOLINE and OIL two things we supply is more expensive. Alcohol and cigs are more expensive. Food is more expensive. EVERYTHING IN CANADA is more expensive. I dunno if its because of our higher wages or because of all the taxes. But It's complete bullshit. "

I still don't get how our dollar is basically the same as the US dollar but our prices are higher. Dun get.

I went and checked with Volkswagen for prices here in Norway and the cheapest I saw was 227 000 NOK. Normally, if a thing costs 100 NOK over here, it'll cost $ 10 in the states. However, with the difference in currency, this car would cost around $ 37 000, and then the government has a few extra costs on top of that.
 
But it's all relative...

" Cheese is more expensive. Games are more expensive. GASOLINE and OIL two things we supply is more expensive. Alcohol and cigs are more expensive. Food is more expensive. EVERYTHING IN CANADA is more expensive. I dunno if its because of our higher wages or because of all the taxes. But It's complete bullshit. "

We (Canada) get taxed more on vehicle purchases.
 
Sometimes though, its just because they can. Higher average income in Canada means they can get away with higher prices.

Cheapest one I've been able to find in denmark:  

307678 danish kroner... in dollars that equals  - 54.758 Usd... 
 
just to inform you.

money is worth in canada. it's why they are more expensive.

" @mazik765 said:

" @supermike6 said:

" @HitmanAgent47 said:

"

Candian money is usuallly worth less, so you have to pay a bit more to make up the difference. Then again american money is going down the toilet these days. Is the minium wage the same in canada and the u.s? There are alot of factors involved.

"

Canadian money has been practically on par for the last couple years. Currently, one American dollar is worth about 1.01 Canadian, which doesn't really account for the high price. The minimum wage in Canada is $8.00, while in America it's $7.25. I don't see how that makes a difference though...  As for the OP, yeah. It's kind of annoying having to pay more. Fortunately, I live about five minutes from the border, so I can ship things to a city in the US, pick it up and bring it over to Canada without the higher prices. That doesn't exactly work for your case though.... "

I don't know where you got that stat for Canadian minimum wage but where I live (Ontario) it's $10.25 I believe. But the rest of your post is true, as far as I can tell. Canadian money has been pretty close to American for a while now, Kind of feels like some company's are just taking advantage of the idea that American money is worth significantly more, which most Canadians just accept as true. "

Like I said before, that is the very minimum, AKA the minimum wage in BC.  "

Here in Portugal the VW Golf 1.6 TDI cost around  25.000 €UR ~ 33.000 USD. 
 
P.S. and  "they" call us a poor country. lol

Alright... I guess I don't have much reason to complain.

It costs more to hire ice breakers to get those VWs from Germany into Canada. For the U.S., they just go south until the ice is gone in the winter.
 
Your fault for living where it's cold.

" It costs more to hire ice breakers to get those VWs from Germany into Canada. For the U.S., they just go south until the ice is gone in the winter.  Your fault for living where it's cold. "

Yup, exchange rates, at least between the country the car is made in -and Canada -  plus shipping tariffs,make a difference.I'm not sure if you are hypothesizing this, but I think Canada and USA currencies are close to even these days.

compare medical expenses in canada versus the US.   
you may find your answer.