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Using median gross wages and local Big Mac prices, the thread lists US vs Canada…

2026-08-07 · 00:59 UTC ·@Mike_Dubreuil ·1 min read

Brief

Mike Dubreuil uses the Big Mac Index to compare purchasing power of median gross wages in the US and Canada across occupations, showing US workers can buy substantially more Big Macs (e.g., software developer 23,000 vs 13,500; truck driver 9,900 vs 7,400). He argues the exchange rate reflects deeper productivity and investment gaps; figures are pre-tax and pre-deductions.

Why it matters

Using median gross wages and local Big Mac prices, the thread lists US vs Canada Big Mac purchasing power for multiple occupations — e.g., Software developer: US 23,000 vs CA 13,500; Mechanical engineer: US 17,700 vs CA 12,900; Truck driver: US 9,900 vs CA 7,400.

Key details

  • The Big Mac is chosen for cross-country comparability ('same bun, same beef, same cheese, same lettuce, same secret sauce'); the calculation is pre-tax and excludes income tax, CPP/EI, payroll deductions and sales tax.
  • The author rejects 'it's just the exchange rate,' arguing the exchange rate is part of the result and signals a wider economic gap in productivity, investment, wages and growth — Canadians' paycheques buy less, not because they work less.
Source evidence

A great analogy on the difference in leadership.

Slk55again (@slk55again)

“It’s called the Big Mac Index.

The idea is simple: take an annual salary and ask how many Big Macs it can buy.

That is purchasing power.

And no, this is not really about hamburgers. A Big Mac is used because it is made largely the same way around the world.

Same bun.
Same beef.
Same cheese.
Same lettuce.
Same secret sauce.

It gives us a simple measuring stick.

Using median gross wages and the local price of a Big Mac:

Software developer
🇺🇸 23,000
🇨🇦 13,500

Mechanical engineer
🇺🇸 17,700
🇨🇦 12,900

Financial analyst
🇺🇸 17,600
🇨🇦 12,200

Dental hygienist
🇺🇸 16,300
🇨🇦 12,700

Registered nurse
🇺🇸 16,200
🇨🇦 12,200

Accountant
🇺🇸 14,100
🇨🇦 11,400

Plumber
🇺🇸 10,900
🇨🇦 9,600

Electrician
🇺🇸 10,800
🇨🇦 9,900

Carpenter
🇺🇸 10,200
🇨🇦 9,000

Truck driver
🇺🇸 9,900
🇨🇦 7,400

Different jobs. Same pattern.

American paycheques generally buy more.

And this is all before taxes.

No income tax.
No CPP or EI.
No payroll deductions.
No sales tax.

Now for the first comment that always comes:

“It’s just the exchange rate.”

No. The exchange rate is not a rebuttal. It is part of the result.

Canadians earn Canadian dollars. When our dollar weakens, our wages buy less outside Canada and imported goods cost more inside Canada.

That is precisely what lower purchasing power looks like.

The exchange rate did not randomly fall from near parity. It reflects a wider economic gap in productivity, investment, wages and growth.

So this is not just about Big Macs.

It is about groceries, vehicles, technology, travel and how much life one year of work can buy.

Canadians are not working less.

Their paycheques are buying less.”

— https://nitter.net/slk55again/status/2085405524929953999#m