Not enough: Canada-based nurse turns to Uber, friend mentions hourly earnings

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- A social media post about a registered nurse earning nearly $60/hour in Canada who signed up for Uber to supplement her income went viral

- The post by X user Timeyin prompted sharp debate on whether Canada's tax burden or personal lifestyle choices were to blame

- Commenters were divided, with some pointing to Ontario's 37.2% marginal tax rate and others citing high rent and living costs in major cities

A viral post on X has reignited debate about Canada's cost of living after a user revealed that a registered nurse earning close to $60 per hour, equivalent to approximately KSh 7,772, had signed up to drive for Uber to make ends meet.

The post was shared by X user Timeyin, who questioned the state of Canada's economy:

"To survive on one job in Canada is becoming a luxury. My wife's colleague is an RN earning almost $60/hour… She just signed up for Uber. Canada, who exactly are we working for?"

The Numbers Behind the Paycheque

Timeyin followed up by asking his followers to calculate the nurse's actual take-home pay after deductions. Based on a full-time schedule of 45 hours per week, the RN's gross annual salary would come to approximately $124,800 (KSh 16.2 million).

After federal and Ontario provincial income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions, Employment Insurance, and other deductions, her estimated net pay would be around $90,232 per year (KSh 11.7 million), or roughly $3,470 (KSh 449,000) every two weeks. The effective tax rate on that income in Ontario works out to about 27.7%, with a marginal rate of 37.2% on additional earnings.

Tax Burden or Lifestyle Choices?

The post drew sharply contrasting responses. Commenter Christopher Arther argued the tax structure itself was the problem:

"Canada actually discourages hard work unlike in the US. Hard work is punished while laziness and corruption are rewarded in Canada; I bet that $60/hour job she pays $12 every hour on that wage as income tax."

Others were less sympathetic. Pelumi suggested the nurse's situation may stem from personal financial decisions rather than systemic failure:

"Either your wife colleague get debt, or she dey try dey sustain some luxury lifestyle or something... $60/hr is more than enough to be comfortable... also depends on the city she's in too."

Kate Bernard offered similar advice, recommending a move away from expensive urban centres:

"She should move to a smaller town, except she has other reasons. She earns more than enough to be comfortable."

Amílcar Cabral took a more measured position, noting that a net monthly income of between KSh 686,500 and KSh 705,300 is well above the national average, though location-specific costs can erode that advantage significantly.

"In Ontario, KSh 7,700 /hour full time is between KSh 686,500 and KSh 705,300 per month, net. Unless they have an expensive mortgage, this should be a nice pay! Way above average."

The Cost of Living Context

The debate reflects well-documented pressures in Canada's largest cities. A single person requires roughly $1,455 per month (KSh 188,000) to cover basic expenses before rent, while renting a one-bedroom apartment in a city centre adds an average of $1,855 (KSh 240,000) per month.

In cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, rent alone can exceed $2,500 (KSh 324,000) monthly, rapidly consuming a take-home paycheque that might appear generous on paper.

The case of the Uber-driving nurse has struck a chord because it illustrates that a high hourly wage does not automatically translate into financial comfort when fixed costs are steep and taxes are substantial.

In another report, TUKO.co.ke highlighted Ciara, a Kenyan woman living in Canada, who recently shared a TikTok post outlining five crucial factors she believes surpass financial resources when relocating abroad.

Her insights, tapping into dreams of migration, challenge the traditional view that money is the dominant barrier to success, reigniting a vital discussion on what truly matters for a fresh start in a new land.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.