Ready for an iPhone 5, but maybe moving to Canada in a year - NOW what?!?

[Jaze]

Need advice here. I want to get an iPhone5 - lost my out-of-contract iPhone4 a month ago, and have been DYING with a fill-in dumbphone. I live in NYC, and will likely be moving to Canada mid-late next year. My plan had been to get a Virgin Mobile iPhone, but the rep said that a US Virgin Mobile iPhone wouldn't be able to be transferred to service with Virgin Mobile Canada. I think both Cricket and StraightTalk are US only - are there Canadian equivalents, so I could buy full retail iPhone 5, have a prepaid monthly plan for a year or so here, then move and get a prepaid monthly plan there? I hear our brothers in the North have terrible and expensive plans...

Any advice would be gratefully received.

THanks,

Jaze