Cost of Living in Vancouver

basically your spending 90 percent of your salary on living with not enough to go out- if you go out your in debt even if you have a good job modern slavery is vancouver. but its beautiful but quickly becoming like Hongkong in the sense of smaller and smaller apartments long commute times, very hard work and employers from abroad taking advantage of you as your boss from abroad imposing ridiculous work hours and hard conditions that have relation to Canadian law. .

I immigrated here in 1975. Back then Chinatown is Chinatown. Now it run down, closes at 5pm and nest besides 10 blocks of human waste of drug addicts and homeless encouraged by city hall. Go look for yourself. Between Cambie running to Gore,10 blocks of human garbage. Only city in western world that cannot afford fireworks for New Year. I still live because i am owner of a company. But already planning to move to Asia where costs are 1/3 to 1/5 of Vancouver. Vancouver was a livable city. No more.

lifelong vancouver resident here.

if you are looking for short-term adventure, vancouver is probably fun and worth the price of admission for a year or less. come for the summer!

if you want to move here to start a life, i would urge you to reconsider your destination. vancouver is at its heart a desperately imbalanced city. we have the services and amenities of a major city, but we have the industries and economic opportunities of a medium sized town. it is not hard to find a job here, but most jobs are not satisfying and pay you just enough to live here, not to grow. this might be fine in the summer, when the air is warm and the sun shines, but in the winter, this can be a very lonely and depressing place, lots of rain. the smiling wealthy people (who you will see at our designer stores, nice restaurants, etc) all run away to whistler to ski or somewhere warm down south for the winter.

vancouver looks big because of the towers and concentrated infrastructure, but this is a bit deceiving. we are pressed up against the mountains and the ocean, and our strategic location as a port city inflates the importance of our industries. in reality, this is a small town. i see people on the street every day that i know, recognize, etc. the local government is run by a handful of people who all know each other. every year i have friends that leave because they see they have no future here.

i love that people from all over the world have come to make vancouver a beautiful place. but i fear that there is no longer any opportunity here. we have lots of problems already that we have to deal with (homelessness, drug problems, finding good industries, adequate housing) and these will only get worse before they get better. i would hate for someone to move to this city with a dream and have it crushed by the great dead end that is vancouver!

Whenever I ask a Canadian resident the Toronto vs Vancouver question, the first answer is invariably "Vancouver is terribly expensive but Toronto is fast catching up". But the comments here seem to suggest that larger BC community itself is not a good place for new immigrants to start a new life in Canada, irrespective of the salary I might be offered, quite contrary to the popular perception of Canada. So, Toronto seems to be the best option.

Hello guys☺ Can you give some information about really study and work in Vancouver in one time, because i am going to study in Vancouver but i have not information how really cost and living in this area so if anyone have this information please, write. And finding job forexample waiter for students in Vancouver

Well here we go !!!

Me think with good wisdom its popped.

I'm surprised that Vancouver, BC registers an index that is lower than places like Tacoma, WA or Olympia, WA. Given the cost of housing in Vancouver (even adjusted for the value of Canadian currency), plus relatively high tax costs, I would think that Vancouver would at least be on par with Seattle.

Surrey is not a true reflection of Canada.
More like a 3rd world city.
Too many people !!
Really dont like it

As per my calculations Living in Surrey BC would cost less than Montreal, QC, plus no need for winter tires, garage rental, extremely high car plates and insurance, cheaper grocery, clothing, gas, near 5% less sales taxes (12% instead of near 17%). I found really nicely located end of New Westminster/begining Surrey for $925 1br. 750sqf. heated, pool and nice garden.

I have an apt in a not so good old building about 50min from downtown Montreal by public transit or 30min by car. and it is the cheapest I could find for a 1br. I pay $960 - Internet (no cable or TV, phone..) unlimited $80 (special rate for 1 yr, then will be $105+taxes with videotron), Hydro QC: $75 (I only have a fridge and stove, and light bulbs which I make sure all are off when not using and no a/c!) Garage $150 (they get you there! we need that in -40 winters!)

Can anyone tell me why everyone says it's so expensive in Vancouver greater area? Moving to Surrey I'd save at least $300 a month with rental related and even more with Grocery.

The estimate given here of $3,720 for a family of four (not including rent) is pretty accurate. We're a family of three and pay slightly more than that. Housing in our case adds another ~$3,000 bringing the total close to $7,000 per month.

http://www.getto1percent.com/what-are-the-monthly-expenses-for-a-family-of-three-in-vancouver/

Hi
I'm migrating to vancouver this year and i wanna study my phd there so i wanna know about the salary for a microbiologist or such jobs, can i afford the prices such as rent, food etc for one person? I mean can i save any? Can i have an average life wtih this conditions that i said

Thanks for helping me

Dear Mohammed

you are asking very silly questions.
Do your research, you are planning to move to one of the most expensive cities in the worls with two kids
either you take about 2 to 3 million with you, or het a job paying 100-200K canadian minimum
Otherwise your kids will have no future compared to the rich children in vancouver.

These prices are not accurate, people forget to include non-sale price and taxes and other fees and tips. Probably about 30% to 50% more than posted prices depending on the location of the metro van, so use this as a loose range. Also, currently there are no rental vacancies, so people have hard time finding ANY place.

Solution to the housing crisis is to limit the ownership of real estate to 1 property per registered owner.

Housing is the main issue in Vancouver.

Solution?

Ban foreign real estate ownership in Vancouver + higher tax for Canadians who own a non-primary real estate in Vancouver.

It's an amazement how most people get caught in a bubble. We have to wake up and protect our land as the farmer does from the wolves at bay. We as a city have become a stopping ground resort city for The influential.Even the prices of property taxes are so hight if a home was paid off. It becomes a problem. Why should we allow foreign one percent.. to come here to invade our daily life. It's criminal to watch daily.Everyone 99% of The population becomes hurt due to the actions so others can buy properties to hide their wealth. It a story of hard Working-class providing a safe cushion for those who don't need a helping hand they already have wealth. So they buy here and we are the backs they live off of too. Everyone is affect because most do not earn that kind of wealth. This people do not help our economy by raising property taxes to a country they come to on occasion. Sure it might look good for The banks..and a few who sold left our city to live else where.Wake up, people our life stock will be eatan and Vancouver will be known as resort city for The rich one percent.......wages, places to eat and shop. It touches many aspects of daily living for The Hard Working-class. Only change can happen when the people wake up to see we have been invade by super wealth, once again wealth takes over into the Spirit of The Age....Adam Smith, talked about in 1776, Noam Chomsky, and many others. We do nothing people have become accepting it will take the action of The people to make change happen....many people.

I think the solution for those without tons of cash and a high paying job is to adopt undercover "stealth" car/van living..

If you can avoid rent and keep yourself nice, fresh, organized and presentable then maybe this is something to consider.

I don't know if it's particularly practicable in Vancouver .. I'll have to look on YouTube..

I was born and raid in Vancouver until I was 24 but havent been back to Van in 16 years! It's sad what happened to Vancouver. As Kevin would say, Vancouver is dead to me! I totally agree with what young vancouver said.

@Jomar. Don't do it. The city is not worth it. You'll have a better life in Japan, trust me on this.

Lived in Australia too, then you think it's cheap here in Vancouver, then you see the ridicolous wages, then you want to go back to oz.

I have the solution to the high cost of housing in Vancouver. It is simple. No taxes or stupid ideas to make it more expensive for everyone(Gregor...) You just limit who can buy Canadian real estate. You have to me a Canadian Citizen or landed migrant. Oh ya baby watch the prices correct... Like over night you are back to what the local economy can afford. You have a realistic market not some artificial bubble created by off shore investment. Boy wouldn't that put a dose of reality back into heads and pocketbooks of all those landlords out there. No.. your 200,000 dollar house is not worth 1.5 million... really .... think about it.

retired-67 years old-told pension per month $2,296 per month(union pension-CPP-OAP) rent is $1,130.00-live on good bus routes, live 20 minutes by bus to city centre-phone-cable -internet about 175.00 per month (my form of entertainment-go to no show-no theater, do not drink or smoke, have NO SOCIAL LIFE-no longer ski, have not had holiday since 1992-no gym -loss car to city of vancouver could not pay parking ticket or arrange a loan-car was sold at auction by the city received $1,000.00 bid for a $9,000.00 value golf (with chrome wheels and expensive roof ski rack) 1,000.00 not applied against parking tickets(tickets still o/standing-will never drive again owe ICBC interest on outstanding amount about 18 percent i think condo was sold 3 days before rcb was going to repose, loss was incured by RBC-morgtate was less than my rent of $1,100.00- left work 3 years early loss 18% percent of my cpp and union pension-have not paid medical fees for years , owe federal gover/ bc gover for taxes $17,000.00 outstanding debt $35,000.00 no rrsp all withdrawn now-need glass broke last pr 14 months ago, need dental work about $3,000.00-cannot afford to go to ubc dental schoolhave to deal with problems in the first couple of days have no money by the 10th of the month,never leave my apartment-have no social life, celebrate no births-xmas-new years-see mother (96 years old) about ever 3 months lives 10/15 miles away-do not vote to far to walk,so depressed like all bc residents have a POT CARD(only good thing happening for me-got to love the government support all citizen on POT

Metro Vancouver's (and the rest of BC as well) living expenses like rent are way, way too high. I minimum wage worker will live in a dump just to get by while rich immigrants created this problem. It stems from investing in real estate which drives up the price of houses and rents. But here is the real kicker: The Canadian government loves it. Why? Because the government makes millions of dollars from property taxes and building permits, etc.
I certainly hope that the correction to this very real problem comes soon and hits hard. And in the meanwhile I would love to see more people demonstrate on the streets about issues like this. But if nobody speaks up (like is usually the case with average BC resident), the only solution I see is a series of major earthquakes that will put a healthy fear back into any real estate investors.

We are a family of 3 (couple with a 2 years old child) and will move to Vancouver on May 2016.
Do you think 3000 Canadian dollars per month would be sufficient for our living expenses before we get a job?

@Adi but why would you want that kind of life though? That's barely getting by.

Hi, I have a friend in west vancouver who if i INVEST 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN vANCOUVER PROPERTY i WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORK AGAIN. iS THIS TRUE . He said my money will double every year . he will buy real estate for me and then sell to china. is this reur Tosaru- I live in Greece and will came to Vancouver after few years

i have an idea

I buy house in vancouver for 2 million
It increases in value by 20% in one year (as like last year)
I make 400,000 dollars
I pay 4 percent interest to bank which is 160 thousand dollars
I have 240,00 dollars
NOT Bad
for one years work.
So everyone lets get together and make lots of money
I luv vancouver.. so mucgh money still to be made
Trust me

hello . i want to come from albania to live in vancouver with my husband. I think as a way to come to do a intership at stepwest university with my husband , than to start a part time job since first day that i will come , after i finish the intership the school will find me a full time job(thats what i have heard from others) . My question is : If i come to vancouver is easy to find a part time job as a student . can i cover my expenses? to rent a apartament and other expenses ? how is the minimun payment for hours for a part time job ? i have heard that is 16$/hour.and is allowed to work 25 hours a week. thank you and i am waiting for opinions from students who live in vancouver and have been in the same situate as me .

Hi!
I got a job offer as a waiter for a salary of 3000 CAD along with meal, accommodation and transport. Can anyone suggest if its a good offer. And kindly tell me how much can I save a month with this salary considering i have to eat outside once or twice a day, Internet and other miscellaneous expenditure. Thanks

nope, you miss the point.
It's not the Moutains and Rivers, even Nepal has that. It's the C%%%%%%nese over a billion of them Sir, A billion of them want to mover to Vancouver where then can have mnore than the overcome the estricted One child policy and bring their family up in Peace

too expensive to live and enjoy.. i'm moving back to cold and freezing inuit

I'm not sure the exact date this article was published, but the numbers seem to be a bit off. I can't comment on the price of wine, cheese, etc, but if you check out Vancouver rental ads on HomeButton.ca (http://homebutton.ca/593/Vancouver) you'll see they range from $550/m to $2695/m, with an average of $1322/m. That said, a nice (and well-located) 2 bedroom apartment will definitely cost in the neighborhood of $2000/m. Tuck that inside your time capsule! A 2 bedroom apartment in the heart of Vancouver will cost double before long.

Just reflecting on my comment below. I unkindly generalized and said that the people were not that nice. I should have said that there was a strong individualistic attitude that prevailed, maybe people are driven to it in order to survive. As I said below it saddens me to see my native land destroyed. I have been reading some of B.C.'s history and it is too bad the present leaders of the province have not been like the first governor James Douglas who made it prosper, kept law and order while also looking out for the interests of the native Indians. We critisize the leaders of the past indiscriminately but he seems like a good example of what some of the present leaders should try to imitate. If we had had some foresight Vancouver would not be in the financial predicament that it is now.

Here is a good article about the cost of living in Vancouver:

http://thethunderbird.ca/2013/04/04/families-wondering-if-they-have-a-place-in-vancouver/

just add 15% in every price list and you will get accurate price.
And it is fact that Vancouver is one of the most expensive city of live. and it all happened in last 3-5 years. Biggest expense is accommodations. A
Average 2 bed room appartment in a reasonable place (10-15 min drive to downtown) will cost you approx. $1,400 (Range $1200-1600) +150 utilities (Hydro, heat, internet).
Monthly Vancouver pass is $91 as at 19 March 2015.
Monthly grocery for small family is approx. $350
Mobile tariff is approx. $50
Family insurance is approx. $140 (i guess)
Monthly clothing and furniture and utensils (Garments, shoes) for family is approx.$350
Mis Expenditures $250 ( Bank charges ( yes Canadian bank charge you approx. $10 every month to maintain bank account, Condoms, restaurant, recreation, entertainment, drinking +HIDDEN EXPENSES) .

So my friends above expenses are for people who have cost saving approach, it doesn't include some elvish expenses, like car insurance or gym membership etc.

In short earning $3,600/month (3000 after Tax) will allow you to live hand to mouth in Vancouver. And it is not easy to get a job in such a pay for new immigrants. Even they have 10 years + Management experience, i have seen many of them are still working in restaurants or as a cashier.

This city has transformed into Elite dwelling place. If you have money then Vancouver is for you. If you want money then its Lolzzz for you

with the exchange rate at recent highs I'm considering moving to Vancouver from London Uk.
Just sold my house for 1.9 million in Chiswick and after my calculations that's about 4 million Canadian.
Can i get a nice place for that.
i'm 45 years with two kids.
thanks

As a real estate agent here in Vancouver I am happy to help. Renters: in looking with a friend for a rental apt, we found decent places in older buildings with shared laundry facilities for $1250-1450/month. $1250 was closer to UBC. $1450 is closer to the bridge to downtown, walking distance 30mins. Gas is down to $1.00/litre but this is temporary. With about $10,000 for a downpayment you can have a new condo near a skytrain station which is about 30mins into town, then change to an express bus B-Line to UBC if you're a student. There are affordable options you just need to ask. Freehold in town yes is pricey but great investment but there are co-ops and leasehold ownership opportunities for under $300,000 downtown still. Jobs are there but be qualified - identify the job call them and ask what they require then go get that education. Indian nursing may be junior to Cdn nursing requirements, check before you move. To the complainers - so go elsewhere or better your education so you can earn enough to stay. We ski cheap on local mountains $20/kid, hike and bike for free, joined the science centre for all you can visit entertainment all year, its doable.we need immigration to keep our country great so come on up to Vancouver!

Folks,
I need an update on the cost of living in Vancouver as of January 2015
Basic cost such as food, shelter, utilities and transportation for a single guy
I currently work in Toronto with a pay of 45K, and I got an opportunity to work in my office branch in Vancouver DT with a pay about 60K.
Could I survive and have a saving about 20K an year?