Do you think that I missed any of the downsides of living in Vancouver? Call/Text Direct - 604-831-4837 email: sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca Book a call: www.calendly.com/albrechtgroup
There was a story (I want to say from the 90s but I forgot precisely the time period), when the premier of Ontario famously sent homeless people with free one-way tickets to Vancouver, promoting the easier climate. I believe there's truth to it, but I'm not sure to what degree.
@zwhtan I've heard those rumors too. Both people being sent here and people being shipped out, but I suspect there's not a lot of truth in them. Who knows?
200k for a nice condo in Kits sounds like a dream. People who bought real estate in Vancouver ~20 ago are so lucky. For them life in Vancouver is so much better
@nicktankard1244 You know what? I took a big risk to make that purchase. People thought that I was stupid because the economy sucked at the time. Prices had been declining and interest rates were almost guaranteed to shoot back up to 21%. I couldn't afford furniture for about a year and slept in a sleeping bag in my living room. Each time I've purchased a property over the last 20 years I hear the same sentiment. Same thing for my parents who bought a place in the 70s. Prices had doubled in the previous couple years and people told them they were insane to pay those ridiculously high prices. People who work hard and take the risk to purchase today will also be considered "lucky" 20 years from now...
@@LivingInVancouver-BC sure you never know the future. You took a risk and got lucky. Which is what I said. But you had the option of doing so. Most people these days can't afford to buy anything in Vancouver and that includes a lot of people with decent careers and jobs. The cheapest condo is like 700k which is 3.5x of what they were 20 year ago. But the salaries did not go up 3.5x. You can’t take a risk when you can’t even afford to buy a lottery ticket.
@nicktankard1244 My point is that people CAN take that risk now. It's possible. Just as I did over the last 25 years of my life....working hard. Making extra income. Making sacrifices to save for the things that I wanted....living and buying within my means. I work with people doing just that all the time.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC technically it is possible yes. After many years of hard work and luck. But it’s so much harder now. Like orderers of magnitude harder. It is also possible to become a millionaire but very few people do.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I’m just saying that buying a decent condo in a good neighborhood for 200k 20 years ago was much easier than buying the same condo for 700k now. I didn’t say it was easy, but compared to the current situation, it was. Just imagine you magically get 20 years younger now with the same amount of money you had back then. Adjusted for inflation and stuff. You also lose all the skills and information you gained in the last 20 years. Now can you buy the same condo? Or any condo in Vancouver? Or do you need another 10(20?) years to save up?
I loved your point related to making friends in Vancouver. I moved here last december from India expecting my life to change as I expose myself to a new part of the world. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case. There is no sense of community here. It still baffles me that we live in a place where we don't even know most times who our neighbours are. This bothered me a lot in the beginning when I tried being social but people wouldn't reciprocate or just show no interest in being friends. Later I realised it stems from 2 major issues. One being the cost of living which you mentioned perfectly in the video. People are just exhausted making enough money to survive to have any social connections. Secondly, I think it's because of mistrust in people caused due to the homeless or addicts in the city. People are just so scared to talk to strangers because they have no idea what the other person might do or need from them. Both these points are fair in their own regard but I just hope the situation gets better with time. It's a beautiful city and living here alone honestly sucks. Anyways, great video ❤
Dude I am Canadian and moved from St. John’s to Toronto to Ottawa. Been in Ottawa for 20 years and I have 2 online friends. It seems this is the new world order. 😢 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been ghosted. “Yes I’d love to grab a coffee with you” - then crickets.
All the times I’ve gone to Vancouver for work I’ve certainly preferred the walking/transit oriented travel where possible - I’ve driven on the ferry from the island and experienced rush hour enough times to know it’s awful. That being said, I live in Sooke just outside of Victoria BC and we can have Vancouver-tier rush hour traffic too depending on the day. All of these are incredible places. You can’t get away from the high cost of living but I chose to move to this coast 10 years ago because I was sick of Alberta winters. I noticed you mentioned Toronto is the only somewhat comparable market, but Victoria is not far behind anymore.
@RossSpeirs Yeah. 100% Rush hour outside of Victoria can be quite intense. Hopefully, your transit improves to help alleviate that issue. And yes, while prices have certainly increased in Victoria it's still far less expensive than Vancouver (a typical house in the core of Victoria last month was $1.3M...it's just shy of $2.7M in the City of Vancouver). Sooke is gorgeous though. I can see why you moved there! :)
Just getting back from Vancouver, I can say it is a very friendly city. Hoep on the cCanada line with baggage and it is the Bridgeport line, people will go out of their way to let us know we are on the wrong train. There were many other examples of us having a chat in public about which stop to get off, or which train to take and people would offer up the answer. I can't remember all the examples, but I got the sense that people are looking out for each other. Not at all like Toronto which is very cold and people keep to themselves... as far as making friends... I didn't try.. too busy with the family ;)
My experience with healthcare in Vancouver has been horrible since I moved here. Waited a few months to diagnose a potentially life-threatening condition. Then, waiting a year for surgery(still waiting). I have some mobility issues, but seeing a specialist for that is almost impossible. I still don’t have a family doctor, so renewing my prescriptions is a pain every time since most walk-in clinics don’t accept new patients. You have to go to the ones that still accept random walk-ins in the early morning and sit there for several hours. So maybe you and your family got lucky, or it’s a benefit of being local for a long time.
First in line to an urgent care and still waited over 5 hours. In the ER people often wait 8hours. You can get lucky and get in in 2 hours if you go at like 4am or get lucky but people need to be prepared to wait 8 hours as a standard. People who don't have a GP aren't getting one. People say the USA is worse because you're hit with a bill but wages are higher there, cost of living is lower and at least you can actually have access to an ER to be alive to pay that bill.
@@littleripper312 honestly I’d rather pay. The US healthcare is not too bad for higher paid professionals. It is still a lottery because a serious illness in the US can bankrupt you even if you earn decent money. But I’d rather take that chance compared to not getting healthcare at all in Canada.
@@littleripper312 the operation I need would cost a few thousands in the US. I’m willing to pay that rather than wait for over a year in Canada. And with the mobility problems I have I know several people who dealt with that in the US and got surgeries pretty fast. It’s wasn’t super expensive. But in Canada people wait years for hip or knee replacements or back surgeries. It’s crazy.
@nicktankard1244 I think there's lot of things we can complain about...and the system isn't perfect...but as I said in the video, and in previous comments...I firmly believe we've got a fantastic medical system.
Thanks for your videos! I am a Canadian citizen living in London UK but hope to move to Vancouver next year. Could you please do a video on costs of buying a new built vs a 2-3 year old property? Is it correct there's an additional 5% charge?
Thanks for watching and for the comment @Tehran83! Have you had a chance to watch this video here -> th-cam.com/video/KZD3TS3gIeA/w-d-xo.html It's all about purchasing new construction in Vancouver.
I love Vancouver in the summer, but overall still prefer Calgary as its still sunny during the winter. I go to Vancouver every summer to escape the wildfire smoke in Calgary during summer which ironically comes from BC!
@pangdada5208 Yeah, the summers are pretty magical in Vancouver...but more sun in the winters would be welcome. :) Personally, I'm willing to trade less sun for more warmth, but I know that's not a trade-off everyone is willing to make. Especially for those that grew up in the prairie provinces.
I agree with City Nerd 100% @glennelliott708. So much of Vancouver's desirability comes out of that decision not to rebuild the city to accommodate inner city freeways.
With people being polite but cold I think it’s the climate. Because it’s what people complain about in Seattle and other parts of PNW. Something about this gloomy weather gets to people. Even if they move from other, friendlier places.
@nicktankard1244 I really don't see it. :) I go out here or anywhere (eg other cities) and I can make friends. People here are friendly and open with people that reciprocate.
@@LivingInVancouver-BCThey are friendly, but it usually doesn’t go beyond a friendly chat. I’ve met dozens of people since I moved here. All of them were cool. Some of them I meet regurarly at events. And they all remember me and happy to chat at those event. But none of them showed any interest in being real friends. Maybe I am the problem, but I’ve lived in several cities in my 37 years, and it was never a problem before. So I don’t know about that.
Another factor to take into account is age (when comparing your experience here to other places you've lived). I do think it becomes a little more challenging to make new friends as we get older...but, like I said, I don't think there's anything much different in Vancouver when it comes to developing friendships.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC for sure the age argument is valid. I moved to Berlin when I was 32 and found it easy to make friends there. I moved to Vancouver at 35, and now I’m 37. It's not a huge difference, but it probably plays a role.
@nicktankard1244 Yes. You are right...those age differences are pretty marginal. But I think once you get into the age ranges where people are more likely to be partnered up and having kids, if you remain single then the opportunities for close friendship become more challenging.
I've lived on Vancouver Island twice in my life. Once in Victoria, the other near Nanaimo. EVERY time I went to Vancouver, I came back disappointed. It's WAY too expensive, WAY too crowded, and it has this sickly, end-of-world bum-vibe all across the downtown area. Too much drug use, too many homeless, too many weirdos, and it's basically like another country within Canada... I have to be honest, coming from Quebec, I LOVE middle-density neighborhoods, but Vancouver goes STRAIGHT from highrise to single-family houses, and BOTH are priced WAY above any sensible market value... WITHOUT the middle ground, like 2-3 floors buildings, with 4-8 apartments, housing prices CAN'T go down... It's either a 4000$/mo condo, or a multi-million bungalow, but NOTHING In between. Just like Toronto, it's NICE To visit once in awhile, for a show, a major league game, or to sight-see (it DOES have some gorgeous spots). PS: I'm not saying Quebec is all good either. I basically can't stand HUGE cities, and Montreal has lots of bad issues right now. Rent might still be relatively affordable compared to the rest of Canada, but the city is slowly getting dirty and criminalized and has even more roadworks that never end than before. BUT the province has rent control and the government doesn't love the big business lobbies as much as other provinces do, so regular people still have a right to live without going bankrupt while doing it. I tried Ontario and NB a few years back, and the prices AND lower wages were killing me... I have NO IDEA how an average Canadian can afford to live outside of Quebec and Newfoundland in 2024 Canada... Rent in small dinky towns everywhere else is MORE expensive than in Montreal... WTH happened to this country???
@@debbielockhart7762 Lived there, near UVIC at first, and then right by Chinatown (Chinastreet), on Herald... I LOVED CAL club and Stoney Mondays (1990ish)...
I just fly out here and now I hear Vancouver is not for everyone :( But... we are aware that there unrest as many job opportunities as the GTA, but we're retiring so that isn't an issue. We know that the income is higher in the GTA than Vancouver, but we are retiring and have an online business we can bring with us. We understand that there isn't as big a social life - nigh clubs and such, but we are old farts and don't care for nay of that. We want a slower pace of life, much nicer climate. But the cost of living is up there, it's high, but the GTA isn't much better. Sure gas is 20 cents less but groceries are a mix of lower and higher prices. For most retirees, we are looking for long-term security for us until we check out. Thanks for the insights. I do agree buying a home rather than a condo is better... let's see what happens...
If you're older you might want to be aware that as a stardard the ER wait times to see a doctor are often 8 hours. It's an issue I'm having with my retired parents here and why I wish they'd move. It's russian roulette because you can't always wait 8 hours to see a doctor. Also there is the issue that all the good workers are leaving and we're being left with less skilled people who will work for lower wages in a high cost of living area.
@littleripper312 Wait times in the ERs isn't ideal. I mean, I hate waiting too...but they do prioritize patients. In my experience, if you come in with something really serious you will be seen VERY quickly.
I’m sorry but there is one thing I disagree with. We have had years where it rains for MONTHS non-stop and wished it was only a couple of weeks. That plus the darkness in the fall/winter/early spring - leave the house in the darkness and come home in the darkness and it is VERY depressing.
@PauloBristofen Unfortunately such a desirable city in such a desirable country comes with a cost. @debbielockhart7762 Vancouver's economy is producing increasingly high-income knowledge based jobs...you are referring to an outdated stereotype. Those days of low wages are long gone with our steadily declining reliance on a resource based economy and on low skill industry. You've also referred to Vancouver's housing as being "overpriced" multiple times through the comments...the price is what people are willing to pay for it. It may not have value to you as you've clearly decided to live in Victoria...but prices here continue to rise to the extent they do because so many others see value in it.
A heavy moustache can gig a rather forbidding tilt to your appearance... It's usually seen as rather roguish. Quite a few screen heavies have sported them, not only Lee Van Cleef..
It is extremely overpriced and way too dreary wet and grey. I live in Victoria which is also overpriced (but not as much as Vancouver is), but only half the rain Vancouver gets.
Yep. That's one distinct advantage Victoria has (OK...two, if you count lower prices). However, there are also parts of Metro Vancouver that get FAR less rain than the average...like Tsawwassen, South Surrey and White Rock.
@xerdov You aren't the first to criticize those condo buildings built in the 90s and 2000s...but since then, Vancouver has been on a bit of a tear with some pretty creative architecture (like Vancouver House and the Butterfly Building).
High Taxes, High Housing Costs, High Food Costs, High Living Costs, High Unemployment Rate, Crimes, Drugs, Bad Traffic....The List is Pretty Long Nowadays!
Thanks for the detailed overview of the pros and cons of living in Vancouver. You're right on the mark regarding the insane traffic, or the poor healthcare system. Still I believe that you project an optimistic view and that you skipped some other key factors in deciding to live here. City planning sucks, plain and simple. For instance, they launched works on the subway line from Commercial Drive to UBC in... 2023, wtf Vancouver? Or, they still have not figured out left-lane turns??? As for the social scene, you may wonder out loud why is it that so many people's best friends are... dogs? Politeness is just a social shield to deflect any possibility of genuine connection. This is a very cold city, and I am not talking about the weather. In NYC, where I lived, people say "Fu... you" to mean "How are you doing?", in Vancouver people give you dumb smile to tell you "Stay away." Night life: How about coffee shops that close at... 5:00PM, or restaurants that close at 7:00PM? Nearly 100% cities in North America are "left leaning", not a big deal. If you're a Trumper move to Calgary or Texas. Final point, yes, Vancouver is NOT an intellectual/cultured city.
Thanks @farid7838. I'm not sure I was saying the traffic was insane. I was saying that it depends on where you are in the Lower Mainland...and that you should be smart about where you live relative to where you work. I also believe we have an excellent medical system with some flaws. And city planning in Vancouver is actually exceptional. It's something Vancouver has an international reputation for. While we aren't NYC or Toronto, Vancouver's social scene punches far above it's weight...and the social reputation is a tired stereotype. I never have a hard time striking up friendly conversations with complete strangers in Vancouver, or making new friends. But yes, I agree that most cities are left-leaning.
It's definitely hard to make friends in Vancouver. People tend to stay in their social circles and rarely mingle. Certain ethnic groups tend to also keep to themselves compared to others.
@patrickt49 I know that's something that comes up fairly frequently about Vancouver and there must be SOME truth to it. But it hasn't been my personal experience. I find that over my lifetime I've made exerted efforts to make friends at different times and I've been able to do it.
I lived there for a dozen years, from 2002 to 2014. We left because of the lack of career opportunities and moved to Seattle. The high cost of living in Vancouver made it tough to build wealth. Vancouver takes your money, it doesn’t give much back in return. There’s a culture of scarcity in Vancouver. There’s not enough of anything to go around: housing, healthcare, transit, jobs, etc. I’m done with the city.
@susanralph274 Well, OK. Appreciate your thoughts on living in Vancouver. Just curious...what would you like the city to do with it's garbage? Or the coyotes?
Lived there for 5 years and have to say if career is something of importance there is much better places to go to having a good wage and also being able to live comfortably. Plus Vancouver is such a boring city (not that I would say it is much of a city). Great place to go to University tho
@gabagool45 That'll really depend on the industry. Sure, some industries tend to be lower wage locally...but there are also many financial opportunities that keep people here in Vancouver.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Oh well of course, but as someone who came to study from the US it didn't make much sense for me. I went to school for software engineering and had friends up there who even told me take a job in the USA, make triple of what you would make in Vancouver plus cost of living is more balanced than if you had a lower wage with higher cost of living which is what you had in Vancouver. I am sure some industries are good but as someone from America it didn't make sense to live there or really contemplate it. I mean I moved to Manhattan and of course I miss a ton of aspects from living out there but career and work was at the forefront of importance for me and felt like that was the choice at the end that had to be made.
Yep @gabagool45. These are decisions we all have to make and are very personal. You are absolutely right that there's a massive difference in the opportunities you'll find between Vancouver and more obvious centers of industry like NYC or Toronto. My point, though, is that opportunities exist in Vancouver and many people that live here do very, very well and enjoy a very high quality of life with an enjoyable work-life balance. I had to make that same choice myself coming out of university in the 90s. I was offered a job in Houston that would have seen me making double what I could make here in Vancouver. The economy here in Vancouver sucked at the time, so I didn't even think it would be possible to get hired here. But after visiting Houston I realized it wouldn't be a city that I'd enjoy living in even for double the income. I found a way to make things work in Vancouver because I had skills, drive and a willingness to work hard...and I've built a life here that I'm happy with and grateful for.
![Best Suburbs to Live in Vancouver [PART 1] - [UPDATED 2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xOXCdkxuvoY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Best Suburbs to Live in Vancouver [PART 1] – [UPDATED 2024]](/img/tr.png)
Do you think that I missed any of the downsides of living in Vancouver?
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Yeah, I've been living in Vancouver for over 5 years now and have no friends. Deep connections feels impossible
There are so many homeless people in Vancouver because it's it's one of the few Canadian cities where you can be homeless and survive the winter
Yes. I think that’s a significant contributing factor. Vancouver (and Victoria) carry a greater burden as result.
There was a story (I want to say from the 90s but I forgot precisely the time period), when the premier of Ontario famously sent homeless people with free one-way tickets to Vancouver, promoting the easier climate. I believe there's truth to it, but I'm not sure to what degree.
And also free drugs and crazy apologist socialist policies
@zwhtan I've heard those rumors too. Both people being sent here and people being shipped out, but I suspect there's not a lot of truth in them. Who knows?
@@zwhtan Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein cut welfare rates in the 1990s and offered one-way bus tickets to B.C..
Brutally honest and heartfelt. Nice job.
@marcberrenson570 Thank you! ;)
200k for a nice condo in Kits sounds like a dream. People who bought real estate in Vancouver ~20 ago are so lucky. For them life in Vancouver is so much better
@nicktankard1244 You know what? I took a big risk to make that purchase. People thought that I was stupid because the economy sucked at the time. Prices had been declining and interest rates were almost guaranteed to shoot back up to 21%. I couldn't afford furniture for about a year and slept in a sleeping bag in my living room. Each time I've purchased a property over the last 20 years I hear the same sentiment. Same thing for my parents who bought a place in the 70s. Prices had doubled in the previous couple years and people told them they were insane to pay those ridiculously high prices. People who work hard and take the risk to purchase today will also be considered "lucky" 20 years from now...
@@LivingInVancouver-BC sure you never know the future. You took a risk and got lucky. Which is what I said. But you had the option of doing so. Most people these days can't afford to buy anything in Vancouver and that includes a lot of people with decent careers and jobs. The cheapest condo is like 700k which is 3.5x of what they were 20 year ago. But the salaries did not go up 3.5x. You can’t take a risk when you can’t even afford to buy a lottery ticket.
@nicktankard1244 My point is that people CAN take that risk now. It's possible. Just as I did over the last 25 years of my life....working hard. Making extra income. Making sacrifices to save for the things that I wanted....living and buying within my means. I work with people doing just that all the time.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC technically it is possible yes. After many years of hard work and luck. But it’s so much harder now. Like orderers of magnitude harder. It is also possible to become a millionaire but very few people do.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I’m just saying that buying a decent condo in a good neighborhood for 200k 20 years ago was much easier than buying the same condo for 700k now. I didn’t say it was easy, but compared to the current situation, it was.
Just imagine you magically get 20 years younger now with the same amount of money you had back then. Adjusted for inflation and stuff. You also lose all the skills and information you gained in the last 20 years. Now can you buy the same condo? Or any condo in Vancouver? Or do you need another 10(20?) years to save up?
I loved your point related to making friends in Vancouver. I moved here last december from India expecting my life to change as I expose myself to a new part of the world. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case. There is no sense of community here. It still baffles me that we live in a place where we don't even know most times who our neighbours are. This bothered me a lot in the beginning when I tried being social but people wouldn't reciprocate or just show no interest in being friends. Later I realised it stems from 2 major issues. One being the cost of living which you mentioned perfectly in the video. People are just exhausted making enough money to survive to have any social connections. Secondly, I think it's because of mistrust in people caused due to the homeless or addicts in the city. People are just so scared to talk to strangers because they have no idea what the other person might do or need from them. Both these points are fair in their own regard but I just hope the situation gets better with time. It's a beautiful city and living here alone honestly sucks. Anyways, great video ❤
Dude I am Canadian and moved from St. John’s to Toronto to Ottawa. Been in Ottawa for 20 years and I have 2 online friends. It seems this is the new world order. 😢 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been ghosted. “Yes I’d love to grab a coffee with you” - then crickets.
All the times I’ve gone to Vancouver for work I’ve certainly preferred the walking/transit oriented travel where possible - I’ve driven on the ferry from the island and experienced rush hour enough times to know it’s awful.
That being said, I live in Sooke just outside of Victoria BC and we can have Vancouver-tier rush hour traffic too depending on the day. All of these are incredible places.
You can’t get away from the high cost of living but I chose to move to this coast 10 years ago because I was sick of Alberta winters.
I noticed you mentioned Toronto is the only somewhat comparable market, but Victoria is not far behind anymore.
@RossSpeirs Yeah. 100% Rush hour outside of Victoria can be quite intense. Hopefully, your transit improves to help alleviate that issue.
And yes, while prices have certainly increased in Victoria it's still far less expensive than Vancouver (a typical house in the core of Victoria last month was $1.3M...it's just shy of $2.7M in the City of Vancouver). Sooke is gorgeous though. I can see why you moved there! :)
Hi ! Can you help with rentals as well? We would love to try out Vancouver for size, before purchasing anything. Thanks!
Rain is just liquid sunshine, look for silver linings
I agree. The rain we get benefits us so much!
Just getting back from Vancouver, I can say it is a very friendly city. Hoep on the cCanada line with baggage and it is the Bridgeport line, people will go out of their way to let us know we are on the wrong train. There were many other examples of us having a chat in public about which stop to get off, or which train to take and people would offer up the answer. I can't remember all the examples, but I got the sense that people are looking out for each other. Not at all like Toronto which is very cold and people keep to themselves... as far as making friends... I didn't try.. too busy with the family ;)
@OrdinaryFilmmaker Very true! I find there are always people willing to help. And if you make an effort to make friends it's definitely possible!
My experience with healthcare in Vancouver has been horrible since I moved here. Waited a few months to diagnose a potentially life-threatening condition. Then, waiting a year for surgery(still waiting). I have some mobility issues, but seeing a specialist for that is almost impossible. I still don’t have a family doctor, so renewing my prescriptions is a pain every time since most walk-in clinics don’t accept new patients. You have to go to the ones that still accept random walk-ins in the early morning and sit there for several hours.
So maybe you and your family got lucky, or it’s a benefit of being local for a long time.
First in line to an urgent care and still waited over 5 hours. In the ER people often wait 8hours. You can get lucky and get in in 2 hours if you go at like 4am or get lucky but people need to be prepared to wait 8 hours as a standard. People who don't have a GP aren't getting one. People say the USA is worse because you're hit with a bill but wages are higher there, cost of living is lower and at least you can actually have access to an ER to be alive to pay that bill.
@@littleripper312 honestly I’d rather pay. The US healthcare is not too bad for higher paid professionals. It is still a lottery because a serious illness in the US can bankrupt you even if you earn decent money. But I’d rather take that chance compared to not getting healthcare at all in Canada.
@@littleripper312 the operation I need would cost a few thousands in the US. I’m willing to pay that rather than wait for over a year in Canada. And with the mobility problems I have I know several people who dealt with that in the US and got surgeries pretty fast. It’s wasn’t super expensive. But in Canada people wait years for hip or knee replacements or back surgeries. It’s crazy.
Good point about healthcare it’s horrible, same here in Victoria.
@nicktankard1244 I think there's lot of things we can complain about...and the system isn't perfect...but as I said in the video, and in previous comments...I firmly believe we've got a fantastic medical system.
Thanks for your videos! I am a Canadian citizen living in London UK but hope to move to Vancouver next year. Could you please do a video on costs of buying a new built vs a 2-3 year old property? Is it correct there's an additional 5% charge?
Thanks for watching and for the comment @Tehran83! Have you had a chance to watch this video here -> th-cam.com/video/KZD3TS3gIeA/w-d-xo.html It's all about purchasing new construction in Vancouver.
At least your COL will decrease! 😂
@THCBach Yeah, not too many cities where the COL is higher than Vancouver but London is certainly one of them!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I am thinking of potentially making the move from London to Vancouver. I will be in touch when things are more set in stone!
I love Vancouver in the summer, but overall still prefer Calgary as its still sunny during the winter. I go to Vancouver every summer to escape the wildfire smoke in Calgary during summer which ironically comes from BC!
@pangdada5208 Yeah, the summers are pretty magical in Vancouver...but more sun in the winters would be welcome. :) Personally, I'm willing to trade less sun for more warmth, but I know that's not a trade-off everyone is willing to make. Especially for those that grew up in the prairie provinces.
City Nerd channel praises Vancouver for NOT having ruined the city by filling it with freeways. Transit. Transit. Transit.
I agree with City Nerd 100% @glennelliott708. So much of Vancouver's desirability comes out of that decision not to rebuild the city to accommodate inner city freeways.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC the city is aiming to make vancouvers core car free in the future
@jaychah2563 Yep. We've certainly been aiming to move away from a dependence on cars.
With people being polite but cold I think it’s the climate. Because it’s what people complain about in Seattle and other parts of PNW. Something about this gloomy weather gets to people. Even if they move from other, friendlier places.
@nicktankard1244 I really don't see it. :) I go out here or anywhere (eg other cities) and I can make friends. People here are friendly and open with people that reciprocate.
@@LivingInVancouver-BCThey are friendly, but it usually doesn’t go beyond a friendly chat. I’ve met dozens of people since I moved here. All of them were cool. Some of them I meet regurarly at events. And they all remember me and happy to chat at those event. But none of them showed any interest in being real friends. Maybe I am the problem, but I’ve lived in several cities in my 37 years, and it was never a problem before. So I don’t know about that.
Another factor to take into account is age (when comparing your experience here to other places you've lived). I do think it becomes a little more challenging to make new friends as we get older...but, like I said, I don't think there's anything much different in Vancouver when it comes to developing friendships.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC for sure the age argument is valid. I moved to Berlin when I was 32 and found it easy to make friends there. I moved to Vancouver at 35, and now I’m 37. It's not a huge difference, but it probably plays a role.
@nicktankard1244 Yes. You are right...those age differences are pretty marginal. But I think once you get into the age ranges where people are more likely to be partnered up and having kids, if you remain single then the opportunities for close friendship become more challenging.
I've lived on Vancouver Island twice in my life. Once in Victoria, the other near Nanaimo. EVERY time I went to Vancouver, I came back disappointed. It's WAY too expensive, WAY too crowded, and it has this sickly, end-of-world bum-vibe all across the downtown area. Too much drug use, too many homeless, too many weirdos, and it's basically like another country within Canada...
I have to be honest, coming from Quebec, I LOVE middle-density neighborhoods, but Vancouver goes STRAIGHT from highrise to single-family houses, and BOTH are priced WAY above any sensible market value... WITHOUT the middle ground, like 2-3 floors buildings, with 4-8 apartments, housing prices CAN'T go down... It's either a 4000$/mo condo, or a multi-million bungalow, but NOTHING In between.
Just like Toronto, it's NICE To visit once in awhile, for a show, a major league game, or to sight-see (it DOES have some gorgeous spots).
PS: I'm not saying Quebec is all good either. I basically can't stand HUGE cities, and Montreal has lots of bad issues right now. Rent might still be relatively affordable compared to the rest of Canada, but the city is slowly getting dirty and criminalized and has even more roadworks that never end than before. BUT the province has rent control and the government doesn't love the big business lobbies as much as other provinces do, so regular people still have a right to live without going bankrupt while doing it. I tried Ontario and NB a few years back, and the prices AND lower wages were killing me... I have NO IDEA how an average Canadian can afford to live outside of Quebec and Newfoundland in 2024 Canada... Rent in small dinky towns everywhere else is MORE expensive than in Montreal... WTH happened to this country???
I live in Victoria, and it is way better than Vancouver in many ways. Half the rain, and while still overpriced not as badly overpriced as Vancouver.
I’m with you. I prefer Vancouver island and chose it over Vancouver ultimately to live.
@@debbielockhart7762 Lived there, near UVIC at first, and then right by Chinatown (Chinastreet), on Herald... I LOVED CAL club and Stoney Mondays (1990ish)...
I just fly out here and now I hear Vancouver is not for everyone :( But... we are aware that there unrest as many job opportunities as the GTA, but we're retiring so that isn't an issue. We know that the income is higher in the GTA than Vancouver, but we are retiring and have an online business we can bring with us. We understand that there isn't as big a social life - nigh clubs and such, but we are old farts and don't care for nay of that. We want a slower pace of life, much nicer climate. But the cost of living is up there, it's high, but the GTA isn't much better. Sure gas is 20 cents less but groceries are a mix of lower and higher prices. For most retirees, we are looking for long-term security for us until we check out. Thanks for the insights. I do agree buying a home rather than a condo is better... let's see what happens...
If you're older you might want to be aware that as a stardard the ER wait times to see a doctor are often 8 hours. It's an issue I'm having with my retired parents here and why I wish they'd move. It's russian roulette because you can't always wait 8 hours to see a doctor. Also there is the issue that all the good workers are leaving and we're being left with less skilled people who will work for lower wages in a high cost of living area.
Sorry for the bad news @ordinaryfilmmaker. ;) Glad you were able to make it out here and do some boots on the ground research!
@littleripper312 Wait times in the ERs isn't ideal. I mean, I hate waiting too...but they do prioritize patients. In my experience, if you come in with something really serious you will be seen VERY quickly.
Great video, and let's go Oilers! Sorry random lol
@g59490155 I'm not bitter. ;) ...and thanks for the compliment!
I’m sorry but there is one thing I disagree with. We have had years where it rains for MONTHS non-stop and wished it was only a couple of weeks. That plus the darkness in the fall/winter/early spring - leave the house in the darkness and come home in the darkness and it is VERY depressing.
What really got expensive in my plan to move to Vancouver was the rent.
I think I'll need 2 jobs initially.😅
Why on Earth would anyone move to Vancouver? Low wages and extremely overpriced housing.
@PauloBristofen Unfortunately such a desirable city in such a desirable country comes with a cost.
@debbielockhart7762 Vancouver's economy is producing increasingly high-income knowledge based jobs...you are referring to an outdated stereotype. Those days of low wages are long gone with our steadily declining reliance on a resource based economy and on low skill industry.
You've also referred to Vancouver's housing as being "overpriced" multiple times through the comments...the price is what people are willing to pay for it. It may not have value to you as you've clearly decided to live in Victoria...but prices here continue to rise to the extent they do because so many others see value in it.
I appreciate this information
@lizpropertiestv8717 Thanks for watching! Glad to hear that you got value from it!
A heavy moustache can gig a rather forbidding tilt to your appearance... It's usually seen as rather roguish. Quite a few screen heavies have sported them, not only Lee Van Cleef..
The traffic in Vancouver is mildly inconvenient compared to Toronto in my experience. Torontos traffic is absolutely abysmal these days.
@briansmith5239 I've only witnessed how bad Toronto traffic has become...but yes, I think in comparison ours is pretty light.
It is extremely overpriced and way too dreary wet and grey. I live in Victoria which is also overpriced (but not as much as Vancouver is), but only half the rain Vancouver gets.
People don’t realize how true this is. Bless that rain shadow, Victoria is such a sunny city.
Yep. That's one distinct advantage Victoria has (OK...two, if you count lower prices). However, there are also parts of Metro Vancouver that get FAR less rain than the average...like Tsawwassen, South Surrey and White Rock.
That green glass on the buildings is just really ugly.
@xerdov You aren't the first to criticize those condo buildings built in the 90s and 2000s...but since then, Vancouver has been on a bit of a tear with some pretty creative architecture (like Vancouver House and the Butterfly Building).
High Taxes, High Housing Costs, High Food Costs, High Living Costs, High Unemployment Rate, Crimes, Drugs, Bad Traffic....The List is Pretty Long Nowadays!
Thanks for the detailed overview of the pros and cons of living in Vancouver.
You're right on the mark regarding the insane traffic, or the poor healthcare system. Still I believe that you project an optimistic view and that you skipped some other key factors in deciding to live here.
City planning sucks, plain and simple. For instance, they launched works on the subway line from Commercial Drive to UBC in... 2023, wtf Vancouver? Or, they still have not figured out left-lane turns??? As for the social scene, you may wonder out loud why is it that so many people's best friends are... dogs? Politeness is just a social shield to deflect any possibility of genuine connection. This is a very cold city, and I am not talking about the weather. In NYC, where I lived, people say "Fu... you" to mean "How are you doing?", in Vancouver people give you dumb smile to tell you "Stay away." Night life: How about coffee shops that close at... 5:00PM, or restaurants that close at 7:00PM? Nearly 100% cities in North America are "left leaning", not a big deal. If you're a Trumper move to Calgary or Texas. Final point, yes, Vancouver is NOT an intellectual/cultured city.
Thanks @farid7838. I'm not sure I was saying the traffic was insane. I was saying that it depends on where you are in the Lower Mainland...and that you should be smart about where you live relative to where you work. I also believe we have an excellent medical system with some flaws. And city planning in Vancouver is actually exceptional. It's something Vancouver has an international reputation for. While we aren't NYC or Toronto, Vancouver's social scene punches far above it's weight...and the social reputation is a tired stereotype. I never have a hard time striking up friendly conversations with complete strangers in Vancouver, or making new friends. But yes, I agree that most cities are left-leaning.
Most Vancouverites are just super-awkward socially
@ZeroFxGvn LOL. I've gotta say, this is a pretty unique take on Vancouver.
It's definitely hard to make friends in Vancouver. People tend to stay in their social circles and rarely mingle. Certain ethnic groups tend to also keep to themselves compared to others.
@patrickt49 I know that's something that comes up fairly frequently about Vancouver and there must be SOME truth to it. But it hasn't been my personal experience. I find that over my lifetime I've made exerted efforts to make friends at different times and I've been able to do it.
I lived there for a dozen years, from 2002 to 2014. We left because of the lack of career opportunities and moved to Seattle. The high cost of living in Vancouver made it tough to build wealth. Vancouver takes your money, it doesn’t give much back in return. There’s a culture of scarcity in Vancouver. There’s not enough of anything to go around: housing, healthcare, transit, jobs, etc. I’m done with the city.
Vancouver gets sprayed every other day with chemtrails. It's why a lot of people have breathing difficulties and cough here
Wow
My first conspiracy theory comment @huskavarnaband! I wish I could give you an award of some kind...
it USED to be a good place to live, not it sucks. they ship their garbage out, really sick corruption and the coyotes eat cats. buh bye crazy town
@susanralph274 Well, OK. Appreciate your thoughts on living in Vancouver. Just curious...what would you like the city to do with it's garbage? Or the coyotes?
Lived there for 5 years and have to say if career is something of importance there is much better places to go to having a good wage and also being able to live comfortably. Plus Vancouver is such a boring city (not that I would say it is much of a city). Great place to go to University tho
@gabagool45 That'll really depend on the industry. Sure, some industries tend to be lower wage locally...but there are also many financial opportunities that keep people here in Vancouver.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Oh well of course, but as someone who came to study from the US it didn't make much sense for me. I went to school for software engineering and had friends up there who even told me take a job in the USA, make triple of what you would make in Vancouver plus cost of living is more balanced than if you had a lower wage with higher cost of living which is what you had in Vancouver. I am sure some industries are good but as someone from America it didn't make sense to live there or really contemplate it. I mean I moved to Manhattan and of course I miss a ton of aspects from living out there but career and work was at the forefront of importance for me and felt like that was the choice at the end that had to be made.
Yep @gabagool45. These are decisions we all have to make and are very personal. You are absolutely right that there's a massive difference in the opportunities you'll find between Vancouver and more obvious centers of industry like NYC or Toronto. My point, though, is that opportunities exist in Vancouver and many people that live here do very, very well and enjoy a very high quality of life with an enjoyable work-life balance. I had to make that same choice myself coming out of university in the 90s. I was offered a job in Houston that would have seen me making double what I could make here in Vancouver. The economy here in Vancouver sucked at the time, so I didn't even think it would be possible to get hired here. But after visiting Houston I realized it wouldn't be a city that I'd enjoy living in even for double the income. I found a way to make things work in Vancouver because I had skills, drive and a willingness to work hard...and I've built a life here that I'm happy with and grateful for.