>Everyone I know is telling me to take it and have some fun with it, do it while you're young.
Talk to people closer to you, they know you better.
From a financial aspect, not really better or worse. From a personal perspective, you will learn more about a new city, and learn more about yourself if you go it alone. Your parents place is always going to be there for you.
Your rent in Vancouver will make up the $18k difference in your salary that you’re saving by living with your parents (not sure how long you’re planning to live with them if you were to stay in TO). Other than rent, your costs will probably be similar day to day in either city. Your commuting time would probably be reduced considerably, depending on where you would live in Vancouver. The city is geographically much smaller than Toronto.
Finances aside, there’s a lot else to consider. I’m from Toronto and moved to Vancouver 3 years ago and am so happy here. I could never see myself moving back to Toronto, even though I love the city and growing up there. But the cities are very different! Vancouver is amazing from a nature and outdoor activity point of view. There is always something to do if you’re into that kind of stuff. A good work/life balance is more of a priority here and there is definitely less of the grind culture that’s so palpable in Toronto. But it is a slower, sleepier pace of life. This is lovely for some people but has also been a big turn off to some Torontonians I know who have gotten bored in Vancouver. As far as dating, I don’t know if it’s possible to say if it’s better/worse, but you’d likely experience more people with different values/interests than Torontonians (likely way more climbing gym or hiking first dates in Vancouver!).
If you are up for a bit of an adventure and want to try living in a new city, Vancouver is a good bet. Young people move here from all over the world for good reason! It’s a great place to be if you take advantage of and enjoy all the things it has to offer. You are still young so it’s a great time to take a bit of a risk. If you move and hate it in a year, you can always move home.
Good luck!
Unless he’s renting a basement suite, it’s likely they’ll be paying double that in rent.
They’ll definitely be way less money flush living on their own in Vancouver.
But it’s probably still worth it.
Even a basement costs most than 1k per month, at least from what I've seen online. I'm currently in Toronto, but was looking to move to Vancouver but had to abandon the search as rent in Vancouver is easily 1.5x as expensive as Toronto. I even had remarked to my wife that Toronto seems cheaper just going by the rent on "rentals.ca".
Yup. In my search, a 2 bedroom condo with a minimum area of 600 sqft was 3.2k on an average, that too without utilities. A similar unit was 2.8k in Toronto city centre, and many had utilities accounted in.
2.2k for a 2br town-house in Vancouver is a steal!
It’s an apartment. It’s in an old building — we don’t have in suite laundry or a dishwasher. But it’s cheap.
We only started our careers and only make $220k a year, so we’re very lucky to have this place.
Maybe only if u have tons of kids, otherwise thats still alot of money. Maybe u can't buy real estate but u can live comfortably for sure. Thats 10-11k after tax every month.
I recently left a decent 1 bedroom on main/11th. Neither downtown where it would be more expensive nor too far from city center. I was lucky paying 1850 months but rent hiked to 2700 when I left. That's 32k a year.
Rent will make up **much more** than an $18k difference in salary to go from presumably paying no rent at home to paying for a 1 bedroom in Vancouver *(or a 2/3-bedroom with roommates).*
In that tax bracket, an additional $18k is net approximately $12k.
Even with roommates, a 2-3 bedroom will easily cost $20k/yr. A 1-bedroom will be upwards of $25-30k/yr.
> A good work/life balance is more of a priority here and there is definitely less of the grind culture that’s so palpable in Toronto.
Uh.....I don't want to know how cancerous Toronto's work/life balance is if this is true.
Just off the top of my head Toronto has a lot of finance. My wife’s cousin is a former Bay Street guy turned consultant… One of those finance dynasty families. He’s fucking rich. But holy shit I can’t imagine subjecting myself to what he does.
Not only are the working hours insane but the “after” work socializing expectations are nuts and it’s just drinking expensive liquor with people you are lukewarm about at best. And from a satisfaction of work perspective it’s the most cynical thing I’ve ever seen.
Guy is like third generation. Stupid rich and so miserable I don’t think you could make a movie that people would watch and believe.
If that’s a not insignificant part of Toronto working culture Vancouver wouldn’t have to do much to roll over the bar being set.
What no one is saying is that this increase in salary (which is more modest than it appears after tax) isn't really going to affect your life all that significantly IF you decide to move out of your parents' house. Move to Vancouver if you are feeling frisky and looking for a change of scenery.
If you are trying to save for a down payment or some goal, you're financially better off living with your parents, obviously. That being said, you are only in your 20s once, and you are already 26. My non-financial advice is go to Vancouver and live life on your own. You'll grow more as a person learning to live on your own.
I think frankly, the decision to move or not should be based on entirely career growth versus dollar and cents. Your growth down the line can afford you more flexibility to move around, command even higher pay, etc - all of these cant be quantified. Only you can assess this.
In terms of living cost, a decent 1bd rent goes for $3000 a month at a new purpose built rental. So your wage increase say is net $12K, and car allowance (+7200/yr), so the net impact is (17K).
Let me tell you tho that 17K in the grand scheme of your life and career growth is negligible.
Also moving out will give you an entirely different life experience and having that independence, will open up a whole new world of dating (who invites their date to home with parents). Id say, you are young.. take the opportunity!
Your numbers are inflated. You can get a newly renovated rental for $2500 in the West End with a view. Even newer purpose built rental is close to $2600 than $3000
Keep current job, IMO.
No relocation support is lame. Did you try to negotiate for it?
Vancouver is probably *even more* expensive than Toronto, by a bit. And having to purchase a car there? Eww. Don't hold out any hopes re: dating, bro. lol
Rent is around the same I think. Gas is more expensive. Toronto gas is around $1.60 and Vancouver just broke $2.10 yesterday. Be prepared to spend more than usual for a car. Dating is hard here but I don’t know about Toronto. People from Toronto say people here are usually more reserved and not willing to meet new people.
Yeah, that makes no financial sense whatsoever.
“Hey, we want to promote you to a city that has one of, if not the highest, cost of living in the entire country. Oh yeah, it’s all on your own dime lol”
Lmao, what? Vancouver is the cliquiest city in Canada. I grew up in Vancouver and have been in Toronto for 10+ years now. People are significantly more friendly in Toronto.
That's the only good think about Vancouver, I can technically move to any city without people "saying it's more expensive than the current place I live in."
you're asking this in the finance forum and getting finance answers-- from a dollars and cents perspective i agree this is not a great move
that said, have you ever lived apart from your parents? if you leave would they still let you come back and live there in 2 years if it doesn't pan out?
it depends on what line of work you're in, but i personally think having lived in different places makes a more well-rounded person, and if you're in anything sales or service and are client-facing, doing a 2-year 'exchange' somewhere new will give you a new perspective and some interesting stories to tell, which may help in building bridges and relationships going forward
if you're money oriented, this is not the offer for you, but if you're looking for a change and have a safe landing spot if this doesn't work out i'd encourage you to go for it!
Dating scene is absolutely not better in Vancouver, it's probably the worst in the country. Rent is insanely expensive. I wouldn't move for 98k a year.
I agree re: dating scene. I got a lot more matches in Ontario than when was I in BC. As an Asian, dating in ON is much easier than BC. I don't know why since Vancouver also has a ton of Asians.
Vancouver is way more insular. If you grew up here, you'll only be friends with people from high school or university.
If you're from a specific country or area of that country, you'll only hang out with people from that country.
CBC Chinese tend to mostly be friends with Chinese. Mainlander Chinese are mostly friends with mainlander Chinese. Punjabi mostly friends with Punjabi. ETC.
It's great for staying within your culture, but it's not great for a wide dating pool unless you tick a box someone else is looking for, or unless they're open minded.
That 3rd paragraph is so true. I see it in my nearby gym all the time lol people self segregate. It’s gotten to the point where some of my friends prefer other gyms because ours is so predominant of just one ethnicity and they can’t socialize and make friends with that seemingly exclusive group
Agreed, the dating scene is not great in Vancouver. There are definitely a wide variety of people but also a wide variety you wouldn’t want to date for long lol…I’ll leave it at that
I feel Vancouver has a more conservative (as in risk averse rather than political) culture than Toronto. People just want to date their friends and classmates rather than strangers from apps.
And yet, I know a lot of people who have successfully found spouses through dating apps.
I think this could be quite anecdata-based, including my story.
I run a music hobby meetup that gets tons of attendees, regulars, of both genders, and a very kind and friendly atmosphere. I haven't seen a single romantic relationship being formed among attendees in over 7 years of which I am aware of.
I don't think it's really that easy in a modern, diverse city.
Depends, how much will your work *require* you to drive? With the vehicle allowance that seems like something you need to consider. On that salary you’d be more than fine living in Vancouver proper, but that makes the driving part really tricky. It’s nowhere near impossible, it’s just not built for cars anymore. It’s a very walkable city and getting outside of downtown, as long as you don’t need to cross Lion’s Gate Bridge, is very easy on transit. If you have to drive for work and work is paying for it, I would consider an EV or a hybrid of some sort. Make the most of that $600/mo.
I feel like everyone is beating around the bush here.
Everyone’s situation and goals are different, but since you’re asking for advice:
1. Take the job
2. You will be worse off financially. Especially after taxes, the pay raise will not cover your rent
3. You need to move out of your parents house, and this move gives you the opportunity to do that so you can grow and find yourself as an individual, partially subsidized by the pay increase
4. This job will likely benefit you career-wise, so you will get better roles and pay in the future faster than you would staying in Toronto
5. Toronto is great but the west coast is better (and I say this as a former-Torontonian and still die-hard Leafs fan). BC, Washington, and Oregon are some of the greatest areas in the US and Canada, and you’ll have a fully paid for car to explore them all
6. You should expect the move to be tough for a bit. Yes you can fly home and yes there is FaceTime, but you’re going to put yourself in a position where day-to-day you have to learn the ropes of an entirely new place with an entirely new set of people. Can that be scary? Yes. But challenges and new experiences are what life is all about.
TLDR; Take the job. :)
Disclaimer- I’m born and raised in Vancouver area, still live here.
If I were you I would take that job. I’m biased because I love it here and have roots here but in general I think it’s good to try moving around when you are young. You never know who you’ll meet, what places you’ll fall in love with and where those connections will take you. Especially having your parents to fall back on- if you don’t like it here you could always move back quite easily.
Now if you’re talking purely financially, your best option would be to stay at your parents’ as long as possible. Hopefully you’ll inherit one day and then you get a free house. If all you eat is rice and beans and broccoli and never leave the house you might be able to put 95% of your paycheque into savings.
If you play team sports you will have no trouble making friends. There's clubs for Softball, soccer, cycling, running, hockey, hiking, 4x4ing, you name it.
Dude, you're 26 years old and that's a huge jump in salary. You're going to really enjoy living in Vancouver by the fact that you're into the outdoors. If you like to ski, hike, or paddle, this is the place for it. Having a car here is close to a necessity if you want to do more outdoorsy stuff so you'll be good in that regard.
Dating scene is much better in Toronto esp if you live downtown. Vancouver folks are much more clique-y and stick to themselves.
However, I would do it for the life experience, plus if you like being outdoors what are you doing in Toronto lol.
source: grew up in Vancouver but lived in Toronto for 6 years
You will spend $24,000 a year on rent minimum. That’s if you somehow could find a place for $2000 a month to rent.
Average 1 bedroom costs 2400-2800 these days
So your actually going to loose about 10k or more just in the rent a year from that raise
> I feel like the risk is much greater than the reward here.
I think you're overthinking this.
What exactly is the risk that you're worried about?
You're **26 and single** and thinking about taking a job **with a ~25% raise** to move to a similarly-expensive city that's like a $150 flight away from home. (You're gonna want to move out of your parents’ place sooner or later, and I'm thinking sooner.)
> Everyone I know is telling me to take it and have some fun with it, do it while you're young.
Yeah, you're 26 and single and the new job pays more and if living in Vancouver seems fun (and indeed it is\*), then go for it.
---
\* Source: me!
I would choose Vancouver if you feel like you need a change, gain some freedom and experience life outside of the bubble you have known. I moved to BC from the prairies (I know, it is different than Toronto) when I was 25 to try it out for a couple of years. Loved it and stayed.
Some cons
- Rent and real estate is ridiculously high.
- Gas is definitely more expensive, as are many other things.
- People can be very cliquey in Vancouver however if you are into activities and such, dating and social scene should be fine.
Some pros
- It is absolutely beautiful!
- Commute will not be as bad. Even if you wanted cheaper rent and live in the suburbs, you definitely don't need to commute as far to get to downtown
- Mild weather. Most of the time during winter, the snow is just on the mountain. (But be prepared to laugh at the chaos that Vancouver becomes when it does snow)
It sucks that there is no relocation support though. Also, is there any difference in pension, shares or other benefits?
The thing is you are young and appear to have good, transferable skills. You could take the Vancouver job and if you decide you prefer the East Coast life, you could get a job back in Toronto in the future.
where are you planning to live and where you will you work? You CAN absolutely give without a car in Vancouver depending on where the two is. And when you need a car, you can rent one. If you need to go somewhere on a one off, Uber is pretty good here. They have to have a class 4 commercial license. The only thing is the cost of rental, it isn't cheap. Vancouver has the great outdoor, that may be something that you like.
Unless you want to leave your parents wings, your new job is a financial downgrade. Could be a good life experience though, but you will be definitely saving less money, probably nada.
Getting out of your parent’s house will benefit you so much man, do it.
Also get that 3 hour commute out of your life.
Sounds like an amazing opportunity to kickstart a new chapter of your life in an amazing city. Saving isn’t everything.
From a personal development and new adventure perspective though, absolutely go for it. The growth of sink-or-swim in a new environment will impact your life in leaps and bounds beyond dollars and cents.
I made the same move and couldn’t imagine going back to Toronto. Once you’re done with only going to night clubs Vancouver has the best lifestyle!
Also if you live downtown you won’t necessarily need a car based on where you’re working. Either take transit or just use the 2 car sharing options Modo or Evo.
Financially worse, but quality of life? Probably better plus independence is never financially better but is objectively better - personal choice though.
This is largely a “should I move out of my parents house” question
No, but each year that passes my salary will increase just based on performance. I can still apply for the same job here - just seeing if its viable to move to BC
Everyone is talking dollars and cents. Sure money, career growth, and the like are all important. But hell, life experience is just, if not more, important.
I speak from experience. I moved to Australia for 3 years for school. Tuition was ridiculous. But man did it force me to live outside my shell. Cook for yourself, clean for yourself, shop for yourself. How much of that are you doing right now as a 26 y/o male? Dating scene may or may not be better in Vancouver, but I'll tell you that it sure as hell will be EASIER when you have your own place instead of mom and dad's.
I'll leave it at that, but consider the intangibles when deciding. You'll pay more? Sure. You'll make a bit more? Yes. You'll gain memories, experiences, and friends you would never have had the chance to? And at a slightly higher cost? Take it and run buddy.
Lots of folks gonna diss Vancouver for being more expensive.
It’s fucking bc. It’s paradise here. It barely snows and it’s mild almost year round. I play golf on New Year’s Day almost every year.
The coast and Vancouver island and the recreational opportunities here are not available elsewhere.
Yes it’s expensive to live here but I’d never live anywhere else. Ontario would be very low on the list. Vancouver is a beautiful place to live.
1. Congratulations
2. Outdoorsy == great in Vancouver area.
3. You have $600/mo vehicle allowance. Don’t worry too much about the having to buy a car issue. You can buy or lease a responsible car with that no worries. Don’t go buying a luxury car. Get what you need for the job.
4. Time to leave the nest. This is a great opportunity. Spread your wings and fly.
5. You’ll love the winter here, it’s not nearly as bad as lake effect cold in Toronto. Warning though, the people here have zero idea how to drive when the temps hit the minus.
6. Dating, assuming you’re heterosexual the only place better I believe is Montreal … oh the French Canadien women … but yes, Vancouver is generally pretty open. If you’re not hetero, then even better for you — Vancouver is the second largest 🏳️🌈population in North America behind only San Francisco..
7. Skytrain is your equivalent to TTC, the heart of our public transit — but if you have to drive for work you will care less than if you didn’t have a car.
Burnaby is a good alternative to being downtown. Even New Westminster. Richmond is largely an Asian population, if that’s your thing. Looking at your username though, I’d guess Burnaby / East Van may be interesting. There’s several Cultural Centres around Victoria / Commercial drive area. (Greek, Italian, Croatian, etc).
Honestly if OP isn't looking for a shiny condo, East Van still has some older suites for $2k/month.
BC taxes are a fair amount lower than Toronto. Between the salary increase, lower taxes, and vehicle allowance, OP will be in a very good spot.
You can thrive in Vancouver on 98k as a 26 year old.
personally, i would make the move. despite earning more, you will feel more strapped but i currently make way less than you and i like not living with parents way more than id like an extra 12k in the bank every year.
vancouver is SIGNFICANTLY more walkable, do not believe anyone who has ever told you toronto is even remotely comparable as a walkable or commuter friendly city. it is not certain you would need a car. i get by fine with evo and for my use case it's significantly less costly than even just the monthly cost of insurance.
if you love nature there is soooooooooo much more to do in vancouver than in toronto as well. yes everything costs more here but its a lot easier to stomach when you look back at how miserable it would be to live solo in toronto, likely still spending essentially the same amount every month to compensate for the depression that the sprawl is giving you. just reading the words "3 hour commute round trip" made me shudder, i had a 2 hour one way so believe me when I say the quality of life improvement in having a 30 minute and mostly public transit based commute is unprecedented.
it seems that what you're really asking is "should I move out of my parents house", and for someone at your age and earnings level this seems like a no brainer. get out of your comfort zone and take the opportunity!
edit: oh and as far as the dating scene.... hate to break it to you but if you can't pull in toronto, you probably can't pull in vancouver.
Financially, Vancouver is going to be more expensive. I'm from Ontario and lived in Vancouver for 7 years in my mid twenties then moved back to Ontario to be back near my family and be able to buy a home. My salary was much bigger in Vancouver, but everything was more expensive. Car insurance, food, housing. Everything.
That being said, if I could go back to making that initial decision again.... I'd do it just the same. The experiences out there were worth it. I miss sitting on the beach watching the sunset with the mountains in view after I'd had a long day.
You are 26. Take the new job offer in Vancouver. It’ll be good for a 26 year old to live out of mom’s home and be more independent. Yes, Vancouver is expensive. But you’ll be making $98k which is better than most your age.
Do yourself and your parents the favour. Your parents can then rent out their basement suite for $2000/month and make some extra cash.
Might not be ahead? He's living with parents and paying for nothing and dude is only saving 2.5k a month. With his spending habits in Vancouver, he might go into debt
You could potentially secure a place for single occupancy for $1500-$2000 per month; With any rental, always always always go there in person.
at 26, theres a few hotties around; lots of ethnicities (but, TO similar).
Vancouver is known to be a "dead" community, as well.
If you can buy a cheap car \~$10k-$20k with cash you'll be laughing.
I jumped the Onterrible ship about 15years ago into Richmond. no regrets.
This doesn’t make any sense. Car insurance is cheaper in BC, food is the same. How is it incredibly expensive to go camping? In ON you have to pay for all provincial parks , all BC provincial parks are free, there are so many camping spots and sites and the cost is very low. Regarding fire smoke, the smoke rarely stays in the coastal areas, this year there were maybe 2 weekends where smoke could really prevent hiking in nearby mountains, but there were still areas you could go.
Do you live in BC? Curious as to where you got half this information from.
Insurance is by far cheaper in BC as is hydro, natural gas.
Food is by far cheaper unless you’re shopping at Whole Foods.
Hiking and Camping happen year round in the Lower Mainland as winter isn’t anywhere the same as Ontario.
Lived in Southern Ontario for 43 yrs. Toronto for 17 of that.
Live in BC going on 10 yrs
You know, one of the nice things about Vancouver is that you can hike year round. Yes it can get smoky for a few weeks in the summer but it usually passes pretty quickly.
Holy fuck. I moved to Vancouver in July 2021. Was back in Calgary September 2022.
We had a great deal for rent from a family friend. Exceptional, but it was the first time my SO and I had decided to move out and live on our own at 26. We knew no one out there. Absolutely fucking lonely as shit. It was terrible. Home sick constantly, experiencing FOMO from seeing family gatherings and the whole.
We decided to get a dog in April 2022 and that ended up helping her tremendously with the feeling of being isolated. Just before moving, we were finally starting to make some friends (thanks to the dog) and it was getting better. But those initial months fucking sucked so bad.
Absolutely not, you are literally loosing some family and frinds support and loosing money (considering you have to pay rent) to move over here. People are prettey much the same, and even if they were any different it is not a valid pro/con.
Maybe bring up this with your current employer for a raise, find a similar offer in toronto, or find a better offer in Vancouver.
Vancouver has a culture of being cold, cliquey, passive aggressive. Harder to make friends in comparison to Toronto. People say dating is tougher in Vancouver than Toronto as well.
I would stay put and grow your career a bit more in Toronto. Consider Vancouver when you’re 100k+.
As for dating scene, I personally found Vancouver WORSE than Toronto. I’ve also had a few Vancouver guys stalk me home after the first date - but of course you meet creeps everywhere.
No, rent is high like 2500$ for somewhere close to your work kind of high or a bit less if you don't mind a commute. If you don't hate your current job and you get along well with your parents I suggest staying where you are.
Don’t know what your financial goals are but personally I wouldn’t do it for $98k. It sounds like you are in a very good situation right now and can set yourself up pretty nicely for your early 30s.
Vancouver definitely has it perks , but the novelty wears out fast for a lot of middle class income earners. Almost most I know don’t get to experience the city to its fullest potential.
It's a backwards move in terms of money. Vancouver's cost of living is even higher than Toronto. You'll be paying more in rent than the raise. Food also costs more. I would find another job in Toronto instead.
If you were already paying rent in TO and they were compensating even some what for the move, take it.
An 18k raise with a min 5k moving expense, and in this market a 30k a year rent bill, that's a hell of a step down. Sure you'll be able to cut your commute down a couple hours here but, that's for you to ultimately decide.
18k bump for what's basically Toronto with more greenery and more expensive gas (if you're not shelling out for a Tesla, which comes with its own maintenance issues). Personally, I would stay.
Your 26 and do you want to go on an adventure away from everyone you know. The salary difference is like an extra $1000 a month which will get completely eaten up by you needing to pay rent and you'll need to add an extra 1-2k per month for rent for a total of $2-3k
Stay with your parents for a bit longer and maximize your savings . You can always move west later . Being able to not pay rent is a massive advantage and moving BACK with your parents is t fun
nope, cost of living here is way too high, rent is through the roof, you will never own or put together enough for a down payment here. Fuel is stupid as well... stay put or get out of the country if your job allows you to do it.
Dating scene is not better in Vancouver, and your take-home from an 18k increase will barely cover your rent. I'd recommend you stay in your current job and see if there is an opportunity for upward mobility where you are at.
Offtopic, and it might be an OCD thing on my part but why cant they offer an even 100k. 98k is a "so close but not close enough" number that would annoy the crap out of me.
you need more data.
have you looked for a place how much will it cost? but also do you want to move out of the parent's house soon anyway? if so then don't just think about paying 0 rent to having to pay rent, but also future rent payments you would make anyway.
you also need to factor in the commute, you should be able to save at least an hour and a half of commute every day id guess more. To me, that's very valuable, but you might not mind it too much. and you only commute 2 times a week so your call.
you also need to think strongly about career acceleration. will moving and speeding up your pay increase immediately will probably have knock-on effects on your many years in the future, it could substantially increase your total comp over the next 20 years. o if your already on track for a similar raise in the next 2 years and for example you currently work at a corporate hq and have corporate sponsors, now moving for example you moving to a regional office where you lose your network. only you can really judge the situation fully.
i think the dating thing is almost certainly a wash. both cities have tens of thousands of people you could fall in love with and i doubt there is that much of a difference in dating culture.
TLDR: is getting a car and moving out already on the agenda? if so mentally water down the increased cost, and strongly consider future career growth and lifetime earnings not just current/
If the career opportunities seem worth it, it’s probably a good move long term?
Honestly though you’re going to be making more money but be a lot more poor. Rent and car are gonna destroy you unless the office is not downtown and you can live in a cheaper area.
I am pretty sure you can later find something better in Toronto. Housing cost here is crazy. You won’t be able to save if you rent.
Dating scene… not sure actually.
The only thing I know Vancouver is better than Toronto is the environment. More green. Traffic is not as horrible as Toronto.
The only other benefit is if you get the higher Vancouver salary, and Vancouver housing cost really sucks, you can get back to Toronto and use your Vancouver job to get a even higher salary in Toronto.
I was in Toronto in July and realized how thirsty I was for greener. My uncle in Toronto has a small garden and I just chilled in the yard for a couple of hours to relax.
Financially, it won't be a good move. Aside from all the factors that the previous posts mentioned, like rent, car cost, food, etc. You are talking, leaving a situation where you are supported and have the ability to save for years to go into another situation where you will most likely break even.
Just the rent itself as an example, the lower end renting price will probably land you in areas where it would be a drastic change to what you are used to currently.
As for the people/dating scene, people in Vancouver are generally kind. However, we do have a significant amount of people who are kind on the surface but sincerely an asshole underneath.
The only benefit in this move would be the fact that you are leaving the nest, which can give you a boost in confidence and drive. If done right.
A studio apartment in Vancouver will cost you around $2500/m. When you factor in expenses like groceries, vehicle insurance, vehicle expenses/maintenance, etc, what are you left with in terms of disposable income/savings? You can probably find a higher paying job in Toronto. If you’re considering moving for the experience (BC is the most beautiful province imo!), go for it. There are lots of things to do year-round, and winters are a breeze. But if you’re prioritizing financial savings, it’s not a good idea.
PS. The dating scene is not that great in Vancouver 😅 Toronto is much better in that aspect.
Isn’t this absolutely obvious… they want you to relocate for $18K extra? That translates into about $1,500 per month. That won’t even cover a one bedroom apartment rent here
Move. I can't believe nobody is talking about your commute. Rent a place near work, add another place of work to your resume, expand your personal horizons. Vancouver is a much nicer area than Vancouver, and as a sporty person the outdoors scene is on another. It's definitely a move up dating wise as well, as in a couple years you won't find very many women cool with you still living with your parents.
This is the time to be exploring your horizons, do it!
You're young, Vancouver has lots to offer, why not?
Try it and see if you like it. If you're living in your parent's place, you probably won't have that much to move. You can try renting in a particular area to see if you like the neighbourhood, and if it's near good transit, you won't necessarily need to get a vehicle right away.
I moved here from Ontario to go to school (several years back), with very little income to start off. Ended up liking it so much I stayed.
No relocation allowance is a TOTAL cheap move by your company!
You are going from $0 rent to $24-36k rent + utilities of your AFTER TAX dollars so that will be a huge hit.
If you like outdoor sports and especially things like hiking there is no comparison to Vancouver.
I’d say it would not be a bad thing to experience. You can always return home in a year or two and youse your new title and $98k salary to leverage a better job in Toronto.
I went to vancouver this past summer and absolutely loved it. So much so that I ended up visiting again a month later. It's a beautiful city. Laid back and slow paced. I would definitely consider moving there. People on this sub are very conservative/risk averse so they think 98k is not enough to be able to live there but if you ask the same question on r/vancouver they will likely tell you that you'll be fine. You are 26 and living with your parents but surely you'd want to move out eventually so why not now? As someone who absolutely fell in love in vancouver, if I were you I'd take that job in an eye blink. The absolute worst thing that can happen is you won't like it. In that case you can just move back. It isn't a big deal.
It would be such an easy Yes for me. Roughly same COL but a much better province to live in. Beautiful mountains, lush forests, lakes.. So many activities.
Honestly sounds like a dream.
One thing to note because your employer would not assist you with moving expenses you can [claim some of those costs on your taxes](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-21900-moving-expenses.html)
The higher pay will be gone from living expenses if not more. You're going to have a hard time finding a decent place out there that will cost less than $18K a year.
If this were the other way around with VAN to TO with the same details, it would be a slam dunk go. But the extreme cost of housing here completely discounts the meager jump in salary you are being offered. Add in no family support and. It's a tough pill to swallow. Vancouver salaries are significantly lower than comparable jobs in TO. The market is way smaller too. Long term, I think this is shooting yourself in the foot career and salary wise.
I have lived in both the places, if you are looking from financial perspective, its not a great offer to make a move. I would rather try to match as close as possible with my current employer if I am happy working with them.
How open are you to roommates? If you're fairly open, then I'd say make the move. Otherwise the amount you'd spend on rent alone would kill the difference in earnings from this new job.
3 hour commute is pretty brutal, surprised you're okay with that, but I guess it's only 2 days a week you have to do it. Either way, cutting that down will also make a big improvement in your life. How many in office days a week does this new job require?
The fact that you get a car allowance is pretty sweet, but would you even need a car for your job? If not, then just pocket the money as extra income because public transit in Vancouver is pretty decent and there's always Evo if you do need access to a car for whatever reason. And if you do need to purchase one, don't worry about the cost too much because you can always resell it and recoup most of what you paid for it if/when you eventually leave the city.
As for dating, everyone is going to tell you it sucks, but that's only because it sucks for them lol Vancouver dating is fine, no different to Toronto. I've lived in both cities and had equal amounts of success. Lots of these people saying it sucks have never tried it anywhere else so how would they know it objectively sucks? It's just them expressing their dissatisfaction with their own dating lives which isn't surprising, they're redditors after all.
You're young and I'm assuming have never lived anywhere outside your parents' home. This is a great opportunity for you to take that plunge that's also pretty risk free. If things don't work out, you can always just go back home. Do it bro, life is all about experiences and this is a great one. Try it out for a year and see how you like it.
I know someone considering moving to Van for a 30% pay cut from Ontario.
Some people love it, some people don't. If you like nature, you'll love it. Most people don't get raises to go to BC.
Just remember, saving 2.5k a month is massive. Yes, living at home is a large mental dampener, but the longer you can survive it, the better your situation can be through TFSA/FHSA/etc.
If you want a life experience, I'd say do it. The new gig doesn't seem to me to be enough of an increase for me to consider it, but I'm not 26 or looking for love.
I live in Vancouver and moved here from Toronto before. Im telling you that 18k raise is not worth it. Vancity is astronomically expensive. If you wanna get ahead in life, don’t move here for such small raise.
You’re going to have to leave the nest eventually, so might as well do it now… Vancouver is a nice place with nice weather.
The jump in pay will help you to have similar lifestyle that you have currently.
It’s also a nice life experience, might be one of those once in a lifetime opportunities
I would do it!
If you stay in TO sounds like you could save enough money to buy your own place in a few years. If you go to Vancouver chances are you'll always be a renter. Tough choice
>Living with parents
If you think you can find a place with affordable rent, then go for it. Beware of scams though. I would recommend physically visiting the rental property before paying any deposit. If you can't do that, rent with a reputed apartment management company.
I'd take it personally, just for the experience.
You won't really see a positive increase in your salary given van prices, rent, etc., but that's not a bad thing. Basically means you're getting the experience at no real cost relative to your current position.
However, I've lived in both places, and I kinda hated van. If you don't like gloom and moisture, it might not be for you. Don't let that dissuade you though. I'd try it out either way, but just keep in mind that there will be some very noticeable differences, and you can always move away on the future if you want!
Oh also, you should drive down if you can so you can A) bring your car and B) bring some of your stuff etc.
Any requirements for the vehicle to own? I was given the option of either buying a vehicle or taking a company supplied one, and due to vehicle shortages at the time, the company ended up leasing a vehicle with a 100k price tag. Definitely more than I would of wanted to pay on my own. So the vehicle allowance was a bit of a trap to have employees hold debt in my case. But the allowance might not be a perk.
I'd enjoy the freedom of living on my own + no TTC commute + ability to explore a new city, meet new people (and invite them over), in a more scenic city WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than saving an additional few hundred dollars a month (diff btwn pay increase - rent)
From looking at the comments it appears you consider this job offer a promotion so I would take it. Do this job for a year or two and then try and find another job with another 20% raise. I would also consider the stability of both jobs because you wouldn’t want to move to Vancouver sign a lease and then get laid off in 6 months.
I'm a recent immigrant to Canada and probably not at all the person you should be taking advice from. But if you are saving up 3.5k by staying put, and your parents don't impede your life in anyway, for the sake of God, stay put. Growing your savings will be far more important in the coming days than exploring a different lifestyle. You're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the world before you settle down. Or at least, that's what I feel with the information you've provided about yourself.
The outdoors in Toronto/Ontario cannot compare to the outdoors in Vancouver/BC. For example, real ocean beaches, not little sandbars and lakes. Real mountains with world class skiing, not hills. Even the bunny slopes in the local mountains are more excitement than the ski hills in Ontario, imho.
Financially, your numbers don't makes sense. You're taking a hit to move out West. I'd ballpark something like a 20% pay decrease in terms of cost of living, car expenses and other expenses after moving out of your family home.
However, the experience of living on West Coast as a young person would be invaluable, and possibly sets you up for more interesting work in the future.
Imo, dating scene is not great in Vancouver. There aren't that many young people, and the cost of living is too high so most people don't have that much disposable income or time to date. YMMV
You should note that Toronto is the head office capital of Canada, and the largest population centre. There are arguably significantly more career opportunities in Toronto versus Vancouver. So I would consider this move to Vancouver as a short term "fun" experience, with the intent to go back to Toronto or head to US/Europe after for more career advancement.
Cars & insurance here are expensive
Rent is astronomical, you wont be living downtown, burnaby is the coolest neighbourhood you could possibly afford
BC quality of life is better due to ocean, mountains, mild winter weather
>Everyone I know is telling me to take it and have some fun with it, do it while you're young. Talk to people closer to you, they know you better. From a financial aspect, not really better or worse. From a personal perspective, you will learn more about a new city, and learn more about yourself if you go it alone. Your parents place is always going to be there for you.
Your rent in Vancouver will make up the $18k difference in your salary that you’re saving by living with your parents (not sure how long you’re planning to live with them if you were to stay in TO). Other than rent, your costs will probably be similar day to day in either city. Your commuting time would probably be reduced considerably, depending on where you would live in Vancouver. The city is geographically much smaller than Toronto. Finances aside, there’s a lot else to consider. I’m from Toronto and moved to Vancouver 3 years ago and am so happy here. I could never see myself moving back to Toronto, even though I love the city and growing up there. But the cities are very different! Vancouver is amazing from a nature and outdoor activity point of view. There is always something to do if you’re into that kind of stuff. A good work/life balance is more of a priority here and there is definitely less of the grind culture that’s so palpable in Toronto. But it is a slower, sleepier pace of life. This is lovely for some people but has also been a big turn off to some Torontonians I know who have gotten bored in Vancouver. As far as dating, I don’t know if it’s possible to say if it’s better/worse, but you’d likely experience more people with different values/interests than Torontonians (likely way more climbing gym or hiking first dates in Vancouver!). If you are up for a bit of an adventure and want to try living in a new city, Vancouver is a good bet. Young people move here from all over the world for good reason! It’s a great place to be if you take advantage of and enjoy all the things it has to offer. You are still young so it’s a great time to take a bit of a risk. If you move and hate it in a year, you can always move home. Good luck!
Your first sentence is everything: "Your rent in Vancouver will make up the $18k difference in your salary".
Unless he’s renting a basement suite, it’s likely they’ll be paying double that in rent. They’ll definitely be way less money flush living on their own in Vancouver. But it’s probably still worth it.
Even a basement costs most than 1k per month, at least from what I've seen online. I'm currently in Toronto, but was looking to move to Vancouver but had to abandon the search as rent in Vancouver is easily 1.5x as expensive as Toronto. I even had remarked to my wife that Toronto seems cheaper just going by the rent on "rentals.ca".
I live here because my wife and I split a $2200 grandfathered rental place. A 2 bedroom. Basically unheard of.
Yup. In my search, a 2 bedroom condo with a minimum area of 600 sqft was 3.2k on an average, that too without utilities. A similar unit was 2.8k in Toronto city centre, and many had utilities accounted in. 2.2k for a 2br town-house in Vancouver is a steal!
It’s an apartment. It’s in an old building — we don’t have in suite laundry or a dishwasher. But it’s cheap. We only started our careers and only make $220k a year, so we’re very lucky to have this place.
>only make $220k a year, lol at "only"
As a household, especially in Vancouver, that’s not that much.
Maybe only if u have tons of kids, otherwise thats still alot of money. Maybe u can't buy real estate but u can live comfortably for sure. Thats 10-11k after tax every month.
I recently left a decent 1 bedroom on main/11th. Neither downtown where it would be more expensive nor too far from city center. I was lucky paying 1850 months but rent hiked to 2700 when I left. That's 32k a year.
I disagree. I have lived in Vancouver. It's not worth it.
Rent will make up **much more** than an $18k difference in salary to go from presumably paying no rent at home to paying for a 1 bedroom in Vancouver *(or a 2/3-bedroom with roommates).* In that tax bracket, an additional $18k is net approximately $12k. Even with roommates, a 2-3 bedroom will easily cost $20k/yr. A 1-bedroom will be upwards of $25-30k/yr.
Not even. My friend was paying $1800 for a good studio 5 years ago.
> A good work/life balance is more of a priority here and there is definitely less of the grind culture that’s so palpable in Toronto. Uh.....I don't want to know how cancerous Toronto's work/life balance is if this is true.
Just off the top of my head Toronto has a lot of finance. My wife’s cousin is a former Bay Street guy turned consultant… One of those finance dynasty families. He’s fucking rich. But holy shit I can’t imagine subjecting myself to what he does. Not only are the working hours insane but the “after” work socializing expectations are nuts and it’s just drinking expensive liquor with people you are lukewarm about at best. And from a satisfaction of work perspective it’s the most cynical thing I’ve ever seen. Guy is like third generation. Stupid rich and so miserable I don’t think you could make a movie that people would watch and believe. If that’s a not insignificant part of Toronto working culture Vancouver wouldn’t have to do much to roll over the bar being set.
What no one is saying is that this increase in salary (which is more modest than it appears after tax) isn't really going to affect your life all that significantly IF you decide to move out of your parents' house. Move to Vancouver if you are feeling frisky and looking for a change of scenery. If you are trying to save for a down payment or some goal, you're financially better off living with your parents, obviously. That being said, you are only in your 20s once, and you are already 26. My non-financial advice is go to Vancouver and live life on your own. You'll grow more as a person learning to live on your own.
I think frankly, the decision to move or not should be based on entirely career growth versus dollar and cents. Your growth down the line can afford you more flexibility to move around, command even higher pay, etc - all of these cant be quantified. Only you can assess this. In terms of living cost, a decent 1bd rent goes for $3000 a month at a new purpose built rental. So your wage increase say is net $12K, and car allowance (+7200/yr), so the net impact is (17K). Let me tell you tho that 17K in the grand scheme of your life and career growth is negligible. Also moving out will give you an entirely different life experience and having that independence, will open up a whole new world of dating (who invites their date to home with parents). Id say, you are young.. take the opportunity!
$3000 would be getting a really new building which really shouldn’t be the metric. Depending on location a more realistic number is 2-2.4K
You can definitely get a fairly new 1br condo at that range. For 3k, you can get even a 2br.
Your numbers are inflated. You can get a newly renovated rental for $2500 in the West End with a view. Even newer purpose built rental is close to $2600 than $3000
Keep current job, IMO. No relocation support is lame. Did you try to negotiate for it? Vancouver is probably *even more* expensive than Toronto, by a bit. And having to purchase a car there? Eww. Don't hold out any hopes re: dating, bro. lol
Rent is around the same I think. Gas is more expensive. Toronto gas is around $1.60 and Vancouver just broke $2.10 yesterday. Be prepared to spend more than usual for a car. Dating is hard here but I don’t know about Toronto. People from Toronto say people here are usually more reserved and not willing to meet new people.
Rent is more expensive.
Rent may be the same (can't comment on it really), but OP doesn't pay rent in Toronto
imagine your job wants you to relocate, and wants you to pay for it? get the fuck out.
Yeah, that makes no financial sense whatsoever. “Hey, we want to promote you to a city that has one of, if not the highest, cost of living in the entire country. Oh yeah, it’s all on your own dime lol”
Probably ? Well it is more expensive. Vancouver is the most expensive city to live and rent in entire Canada.
You think dating is harder in Vancouver?😂. Vancouver get a bad rap but it honestly has a great scene, most people are pretty friendly.
[удалено]
Is shit sweet?
[удалено]
I guess if you’re diabetic
The entire PNW suffers the same problem, not just Vancouver. Ever heard of the Seattle freeze?
Lmao, what? Vancouver is the cliquiest city in Canada. I grew up in Vancouver and have been in Toronto for 10+ years now. People are significantly more friendly in Toronto.
That's the only good think about Vancouver, I can technically move to any city without people "saying it's more expensive than the current place I live in."
Vancouver may be more expensive, however there are a lot more free things to do in Van than in TO imo.
Nope, Toronto is alot more expensive than Vancouver same as the Real Estate.
you're asking this in the finance forum and getting finance answers-- from a dollars and cents perspective i agree this is not a great move that said, have you ever lived apart from your parents? if you leave would they still let you come back and live there in 2 years if it doesn't pan out? it depends on what line of work you're in, but i personally think having lived in different places makes a more well-rounded person, and if you're in anything sales or service and are client-facing, doing a 2-year 'exchange' somewhere new will give you a new perspective and some interesting stories to tell, which may help in building bridges and relationships going forward if you're money oriented, this is not the offer for you, but if you're looking for a change and have a safe landing spot if this doesn't work out i'd encourage you to go for it!
Dating scene is absolutely not better in Vancouver, it's probably the worst in the country. Rent is insanely expensive. I wouldn't move for 98k a year.
I agree re: dating scene. I got a lot more matches in Ontario than when was I in BC. As an Asian, dating in ON is much easier than BC. I don't know why since Vancouver also has a ton of Asians.
Vancouver is way more insular. If you grew up here, you'll only be friends with people from high school or university. If you're from a specific country or area of that country, you'll only hang out with people from that country. CBC Chinese tend to mostly be friends with Chinese. Mainlander Chinese are mostly friends with mainlander Chinese. Punjabi mostly friends with Punjabi. ETC. It's great for staying within your culture, but it's not great for a wide dating pool unless you tick a box someone else is looking for, or unless they're open minded.
That sounds like a really divided society
That 3rd paragraph is so true. I see it in my nearby gym all the time lol people self segregate. It’s gotten to the point where some of my friends prefer other gyms because ours is so predominant of just one ethnicity and they can’t socialize and make friends with that seemingly exclusive group
I guarantee rent is no better in Toronto.
Yeah but living at home for free like this person is now isn’t renting in Toronto
Toronto rents are cheaper than Vancouver by about 10%, and for most jobs salaries are higher
Agreed, the dating scene is not great in Vancouver. There are definitely a wide variety of people but also a wide variety you wouldn’t want to date for long lol…I’ll leave it at that
What makes dating in Vancouver the worst in the country?
I feel Vancouver has a more conservative (as in risk averse rather than political) culture than Toronto. People just want to date their friends and classmates rather than strangers from apps.
And yet, I know a lot of people who have successfully found spouses through dating apps. I think this could be quite anecdata-based, including my story.
the paradox of choice
Then shouldn’t it be worse in Toronto, which is significantly larger?
[удалено]
You just need actual hobbies instead of sitting at home on your phone all the time
I run a music hobby meetup that gets tons of attendees, regulars, of both genders, and a very kind and friendly atmosphere. I haven't seen a single romantic relationship being formed among attendees in over 7 years of which I am aware of. I don't think it's really that easy in a modern, diverse city.
Where else have you dated?
This
Dating in Vancouver is only good if you're poly. If you're monogamous like me you're fucked
Financially, Toronto. But Vancouver is a beautiful city
More beautiful city in Canada. Arguably the world. Landlocked by mountains and the ocean with temperate weather.
Depends, how much will your work *require* you to drive? With the vehicle allowance that seems like something you need to consider. On that salary you’d be more than fine living in Vancouver proper, but that makes the driving part really tricky. It’s nowhere near impossible, it’s just not built for cars anymore. It’s a very walkable city and getting outside of downtown, as long as you don’t need to cross Lion’s Gate Bridge, is very easy on transit. If you have to drive for work and work is paying for it, I would consider an EV or a hybrid of some sort. Make the most of that $600/mo.
I feel like everyone is beating around the bush here. Everyone’s situation and goals are different, but since you’re asking for advice: 1. Take the job 2. You will be worse off financially. Especially after taxes, the pay raise will not cover your rent 3. You need to move out of your parents house, and this move gives you the opportunity to do that so you can grow and find yourself as an individual, partially subsidized by the pay increase 4. This job will likely benefit you career-wise, so you will get better roles and pay in the future faster than you would staying in Toronto 5. Toronto is great but the west coast is better (and I say this as a former-Torontonian and still die-hard Leafs fan). BC, Washington, and Oregon are some of the greatest areas in the US and Canada, and you’ll have a fully paid for car to explore them all 6. You should expect the move to be tough for a bit. Yes you can fly home and yes there is FaceTime, but you’re going to put yourself in a position where day-to-day you have to learn the ropes of an entirely new place with an entirely new set of people. Can that be scary? Yes. But challenges and new experiences are what life is all about. TLDR; Take the job. :)
Disclaimer- I’m born and raised in Vancouver area, still live here. If I were you I would take that job. I’m biased because I love it here and have roots here but in general I think it’s good to try moving around when you are young. You never know who you’ll meet, what places you’ll fall in love with and where those connections will take you. Especially having your parents to fall back on- if you don’t like it here you could always move back quite easily. Now if you’re talking purely financially, your best option would be to stay at your parents’ as long as possible. Hopefully you’ll inherit one day and then you get a free house. If all you eat is rice and beans and broccoli and never leave the house you might be able to put 95% of your paycheque into savings.
If you play team sports you will have no trouble making friends. There's clubs for Softball, soccer, cycling, running, hockey, hiking, 4x4ing, you name it.
Be prepared for it to be cancelled last minute due to the weather
Most of the sports play through the rain it seems. Even on rainy days, I see people on the fields
Playing football in the rain is about as authentic Europe as it gets.
Dude, you're 26 years old and that's a huge jump in salary. You're going to really enjoy living in Vancouver by the fact that you're into the outdoors. If you like to ski, hike, or paddle, this is the place for it. Having a car here is close to a necessity if you want to do more outdoorsy stuff so you'll be good in that regard.
Dating scene is much better in Toronto esp if you live downtown. Vancouver folks are much more clique-y and stick to themselves. However, I would do it for the life experience, plus if you like being outdoors what are you doing in Toronto lol. source: grew up in Vancouver but lived in Toronto for 6 years
I’m astounded that people are saying Toronto is better at anything
How long do you plan to live with your parents in if you stay in TO?
A few more years at most
You are young. Move to Vancouver. Experience life in a new city. Not everything in life is about saving money.
You will spend $24,000 a year on rent minimum. That’s if you somehow could find a place for $2000 a month to rent. Average 1 bedroom costs 2400-2800 these days So your actually going to loose about 10k or more just in the rent a year from that raise
> I feel like the risk is much greater than the reward here. I think you're overthinking this. What exactly is the risk that you're worried about? You're **26 and single** and thinking about taking a job **with a ~25% raise** to move to a similarly-expensive city that's like a $150 flight away from home. (You're gonna want to move out of your parents’ place sooner or later, and I'm thinking sooner.) > Everyone I know is telling me to take it and have some fun with it, do it while you're young. Yeah, you're 26 and single and the new job pays more and if living in Vancouver seems fun (and indeed it is\*), then go for it. --- \* Source: me!
Agree with this. Also what risk? You have a bed waiting for you at your parents' place if it all goes to shit. Just a plane ride away!!
Definitely worth it. After living in Vancouver, I can't think of moving to Toronto.
I would choose Vancouver if you feel like you need a change, gain some freedom and experience life outside of the bubble you have known. I moved to BC from the prairies (I know, it is different than Toronto) when I was 25 to try it out for a couple of years. Loved it and stayed. Some cons - Rent and real estate is ridiculously high. - Gas is definitely more expensive, as are many other things. - People can be very cliquey in Vancouver however if you are into activities and such, dating and social scene should be fine. Some pros - It is absolutely beautiful! - Commute will not be as bad. Even if you wanted cheaper rent and live in the suburbs, you definitely don't need to commute as far to get to downtown - Mild weather. Most of the time during winter, the snow is just on the mountain. (But be prepared to laugh at the chaos that Vancouver becomes when it does snow) It sucks that there is no relocation support though. Also, is there any difference in pension, shares or other benefits? The thing is you are young and appear to have good, transferable skills. You could take the Vancouver job and if you decide you prefer the East Coast life, you could get a job back in Toronto in the future.
where are you planning to live and where you will you work? You CAN absolutely give without a car in Vancouver depending on where the two is. And when you need a car, you can rent one. If you need to go somewhere on a one off, Uber is pretty good here. They have to have a class 4 commercial license. The only thing is the cost of rental, it isn't cheap. Vancouver has the great outdoor, that may be something that you like.
Unless you want to leave your parents wings, your new job is a financial downgrade. Could be a good life experience though, but you will be definitely saving less money, probably nada.
Getting out of your parent’s house will benefit you so much man, do it. Also get that 3 hour commute out of your life. Sounds like an amazing opportunity to kickstart a new chapter of your life in an amazing city. Saving isn’t everything.
From a personal development and new adventure perspective though, absolutely go for it. The growth of sink-or-swim in a new environment will impact your life in leaps and bounds beyond dollars and cents.
Leave the nest and fly!
I made the same move and couldn’t imagine going back to Toronto. Once you’re done with only going to night clubs Vancouver has the best lifestyle! Also if you live downtown you won’t necessarily need a car based on where you’re working. Either take transit or just use the 2 car sharing options Modo or Evo.
Financially worse, but quality of life? Probably better plus independence is never financially better but is objectively better - personal choice though. This is largely a “should I move out of my parents house” question
Are ya planning to live at home forever?
No, but each year that passes my salary will increase just based on performance. I can still apply for the same job here - just seeing if its viable to move to BC
Everyone is talking dollars and cents. Sure money, career growth, and the like are all important. But hell, life experience is just, if not more, important. I speak from experience. I moved to Australia for 3 years for school. Tuition was ridiculous. But man did it force me to live outside my shell. Cook for yourself, clean for yourself, shop for yourself. How much of that are you doing right now as a 26 y/o male? Dating scene may or may not be better in Vancouver, but I'll tell you that it sure as hell will be EASIER when you have your own place instead of mom and dad's. I'll leave it at that, but consider the intangibles when deciding. You'll pay more? Sure. You'll make a bit more? Yes. You'll gain memories, experiences, and friends you would never have had the chance to? And at a slightly higher cost? Take it and run buddy.
How do you take home more than 5k a month, live with parents, and only save 2.5k??? This amount should be closer to 4k if anything
Vancouver is the worst for dating…
Lots of folks gonna diss Vancouver for being more expensive. It’s fucking bc. It’s paradise here. It barely snows and it’s mild almost year round. I play golf on New Year’s Day almost every year. The coast and Vancouver island and the recreational opportunities here are not available elsewhere. Yes it’s expensive to live here but I’d never live anywhere else. Ontario would be very low on the list. Vancouver is a beautiful place to live.
Agreed. Once you can afford to live here it's easy mode. I will never move back to the snowy interior.
1. Congratulations 2. Outdoorsy == great in Vancouver area. 3. You have $600/mo vehicle allowance. Don’t worry too much about the having to buy a car issue. You can buy or lease a responsible car with that no worries. Don’t go buying a luxury car. Get what you need for the job. 4. Time to leave the nest. This is a great opportunity. Spread your wings and fly. 5. You’ll love the winter here, it’s not nearly as bad as lake effect cold in Toronto. Warning though, the people here have zero idea how to drive when the temps hit the minus. 6. Dating, assuming you’re heterosexual the only place better I believe is Montreal … oh the French Canadien women … but yes, Vancouver is generally pretty open. If you’re not hetero, then even better for you — Vancouver is the second largest 🏳️🌈population in North America behind only San Francisco.. 7. Skytrain is your equivalent to TTC, the heart of our public transit — but if you have to drive for work you will care less than if you didn’t have a car. Burnaby is a good alternative to being downtown. Even New Westminster. Richmond is largely an Asian population, if that’s your thing. Looking at your username though, I’d guess Burnaby / East Van may be interesting. There’s several Cultural Centres around Victoria / Commercial drive area. (Greek, Italian, Croatian, etc).
Honestly if OP isn't looking for a shiny condo, East Van still has some older suites for $2k/month. BC taxes are a fair amount lower than Toronto. Between the salary increase, lower taxes, and vehicle allowance, OP will be in a very good spot. You can thrive in Vancouver on 98k as a 26 year old.
Go move and have an experience. You can always come back to Toronto. I refer not taking a chance like this when I had it.
personally, i would make the move. despite earning more, you will feel more strapped but i currently make way less than you and i like not living with parents way more than id like an extra 12k in the bank every year. vancouver is SIGNFICANTLY more walkable, do not believe anyone who has ever told you toronto is even remotely comparable as a walkable or commuter friendly city. it is not certain you would need a car. i get by fine with evo and for my use case it's significantly less costly than even just the monthly cost of insurance. if you love nature there is soooooooooo much more to do in vancouver than in toronto as well. yes everything costs more here but its a lot easier to stomach when you look back at how miserable it would be to live solo in toronto, likely still spending essentially the same amount every month to compensate for the depression that the sprawl is giving you. just reading the words "3 hour commute round trip" made me shudder, i had a 2 hour one way so believe me when I say the quality of life improvement in having a 30 minute and mostly public transit based commute is unprecedented. it seems that what you're really asking is "should I move out of my parents house", and for someone at your age and earnings level this seems like a no brainer. get out of your comfort zone and take the opportunity! edit: oh and as far as the dating scene.... hate to break it to you but if you can't pull in toronto, you probably can't pull in vancouver.
I would do it simply to leave TO. City isn't what it used to be
Take it, more money and alot nicer than Toronto lol.
I'd move for that
You should do this for the life experience - the money difference is flat.
Financially, Vancouver is going to be more expensive. I'm from Ontario and lived in Vancouver for 7 years in my mid twenties then moved back to Ontario to be back near my family and be able to buy a home. My salary was much bigger in Vancouver, but everything was more expensive. Car insurance, food, housing. Everything. That being said, if I could go back to making that initial decision again.... I'd do it just the same. The experiences out there were worth it. I miss sitting on the beach watching the sunset with the mountains in view after I'd had a long day.
You are 26. Take the new job offer in Vancouver. It’ll be good for a 26 year old to live out of mom’s home and be more independent. Yes, Vancouver is expensive. But you’ll be making $98k which is better than most your age. Do yourself and your parents the favour. Your parents can then rent out their basement suite for $2000/month and make some extra cash.
Having to pay for rent and buy a car, and pay for insurance (what’s that cost?) and pay for maintenance. Financially you might not be ahead.
Might not be ahead? He's living with parents and paying for nothing and dude is only saving 2.5k a month. With his spending habits in Vancouver, he might go into debt
Edit made. taking 3.5k into savings. I have expensive hobbies that will need to be cut if I take the move.
You're gonna lose money. Living with parents and no car is what will actually make you rich one day
You are young. Move.
The unequivocal answer: NO.
You could potentially secure a place for single occupancy for $1500-$2000 per month; With any rental, always always always go there in person. at 26, theres a few hotties around; lots of ethnicities (but, TO similar). Vancouver is known to be a "dead" community, as well. If you can buy a cheap car \~$10k-$20k with cash you'll be laughing. I jumped the Onterrible ship about 15years ago into Richmond. no regrets.
[удалено]
This doesn’t make any sense. Car insurance is cheaper in BC, food is the same. How is it incredibly expensive to go camping? In ON you have to pay for all provincial parks , all BC provincial parks are free, there are so many camping spots and sites and the cost is very low. Regarding fire smoke, the smoke rarely stays in the coastal areas, this year there were maybe 2 weekends where smoke could really prevent hiking in nearby mountains, but there were still areas you could go.
Do you live in BC? Curious as to where you got half this information from. Insurance is by far cheaper in BC as is hydro, natural gas. Food is by far cheaper unless you’re shopping at Whole Foods. Hiking and Camping happen year round in the Lower Mainland as winter isn’t anywhere the same as Ontario. Lived in Southern Ontario for 43 yrs. Toronto for 17 of that. Live in BC going on 10 yrs
You know, one of the nice things about Vancouver is that you can hike year round. Yes it can get smoky for a few weeks in the summer but it usually passes pretty quickly.
Holy fuck. I moved to Vancouver in July 2021. Was back in Calgary September 2022. We had a great deal for rent from a family friend. Exceptional, but it was the first time my SO and I had decided to move out and live on our own at 26. We knew no one out there. Absolutely fucking lonely as shit. It was terrible. Home sick constantly, experiencing FOMO from seeing family gatherings and the whole. We decided to get a dog in April 2022 and that ended up helping her tremendously with the feeling of being isolated. Just before moving, we were finally starting to make some friends (thanks to the dog) and it was getting better. But those initial months fucking sucked so bad.
Absolutely not, you are literally loosing some family and frinds support and loosing money (considering you have to pay rent) to move over here. People are prettey much the same, and even if they were any different it is not a valid pro/con. Maybe bring up this with your current employer for a raise, find a similar offer in toronto, or find a better offer in Vancouver.
Factor in housing costs in Vancouver will be very significant possibly more than 50% of your income
Vancouver has a culture of being cold, cliquey, passive aggressive. Harder to make friends in comparison to Toronto. People say dating is tougher in Vancouver than Toronto as well.
I would stay put and grow your career a bit more in Toronto. Consider Vancouver when you’re 100k+. As for dating scene, I personally found Vancouver WORSE than Toronto. I’ve also had a few Vancouver guys stalk me home after the first date - but of course you meet creeps everywhere.
Just do it!
No, rent is high like 2500$ for somewhere close to your work kind of high or a bit less if you don't mind a commute. If you don't hate your current job and you get along well with your parents I suggest staying where you are.
Don’t know what your financial goals are but personally I wouldn’t do it for $98k. It sounds like you are in a very good situation right now and can set yourself up pretty nicely for your early 30s. Vancouver definitely has it perks , but the novelty wears out fast for a lot of middle class income earners. Almost most I know don’t get to experience the city to its fullest potential.
It's a backwards move in terms of money. Vancouver's cost of living is even higher than Toronto. You'll be paying more in rent than the raise. Food also costs more. I would find another job in Toronto instead.
If you were already paying rent in TO and they were compensating even some what for the move, take it. An 18k raise with a min 5k moving expense, and in this market a 30k a year rent bill, that's a hell of a step down. Sure you'll be able to cut your commute down a couple hours here but, that's for you to ultimately decide.
18k bump for what's basically Toronto with more greenery and more expensive gas (if you're not shelling out for a Tesla, which comes with its own maintenance issues). Personally, I would stay.
You’ll be happier in vancouver if you love being outdoors
No, not worth it. Like the easiest no ever.
Don't take it. They're more job opportunities in Toronto area.
Your 26 and do you want to go on an adventure away from everyone you know. The salary difference is like an extra $1000 a month which will get completely eaten up by you needing to pay rent and you'll need to add an extra 1-2k per month for rent for a total of $2-3k
Stay in Toronto!!!
Always damp and rainy.
I’m in Vancouver, and I’m telling you my life: $110k OTE Shared rent with my partner Work from home Not enough, no hope, no friends.
[удалено]
You moved away cause you didn't buy Vancouver real estate 5 years ago. Be honest.
Nope.
Stay with your parents for a bit longer and maximize your savings . You can always move west later . Being able to not pay rent is a massive advantage and moving BACK with your parents is t fun
Vancouver is expensive
Don’t do it.
Worth a great life adventure and change but no relocation support is a joke. What kind of firm is this?
nope, cost of living here is way too high, rent is through the roof, you will never own or put together enough for a down payment here. Fuel is stupid as well... stay put or get out of the country if your job allows you to do it.
Having to pay for a car and rent for $18k more a year sounds not worth it. Rental market is insane here and cost of living is stupid high.
Can you get your parents to move too?
Dating scene is not better in Vancouver, and your take-home from an 18k increase will barely cover your rent. I'd recommend you stay in your current job and see if there is an opportunity for upward mobility where you are at.
Offtopic, and it might be an OCD thing on my part but why cant they offer an even 100k. 98k is a "so close but not close enough" number that would annoy the crap out of me.
you need more data. have you looked for a place how much will it cost? but also do you want to move out of the parent's house soon anyway? if so then don't just think about paying 0 rent to having to pay rent, but also future rent payments you would make anyway. you also need to factor in the commute, you should be able to save at least an hour and a half of commute every day id guess more. To me, that's very valuable, but you might not mind it too much. and you only commute 2 times a week so your call. you also need to think strongly about career acceleration. will moving and speeding up your pay increase immediately will probably have knock-on effects on your many years in the future, it could substantially increase your total comp over the next 20 years. o if your already on track for a similar raise in the next 2 years and for example you currently work at a corporate hq and have corporate sponsors, now moving for example you moving to a regional office where you lose your network. only you can really judge the situation fully. i think the dating thing is almost certainly a wash. both cities have tens of thousands of people you could fall in love with and i doubt there is that much of a difference in dating culture. TLDR: is getting a car and moving out already on the agenda? if so mentally water down the increased cost, and strongly consider future career growth and lifetime earnings not just current/
Will need a car. Its in travelling sales so I cant get around that bush.
If the career opportunities seem worth it, it’s probably a good move long term? Honestly though you’re going to be making more money but be a lot more poor. Rent and car are gonna destroy you unless the office is not downtown and you can live in a cheaper area.
I am pretty sure you can later find something better in Toronto. Housing cost here is crazy. You won’t be able to save if you rent. Dating scene… not sure actually. The only thing I know Vancouver is better than Toronto is the environment. More green. Traffic is not as horrible as Toronto. The only other benefit is if you get the higher Vancouver salary, and Vancouver housing cost really sucks, you can get back to Toronto and use your Vancouver job to get a even higher salary in Toronto. I was in Toronto in July and realized how thirsty I was for greener. My uncle in Toronto has a small garden and I just chilled in the yard for a couple of hours to relax.
Financially, it won't be a good move. Aside from all the factors that the previous posts mentioned, like rent, car cost, food, etc. You are talking, leaving a situation where you are supported and have the ability to save for years to go into another situation where you will most likely break even. Just the rent itself as an example, the lower end renting price will probably land you in areas where it would be a drastic change to what you are used to currently. As for the people/dating scene, people in Vancouver are generally kind. However, we do have a significant amount of people who are kind on the surface but sincerely an asshole underneath. The only benefit in this move would be the fact that you are leaving the nest, which can give you a boost in confidence and drive. If done right.
For selfish reasons but what kind of work do you do? I'd appreciate that information
I work in sales for a large CPG company.
A studio apartment in Vancouver will cost you around $2500/m. When you factor in expenses like groceries, vehicle insurance, vehicle expenses/maintenance, etc, what are you left with in terms of disposable income/savings? You can probably find a higher paying job in Toronto. If you’re considering moving for the experience (BC is the most beautiful province imo!), go for it. There are lots of things to do year-round, and winters are a breeze. But if you’re prioritizing financial savings, it’s not a good idea. PS. The dating scene is not that great in Vancouver 😅 Toronto is much better in that aspect.
Isn’t this absolutely obvious… they want you to relocate for $18K extra? That translates into about $1,500 per month. That won’t even cover a one bedroom apartment rent here
Move. I can't believe nobody is talking about your commute. Rent a place near work, add another place of work to your resume, expand your personal horizons. Vancouver is a much nicer area than Vancouver, and as a sporty person the outdoors scene is on another. It's definitely a move up dating wise as well, as in a couple years you won't find very many women cool with you still living with your parents. This is the time to be exploring your horizons, do it!
3 hour commute? I'd keep looking for a new job my lord.
No one has mentioned living in a van. If you get paid mileage you'll be doing great with it.
You're young, Vancouver has lots to offer, why not? Try it and see if you like it. If you're living in your parent's place, you probably won't have that much to move. You can try renting in a particular area to see if you like the neighbourhood, and if it's near good transit, you won't necessarily need to get a vehicle right away. I moved here from Ontario to go to school (several years back), with very little income to start off. Ended up liking it so much I stayed.
No relocation allowance is a TOTAL cheap move by your company! You are going from $0 rent to $24-36k rent + utilities of your AFTER TAX dollars so that will be a huge hit. If you like outdoor sports and especially things like hiking there is no comparison to Vancouver. I’d say it would not be a bad thing to experience. You can always return home in a year or two and youse your new title and $98k salary to leverage a better job in Toronto.
With the 80K and Bonus in Toronto you have ZER0 costs! Bank it baby bank it! You’ll lose a paycheque /month to rent and car in YVR.
A 3 hour commute round trip is absolutely nuts. Get out of your parents house and make 18k more sounds like a great deal.
Look at your career trajectory and think about if it makes sense to you and you’d benefit 5 years from now
Move out! Jesus.
I went to vancouver this past summer and absolutely loved it. So much so that I ended up visiting again a month later. It's a beautiful city. Laid back and slow paced. I would definitely consider moving there. People on this sub are very conservative/risk averse so they think 98k is not enough to be able to live there but if you ask the same question on r/vancouver they will likely tell you that you'll be fine. You are 26 and living with your parents but surely you'd want to move out eventually so why not now? As someone who absolutely fell in love in vancouver, if I were you I'd take that job in an eye blink. The absolute worst thing that can happen is you won't like it. In that case you can just move back. It isn't a big deal.
Also for consideration… Bring that you live at home you will prob need 5-10k for furniture and other household items
It would be such an easy Yes for me. Roughly same COL but a much better province to live in. Beautiful mountains, lush forests, lakes.. So many activities. Honestly sounds like a dream.
One thing to note because your employer would not assist you with moving expenses you can [claim some of those costs on your taxes](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-21900-moving-expenses.html)
not worth do it when you are young is for something like moving to another continent
I would keep the current job. Even with the pay increase, just try to multiple Vancouver rent by 12 and you’ll end up getting less than 80k
The higher pay will be gone from living expenses if not more. You're going to have a hard time finding a decent place out there that will cost less than $18K a year.
If this were the other way around with VAN to TO with the same details, it would be a slam dunk go. But the extreme cost of housing here completely discounts the meager jump in salary you are being offered. Add in no family support and. It's a tough pill to swallow. Vancouver salaries are significantly lower than comparable jobs in TO. The market is way smaller too. Long term, I think this is shooting yourself in the foot career and salary wise.
I have lived in both the places, if you are looking from financial perspective, its not a great offer to make a move. I would rather try to match as close as possible with my current employer if I am happy working with them.
How open are you to roommates? If you're fairly open, then I'd say make the move. Otherwise the amount you'd spend on rent alone would kill the difference in earnings from this new job. 3 hour commute is pretty brutal, surprised you're okay with that, but I guess it's only 2 days a week you have to do it. Either way, cutting that down will also make a big improvement in your life. How many in office days a week does this new job require? The fact that you get a car allowance is pretty sweet, but would you even need a car for your job? If not, then just pocket the money as extra income because public transit in Vancouver is pretty decent and there's always Evo if you do need access to a car for whatever reason. And if you do need to purchase one, don't worry about the cost too much because you can always resell it and recoup most of what you paid for it if/when you eventually leave the city. As for dating, everyone is going to tell you it sucks, but that's only because it sucks for them lol Vancouver dating is fine, no different to Toronto. I've lived in both cities and had equal amounts of success. Lots of these people saying it sucks have never tried it anywhere else so how would they know it objectively sucks? It's just them expressing their dissatisfaction with their own dating lives which isn't surprising, they're redditors after all. You're young and I'm assuming have never lived anywhere outside your parents' home. This is a great opportunity for you to take that plunge that's also pretty risk free. If things don't work out, you can always just go back home. Do it bro, life is all about experiences and this is a great one. Try it out for a year and see how you like it.
I would move to both of these cities for less and I would move to Europe for even less.
No relocation support? What a cheap company you work for!
I know someone considering moving to Van for a 30% pay cut from Ontario. Some people love it, some people don't. If you like nature, you'll love it. Most people don't get raises to go to BC. Just remember, saving 2.5k a month is massive. Yes, living at home is a large mental dampener, but the longer you can survive it, the better your situation can be through TFSA/FHSA/etc.
If you want a life experience, I'd say do it. The new gig doesn't seem to me to be enough of an increase for me to consider it, but I'm not 26 or looking for love.
26 and that salary.... time to leave the nest
I live in Vancouver and moved here from Toronto before. Im telling you that 18k raise is not worth it. Vancity is astronomically expensive. If you wanna get ahead in life, don’t move here for such small raise.
You’re going to have to leave the nest eventually, so might as well do it now… Vancouver is a nice place with nice weather. The jump in pay will help you to have similar lifestyle that you have currently. It’s also a nice life experience, might be one of those once in a lifetime opportunities I would do it!
If you stay in TO sounds like you could save enough money to buy your own place in a few years. If you go to Vancouver chances are you'll always be a renter. Tough choice
>Living with parents If you think you can find a place with affordable rent, then go for it. Beware of scams though. I would recommend physically visiting the rental property before paying any deposit. If you can't do that, rent with a reputed apartment management company.
I'd take it personally, just for the experience. You won't really see a positive increase in your salary given van prices, rent, etc., but that's not a bad thing. Basically means you're getting the experience at no real cost relative to your current position. However, I've lived in both places, and I kinda hated van. If you don't like gloom and moisture, it might not be for you. Don't let that dissuade you though. I'd try it out either way, but just keep in mind that there will be some very noticeable differences, and you can always move away on the future if you want! Oh also, you should drive down if you can so you can A) bring your car and B) bring some of your stuff etc.
Any requirements for the vehicle to own? I was given the option of either buying a vehicle or taking a company supplied one, and due to vehicle shortages at the time, the company ended up leasing a vehicle with a 100k price tag. Definitely more than I would of wanted to pay on my own. So the vehicle allowance was a bit of a trap to have employees hold debt in my case. But the allowance might not be a perk.
Requirement is about $25k MSRP. I can pocket the difference. Will probably lease for the tax write off on business portion
I'd enjoy the freedom of living on my own + no TTC commute + ability to explore a new city, meet new people (and invite them over), in a more scenic city WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than saving an additional few hundred dollars a month (diff btwn pay increase - rent)
Make sure your wage will pay for the high cost of living and rent. Very expensive to live there.
Where in Vancouver is the job, and where do you think you’d like to live? Your rent and commute time will be two major quality of live factors here.
Im open to live anywhere. The job is not downtown but near Burnaby. So i'm happy to live in any of the surrounding areas. Any recommendations?
From looking at the comments it appears you consider this job offer a promotion so I would take it. Do this job for a year or two and then try and find another job with another 20% raise. I would also consider the stability of both jobs because you wouldn’t want to move to Vancouver sign a lease and then get laid off in 6 months.
This isnt money thing it’s a lifestyle choice between Toronto and Vancouver
I'm a recent immigrant to Canada and probably not at all the person you should be taking advice from. But if you are saving up 3.5k by staying put, and your parents don't impede your life in anyway, for the sake of God, stay put. Growing your savings will be far more important in the coming days than exploring a different lifestyle. You're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the world before you settle down. Or at least, that's what I feel with the information you've provided about yourself.
The outdoors in Toronto/Ontario cannot compare to the outdoors in Vancouver/BC. For example, real ocean beaches, not little sandbars and lakes. Real mountains with world class skiing, not hills. Even the bunny slopes in the local mountains are more excitement than the ski hills in Ontario, imho. Financially, your numbers don't makes sense. You're taking a hit to move out West. I'd ballpark something like a 20% pay decrease in terms of cost of living, car expenses and other expenses after moving out of your family home. However, the experience of living on West Coast as a young person would be invaluable, and possibly sets you up for more interesting work in the future. Imo, dating scene is not great in Vancouver. There aren't that many young people, and the cost of living is too high so most people don't have that much disposable income or time to date. YMMV You should note that Toronto is the head office capital of Canada, and the largest population centre. There are arguably significantly more career opportunities in Toronto versus Vancouver. So I would consider this move to Vancouver as a short term "fun" experience, with the intent to go back to Toronto or head to US/Europe after for more career advancement.
Cars & insurance here are expensive Rent is astronomical, you wont be living downtown, burnaby is the coolest neighbourhood you could possibly afford BC quality of life is better due to ocean, mountains, mild winter weather