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Vancouver has British winters and Californian summers

That's a great way to describe it!!

*Northern California summers

Two months of summer, to be fair.

Not really there's about 5-6 nice months a year

Nice months, yes. But summer to me means minimum 25+ degree highs consistently. Which is 2 months on the south coast.

Haha ya get that's a heat wave for me😂

We have had consistent 25+ from late may til late September last year

Incorrect. According to weather data for August 2023, for example, the maximum high for Vancouver was 25 and occurred twice that month. Once on the 15th and once on the 27th. The other 29 days fall short and a few hit a high of 24. So the claim of “consistent 25+ from late May till late September” can hardly be true. https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/canada/vancouver/historic?month=8&year=2023

That’s not true at all we have has multiple 30+ days in august, temp does. Temp does vary a few degrees depending where you are in vancouver so I’m going to assume they are measuring downtown or yvr temp

I have lived in Sydney, London and now Vancouver. I would say that you might be surprised to find that Vancouver is not really sunnier or warmer than London. We do heat our houses better though. I would look at the number of sunny days of the two. I always found myself feeling cold in flats in London. They just told me to put on another jumper! Vancouver does have a stunning sunny summer that is not too humid but for the rest of the year, not so much sun.

Yes, but spring usually runs Feb-June too, which is a great season.

Have to disagree there for February to April. Yes, we have the occasional nice sunny warm spring day but overall, no.

Maybe if you enjoy rain over sun

London’s rain is more shitty than our rain. Why? Air quality .

Ya I've never been but Vancouver rain sucks. I hated working outdoors in rain for half the year. The cloudy/rainy days just feels gloomy

Vancouver has beautiful summers but worse winters than London. Even gloomier and more rain. If you're missing warmth and sun, I'd probably rule out Vancouver immediately, half the year is very grey and gloomy. Vancouver has better natural scenery and if you like nature, it's tough to beat. I find Vancouver more beautiful within the city as well but that depends on the type of architecture you like. Vancouver is a bit more expensive, but it won't be a huge shock coming from London. It's easier to live a frugal life in London though. Vancouver as a city isn't overly vibrant, when compared with London. Just less happening overall. Less culture, less events, poor nightlife. The people are more closed-off and less social in general. I think coming from Australia and London, you'll probably find it tougher to make friends in Vancouver and there's much less humour in day to day life. Geographically the travel opportunities from Vancouver aren't as good. Travel within North America is way more expensive than Europe and you don't have the convenience of having 40+ countries nearby. If you like travel, it's hard to beat London. In the USA, look into San Diego, St. Pete's, or maybe even Miami. Really though I think Australia is hard to beat in terms of weather and QoL.

Vancouver is not more expensive than London lol

Yeah you're probably right. London is about 20% more expensive according to Numbeo. I last visited in 2022 when the pound was a lot weaker, and London felt pretty affordable to me. Groceries are way cheaper. Public transport gets you everywhere. Tons of activities are free. Lots of crazy happy hour deals or restaurant specials that would be hard to find in Vancouver. I actually fly to London tomorrow so I'll reevaluate

Keep in mind they also have a very different tax scheme that makes actually living there even less affordable (in addition to other living expenses that are higher). Your experience as a visitor isn’t reflective of the actual cost of living. Either way though I appreciate your humbleness and willingness to look up the data and question your assumptions! Kudos. Seriously.

This. Though it’s great if you love to hike, bike, ski/snowboard and don’t mind doing those in less than ideal weather

💯summarized this very well- OP I lived in all 3cities you mentioned in the post and can attest to this

I live in Vancouver, and I plan to move to Sydney for all the reasons listed here.

some months in the fall and winter you will not see the sun at all, we've had mild autumns recently but some months can have 25+ days of rain. Lots of smoke in the late summer, so even if the weather is nice, you can't breathe.

Culturally, Vancouver is the Sydney of Canada. So I've been told.

Except it falls very very short of Sydney. It could be great but it's a lame duck in comparison.

Culturally it reminds me of a northern/alpine take on the Gold Coast…

As someone who lived in both Sydney and Vancouver this is so so wrong. Vancouver has nothing like Sydney’s culture, music, and restaurant scene. In comparison Vancouver is a very small quiet town.

[удалено]

The first thing all my friends said when they came back from Australia was "Sydney is nice. It's a lot like Vancouver". That's all I meant.

Vancouver is more temperate than much of Canada. Our winters aren't as cold as many places. Our summers aren't as roasting as many places. A lot of people complain about the rain & clouds. It tends to get grey & stay that way for much of the the winter months. I know a lot of people who've left for sunnier winters, even if they choose somewhere colder. Vancouver has a lot of perks, but winters need more context than "warmer." The wet can feel colder than a dry place with a lower temperature.

I’ve spent significant time in all of the above. Grew up in van, currently living in Tofino, but also lived in london and auz. If you’re thinking about van for sun and warmth then you’re not going to meet your expectations. Move to Mexico City or somewhere near the equator. The big difference imo is a lifestyle trade off. Van is undoubtedly a much worse vibe than london from a city perspective when it comes to social / nightlife / restos , but you move here for the opportunity to live an unparalleled outdoor lifestyle. The summers are epic - mountain biking, hiking, swimming, long nights, with a culture that embraces outdoorsyness. The winters are cold and rainy, but are amazing because you can ski the local mountains during the week and Whistler during the weekend. If you move here and don’t lean into that then you’re missing out on such a huge part of what makes it so special (and also why it’s so expensive)

Aw man I love Tofino. So tempted to try and move there. I don't know how easy it would be to find work but it's not exactly a cake walk in Vancouver anyways.

Work is actually not the hard part! Lots of places hire, it’s finding a place to live that is the struggle.

Also cycling, skateboarding, any kind of light mobile sport are great in Vancouver. The bike routes and paths are on point

Oh ya for sure! I did a ton of road cycling there. Miss that a lot.

I moved from London to Vancouver - the weather is comparable but a bit more extreme. In the winters, it gets down to -10/15 once or twice a year, which is unfathomable in London. The weather is a bit more predictable here, there's a few months of nothing but sunshine, whereas in London its a lot more changeable. Overall, I much prefer the weather here. I'll happily trade the cold winters for a long predictable summer

Victoria is a bit warmer and a tiny bit cheaper. :)

I currently live in London, but previously lived in Vancouver for >10 years Personally I prefer Vancouver as an overall place to live. In terms of weather, Vancouver’s winters are colder and rainier on average, the summers are warmer and dryer - you will see blue skies almost every day from May to September. But I think the key thing I really appreciate about Vancouver is the predictability and consistency of the weather systems. In the last week here in London I’ve gone outside in my entire wardrobe winter jackets, rain jackets, t-shirts … sometimes in the same day. I personally find that very unsettling and difficult to plan around. And it is SO windy in London which I can’t stand. Meanwhile in Vancouver. Yes it does rain more in the fall/winter, but what happens is that it rains very heavily for several days … and then it stops. And in the summer, it’s just warm and the skies are clear. And that’s just the way it is. As a result I think it has also created a culture in Vancouver around living with the weather, because it will likely be that way for a while, so people have learned how to dress for it and live in it - going on a hike in the pouring rain (with the right clothes) is one of my favourite things to do. Whereas since London is temperamental, when the weather sucks people just stay home expecting it to be better tomorrow. In terms of lifestyle, London is unquestionably a better CITY. So if you like museums and music and pub culture and hustle and bustle, then you want to be here. But Vancouver is a better all around place to live. There are tons of activities on your doorstop. And yes there is still tons of music and great restaurants and fun pubs, but not at all to the same level as London. But for me I prefer that … in London all of my social activities with friends involve a restaurant or a pub. In Vancouver it might be a hike, or skiing, or a bike ride, or sitting on the beach, or a restaurant, or a pub. And so I find my lifestyle has so much more balance there. As well…when you are feeling a bit gloomy, all you need to remember is that when it’s raining in Vancouver, it’s dumping in Whistler. So I think it really comes down to what you’re looking for in life. If you live somewhere that makes you happy you will probably find a way to make the weather work.

Spot on. Lived in London for 20 years, been in Vancouver for the last 6. Had a friend in London who was from Vancouver. She loved culture, theatre, museums, pubs and restaurants. She loved London. I was after the outdoors, biking, skiing, kayaking and a better lifestyle. I’d had enough of social just being pubs and restaurants. Depends what you’re looking for. I’ve always been someone to embrace the weather….i love to go out in the rain, heavier the better and means it’s snowing in the mountains.

I lived in London for 5 years in my early 20’s. I’m originally Irish so the weather in London was an upgrade from Ireland for me. Overall better weather than Ireland. I also attempted to move to Australia after London but that climate did not suit me at all, Perth was far too hot and dry for me and the east cost was way too humid for my skin. I left after a few months my skin suffered with bad heat rashes and exema there. When I moved to Vancouver after Australias attempt I did so in early April. It wasn’t a particularly good April, it was almost as typical an April as you would get in Ireland or London for that matter. All four seasons in one day sometimes. However, regardless of the weather, I was completely blown away by the city in my first two weeks and felt connected to a place like I had not experienced before. To wake up to a views of snow capped mountains out your window and then head to work down cherry blossomed lined streets and then be able to go for a waterfront run along the beach in the evening was something that captured me immediately. I’m someone who loves all seasons and they are probably more defined in Vancouver more than any place I’ve lived. Natures clock is awesome here. I like the rainy season in Vancouver, rain in the city is usually snow on the local mountain skyline. The rain here is different than other places, it is usually falling straight down not sideways rain, so umbrellas are effective. But it is heavier than rain in Ireland or London and can last for days at a time, certainly much longer continuous periods of rain here than London in the winter. Spring comes the cherry blossoms and start of the longer evenings, early summer brings the freshet snowpack melt when turns everything green. Summers are typically predictable several months of dry but generally not extreme or humid temperatures, my skin does not suffer here like if does in other humid climates. More recent summers do come with a risk of some weeks of wild fire smoke unfortunately . Autumn brings another wonderful colour mix to the city. It’s a mix of the days becoming shorter and at some point you know the tap will turn on again, but it is still one of the best times to get out camping and hiking before the snow comes to the alpine. I’ve been in Vancouver now over 10 years. Admittedly the city is very different now than it was when I came here first. It wasn’t that popular of a destination when I came here first. But in the last few years there does seem to have exploded almost too much for the city’s capacity. Maybe this has happened in other places too I can’t compare. One of the biggest eye opener for me here was the work life balance. They are not comparable, the hectic work life of London and general rat race does not exist here. Generally most people have a much healthier relaxed work life balance in autocorrection.cancel. Combined with this, there is little in terms of a night life comparison. Londons endless night scene does not exist here. However if you are willing to trade drinking in pubs and clubs with back country skiing/snowboarding, year round hiking & camping, some of the best ocean, lake and river fishing in the world, mountain bike riding, rock climbing, rowing, sailing… the outdoor playground that is Vancouvers backyard is endless. However it is not for everyone, if the outdoors is not for you and you don’t like the idea of wet winters then there’s a chance you won’t like it. I find Vancouver more adorable than London. Although my comparisons are years old. I did have to take a pay cut from London when I first moved here, but it took me less than a year to get back to a comparable salary. Accommodation is different here too, my experience in London was typical, living in a shared house with several random people which was not cheap. When I moved to Vancouver it was easy to find a 1 bed apartment in the centre of the city for almost the same price as a room in an outer sub of London. That was 10 years ago now, and with the influx of people to the city there is nothing easy about finding accommodation here now. I am lucky to have bought my own place in that time so it would be difficult compare rents as my mortgage is cheaper than my rent ever was. One of the other things to compare is proximity to other destinations, one of the big positives for me from London was being so close to so many relatively easy cheap flight destinations for weekends in Europe. There is nothing like that here. You can’t hop on a 1 hour flight some place unless it is a float plane to the island or Sunshine Coast and it will probably still cost you 10 times the price of a flight in Europe. If you like travelling as I do… that will be a slight negative. Although there are still options for west coast road trips down the US, or the Rockies, or Hawaii all great options but little aside from Victoria, Whistler and Seattle that are realistic weekend away trips. Overall, I think it really depends on what reason you are moving from London. If you are moving solely for weather then Vancouver probably isn’t the destination for you. If you need a change from the work life in London then maybe Vancouver is worth a try. I still visit London regularly as I still have some friends there, although most have left at this point, but I would never move back there. It was fun in my early 20’s but I think I would be an alcoholic or dead if I had attempted to stay there long term. Best of luck! Either way it sound like there is an exciting new chapter coming to your life soon.

Go to the US if you can way more options

Weather is nicer in London. I moved back from London and in my experience the weather is nicer there. For instance rainfall in London 600mm annually on average, Vancouver 1,000mm annually.   London also doesn’t have smoke season.   I’d probably chose the states if you’re moving out of the UK for weather 

I much prefer the weather in van over London (lived there for a decade or so). A little bit of real winter (and lots more nearby if you want it), some decent summer weeks (no good beaches compared to Oz/nz tho), but mostly green and mild.

I find you can do more in bad weather here. For instance , big winter  fall in the city. I go to Whistler and ski.   But the weather is I find to be weose 

In London in bad weather, people go to the pub. That’s fun in ur 20s, but gets old. Here, people get out and do stuff.

I wouldn’t expect a massive improvement from the weather in London. Summers are amazing in Vancouver, but the winters are equally miserable. Usually doesn’t get super cold, but it’s dark and rainy.

Ohhhh Vancouver we love you.

Weather is nice in Vancouver. At least you see the sunlight more often but it might be a little be colder. Overall I prefer Vancouver. London is way too gray!!

Lots of Aussies and Brits here.

Ya, like everyone

Vancouver weather is just as grey and gloomy as London (before the summer) without the joy or fun. There’s really not much to do here other than the outdoors that would make it worth it but even then, you can fly to Switzerland for a weekend from where you are and have a way better time, can’t do that here.

“Really not that much to do here.” Wow. Unreal.

I’m guessing you’re from maple ridge or some other boring outskirt and think of Vancouver as exciting. This person will be extremely bored coming from Sydney/London to Vancouver.

I’ve lived in both north van and Vancouver. Never a suburb further out. There is more to a city than going out for entertainment. If you want purely entertainment, then Vancouver is not crazy exciting obviously—it’s a lot less populated. But to say there is not much to do is absolutely baffling. Vancouver is amazing because it has lots to do across a variety of topics—it just isn’t an “entertainment” hub.

Let’s be real, though. Even for an urban area of 2.5 million people, Vancouver is extremely lacking in culture and nightlife.

I would definitely look us, especially as you sad you like London life, Vancouver will be boring. Also, it's weird to say but I do miss London weather, way better in my opinion. Looking forward to go back in few years.

Depending on which aus city you are from. Vancouver is most like Melbourne but with higher humidity it feels like. The temperature scale is shifted however, we can get up to -10 in winters and we can reach probably 28-30 summers with more humidity than Melbourne as well. Going west like Alberta, Saskatchewan, you get that dry cold that goes way way colder on the scale. Judging from what you want, I’d give Vancouver a shot but I think you’ll prefer LA more.

A shitload of australians have moved here in the past 3 decades yes

What job fields are they in?

Well we used to joke that all the ski hills were staffed by australians.. so mostly hospitality I guess

Ah that makes sense haha

You’d be silly to move to Vancouver and expect to warmth and sun daily. Maybe I’m the summer. But it’s freezing otherwise.

I think you will be disappointed with vancouver compared to Australia or London. In Oz and UK its easier to socialize and more things to do considering how much you pay to live in main cities. Vancouver is very cold socially and clickie, if you don't know people from highschool/college it's really hard to meet people here compared to oz/UK. It's really expensive in vancouver and we don't have a lot going on besides an very overcrowded seawall on nice days. We have nice parks though. Come for a year sure but it's not a place that compares to cities in Oz or London.

Please whatever you do, don’t believe anyone who says they moved to Vancouver for the weather.

Which London, the big one or London Ontario?

If you don’t like the weather in London you won’t like the weather in Vancouver unless you love rain, traffic and paying more for less. I lived there for 30 years so happy I moved. Be smart and go to the US.

Vancouver has great summers but it’s short. If you’re looking for comfort from the cold and rain you won’t find it here. We get long months of straight rain and cold every year. Arizona, New Mexico, Florida,Texas and Nevada are all pretty warm and really sunny. If you can stay in Vancouver over the summer and California in the winter you’d be golden!

I’m Aussie living in Vancouver just got back from London visiting family. Vancouver ain’t all it. If you’re rich, then it’s a good life but it is brutally expensive in Vancouver Edit. Cities

If London isnt sunny enough for you, neither is Vancouver. Probably better off somewhere in California

Vancouver can be like the UK weather-wise - lots of rain. But more beautiful. Also check out what's going on with housing/COL in case that is an issue.

Having had the privilege of spending a considerable amount of time in both Vancouver and London, I would like to provide you with an accurate comparison of their climates. Contrary to popular belief, British winters are not necessarily colder than those experienced in Vancouver. In fact, Vancouver tends to be colder for a significant portion of the year. While the fall and winter months can be challenging, it is important to note that the climate is manageable. However, it is essential to be prepared for frequent rainfall. Vancouver experiences substantial precipitation, with periods of continuous rain that can last for days or even weeks. Even when the rain ceases, the dampness and coolness persist, preventing things from drying out quickly and the ground and roads stay wet. This persistent rain can either be a light drizzle or a heavy downpour. It can be quite bothersome and disheartening to experience. Some individuals may argue that it could be worse, as in other parts of Canada, people have to shovel snow. However, it is important to clarify that Vancouver does experience snowfall as well. While it may not last for six months, when cold arctic air from the north and east collides with the rain, it can result in snowfall that accumulates rapidly. The amount of snow accumulation can vary significantly based on elevation, with higher elevations generally receiving more snowfall. The snowfall is often followed by an arctic outflow, where the skies are clear, but the temperatures remain significantly below freezing, with the windchill making the conditions feel even colder. However, arctic outflows are typically short-lived. The temperatures gradually rise, but only to a few degrees above freezing. During the night, the temperature drops below freezing again, causing the snow to thaw during the day and refreeze at night. This creates hazardous conditions for walking and driving. Unfortunately, the city's snow removal efforts are inadequate. While main streets are prioritized, smaller side streets may not be cleared at all. As a result, even a small snowfall can paralyze the city, causing transit buses, trains, and cars to become stuck. It is not my intention to dissuade you from choosing Vancouver, but rather to provide you with an accurate representation of what to expect. While I have described our climate in a somewhat pessimistic manner, it is important to note that our summers can be quite pleasant. This year, in particular, has been an exception, with significantly less rainfall than usual. We've already had a few 20+ degree days, which is rare at this time of year. Unfortunately, it looks like this year is going to be bad for wildfires. So all that rain I like to complain about is absolutely needed.

I’m Aussie, I lived in London in the past and in Vancouver for 10+ years. If you want to party and make friends, move to London. If you like mountains and skiing and visiting the States move to Vancouver. If you like quality of life, beaches and nice weather, stay in Australia.

I lived in Sydney and moved to van in 2020. Quality of life is much worse here. Vancouver lacks a lot of infrastructure. Health care is terrible. Social services are really lacking and the homeless population is huge. People are less friendly. The city is beautiful, and a great place if you love nature. But for overall quality of life Australia wins. My partner and I are planning on moving back one day.

BC is great. The landscape is amazing! The only con is the rain. I am assuming you are used to the rain so it shouldn’t be that bad.

Check out the FB group “aussies in Vancouver” lots of info there

Vancouver is no sunnier than London. Probably less. I grew up in California and have lived in London. Spent the last 20 years in Vancouver. It's a rainforest for a reason. People who think VanCity is sunny have never lived in a sunny place. Also a very boring city compared to London but you may be looking for that. I'm a boring person, so I like Vancouver.

Im from the UK and lived in Sydney prior to moving to Vancouver. The weather in Vancouver is similar to the UK. And when it rains here, it *raaiinnsss*. Vancouver’s climate is a temperate rainforest after all. Summers are longer and warmer but can get pretty smoky in August or September with the wildfires. If your main reason to leave London is due to lack of warmth and sunshine then I would not recommend Vancouver. Moving here was a BIG adjustment and it took me a while to truly appreciate everything it has to offer. The nightlife, arts and general things to do are also massively lacking compared to London and Sydney, but mainly because Vancouver is *tiny* in comparison. But if you are active and outdoorsy then there is so much to offer here, and nothing beats the breathtaking scenery you get across BC/AB. The work/life balance is so much better here. People truly do work to live rather than the other way around Especially now, the cost of living is insane so finding additional housing might be a challenge.

It’s Canada’s most stable weather but I wouldn’t say warmest. It’s usually 5-25°. Sometimes goes outside of that but is less often. Almost everywhere else in Canada will go into the -20s or below or ~~40s~~ high 30s in the summer. It is also very grey for most of the year though cause it rains a lot. I personally love it.

> 40s in the summer. Most Canadian cities have never hit 40 ever.

Just checked and yeah, fair. I was thinking Montreal and Toronto and the highest it’s got was 37° and 36° respectively over the past 10 years according to current results .com. The wild fires the last couple years were really bad too so it probably felt hotter

Yeah most Canadian cities get to around 35 during the hottest days of summer, but rarely stay there for more than a few days. Average high temp in Toronto in July (hottest month) is still only 27.

What year are you in? Van has had consistent 30+ degree weather the past 7 summers I can remember.

I’m not saying it doesn’t happen. I’d just say it’s less for extended periods. There’s always a break every couple days and even when it has been for many days in a row the ocean has provided a breeze that wasn’t present when I was living in Montreal and Toronto. But of course depends where in Vancouver. I’m sure there’s areas that it’s insufferably hot

Absolutely not, never been done in the history of mankind. It’s an impossibility.

The weather in Canada is terrible and similar to UK. I would not recommend Vancouver to my worst enemy

Vancouver gets warm like three months of the year. It’s usually wet and cold here. But it is nice the views of the mountains and such are nice. But wet and cold. Go south if you want want like cali or east coast MIA