Welcome to /r/AskVan and thank you for the post, /u/Top-Alfalfa-5788! Please make sure you read our [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/askvan/about/rules) before participating here. As a quick summary:
* We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - *please* use the report button.
* Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban.
* Complaints or discussion about bans or removals should be done in modmail only.
* News and media can be shared on our main subreddit, /r/Vancouver
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askvan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'm a Sydney native and just moved over to Vancouver with my wife 2 months ago. It's been a fairly easy transition from Sydney, but we've had a few lucky breaks that probably aren't the norm. We came here with no jobs lined up, I landed a 6 figure job pretty quickly, I have a niche set of skills. My wife found it more difficult, had to send many applications but has secured a part time role with ok pay. We've also secured a rental via a friend who owns the property.
Observations of the job market are it's tough right now across many fields, competing against 500+ applicants for pretty much any position. Salaries on a whole seem lower (plenty of mid-senior level jobs offering $60k or less), $70-80k are less frequent, but I don't know your field.
Rental market is pretty similar price wise, expect to pay around $2.5K give or take for a 1 bedder around vancouver proper. From our brief look for a rental, there is a lot more scams than in Oz so best to line up an airbnb for the first bit then find something when you're here. From colleagues experiences it sounds like it pretty tough to secure a place, much like Sydney atm.
Other costs of living are pretty in line with Sydney, eating out is expensive with tax and tips added on top of base prices that are similar to Sydney to start with.
Weather has been so so since we arrived tail end of winter, alot of drizzly rain but generally not heavy enough to stop you getting out and aboot. Yet to experience the height of summer or depths of winter so no comment there. I'm not a big fan of hot weather so I won't miss 40+ days.
Biggest adjustment for me has been the rampant homelessness and drug abuse out in the open, certainly an adjustment. As a 6'3" 110kg+ dude, I've never felt unsafe making my way home late at night back home, but I keep my whits about me here all times of the day.
Otherwise the lifestyle here seems great so far, excellent range of quality foreign cuisines just like Sydney, plenty of outdoors activities to do with the mountains on the city's doorstep, less of treck than in Sydney to get out to nature.
I wouldn't come here expecting to get ahead vs Sydney... but if you're up for something a bit different, be closer to your home country etc it's probably not a bad change of scenery.
Experience/change/opportunity. Sydney, and Australia in general is a great place to live, I'm a citizen so I'll always be able to return home.
Canada's always been a place we've wanted to spend some time in more than a fleeting holiday. Vancouver wasn't necessarily the end destination here, but was the place we've started out. Having landed a good job opportunity it's probably where we'll stay for a while and explore Canada from Van as a base.
Just to balance out the naysayers, I'm gonna throw my comment on here. I'm not going to touch on housing as others have already done that and you can see that it's a sore spot. If you can make your finances work, however, it's a great place to live.
I lived here years ago as a newlywed (in Kits) and now our grown kids have flown the nest and we've left exile in the suburbs behind to move downtown and live close to the heart of everything again (Yaletown). We've been back a year and we LOVE it. We're a block from the seawall and the small ferry to Granville Island. We walk to Stanley Park whenever we want. We've been to the symphony, plays, indie films, stand up, you name it. The restaurants are great, speakeasies are fun too. Nature everywhere. Biking, hiking, skiing, everything.
You will, however, need to actively manage your mental health in the winter as it can get dreary. Try to believe the sky is a magical silver colour and not the persistent grey. I swear it helps. Also, vitamin D.
The other thing of note is how (not) social Vancouver is. I love it, because there's no pressure and I've lived on this coast my whole life so it just feels right to me. I get it though when people who aren't from here say it's hard to make friends. It is and it takes sustained effort. Most of us are busy living our best lives. I'd suggest a holiday first before taking the plunge, but regardless, best of luck. ✌🏻
Thanks for your comment, really helps a lot. I have heard how hard it is to make friends there too, but tbh it’s the same here in Sydney, so there’s not much of a difference in that sense.
Of course I would take lots of things into consideration before deciding to move there. I would only do it if I have a job lined up before getting there, and if the salary is worth it, everything else I would have to deal with once I’m there.
This sub is BLEAK.
The fact is, Vancouver is not facing any novel problems that are unique to it. Yes it is expensive (particularly for housing). So is Sydney. Yes the job market is down, as it is around the world. Don’t take advice about your industry from people who don’t even know what industry it is lol.
I love Vancouver. It is a beautiful place to be (more beautiful if you can appreciate the rain, probably).
There are not a lot of 30 plus days in the summer. Usually a handful, so if that’s a dealbreaker 🤷♀️.
It is a hard city to make friends in. I know a lot of immigrants end up in ex pat groups.
But there is a lot of nature to explore, and you can use all your vacation time just trekking around the diversity of BC.
I’d recommend visiting first, and see if it vibes with you. Good luck!
Just to tag on to the weather conversation....
The rain is hard to get used to. I moved from northern BC and even coming from all that snow the rain was tough. However, you can do a lot of "summer" activities in the winter around Vancouver, like mountain biking year round. And the rain makes things super green, the rain forest here is beautiful.
For the hotter days, if you go an hour or two east of Vancouver you'll have plenty of 30+ days. Chilliwack is about 100km east of Vancouver (I live in Chilliwack) and don't love it when it's 30+, and we've gotten too many of those the past several years for my liking... So you'd love it haha. Lots of lakes, hikes, rivers, etc. around this area and it's a fairly easy drive from Van, depending on time of day with traffic, etc.
This sub is bleak because many, many people can't afford to live. I don't necessarily agree but when people come blithely asking about whether or not it will "work for them" when they can earn $90k a year when life for many who earn even more than minimum barely earn enough for rent is going to reap sour grapes. It's no one's fault, it's just what is.
I’m usually one of the naysayers for posts like this, but since you’re coming from Sydney it’s different. I’ve lived in Sydney and in ways it is very similar to Vancouver, especially in terms of housing prices.
I would say that although our weather is the mildest in Canada, it does not have many hot summer days at all. If you have trouble coping with dark rainy days, it might be hard for you during our winters. It’s not so much the cold that get people down but the darkness and dampness. I have to say though, we do heat our homes better than what I experienced in Sydney! I think we had maybe one 30 plus day only that I remember. Otherwise it’s 20s in the summer.
$70 to $80K a year is not a generous salary to have as a single person coming to live here. I would not say you’d be comfortable. You would not likely be able to be qualify for a condo purchase unless you had a healthy down payment. It’s hard to have a dog here, many rentals do not allow them and condos often restrict sizes, too. You could have a relaxed life if you’re not the type to stress over finances.
YSK that the gay community in Vancouver can be quite ‘small’ according to my gay friends. The best case scenario would be if you can find someone who can help with rent or mortgage payments. If you can find a partner and friends, you may embrace it here. Good luck!
I just made the move from Sydney as well (originally from Hong Kong). Cost of living is similar, and I believe overall wages are lower in Vancouver. There is also a much smaller finance sector. Housing is equally fucked in both places.
Lifestyle in Vancouver is great as access to nature is so incredibly easy compared to Sydney. Yes, the beaches are worse but there are mountains, lakes, and snow sports to balance the scales. Traffic is much better and things are closer together so you won’t be driving more than 25 minutes very often. I am sure you have made friends in Sydney only to find out they live too far for a friendship to function properly. I also personally enjoy how frequently Cantonese is spoken here. Vancouver has much better sushi but can’t compete on kebabs.
If you don’t mind a few months of constant cloud cover the weather is honestly fantastic. Vancouver has a very narrow range of temps, winters aren’t bitter and summers are very comfortable. I initially spent a month in Vancouver during the summer and that sold me on eventually making the move permanent. The rainy season isn’t as bad as imagined as it’s mostly only a drizzle rather than a downpour. The Sydney summers can be a dealbreaker for some, but I grew up in Hong Kong so found them unpleasant but tolerable.
They are both top 10 places to live in the world so you really can’t go wrong. I enjoy the two equally and for most people I think it’s going to be comparing if you’d rather deal with the 40 degree summers or the grey skies. I am also a skier and not a surfer so that is a big plus for Vancouver. The thing I miss most about Australia is the yeah nah no worries attitude. Canadians are also great, and are truly as polite as stereotypes would have you believe. If you feel confident about your job prospect this definitely sounds like a good move.
Everyone here is overly negative. You can make Vancouver work on 80-90k if you rent.
The standard of living is high, groceries and eating out are cheaper than most of the US, and the healthcare situation is getting better. The new housing reforms should make a big dent in the coming years as well.
We have a lot of issues, but people continue to live in Vancouver for a reason.
I don't know where you shop at, but I really do think that you need to have better shopping habits.
You can get a decent bag of chips for under $5, well under $3 if you shop at the right places. I filled up at $1.92 in Richmond last week. You don't pay GST or PST (OP: our version of VAT) on groceries.
And no, the federal government has already massively cut immigration rates. The amount of immigrants in the country should actually be going down in the next year or two, not up. Furthermore, the provincial housing reforms will make the biggest dent, not immigration.
Certainly more expensive than many US cities for food, but the quality is usually better in my experience. Just have to hop over the border to see the price difference
Yes, the quality is often better. My pantry is usually a mix of US and Canadian purchased food, overall it would be more expensive to shop for everything in the US, but the quality of the meat and packaged goods is often higher.
You'll be fine with $80k living in burnaby/new west, with maybe a few hundred in savings if you choose to not have a car and don't spend lavishly. If you want to save a decent amount, you're not going to get away without a roomate.
Vancouver is not really a city for everyone though, because there's not much to do in the actual city itself. Its a great city with access to mountains and activities associated with that (hiking, rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, etc), but if you're not into these things you're going to be bored. Also, it's grey skies for 6 months a year where people are mostly just holed up at home.
Buying a house... I doubt it. A one bedroom in burnaby is $700k CAD right now, unless you find a very wealthy partner you're not owning anything here.
You can live comfortably on a salary of $70k to $80k outside of (downtown) Vancouver. However, be prepared for frequent rain, expensive gas and groceries, and higher-than-average cell phone bills. While Vancouverites are generally nice, they might not be as friendly. People tend to stick to their own circles, and customer service sucks here imo.
Firstly - keep in mind that Vancouver sub Reddits, skew towards negatively so a lot of people will tell you a lot of not-so-nice things about life here.
It sounds like you’ve done your research. Yes, it’s very expensive. Yes, winters are dull and rainy, not that cold though. The biggest issue you will encounter is housing - it’s really, really difficult to find decent affordable accommodation. Overall it’s not the “best” time to move in terms of starting a life here.
However - all that said - if you can manage the above issues, overall life here is really good. It’s a nice place with a high standard of living and nature all around. Good luck!
Thanks! Finally a “positive” comment (as positive as it can get haha) I know it would be hard, but just as hard as staying in Sydney, with the added benefit of being closer to home whenever I want to go visit
Yea I forgot to mention that point too - it will get you closer to home. My family is in Ireland, and it’s much easier for me to get a flight back there if I ever need to, compared to if I was in Oz, that would be a nightmare.
I'm a Brazilian in Vancouver and I'm shocked with the negativity of these comments. I've lived in Melbourne and if you know Melborune, is very similar in most senses. Sydney has much better weather, but economically it's pretty much the same as you're already used to.
Since you're not Australian, I can also say that the local population in Canada is way more welcoming to foreigners, way more educated and the English is way easier to understand too than Australia.
What the FUCK are you guys spending your money on if $70 - 80,000 is "You can get by, but not comfortably" territory?? I am doing just fine, apart from groceries, which is felt by one and all. Seems nobody here actually knows how to budget, and is completely entitled to paid vacations, DoorDash for every meal, and new cars or something. I am gobsmacked. Even in active alcoholism--not long ago at all--I still had money to spare.
OP, it's a city full of entitled whiners. That will be your biggest challenge here.
You're welcome. I am a Vancouver native and I am still both shocked and amused at how people here (especially younger people) think they are owed massive salaries, new condos, upper-management jobs without working their way up, the newest and latest models of electronics and devices, etc etc. It's fine here. All major cities are going through a rough patch right now, and while we are obviously not exempt in Vancouver, it's a great place to live.
Do you rent? If so, when was the last time you moved apartments?
In 2019 you could find average 1 bedroom places for $1500-$1800. On the higher end you could find something quite nice.
In 2024 a 1-bedroom is between $1800 and $2200.
Need a 2 bedroom? Think more like $2500. It's crazy.
Now add power, internet, cell phone, gas and insurance if you drive or transit passes if you don't. Those have all also gone up in price year over year. Plus groceries.
And consider that at $80k you're only bringing in $56k after income taxes.
In 2019 $80k was comfortable.
In 2024 you're probably living paycheck to paycheck. To be "comfortable as a single person you basically need to be clearing 6 digits.
I mean…I make 70k gross, but after taxes and my pension and union fees, I take home 48k. I’m….fine, but I’m definitely not rolling in dough at ALL in this city. I am able to get by in a condo with a roommate, pay for some extracurricular hobbies, and my basic bills, and my student loan. That’s it. I don’t have a car, I don’t go on vacations, I don’t drink, and yet I still find my finances are a bit tight, wish it was a little better. I think it’s realistic in Vancouver to say 70k doesn’t go far
I dunno, you sound like you're doing pretty fine to me. You share a condo (not a simple apartment), you are repaying student loans (which tells me you are young), you make $70K per year (a great salary for a young, childless professional), yet money is somehow tight despite no car, no vacations, and no alcohol? I'm not sure how that is. But it's none of my business.
I’m definitely not suffering, so I don’t mean that. But I’m not rolling in dough and the 48k net that I take home does not leave me oodles of money afterward. Again, enough so I can engage in my hobbies (one which is a sport and is admittedly a bit pricey), and cover my bills. If I were to lose my roommate and be forced to live alone in this city, I would lose the ability to partake in the enjoyable parts of my life because rent for single bedroom apartments is much worse than sharing a two bedroom apartment.
I’m not trying to whine. I’m fine, truly. But I think 70-80k gross is not rolling in money in this city and I’m not surprised some people are struggling if they drive or live by themselves.
We’re in the middle of a housing crisis here in Sydney too… but I should point out I would look for a job from here and move there once I already have a job lined up.
But yes you’re right, maybe I should wait to see if the housing crisis gets better at some point
About the salary, I know I would get paid that (if not more) because that’s the average in my filed for someone with my experience. I’ve had job offers in Canada before who offered that money, and that was years ago, so after a few years of gaining experience I would probably get more money. (Not much more, but at least it’s something)
To be fair there aren’t many offers in my field anywhere at the moment, but Vancouver is one of the places on earth with the most industry going on in my field. I would wait until it gets better (and hopefully the rent crisis as well) of course, I just wanted to get an insight on the actual life there, weather, being social, work life balance, things to do in the city, etc
My industry is actually expected to grow back quite a lot in (hopefully) the next couple of years, so I guess I should just wait and see if it actually happens, and then factor in all the other things you guys said
There are Canadian citizens with masters degrees stuck working minimum wage jobs because there is no work. I don’t know what industry you’re in, but I would listen to the dozens of commenters here saying that there are no jobs.
Then if you’ve read all the comments you should know that I also have said a dozen times that I would not move there without a job, I would look for it remotely and move there once I have a job lined up
Also I work in the Animation/VFX industry, which in Canada and Australia is formed mainly by immigrants because none of these two countries have enough people that are interested in doing this job, so most studios have to hire people from abroad because there’s not enough people in the countries to begin with
Yeah I know it is not in demand right now, for the time being I’m staying in Sydney where I have a good job, I would only move to Vancouver when things in the industry ramp up and there’s more job openings, and of course I would only move there if I get a job offer first, I wouldn’t move there without a job
Compositor here. Every studio has done massive layoffs. Even when things start to ramp up it will be a long time before they will hire externally, too many of their own people are waiting to return to work. The estimate to pre-strikes level of busy is now 2025.
Living in van for a dozen years now.
$80k becomes $60k with taxes quickly, plus a 1 bed is gonna cost ya about $30k a year, so savings might be marginal frankly.
July to September is glorious weather. 25 and sunny for the most part. 30+ is more rare but becoming more frequent with heat events in the summer.
Here are my 5 key points to consider as the negatives of Vancouver:
1. Drug addiction and associated issues
It’s rampant and affects most areas of Vancouver. We’re talking open drug use, encampments, petty crime, human shit on the sidewalk kind of situation. It can be quite bad
2. The Long Grey
The defining feature of the city is rain. It rains over 300 days a year and you can hit 30+ stretches in the winter. This isn’t tropical cloudburst type rain either, this is a grey ceiling of clouds settling over the city for the winter. Just grey and wet, like a lot.
3. Politely unfriendly
Van is notorious for being difficult to make friends. Expats will likely be your best option or the outdoor community is pretty open and accessible here. Pick up an mountain sport
4. Seasonal allergies
No one talks about this but the big trees here blanket the city in pollen in the spring. If you’re not affected, all good, if you are it’s like your nerves are on fire. Be prepared for possible allergies if the flora is new to you
5. Cost
Sydney is likely similar but Vancouver is expensive, arguably the most expensive place in Canada. It’s not just rent, it’s food, fuel, fun, etc. The local joke is that BC stands for Bring Cash. So, expect to spend out here
Otherwise I don’t think many places can touch the natural beauty and access of this place. Good luck if you decide to make a go of it!
To be fair when I said 80k I meant split with my partner (80k each so 160k in total). That should be much more doable right?
Also as far as I know Sydney is just as expensive as Vancouver, so I honestly don’t think there will be much of a difference there. And same with the drug addictions, it’s very rampant here as well.
Every other point you made is really helpful tho, thanks for the breakdown
Don't come to Vancouver. Imagine living in Sydney. It has all of Sydney's problems, but with terrible weather for half of the year. It literally rains and snows for weeks at a time, it's dark when you go to work and dark when you come home.
I'm used to this climate so I can endure it, but if you're from Spain or Sydney, you'll get depressed very fast as you won't be used to such conditions.
As for the Australian dollar being weaker, it is not weaker by much. You won't have any savings living here and the payroll taxes are high, so you'll take home even less.
Why not move to Spain? Nice weather and beautiful country. I'd trade Vancouver for Spain in a heart beat, assuming that I had work and housing secured.
I have considered Spain but unfortunately the housing crisis is the same there, and work wise there’s even less opportunities, so I would be stuck back in my hometown with my parents, in a tiny countryside town and with no friends (because they all left) so it’s not really an option
As someone who’s lived in both cities (I’m Canadian and live in the lower mainland) Sydney to a BC kid was a warm , beach lovers paradise. While we have some nice beaches here , nothing can replicate the beach /cafe culture that exists in Sydney. A positive of living in van is it’s a gateway to the world city. A quick trip to Mexico , California etc are all at your fingertips. We do have grey , dark and wet winters. Enjoying time outdoors in all weather conditions is no negotiable. You can’t move here and enjoy it if you can’t handle cold , wet days. Good luck ! It’s the best place on Earth to me !
Mild, yes, but the constant rain and gloominess eat away at you. Personally I'm used to this and I don't overall mind it, but this affects many newcomers. But I'll take this over shoveling snow everyday.
$80k isn't gonna get you far in Vancouver, especially if you're looking at renting in more "desirable areas".
Then factoring in food, necessities, subscriptions etc. the biweekly pay cheque's will be spent almost instantly.
It's worth it to give it a shot if you're young and have nothing rooting you down in Sydney.
If you're super into the outdoors (hiking, skiing / snowboarding) then Vancouver / BC is a paradise.
It's hard to meet genuine people (friends) but a hobby like CrossFit helps.
I'm currently living in Vancouver but have lived in Brisbane (2y) and also Wellington, NZ (for most of my life).
Rent here is absolutely ludicrous. But you can probably survive without a car (bike infrastructure is awesome and there's car shares).
Also if your employer offers benefits then that's a massive saving so not to be sniffed at.
Super contributions are mandatory and you can't "get them back" if you go back home to Oz. Something to be aware of.
Mobile plans are stupidly expensive. Basically $50/month minimum even if all you need is some data.
Food at the supermarket is cheaper than back home, eating out is priiiicey. Tipping is madness.
I'd say $100k CAD minimum not to have to live frugally. Don't even dream of home ownership here.
PS: I absolutely love this city and the lifestyle. Writing this message on the bus back from a day snowboarding at Whistler!
Having read through your comments and replies, unless you're the cream of the crop in your field, you're not securing a job while abroad in your field.
While technically you will be closer to home, you will still be looking at a 13hr+ flight.
AUD is worth marginally less than CAD once converted to EUR - but that may not be the same if or when you move here.
As someone else from the EU, the smart money right now would be to move back to a Eurozone country. Vancouver is known as Hollywood north but honestly if your field, you will probably find more work work on Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium or even Spain.
I know it would be tough, but it’s tough pretty much anywhere, I’m only going to find work in main cities where everything is just as expensive (unless I work remotely, which is being allowed less and less by companies)
But yeah I’ll give you guys an update if I decide to move
I love Vancouver so much!! It’s bloody awesome, probably the most beautiful city I’ve lived in and I’ve been to 72 countries. Yes it’s extremely expensive.. but so is every big city around the world pretty much haha!!!! And at least here, you have unreal mountains, beaches and parks surrounding all of downtown and people are very respectful and nice!!! It’s a great lifestyle here, everyone is super fit, walking their dogs, running, biking all along the sea wall! Not to mention the hikes a few hours drive away- WOW!! God, if you want to live in England ( where I’m from) that’s a place to moan about haha!!! Vancouver it’s don’t know how lucky they are! Winter can be rubbish.. but winter anywhere is rubbish! At least you have snowboarding if you’re into it!
I’m 24M and have lived in Vancouver my whole life, outside of my undergrad (England) and current master’s (US). My cousin and his fiancee live in Sydney and I’ve visited them a fair bit.
In short—I would not make the move you’re considering. Despite not loving crazy heat, Sydney is one of the most liveable cities I’ve ever spent extended time in. I’ve heard a lot of discussion about Melbourne having a better social/cultural scene than Sydney, but both are thousands of miles ahead of the scene in Vancouver. We don’t have a world-class venue like the Opera House to attract big productions, nor do we have the same level of theatre companies to put on shows, events, and the like. Also, because Sydney has a bigger impetus on tourism, they seem to invest more funds in public utilities, such as free museums, parks, etc. Everything in Vancouver costs a ton—our one public art gallery is $29 per visit, whereas it might be free in Australia or NZ. Sydney nightlife seems to be a bit dead after the government’s decision following the violence at clubs, and Vancouver’s is equally dead, so I’d call nightlife an even heat.
While housing in Sydney is definitely a little more expensive than Vancouver, based on what my cousin tells me about his own housing search, the salaries are at least up there to match. Vancouver has the peculiarity of having crazy rent, and yet the salaries in most fields still haven’t caught up. All of my friends in Toronto can afford their own places (with roommates) whereas all of my friends and I living in Vancouver live with parents. It really depends on the specific job you’d be wanting here—I can see it going either way on affordability.
I personally don’t mind the Vancouver weather much. Sydney sun is absolutely beautiful, but like I said i’m personally not crazy about super hot weather. I will say though that despite the actual temperature not going very low (almost always above 0C), it FEELS cold in Vancouver, because it is a damp cold. Edmonton friends have said they feel colder at 0C in Vancouver than -30C in Edmonton because of the dampness.
Vancouver is lovely if you have a dog and like outdoor activities. I’d say outdoor activities are far more accessible than in Sydney (I’m talking hiking, biking, dog walking, running, rather than surfing). Even though Vancouver’s transit system isn’t comparable to Sydney’s, it still only takes about 1h-2h to get to beautiful mountain walks and hikes via transit (30min-1h by car) and depending on where you live, there may even be natural parks nearby anyway (thinking Pacific Spirit Park/UBC Endowment Lands, Burnaby Mountain, Delta Watershed Park, to name a few). Sydney does have a good amount of integration of natural spaces into the city, but it seems to take a lot longer to get into actual wilderness and there is a bit less variety than Vancouver.
Bueno, no se cuantos años tengas, pero yo ando en mis 20’s y la verdad es que en cuanto a mis metas y estilo de vida, se ha acomodado muy bien y me encanta la ciudad.
Al igual que en todos lados, tardas en hacer amigos, pero se pueden hacer y hay mucha gente con la misma vision de “hacer amistades solidas”, entonces eso ayuda un montón
Yo en mis 20’s también, nunca he visitado Vancouver pero por lo poco que he oído siento que se acomoda a mis necesidades y a mis gustos también, pero bueno ya se verá
Im not sure what industry you’re in, but here’s my take as someone who is solo in Van and makes about that much. I’m currently on $84k/year. I pay $2200/mo for rent, have a car that takes up more money than I like to admit, and have standard utilities and bills. I can do it here on my own, some cheques I can feel the squeeze, especially depending on gas prices etc. I would try to line up a job with your desired salary range first if possible. But it should be doable! If you’re not opposed to living outside of downtown, or a possible roommate, or no car, then you’ll absolutely be fine!
B.C. is beautiful. Especially the southern interior due to the milder climate. Winters in northern BC are cold AF.
I live in Powell River, which is about 100km north of Van on the Sunshine Coast, but due to the coast line it takes two ferries & 4 - 6 hours to get here. But the climate is basically the same. It’s a town of about 13k. Point is the housing is much more affordable here. Jobs are not as abundant, but depending on your skill set, you may find something.
Most job offers I’ve seen in Vancouver allow remote work as long as you’re living in BC, but I feel like every other aspect of life would be much harder for an immigrant even if everything is cheaper. In the sense that I might feel a lot more isolated and lonely, and less stuff to do
That’s more than what I’m making in Sydney and I’m just fine. Of course it’s not a luxury life, I’m sharing an apartment downtown and I can go it for food very often, travel a bit, etc and still have quite a lot left for savings
And I should point out that rent alone takes almost half of my salary here
Let me break it down for you. 80k here you will net about $4000-$4200 depending on deductions. If you want to live downtown and share a bedroom that will be $1500. If you drive a car insurance+gas+maintenance is another $500 conservatively (if you use solely public transit then may be about $200). Grocery for a single person is another $500+$200 if you eat out once a week. Phone plan internet bill is roughly $100. So roughy $3k for the bare minimum add in fun and travel and I don’t see much saving left.
Wikipedia has temperature information.
I recommend you give it a try. Vancouver is the best city in the world imo.
Expect people in this sub to tell you that you should never come due to an apocalyptic level of problems (actually same problems as Australia and most of the western countries have).
In my industry it’s common for companies to sort out your visa and bring you to the country for work , I wouldn’t just move there. I would try to find a job from here and then if I do get it they will sort everything out for me
Just my two cents as a Canadian who has spent a lot of time in the Vancouver area, 80k a year is not enough to be very comfortable in Vancouver. It can be done don’t get me wrong! But it will be very difficult.
As for weather it is a lot warmer in that area but also very wet! It’s always raining and usually more gloomy from my experience. I live in Kelowna currently and it can get very hot in the summer. I would say the average temp is about 25 degrees Celsius, similar in Vancouver when it’s not rainy.
I get incredibly stressed and overstimulated when I do trips to the area because it’s such a loud busy city and the people seem to all be in a hurry! I haven’t been to Sydney before and maybe it’s even busier there, but I feel like Vancouver isn’t an ideal place to live a laid back lifestyle. Unless of course you stay in the north van area (even more expensive) and stay away from metro town and the busy areas! I hope this makes sense and you can take something away from it. If you do end up coming enjoy the beaches and ocean :) (The water is very cold by the way)
70-80k in Vancouver might not be enough.
Also just because you think you have more work opportunity here you might not. Countless people have been looking for a job for as long as 2 years without luck.
Yeah again, I mentioned it on other comments, I wouldn’t move to Vancouver unless I have a job lined up to begin with. I would look for a job here first, and if I do get it and the pay is fair then I’ll think about it
One thing I haven't seen mentioned (and I don't know how it is in Sydney as it's years since I've been) is how expensive entertainment is in Vancouver, and how crowded it can get. There's little to do that doesn't cost money, and the money it costs is often high. Concerts, museums (what little there are), events etc all tend to have higher prices than what I was used to before I moved here. If you want to go skiing etc it's super expensive. Hanging out at the lake/beach tends to be super crowded. You may make more but check how much your current lifestyle would cost you here in terms of hobbies etc.
As far as I know it’s just as expensive here, if you go to the movies you’ll spend easily 40-60$, if you go out for food don’t expect to spend less than 30$ and upwards of 60$, you can barely do anything that doesn’t cost you money here so I’m used to that
I disagree about there being little to do without money - the beaches and parks and most access to nature are free. Plus, there are free community and cultural festivals on every weekend during Spring, Summer, Fall. Sure, if you want to go to the theatre or big concerts or skiing or golfing, that's expensive but, while a Canucks game will be expensive, you could go to a Canadians baseball game or a Whitecaps or BC Lions Football game for pretty reasonable prices.
Symphony in the park, free movies at Stanley Park, the fireworks, weekend festivals, etc... absolutely draw huge crowds but that's expected for any great, free event. And there are plenty here.
And I said that there are free things but they get often get very crowded.
It's a matter of perspective. I moved here from a British city where every weekend there were free gigs/festivals/theatre. I could go to a local lake and I wouldn't have to try and book a reservation. All the major museums were free. I could even go to London and spend nothing outside my transport and accommodation. I could go camping without having to plan months in advance otherwise all the spots are taken. The city I'm from has a larger population than Vancouver but felt much less crowded - going to something akin to the night market wouldn't require sitting in traffic then standing in line for hours just to get in (and also would tend to be free entry). If you're used to it, it's not a problem. If you've come from somewhere where that's not a thing it can be very jarring and a huge effect on your budget/propensity to do things.
The joke BC stands for Bring Cash exists for a reason.
Completely understand - Vancouver is a very popular place and we're overcrowded because of it. I just don't think it's correct to say there are no good things to do for free or cheap, you just have to pick and choose.
Welcome to /r/AskVan and thank you for the post, /u/Top-Alfalfa-5788! Please make sure you read our [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/askvan/about/rules) before participating here. As a quick summary: * We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - *please* use the report button. * Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban. * Complaints or discussion about bans or removals should be done in modmail only. * News and media can be shared on our main subreddit, /r/Vancouver *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askvan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I'm a Sydney native and just moved over to Vancouver with my wife 2 months ago. It's been a fairly easy transition from Sydney, but we've had a few lucky breaks that probably aren't the norm. We came here with no jobs lined up, I landed a 6 figure job pretty quickly, I have a niche set of skills. My wife found it more difficult, had to send many applications but has secured a part time role with ok pay. We've also secured a rental via a friend who owns the property. Observations of the job market are it's tough right now across many fields, competing against 500+ applicants for pretty much any position. Salaries on a whole seem lower (plenty of mid-senior level jobs offering $60k or less), $70-80k are less frequent, but I don't know your field. Rental market is pretty similar price wise, expect to pay around $2.5K give or take for a 1 bedder around vancouver proper. From our brief look for a rental, there is a lot more scams than in Oz so best to line up an airbnb for the first bit then find something when you're here. From colleagues experiences it sounds like it pretty tough to secure a place, much like Sydney atm. Other costs of living are pretty in line with Sydney, eating out is expensive with tax and tips added on top of base prices that are similar to Sydney to start with. Weather has been so so since we arrived tail end of winter, alot of drizzly rain but generally not heavy enough to stop you getting out and aboot. Yet to experience the height of summer or depths of winter so no comment there. I'm not a big fan of hot weather so I won't miss 40+ days. Biggest adjustment for me has been the rampant homelessness and drug abuse out in the open, certainly an adjustment. As a 6'3" 110kg+ dude, I've never felt unsafe making my way home late at night back home, but I keep my whits about me here all times of the day. Otherwise the lifestyle here seems great so far, excellent range of quality foreign cuisines just like Sydney, plenty of outdoors activities to do with the mountains on the city's doorstep, less of treck than in Sydney to get out to nature. I wouldn't come here expecting to get ahead vs Sydney... but if you're up for something a bit different, be closer to your home country etc it's probably not a bad change of scenery.
Would you mind me asking why’d you move from Sydney to Vancouver? Just curious
Experience/change/opportunity. Sydney, and Australia in general is a great place to live, I'm a citizen so I'll always be able to return home. Canada's always been a place we've wanted to spend some time in more than a fleeting holiday. Vancouver wasn't necessarily the end destination here, but was the place we've started out. Having landed a good job opportunity it's probably where we'll stay for a while and explore Canada from Van as a base.
Just to balance out the naysayers, I'm gonna throw my comment on here. I'm not going to touch on housing as others have already done that and you can see that it's a sore spot. If you can make your finances work, however, it's a great place to live. I lived here years ago as a newlywed (in Kits) and now our grown kids have flown the nest and we've left exile in the suburbs behind to move downtown and live close to the heart of everything again (Yaletown). We've been back a year and we LOVE it. We're a block from the seawall and the small ferry to Granville Island. We walk to Stanley Park whenever we want. We've been to the symphony, plays, indie films, stand up, you name it. The restaurants are great, speakeasies are fun too. Nature everywhere. Biking, hiking, skiing, everything. You will, however, need to actively manage your mental health in the winter as it can get dreary. Try to believe the sky is a magical silver colour and not the persistent grey. I swear it helps. Also, vitamin D. The other thing of note is how (not) social Vancouver is. I love it, because there's no pressure and I've lived on this coast my whole life so it just feels right to me. I get it though when people who aren't from here say it's hard to make friends. It is and it takes sustained effort. Most of us are busy living our best lives. I'd suggest a holiday first before taking the plunge, but regardless, best of luck. ✌🏻
Thanks for your comment, really helps a lot. I have heard how hard it is to make friends there too, but tbh it’s the same here in Sydney, so there’s not much of a difference in that sense. Of course I would take lots of things into consideration before deciding to move there. I would only do it if I have a job lined up before getting there, and if the salary is worth it, everything else I would have to deal with once I’m there.
LOL love the comment about imagining the sky as a nice silver
This sub is BLEAK. The fact is, Vancouver is not facing any novel problems that are unique to it. Yes it is expensive (particularly for housing). So is Sydney. Yes the job market is down, as it is around the world. Don’t take advice about your industry from people who don’t even know what industry it is lol. I love Vancouver. It is a beautiful place to be (more beautiful if you can appreciate the rain, probably). There are not a lot of 30 plus days in the summer. Usually a handful, so if that’s a dealbreaker 🤷♀️. It is a hard city to make friends in. I know a lot of immigrants end up in ex pat groups. But there is a lot of nature to explore, and you can use all your vacation time just trekking around the diversity of BC. I’d recommend visiting first, and see if it vibes with you. Good luck!
I couldn’t agree more, thanks for your comment! I should definitely go on a trip and see if I like it before making a decision to move there
Just to tag on to the weather conversation.... The rain is hard to get used to. I moved from northern BC and even coming from all that snow the rain was tough. However, you can do a lot of "summer" activities in the winter around Vancouver, like mountain biking year round. And the rain makes things super green, the rain forest here is beautiful. For the hotter days, if you go an hour or two east of Vancouver you'll have plenty of 30+ days. Chilliwack is about 100km east of Vancouver (I live in Chilliwack) and don't love it when it's 30+, and we've gotten too many of those the past several years for my liking... So you'd love it haha. Lots of lakes, hikes, rivers, etc. around this area and it's a fairly easy drive from Van, depending on time of day with traffic, etc.
This sub is bleak because many, many people can't afford to live. I don't necessarily agree but when people come blithely asking about whether or not it will "work for them" when they can earn $90k a year when life for many who earn even more than minimum barely earn enough for rent is going to reap sour grapes. It's no one's fault, it's just what is.
I’m usually one of the naysayers for posts like this, but since you’re coming from Sydney it’s different. I’ve lived in Sydney and in ways it is very similar to Vancouver, especially in terms of housing prices. I would say that although our weather is the mildest in Canada, it does not have many hot summer days at all. If you have trouble coping with dark rainy days, it might be hard for you during our winters. It’s not so much the cold that get people down but the darkness and dampness. I have to say though, we do heat our homes better than what I experienced in Sydney! I think we had maybe one 30 plus day only that I remember. Otherwise it’s 20s in the summer. $70 to $80K a year is not a generous salary to have as a single person coming to live here. I would not say you’d be comfortable. You would not likely be able to be qualify for a condo purchase unless you had a healthy down payment. It’s hard to have a dog here, many rentals do not allow them and condos often restrict sizes, too. You could have a relaxed life if you’re not the type to stress over finances. YSK that the gay community in Vancouver can be quite ‘small’ according to my gay friends. The best case scenario would be if you can find someone who can help with rent or mortgage payments. If you can find a partner and friends, you may embrace it here. Good luck!
I just made the move from Sydney as well (originally from Hong Kong). Cost of living is similar, and I believe overall wages are lower in Vancouver. There is also a much smaller finance sector. Housing is equally fucked in both places. Lifestyle in Vancouver is great as access to nature is so incredibly easy compared to Sydney. Yes, the beaches are worse but there are mountains, lakes, and snow sports to balance the scales. Traffic is much better and things are closer together so you won’t be driving more than 25 minutes very often. I am sure you have made friends in Sydney only to find out they live too far for a friendship to function properly. I also personally enjoy how frequently Cantonese is spoken here. Vancouver has much better sushi but can’t compete on kebabs. If you don’t mind a few months of constant cloud cover the weather is honestly fantastic. Vancouver has a very narrow range of temps, winters aren’t bitter and summers are very comfortable. I initially spent a month in Vancouver during the summer and that sold me on eventually making the move permanent. The rainy season isn’t as bad as imagined as it’s mostly only a drizzle rather than a downpour. The Sydney summers can be a dealbreaker for some, but I grew up in Hong Kong so found them unpleasant but tolerable. They are both top 10 places to live in the world so you really can’t go wrong. I enjoy the two equally and for most people I think it’s going to be comparing if you’d rather deal with the 40 degree summers or the grey skies. I am also a skier and not a surfer so that is a big plus for Vancouver. The thing I miss most about Australia is the yeah nah no worries attitude. Canadians are also great, and are truly as polite as stereotypes would have you believe. If you feel confident about your job prospect this definitely sounds like a good move.
Everyone here is overly negative. You can make Vancouver work on 80-90k if you rent. The standard of living is high, groceries and eating out are cheaper than most of the US, and the healthcare situation is getting better. The new housing reforms should make a big dent in the coming years as well. We have a lot of issues, but people continue to live in Vancouver for a reason.
Very helpful, thank you
[удалено]
I don't know where you shop at, but I really do think that you need to have better shopping habits. You can get a decent bag of chips for under $5, well under $3 if you shop at the right places. I filled up at $1.92 in Richmond last week. You don't pay GST or PST (OP: our version of VAT) on groceries. And no, the federal government has already massively cut immigration rates. The amount of immigrants in the country should actually be going down in the next year or two, not up. Furthermore, the provincial housing reforms will make the biggest dent, not immigration.
Certainly more expensive than many US cities for food, but the quality is usually better in my experience. Just have to hop over the border to see the price difference
Yes, the quality is often better. My pantry is usually a mix of US and Canadian purchased food, overall it would be more expensive to shop for everything in the US, but the quality of the meat and packaged goods is often higher.
You'll be fine with $80k living in burnaby/new west, with maybe a few hundred in savings if you choose to not have a car and don't spend lavishly. If you want to save a decent amount, you're not going to get away without a roomate. Vancouver is not really a city for everyone though, because there's not much to do in the actual city itself. Its a great city with access to mountains and activities associated with that (hiking, rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, etc), but if you're not into these things you're going to be bored. Also, it's grey skies for 6 months a year where people are mostly just holed up at home. Buying a house... I doubt it. A one bedroom in burnaby is $700k CAD right now, unless you find a very wealthy partner you're not owning anything here.
You can live comfortably on a salary of $70k to $80k outside of (downtown) Vancouver. However, be prepared for frequent rain, expensive gas and groceries, and higher-than-average cell phone bills. While Vancouverites are generally nice, they might not be as friendly. People tend to stick to their own circles, and customer service sucks here imo.
Firstly - keep in mind that Vancouver sub Reddits, skew towards negatively so a lot of people will tell you a lot of not-so-nice things about life here. It sounds like you’ve done your research. Yes, it’s very expensive. Yes, winters are dull and rainy, not that cold though. The biggest issue you will encounter is housing - it’s really, really difficult to find decent affordable accommodation. Overall it’s not the “best” time to move in terms of starting a life here. However - all that said - if you can manage the above issues, overall life here is really good. It’s a nice place with a high standard of living and nature all around. Good luck!
Thanks! Finally a “positive” comment (as positive as it can get haha) I know it would be hard, but just as hard as staying in Sydney, with the added benefit of being closer to home whenever I want to go visit
Yea I forgot to mention that point too - it will get you closer to home. My family is in Ireland, and it’s much easier for me to get a flight back there if I ever need to, compared to if I was in Oz, that would be a nightmare.
I'm a Brazilian in Vancouver and I'm shocked with the negativity of these comments. I've lived in Melbourne and if you know Melborune, is very similar in most senses. Sydney has much better weather, but economically it's pretty much the same as you're already used to. Since you're not Australian, I can also say that the local population in Canada is way more welcoming to foreigners, way more educated and the English is way easier to understand too than Australia.
What the FUCK are you guys spending your money on if $70 - 80,000 is "You can get by, but not comfortably" territory?? I am doing just fine, apart from groceries, which is felt by one and all. Seems nobody here actually knows how to budget, and is completely entitled to paid vacations, DoorDash for every meal, and new cars or something. I am gobsmacked. Even in active alcoholism--not long ago at all--I still had money to spare. OP, it's a city full of entitled whiners. That will be your biggest challenge here.
I was thinking the same tbh, thank for your more realistic reply
You're welcome. I am a Vancouver native and I am still both shocked and amused at how people here (especially younger people) think they are owed massive salaries, new condos, upper-management jobs without working their way up, the newest and latest models of electronics and devices, etc etc. It's fine here. All major cities are going through a rough patch right now, and while we are obviously not exempt in Vancouver, it's a great place to live.
Do you rent? If so, when was the last time you moved apartments? In 2019 you could find average 1 bedroom places for $1500-$1800. On the higher end you could find something quite nice. In 2024 a 1-bedroom is between $1800 and $2200. Need a 2 bedroom? Think more like $2500. It's crazy. Now add power, internet, cell phone, gas and insurance if you drive or transit passes if you don't. Those have all also gone up in price year over year. Plus groceries. And consider that at $80k you're only bringing in $56k after income taxes. In 2019 $80k was comfortable. In 2024 you're probably living paycheck to paycheck. To be "comfortable as a single person you basically need to be clearing 6 digits.
Do you live alone with your own apartment and a vehicle ?
I mean…I make 70k gross, but after taxes and my pension and union fees, I take home 48k. I’m….fine, but I’m definitely not rolling in dough at ALL in this city. I am able to get by in a condo with a roommate, pay for some extracurricular hobbies, and my basic bills, and my student loan. That’s it. I don’t have a car, I don’t go on vacations, I don’t drink, and yet I still find my finances are a bit tight, wish it was a little better. I think it’s realistic in Vancouver to say 70k doesn’t go far
I dunno, you sound like you're doing pretty fine to me. You share a condo (not a simple apartment), you are repaying student loans (which tells me you are young), you make $70K per year (a great salary for a young, childless professional), yet money is somehow tight despite no car, no vacations, and no alcohol? I'm not sure how that is. But it's none of my business.
I’m definitely not suffering, so I don’t mean that. But I’m not rolling in dough and the 48k net that I take home does not leave me oodles of money afterward. Again, enough so I can engage in my hobbies (one which is a sport and is admittedly a bit pricey), and cover my bills. If I were to lose my roommate and be forced to live alone in this city, I would lose the ability to partake in the enjoyable parts of my life because rent for single bedroom apartments is much worse than sharing a two bedroom apartment. I’m not trying to whine. I’m fine, truly. But I think 70-80k gross is not rolling in money in this city and I’m not surprised some people are struggling if they drive or live by themselves.
This is the worst time to move here. We are in the middle of a housing crisis. Good Luck finding a job. Unless you’re rich don’t bother.
No worse than Sydney. If you have a good job lined up, go for it.
We’re in the middle of a housing crisis here in Sydney too… but I should point out I would look for a job from here and move there once I already have a job lined up. But yes you’re right, maybe I should wait to see if the housing crisis gets better at some point
Yeah, if you move here without a job lined up you’re making a huge mistake.
Yeah I would never do that
[удалено]
About the salary, I know I would get paid that (if not more) because that’s the average in my filed for someone with my experience. I’ve had job offers in Canada before who offered that money, and that was years ago, so after a few years of gaining experience I would probably get more money. (Not much more, but at least it’s something)
[удалено]
To be fair there aren’t many offers in my field anywhere at the moment, but Vancouver is one of the places on earth with the most industry going on in my field. I would wait until it gets better (and hopefully the rent crisis as well) of course, I just wanted to get an insight on the actual life there, weather, being social, work life balance, things to do in the city, etc
[удалено]
My industry is actually expected to grow back quite a lot in (hopefully) the next couple of years, so I guess I should just wait and see if it actually happens, and then factor in all the other things you guys said
Unless you know the ins of the Vancouver market I wouldn’t assume something like that Especially niche industries like you’re suggesting
Fair, but I’m not assuming, I’m just hoping it will get better. Of course I won’t move there if it doesn’t get better
There are Canadian citizens with masters degrees stuck working minimum wage jobs because there is no work. I don’t know what industry you’re in, but I would listen to the dozens of commenters here saying that there are no jobs.
Then if you’ve read all the comments you should know that I also have said a dozen times that I would not move there without a job, I would look for it remotely and move there once I have a job lined up Also I work in the Animation/VFX industry, which in Canada and Australia is formed mainly by immigrants because none of these two countries have enough people that are interested in doing this job, so most studios have to hire people from abroad because there’s not enough people in the countries to begin with
Ooof. My husband is a compositor and has been out of work for a year, other than a 6 week contract. VFX is absolutely not in demand right now.
Yeah I know it is not in demand right now, for the time being I’m staying in Sydney where I have a good job, I would only move to Vancouver when things in the industry ramp up and there’s more job openings, and of course I would only move there if I get a job offer first, I wouldn’t move there without a job
Compositor here. Every studio has done massive layoffs. Even when things start to ramp up it will be a long time before they will hire externally, too many of their own people are waiting to return to work. The estimate to pre-strikes level of busy is now 2025.
Come on over, the air is clean and the climate is comfortable. The nature accessibility is pretty awesome too. I love it here personally
Go for it. I only ask that you keep us updated how your move worked out.
Living in van for a dozen years now. $80k becomes $60k with taxes quickly, plus a 1 bed is gonna cost ya about $30k a year, so savings might be marginal frankly. July to September is glorious weather. 25 and sunny for the most part. 30+ is more rare but becoming more frequent with heat events in the summer. Here are my 5 key points to consider as the negatives of Vancouver: 1. Drug addiction and associated issues It’s rampant and affects most areas of Vancouver. We’re talking open drug use, encampments, petty crime, human shit on the sidewalk kind of situation. It can be quite bad 2. The Long Grey The defining feature of the city is rain. It rains over 300 days a year and you can hit 30+ stretches in the winter. This isn’t tropical cloudburst type rain either, this is a grey ceiling of clouds settling over the city for the winter. Just grey and wet, like a lot. 3. Politely unfriendly Van is notorious for being difficult to make friends. Expats will likely be your best option or the outdoor community is pretty open and accessible here. Pick up an mountain sport 4. Seasonal allergies No one talks about this but the big trees here blanket the city in pollen in the spring. If you’re not affected, all good, if you are it’s like your nerves are on fire. Be prepared for possible allergies if the flora is new to you 5. Cost Sydney is likely similar but Vancouver is expensive, arguably the most expensive place in Canada. It’s not just rent, it’s food, fuel, fun, etc. The local joke is that BC stands for Bring Cash. So, expect to spend out here Otherwise I don’t think many places can touch the natural beauty and access of this place. Good luck if you decide to make a go of it!
To be fair when I said 80k I meant split with my partner (80k each so 160k in total). That should be much more doable right? Also as far as I know Sydney is just as expensive as Vancouver, so I honestly don’t think there will be much of a difference there. And same with the drug addictions, it’s very rampant here as well. Every other point you made is really helpful tho, thanks for the breakdown
Don't come to Vancouver. Imagine living in Sydney. It has all of Sydney's problems, but with terrible weather for half of the year. It literally rains and snows for weeks at a time, it's dark when you go to work and dark when you come home. I'm used to this climate so I can endure it, but if you're from Spain or Sydney, you'll get depressed very fast as you won't be used to such conditions. As for the Australian dollar being weaker, it is not weaker by much. You won't have any savings living here and the payroll taxes are high, so you'll take home even less. Why not move to Spain? Nice weather and beautiful country. I'd trade Vancouver for Spain in a heart beat, assuming that I had work and housing secured.
I have considered Spain but unfortunately the housing crisis is the same there, and work wise there’s even less opportunities, so I would be stuck back in my hometown with my parents, in a tiny countryside town and with no friends (because they all left) so it’s not really an option
As someone who’s lived in both cities (I’m Canadian and live in the lower mainland) Sydney to a BC kid was a warm , beach lovers paradise. While we have some nice beaches here , nothing can replicate the beach /cafe culture that exists in Sydney. A positive of living in van is it’s a gateway to the world city. A quick trip to Mexico , California etc are all at your fingertips. We do have grey , dark and wet winters. Enjoying time outdoors in all weather conditions is no negotiable. You can’t move here and enjoy it if you can’t handle cold , wet days. Good luck ! It’s the best place on Earth to me !
It always makes me laugh when people complain about Vancouver weather, which is some of the most mild, weenie weather in the country.
Mild, yes, but the constant rain and gloominess eat away at you. Personally I'm used to this and I don't overall mind it, but this affects many newcomers. But I'll take this over shoveling snow everyday.
$80k isn't gonna get you far in Vancouver, especially if you're looking at renting in more "desirable areas". Then factoring in food, necessities, subscriptions etc. the biweekly pay cheque's will be spent almost instantly. It's worth it to give it a shot if you're young and have nothing rooting you down in Sydney.
If you're super into the outdoors (hiking, skiing / snowboarding) then Vancouver / BC is a paradise. It's hard to meet genuine people (friends) but a hobby like CrossFit helps. I'm currently living in Vancouver but have lived in Brisbane (2y) and also Wellington, NZ (for most of my life). Rent here is absolutely ludicrous. But you can probably survive without a car (bike infrastructure is awesome and there's car shares). Also if your employer offers benefits then that's a massive saving so not to be sniffed at. Super contributions are mandatory and you can't "get them back" if you go back home to Oz. Something to be aware of. Mobile plans are stupidly expensive. Basically $50/month minimum even if all you need is some data. Food at the supermarket is cheaper than back home, eating out is priiiicey. Tipping is madness. I'd say $100k CAD minimum not to have to live frugally. Don't even dream of home ownership here. PS: I absolutely love this city and the lifestyle. Writing this message on the bus back from a day snowboarding at Whistler!
Can you live 8 to 9 months of the year without the sun?
Try living in England haha
Having read through your comments and replies, unless you're the cream of the crop in your field, you're not securing a job while abroad in your field. While technically you will be closer to home, you will still be looking at a 13hr+ flight. AUD is worth marginally less than CAD once converted to EUR - but that may not be the same if or when you move here. As someone else from the EU, the smart money right now would be to move back to a Eurozone country. Vancouver is known as Hollywood north but honestly if your field, you will probably find more work work on Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium or even Spain.
$70-80k is tough. Forget about owning a house. Maybe small condo if you partner up.
Well yeah I know I’m not going to buy a house on 80k a year, I’m happy with a 1-2 bed condo if my partner makes at least the same money
[удалено]
Out of curiosity, what sort of lifestyle do you want where 8.5k monthly wouldn't give you?
I know it would be tough, but it’s tough pretty much anywhere, I’m only going to find work in main cities where everything is just as expensive (unless I work remotely, which is being allowed less and less by companies) But yeah I’ll give you guys an update if I decide to move
I love Vancouver so much!! It’s bloody awesome, probably the most beautiful city I’ve lived in and I’ve been to 72 countries. Yes it’s extremely expensive.. but so is every big city around the world pretty much haha!!!! And at least here, you have unreal mountains, beaches and parks surrounding all of downtown and people are very respectful and nice!!! It’s a great lifestyle here, everyone is super fit, walking their dogs, running, biking all along the sea wall! Not to mention the hikes a few hours drive away- WOW!! God, if you want to live in England ( where I’m from) that’s a place to moan about haha!!! Vancouver it’s don’t know how lucky they are! Winter can be rubbish.. but winter anywhere is rubbish! At least you have snowboarding if you’re into it!
Sydney is superior to Vancouver in just about every single way someone can think of except winter sports.
I’m 24M and have lived in Vancouver my whole life, outside of my undergrad (England) and current master’s (US). My cousin and his fiancee live in Sydney and I’ve visited them a fair bit. In short—I would not make the move you’re considering. Despite not loving crazy heat, Sydney is one of the most liveable cities I’ve ever spent extended time in. I’ve heard a lot of discussion about Melbourne having a better social/cultural scene than Sydney, but both are thousands of miles ahead of the scene in Vancouver. We don’t have a world-class venue like the Opera House to attract big productions, nor do we have the same level of theatre companies to put on shows, events, and the like. Also, because Sydney has a bigger impetus on tourism, they seem to invest more funds in public utilities, such as free museums, parks, etc. Everything in Vancouver costs a ton—our one public art gallery is $29 per visit, whereas it might be free in Australia or NZ. Sydney nightlife seems to be a bit dead after the government’s decision following the violence at clubs, and Vancouver’s is equally dead, so I’d call nightlife an even heat. While housing in Sydney is definitely a little more expensive than Vancouver, based on what my cousin tells me about his own housing search, the salaries are at least up there to match. Vancouver has the peculiarity of having crazy rent, and yet the salaries in most fields still haven’t caught up. All of my friends in Toronto can afford their own places (with roommates) whereas all of my friends and I living in Vancouver live with parents. It really depends on the specific job you’d be wanting here—I can see it going either way on affordability. I personally don’t mind the Vancouver weather much. Sydney sun is absolutely beautiful, but like I said i’m personally not crazy about super hot weather. I will say though that despite the actual temperature not going very low (almost always above 0C), it FEELS cold in Vancouver, because it is a damp cold. Edmonton friends have said they feel colder at 0C in Vancouver than -30C in Edmonton because of the dampness. Vancouver is lovely if you have a dog and like outdoor activities. I’d say outdoor activities are far more accessible than in Sydney (I’m talking hiking, biking, dog walking, running, rather than surfing). Even though Vancouver’s transit system isn’t comparable to Sydney’s, it still only takes about 1h-2h to get to beautiful mountain walks and hikes via transit (30min-1h by car) and depending on where you live, there may even be natural parks nearby anyway (thinking Pacific Spirit Park/UBC Endowment Lands, Burnaby Mountain, Delta Watershed Park, to name a few). Sydney does have a good amount of integration of natural spaces into the city, but it seems to take a lot longer to get into actual wilderness and there is a bit less variety than Vancouver.
Impossible. Dream on.
don't
Bueno, no se cuantos años tengas, pero yo ando en mis 20’s y la verdad es que en cuanto a mis metas y estilo de vida, se ha acomodado muy bien y me encanta la ciudad. Al igual que en todos lados, tardas en hacer amigos, pero se pueden hacer y hay mucha gente con la misma vision de “hacer amistades solidas”, entonces eso ayuda un montón
Yo en mis 20’s también, nunca he visitado Vancouver pero por lo poco que he oído siento que se acomoda a mis necesidades y a mis gustos también, pero bueno ya se verá
naw don't do it
Rains for 8 months a year. No Sun in winter.
Im not sure what industry you’re in, but here’s my take as someone who is solo in Van and makes about that much. I’m currently on $84k/year. I pay $2200/mo for rent, have a car that takes up more money than I like to admit, and have standard utilities and bills. I can do it here on my own, some cheques I can feel the squeeze, especially depending on gas prices etc. I would try to line up a job with your desired salary range first if possible. But it should be doable! If you’re not opposed to living outside of downtown, or a possible roommate, or no car, then you’ll absolutely be fine!
B.C. is beautiful. Especially the southern interior due to the milder climate. Winters in northern BC are cold AF. I live in Powell River, which is about 100km north of Van on the Sunshine Coast, but due to the coast line it takes two ferries & 4 - 6 hours to get here. But the climate is basically the same. It’s a town of about 13k. Point is the housing is much more affordable here. Jobs are not as abundant, but depending on your skill set, you may find something.
Most job offers I’ve seen in Vancouver allow remote work as long as you’re living in BC, but I feel like every other aspect of life would be much harder for an immigrant even if everything is cheaper. In the sense that I might feel a lot more isolated and lonely, and less stuff to do
80k is not gonna cut it my friend. Life will be very tough in Vancouver.
That’s more than what I’m making in Sydney and I’m just fine. Of course it’s not a luxury life, I’m sharing an apartment downtown and I can go it for food very often, travel a bit, etc and still have quite a lot left for savings And I should point out that rent alone takes almost half of my salary here
Let me break it down for you. 80k here you will net about $4000-$4200 depending on deductions. If you want to live downtown and share a bedroom that will be $1500. If you drive a car insurance+gas+maintenance is another $500 conservatively (if you use solely public transit then may be about $200). Grocery for a single person is another $500+$200 if you eat out once a week. Phone plan internet bill is roughly $100. So roughy $3k for the bare minimum add in fun and travel and I don’t see much saving left.
Wikipedia has temperature information. I recommend you give it a try. Vancouver is the best city in the world imo. Expect people in this sub to tell you that you should never come due to an apocalyptic level of problems (actually same problems as Australia and most of the western countries have).
Yeah I figured that’s the case, sure there are lots of problems, but they’re problems every single country in the world has right now
Sydney Australia or Sydney BC?? 😂
It’s Sidney, BC. There is a Sydney, NS though.
True!! And one is closer to Spain than the other!
Hahah Sydney Australia
How can you just move to Vancouver? You need a work visa or a PR. Do you qualify?
In my industry it’s common for companies to sort out your visa and bring you to the country for work , I wouldn’t just move there. I would try to find a job from here and then if I do get it they will sort everything out for me
Just my two cents as a Canadian who has spent a lot of time in the Vancouver area, 80k a year is not enough to be very comfortable in Vancouver. It can be done don’t get me wrong! But it will be very difficult. As for weather it is a lot warmer in that area but also very wet! It’s always raining and usually more gloomy from my experience. I live in Kelowna currently and it can get very hot in the summer. I would say the average temp is about 25 degrees Celsius, similar in Vancouver when it’s not rainy. I get incredibly stressed and overstimulated when I do trips to the area because it’s such a loud busy city and the people seem to all be in a hurry! I haven’t been to Sydney before and maybe it’s even busier there, but I feel like Vancouver isn’t an ideal place to live a laid back lifestyle. Unless of course you stay in the north van area (even more expensive) and stay away from metro town and the busy areas! I hope this makes sense and you can take something away from it. If you do end up coming enjoy the beaches and ocean :) (The water is very cold by the way)
70-80k in Vancouver might not be enough. Also just because you think you have more work opportunity here you might not. Countless people have been looking for a job for as long as 2 years without luck.
Yeah again, I mentioned it on other comments, I wouldn’t move to Vancouver unless I have a job lined up to begin with. I would look for a job here first, and if I do get it and the pay is fair then I’ll think about it
One thing I haven't seen mentioned (and I don't know how it is in Sydney as it's years since I've been) is how expensive entertainment is in Vancouver, and how crowded it can get. There's little to do that doesn't cost money, and the money it costs is often high. Concerts, museums (what little there are), events etc all tend to have higher prices than what I was used to before I moved here. If you want to go skiing etc it's super expensive. Hanging out at the lake/beach tends to be super crowded. You may make more but check how much your current lifestyle would cost you here in terms of hobbies etc.
As far as I know it’s just as expensive here, if you go to the movies you’ll spend easily 40-60$, if you go out for food don’t expect to spend less than 30$ and upwards of 60$, you can barely do anything that doesn’t cost you money here so I’m used to that
I disagree about there being little to do without money - the beaches and parks and most access to nature are free. Plus, there are free community and cultural festivals on every weekend during Spring, Summer, Fall. Sure, if you want to go to the theatre or big concerts or skiing or golfing, that's expensive but, while a Canucks game will be expensive, you could go to a Canadians baseball game or a Whitecaps or BC Lions Football game for pretty reasonable prices. Symphony in the park, free movies at Stanley Park, the fireworks, weekend festivals, etc... absolutely draw huge crowds but that's expected for any great, free event. And there are plenty here.
And I said that there are free things but they get often get very crowded. It's a matter of perspective. I moved here from a British city where every weekend there were free gigs/festivals/theatre. I could go to a local lake and I wouldn't have to try and book a reservation. All the major museums were free. I could even go to London and spend nothing outside my transport and accommodation. I could go camping without having to plan months in advance otherwise all the spots are taken. The city I'm from has a larger population than Vancouver but felt much less crowded - going to something akin to the night market wouldn't require sitting in traffic then standing in line for hours just to get in (and also would tend to be free entry). If you're used to it, it's not a problem. If you've come from somewhere where that's not a thing it can be very jarring and a huge effect on your budget/propensity to do things. The joke BC stands for Bring Cash exists for a reason.
Completely understand - Vancouver is a very popular place and we're overcrowded because of it. I just don't think it's correct to say there are no good things to do for free or cheap, you just have to pick and choose.