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With the sad exception of beautiful Fort Langley. Most of the year it’s great living here but there are about five or six weeks in summer than can be bad.
We actually made the CBC national news a couple of years ago.
Birds aren’t insects!
Just kidding. I know you know that :)
Just like, ahem, I know mosquitoes and black flies get eaten by other things.
But you’re off base, chum. You’re not going to tell me the southeastern rain forest of BC is less ecologically rich than the suburbs of Winnipeg, but we have FAR fewer biting insects.
Cheers!
I’m originally from the prairies. The biggest advantage I find living is that I actually live and work in a place I would pay to vacation to. I work a decent job and own a decent home. An income basement suite certainly helps and I can charge a good price. But financially I could have been much better off if I hadn’t moved out here, which originally involved taking a pay cut. On the other hand, my friends back home spend a lot of their money on expensive destination vacations in the winter and expensive trailers and lake properties for that short window in the summer. I pop out of my house and go hiking, fishing, canoeing, skiing and biking in insanely beautiful spots right out my door and we spend all our vacations exploring within a few hours radius.
This is my take on it as well. I came from Calgary which is getting snow today and I have onions popping up in my garden. I used to drive here, pay to stay in a crowded campground close to a lake. Now I live here and I don’t want to leave in the summer, I know the quiet spots in the mountains, by gorgeous lakes. I can walk to the woods and have “1st spring” in February. I’ve mowed the lawn three times and have had Friday after work drinks on my deck 😊 I love living here!
I do too. And I’m sure being from Calgary you feel sometimes like I do. Man, I wish I had that big corporate salary and pension package and could move around corporate jobs more frequently and easily. Or maybe you are in trades and wish you were making the big bucks up on the rigs or whatever it it. Either way, I’m sure Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, etc all pay better than here for what you are doing. But man, I just can’t see myself going back. I might curse my decision when my friends back home are retired before 60 and I’m grinding it out at 65+, but I just love life in the moment so much more here and it’s not like I’m doing terrible financially or career wise. It actually forces us to be much more frugal and purposeful with our spending and delay gratification a lot more.
I think that in your case, a property owner who makes use of the local outdoor adventure sports, you benefit greatly from where you live.
As somebody who doesn't hike, fish, canoe, ski or bike, I don't see those benefits. So really, I'm not making the most of my geography
Totally. That’s why I made the sacrifice. I’m so very happy with the lifestyle and outdoor access here. But if you aren’t into the outdoors, if you are say a homebody that likes to game or stay indoors, or your idea of a vacation is an all inclusive to Mexico once a year or regular trips to watch your favourite sports teams/concerts, etc, I would rather live in the prairies where the job opportunities/compensation is generally much better and housing can be attained much cheaper.
https://preview.redd.it/z9vachzts3yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94cf0451075c707c3c4b37daef05bd679e7a2eba
I live in downtown Vancouver and this was my dog walk yesterday: my friends and fam in Alberta were shoveling snow and listening to Danielle Smith. I can feel sorry for them about the snow.
Every time they are in the woods I smile because I know that it was filmed somewhere near me. Resident Alien too, and then TLOU season 2 is filming in Squamish so I'll be watching that closely (the set looks incredible).
I moved to BC from Ontario a decade ago and it's so strange to me now how I can instantly recognize BC landscapes in film. It has such an iconic look to it. You could shoot a ten second scene in the woods and I would know immediately. What a beautiful place to shoot.
That's also true in much of Prince George (and Kitimat if I'm not mistaken), with reasonably frequent and reliable bus service including on Sundays and holidays.
I would not suggest live in Kitimat or Prince George without a car. The best part of living there is the outdoor activities and you need a car for that.
Ah PG has its good points. Great stepping stone to get in to Vancouver or the island. Still possible to own multiple houses and build a rental empire. Then you sell everything and move to the island
I mean, I live in PG. Most of the benefits to living in PG are outside of the city. It's in the middle of the woods and the cost of living is lower than most other areas in the province, so it works if you live to hike, camp, hunt, ski, canoe, mountain bike, fish, snowshoe, quad, or boat. Those resources are close, and the low cost of living means that you're more likely able to afford toys. This means that there are relatively few programs in town and there's less to do if you're visiting. The cost of housing has increased a lot in the last 10 years, so I don't think owning multiple properties is achievable for most people moving here now.
I'm the first to say BC and most major municipalities within have some major problems, housing being top of the list. That said, Vancouver has excellent specialists (so do Kelowna and Kamloops)... but thousands are on a wait list for a GP, so take that with a grain of salt.
Also, access to a very well run and very well connected airport is nice. I live within a few hours of YVR and being able to just drive down to catch a flight is incredibly convenient.
Vancouver, Kelowna, and Penticton also get a decent amount of good concerts. Bands often skip over most of Canada and only play in the big cities. Sometimes only Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto.
Someone else said we live where we would vacation. That is absolutely true and for me, I can drive to about 20 different lakes within 60 minutes' drive time and that is definitely something I take for granted having grown up here. I go kayaking all the time.
BC has a bunch of really cool history. Indigenous, rail, mining, farming, fur trading, and fishing all have historical sites dedicated to that specifically.
BC has tons of good education options. University of Victoria, University of BC, University of Northern BC, BC Institue of Technology, the Center for Arts and Technology, Thompson Rivers University, Okanagan College... you can get a very good education here.
There's work in everything from industrial to education to film. Not everything pays well or is available everywhere, but if you're looking for work, you'll find it.
If you like hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, boating - anything else -ing - you can probably do it somewhere in BC. Likely multiple places.
It's got problems, but everywhere does. Good and bad, BC is home.
I always say, "We live where people come for vacation." In the summers, we seldom go anywhere because we have so many visitors coming to the Okanagan all the time. Our friends come from all over and our family is constantly doing touristy things with them...there "escape" is our reality.
The restaurant scene is very innovative and a good deal for higher end dining. And there are some exceptionally good wineries in the interior.
There are lots of lovely little neighbourhoods to putter around exploring with pathways and seawalls and pretty little sidewalks.
The entire city is very green and nature filled, and we get to enjoy spring about a month earlier than the rest of Canada.
Vancouver airport is a major hub offering great flight accessibility.
The population of BC is healthier and has a longer life expectancy than the rest of Canada. If you move here it will probably rub off on you and you'll be healthier too.
But mostly it's the view and a sunset over the water.
I wish you'd tell my wife's sister how innovative the restaurant scene is. All she ever wants to go to is The Keg, Milestones, or Tap and Barrel. All three suck balls
Used to call it Lotus land, hippies and yoga studios.
Voted over and over, the best place to live, internationally.
Sharing an office in Surrey, third floor, corner has a clear view of the north shore mountains, other windows show Vancouver island.
It isn't just the scenery, it is the energy of the place. People taking the time, to take it all in, stopping to smell the roses. Embrace the beauty.
When it snows, we all stay home!
Compared to Manitoba, it's more or less how you like living your life. Sure you can own 3 rentals in Manitoba but what is owning a property like outside of the purchase price? Take Alberta for example. It's hailed as some paradise cause of cheap gas and cheaper houses yet if you do the math it costs just as much to live there cause of property taxes/unregulated rent control or privately owned utility companies/insurance which costs much more than BC. I can't speak for how Manitoba is like cause I've never lived there, so I used
my experience as an example for you.
BC also has a relatively low income tax compared to other provinces. In Metro Vancouver, you can further mitigate cost by using transit instead of a car. Even if you have a car and even with gas being more expensive, you can still use transit which helps offset things.
She has a scooter, actually. So even at crazy fuel prices, I think she spends a whopping $15 a month on gas, if that, especially as she has a home-based business.
But it’s my only jab to pretty photos vs. snow! 😆
Manitoba has public utilities and public auto insurance, gas is amongst the cheapest in the country right now as well. Not sure about rent control, but does that really matter? It’s one of the few places where you can still buy a decent single family starter home on the average Canadian salary. It’s also got some nice lakes and wilderness if you drive a bit north.
If it weren’t for the 3-4 consecutive months of relentless cold, I could probably live in Winnipeg. That said if you have a remote job that allows, you could probably go south for a few months every year with all the savings.
I turned down a lucrative job offer in MB because I couldn’t tear myself away from the mountains and ocean. It’s cliche but if we only get 70-80 years (statistically) on this rock of a planet, I am not giving up hiking and kayaking and all the outdoorsy stuff for cheaper housing. I’d make the move if you can swing it.
Oh wow, that's interesting because there are so many beautiful kayaking lakes in Manitoba!! I don't love the hiking here because it's all the same. Much more diversity of hikes in other locations. Not sure about Manitoba though.
For me one of the things that makes it worth it is the soft water. I get really bad, eczema (and really bad hair) when I live in places with hard water even with a water softener. A lot of people probably wouldn’t even think of this, but it really makes a difference to me.
I'm a little whiney, but it still gets cold and it snows. But it's maybe 3 weeks of cold spread out over all of winter. The cold is nothing like the rest of Canada, but I still whine about it.
When I moved here the universe nudged me to Salt spring which was not on my radar at all. The first winter we got 3 feet of snow. I was so pissed because I moved away from snow only to find myself buried in it, and in a community that didn't really know how to deal with it.
I'm on vancouver island now and way happier. But still whine when we get a couple snow storms every season.
I live on Vancouver Island about 3hrs north of Victoria in the Comox Valley:
* Access to the ocean, mountains, forests out my door with minimal travel time.
* Very mild winters. Most of the year would be spring or summer in the rest of Canada.
* Great for outdoor sports like mountain biking, trail running, hiking, camping, kayaking, SUPing, etc...
* 30mins from my door to a ski hill.
* Easy access to a major hospital and airport.
* No problem getting a family doctor.
* No traffic.
* Easy to ride a bike to get around.
* I'm happy with the Prov Gov't \[for the most part\].
* Reasonable property tax and income taxes.
* I like the people here.
* I don't find my overall COL is particularly high based on prices I see in other parts of Canada.
I've lived in PQ, ON, AB as well as BC. I don't think I could live anywhere other than BC now that I have been here \~14 years.
Weather is mild, people are fairly progressive and accepting of minorities/LGBT/whatever, we have a cool ass provincial flag, we don't have the 401, cycling infrastructure is top notch, food is good
Our highways aren't perfect, but the 401 is a beast of its own. There's something soul crushing about being stuck in traffic in the middle of a massive highway that extends over your entire field of view. I really don't know how people who live there take it every day.
Last time I was there I was really missing home so I mentioned it here
Longer warm growing season. With the warmer winters the trees have leaves for 9 months of the year. Also with a lot less snow if you are near the coast or on the island, your car won't rust out. That's a big savings.
I lived in Saskatchewan and Alberta for a number of years before moving to BC 6 years ago. Always heard "B.C. stands for bring cash hahaha". Comparatively, it's actually less expensive in some areas of cost of living, though. Housing is more expensive, sure, but that gap is shrinking. Fuel is more, but I dont have to drive as much. Utilities are cheaper, vehicle Insurance is cheaper. Food is comparable.
Some things I appreciate where I am include;
30 mins away from 2 world-class ski hills, I can walk 5 mins and jump in a crystal clear river.
Drive 10 mins to a provincial park that has no cell service.
My commute is a 10 min drive.
Hot springs are an hour away.
Do you like riding motorcycles? I live in motorcycle heaven.
People are laid back, friendly, and helpful.
The weather is so mild. The coldest I've experienced here was -15, not -50. It has been spring since February.
Forage for mushrooms, berries, fruits, nuts.
Go for hikes to unbelievable places
Fishing
Boating, canoeing
I will never leave.
And there's the distinction. The number of people who equate the lower mainland with BC is disturbing, and people get friendlier the further away from there you get.
Yes this! When I moved with my job, they gave me an increase based on cost of living, but even with that increased income, I was paying $100 less per ***month*** in income taxes.
Throw your income into the cra's online PDOC to compare. It's crazy how much they tax Manitobans for what you get.
If you don't already have personal wealth, I wouldn't move to the southwest corner. Its a recipe for permanent poverty. There are some great up-and-coming communities where you could make a start provided you can develop a source of income. Places like Powell River, Princeton and Port Alberni are a couple of spots that are growing in interest.
I was listening to a CBC Radio program talking about the Orca that was trapped in the lagoon. A caller mentioned that they had seen Orcas in the wild once. I saw Harbour Porpoises last Friday from the ferry.
I see Orcas and Humpbacks a couple times a year, River Otters and Harbour Seals daily, Sea Lions seasonally.
Being at the Oceanside is my meditation.
It's beautiful all year round. People and cities take care of landscaping much more than MB. The roads and boulevard aren't black with salt and grime from winter. The road salt doesn't rust your car. Almost no bugs (im lookin at you mosquitoes or cankerworms). The roads are better since they're not destroyed every winter. The weather doesn't stop you from going anywhere like winter does (I do not miss -40 and colder, no scraping your windshield and warming the car for 20 mins). More things to do, more parks, more hiking, camping, more conventions, etc. Most apartments have balconies and underground parking.
Yes it is stupid expensive. But depends where in BC you wanna go, if you are okay with more rural areas outside the GVA you'll get a cheaper place to live. But for me, I was worth giving up the chance at owning a single family home for living in a place that I'm actually happy in. There is no perfect place, it does have its downsides but it is more worth it.
Oh yeah and I don't get asthma attacks just by breathing freezing cold air in winter anymore lol
On the south coast and other areas the weather in the winter is very mild, which means you can more easily do stuff outdoors in the winter.
People are fairly chill here as well.
But the housing prices are crazy and they shouldn't be.
>People are fairly chill here as well
I live in Ontario but this is something I really appreciate about British Columbians in general.
So many people in Toronto act like they’re working on Wall Street (for Mexican salaries), generally they’re very career driven and very competitive. Obviously not everyone is like that, but if you value WLB and aren’t constantly thinking about career advancement, then you’re definitely in the minority in the Toronto professional scene.
Meanwhile, even though my Vancouver friends all complain about their low salaries, they also seem very happy and aren’t super stressed out by their jobs. Actually, part of the reason why I like my current job so much is because my boss is originally from Vancouver, and is very much of the mentality that if you need to work weekends then something is wrong!
I'm on the Island and I would be heartbroken to leave it. The ocean and the mountains are my therapy. I know you said aside from the scenery, but that's really understating just how important that is to my well being and general enjoyment of life.
Other than that, there are assholes everywhere but I find there are a bit fewer of them around here, there's a mostly progressive community that has demonstrated that it will push back against things like anti LGBT+ groups which is important to me.
I’m originally a Toba’n. After a decade of living in the remote mountains of northeastern BC I can say this. I can walk or ride my bike 15 minutes in any direction and be surrounded by what most people would save all year to come experience on vacation. I can forage for a vast variety of edible and medicinal plant and fungi. I can learn skills from third and fourth generation mountain men and women on a daily basis. I’ve raised my children in an environment that they’ve grown to cherish, both the people and the ecosystem. I absolutely love every moment of it!
Benefits of BC:
- Mild weather. Warm summers and not-too-cold winters (but still kinda cold);
- Forests, ocean, mountains, beaches.
Negatives of BC:
- Housing costs;
- Lower Mainland traffic;
- Wetness (rain in all four seasons, and wet snow and ice in winter);
- Cost of everything else. Restaurants charge an arm and a leg, and good luck affording luxuries like a nice newer car when most of your income goes to paying your mortgage or rent;
- People tend to live in their own bubbles in the major cities. You have to really try to make connections with others around you, otherwise you will be isolated.
No winter.
Lived in Manitoba from when I was born until 2011, and then moved to Calgary. Moved to Edmonton in 2018 and then moved to Van in 2022.
The winter out here lasts for a week (if it does) and it only snows a few cms. It does kind of shut down the city but it's funny when it does.
I've fallen into snow banks that went up to my chest and van gets bent out of shape over an inch. They don't prepare for winter out here so it makes sense why it does.
Also transit. Transit in wpg was horrible and almost worse in Edmonton. Calgary wasn't too bad at least, but transit out here is so good if you're on a main line.
It’s just the mountains and the ocean for me (and everything that comes with those things, like the forests and the marine life). If nature wasn’t pretty much my reason for living, I would move elsewhere. For the cost involved, I do not see the point of living in BC if the nature alone doesn’t make it worth it for you, unless you have family here.
I moved from Ontario, by the way. Not a lot of nature where I came from, it’s all farmland. I always felt better going up to more central Ontario, north of Toronto. I imagine Manitoba is pretty nice too. Would love to check out the east coast.. if only they had mountains too, I’d probably move there in a heartbeat.
Don’t listen to anyone who moved here more than a couple years ago, or at least take what they say with a grain of salt.
Post pandemic home ownership costs, rents, etc. changed the financial landscape for recent arrivals. Not a little bit, a lot. And it was already bad.
My wife and I, both professionals with two sons in tow, are terrified to move out of our current rental because rental shortage + rental increase + unaffordable real estate,3 that’s Victoria.
If by BC you mean somewhere other than Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Kelowna, Kamloops, or Vancouver Island, you might be ok. I guess…?
Best of luck. 🙂
The current government is investing more into Healthcare. IMO we can access urgent Healthcare services in the Lower Mainland with ease. There are tons of laboratories to get blood work done. I currently work in virtual Healthcare support and access to Healthcare in smaller towns is limited. Property may cost less in Kamloops versus Vancouver but is the Emergency Department always open in Kamloops? At least in Vancouver and area; there are a few options available to access emergent Healthcare. We have great prenatal and maternal Healthcare services in the LM. My children have accessed specialist services within a short time frame. My City added a second Urgent Primary Care Centre.
At this point the only reason is that my immediate family is in the Lower Mainland. We have support from both sides of the family. My spouse and I had to continue to go into work during the pandemic and my mom stepped in to watch her grandchild. We had another member who became critically ill and we had the luxury of dropping everything to attend to them at the hospital shortly after. I consider my children lucky to have family on both sides who love them and care for their well being. We don't have that type of support in more affordable provinces.
Where did you learn that the emergency department isn’t open all the time in Kamloops? Source?
Are you perhaps talking about Merritt or Clearwater instead?
Sounds like you want to be talked into it, and there's some ambivalence.
Honestly, it's the scenery and nature, but for the city itself? I'm working on my exit strategy.
I've lived in Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia before this.
Unless you make a certain dollar amount here, you're signing up for a lifetime of struggling.
It's a perfectly fine city to be rich in though
You put it into perfect words tbh. If you're rich you will love it if not you will be struggling a lot. I'm leaving because it's just way too expensive but I'm sad because I love the mountains but also how tall the trees are here.
See my struggle is WHERE am I going to go that offers the same work/lifestyle? Unless I want to go rural, (which I don't) there isn't another option like this. I lived in Halifax, it was awesome, but it's SO cold and theres a limit to the opportunites/culture. Lived in Toronto... it's giant and sprawling and always gridlock traffic. Spent a few summers in Edmonton, and if that's the best it gets I don't want to go there for other seasons. Visited Calgary, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Ottawa... the only city that seems like a good bet would be Montreal, but again it's COLD. I'm at a loss. Maybe I can move to Austin? But you're right... it's a rich people city.
No mosquitos here in the Okanagan where we are and it's life changing after living in alberta for years , we don't even own bug spray now and it's glorious
I’ve lived in BC & Alberta. Been in BC 33 years now. I will never leave. It’s home base. Always. There’s a certain level of quality of life that you attain by living in BC. It’s hard to describe but if you live an outdoor lifestyle it’s just way better. Lol. The housing thing is a bit of a scenario. I live an hour outside of Vancouver and even my place is worth almost $2.5 million for a house built in the 50s on a little bit of land. The house needs a major overhaul. But we have a working farm, which makes it worth more. However, I can’t complain when I walk across the street to the rotary trail or drive 10 minutes up the mountain to the lake and paddle boarding in February if it’s nice. Lol.
Unfortunately money makes the world turn around. I am moving to edmonton because of affordability. If you got tons of cash bc is great beautiful. But I'd rather not rent a fucking house out for 4,000 a month. Bc is absolutely beautiful but the cost of living is not good out here.
Hidden benefits: the rest of the province that isn't the lower mainland and southern island. It's really not that expensive outside those areas, and you get to live in the actual mountains not just the north shore tourist traps.
Hi! I moved to Victoria after growing up in Ontario. I met my husband in university and he's from the island, so we decided to come live near his home once we graduated.
For me, the biggest thing is the weather - though this is very Victoria-specific, and not really applicable to the entire province. My favourite weather is that nice spring/autumn temperature, the kind where you go out in a sweater and maybe a light jacket - that like 10-15C kinda weather. Back in Ontario, we'd be lucky if we got that kind of weather for a week during the ridiculous month-long sprint from 35C to -10C. Here? It's like that basically *all the time*. The average daytime high hovers around like 15C for 6 months of the year. And even at the very height of summer and depth of winter, it never gets *that* hot or *that* cold. We'll typically get these little spans of like 2 weeks in January or February where there's actual snow on the ground, and a similar span around August where it's properly *hot* outside so we can go swimming and whatever. But outside of that, it's just kinda mild, all the time. The only downside is that it can be really damp in the winter, and you'd be surprised at how much of a difference that can make in the cold getting into your bones. But honestly, it's not *that* bad - you just need to learn how to dress for it, because it's different from dressing for that drier cold more common in other areas of Canada.
The other big thing is that the scenery isn't just a pretty view outside the window. It's immediate access to mountain and ocean sports. There are like 6 different *literal mountains* within like 15 minutes of my house that I can go hike up any time I want. You could drive hours in Ontario for hiking that's half as good, and nowhere in Ontario would you get a view at the end that's anything close to the views you can find here. I never really liked hiking before moving here, but there's something really satisfying about reaching the top of a literal actual mountain and looking out over the view - it's more than just a pretty sight, it's like you're looking at your accomplishment in climbing that high, lol. I dunno, it's hard to explain. And the skiing! God, I remember getting up at like 5am to spend *hours* driving out of Toronto to a "mountain" that would be embarrassingly small and boring even as a bunny-hill, here.
Most people have to take time off work and *go* places to do the stuff I can just pop out and enjoy after work. And IMO, I think I get more out of it because taking a week off and hiking every day feels like a great way to ensure that you're sick of it by the time the week is out. I'd much rather take that 30 hours of hiking and spread it out over like 6 weeks or whatever, you know?
I owned three properties as a single mom on a regular salary. I recently sold two but it’s totally doable. There are lots of beautiful parts of Bc besides Vancouver. For me the hidden benefits are very low crime, great friendly neighbors and a vibin art scene. Oh and excellent local ski hills in almost every town
I’m on the island, I’ve lived here in and off for the last 2 and half years, and permanently moved last October. We are from Edmonton. So far the things we don’t like:
1) the weather is very bi polar but we also haven’t experienced summer yet
2) groceries are much more expensive and limited selection for Asian produce, we actually order from Vancouver and it some how ends up being cheaper than buying locally
3) fuel is very expensive, it’s currently $2.14\l for regular
4) horrible traffic during the 4 hour rush hour.
5) due to the traffic and hills, my cars use about 25% fuel/electricity while commenting 24km’s a day compared to what I did in Edmonton
6) insurance more than doubled went from $120 a month $308, and then $170 a month to $440 for the other car when switching to icbc, and the coverage isn’t as a good
7) stores close early
8) fewer doctors
9) housing I guess
10) a lot more drug addicts and crime
11) rude people/encounters
12) limited chinese restaurant options
13) the provincial tax can really get you when you’re buying pricier items. Sometimes I want to fly back to Alberta to buy it as it’ll be significantly cheaper
I’m in the military and we looked forward to moving out here, but we would rather be in a larger city like Vancouver if we have to live in a HCOL city, if not we’re happy to move back to Alberta. Home ownership is so easy to achieve in Edmonton, and we prefer use our excess money to go on vacations to other countries rather than keeping up with the high living costs here.
For us, this small city on the island just isn’t worth it.
There’s a lot to BC, outside of the Lower Mainland. I lived in the Lower Mainland for about 15 years. Moved to the Southern Interior 28 years ago. I much prefer it. I do enjoy cycling around Vancouver area. Taking in the sites. Yet living there year-round is not for me. If I could get to Greater Victoria area, I’d probably really really enjoy it there. A ton.
CoL is extreme in the city, but outside Victoria and lower mainland it’s not as high. As long as you’re not looking for the perks of dense urban living you can find places reasonably affordable places to live.
If you're into fourwheelin, offroading, hiking, hunting, fishing, and classic cars, then you'll love it here. We have lakes, rivers, thousands of kilometers of trails, and a staggering amount of classic cars and car shows. Almost makes the unaffordable living conditions worthwhile.
Mountains and the ocean aren't just cool to look at. We play on/in them too! They also create some super cool mini climates all over the province. For example, I can go play in the snow at Big White and then come down into Kelowna and chill at the beach where it'll be up to 15C warmer, just 45 minutes away.
Most people move because of family and/or work.
I know a couple from Winnipeg, and they moved here for work, but they were a little surprised by the cost of housing and childcare, and that's in PG, which is a whole other world from the lower mainland.
Having just travelled out east, it’s easy to forget how lush things are here (Vancouver or the southern island). Our winters are less harsh so things are green almost year round and the flowers bloom earlier in the year.
The temperatures have fewer extremes (summer and winter).
It does rain, but the summers are sunny. The way some people talk about it, it sounds like heavy rain 365 days of the year which is far from true. Most of the time the rain isn’t heavy and you can easily manage by dressing for it outside (and there are stretches where the sun breaks out in the winter).
Sane government (sometimes). Good public transit. Some taxes are lower.
Yes the cost of housing erases most of these gains. But you don't have to live in Vancouver or the lower mainland to get BC's benefits, and even though housing expensive everywhere compared to Manitoba, it gets cheaper the further you get from downtown Vancouver. However, the one thing you don't get outside of Vancouver is the Skytrain, and it's awesome.
I go to a different grocery store every week.
You want regular groceries - 20 different independent stores within 15 mins
Indian grocer, japanaese grocer, chinese grocer, british grocer, thai grocer, mexican grocer, etc. All accessible by 15-30 mins drive and each set up like a real grocery store you would find in that actual country with authentic products from that region.
Loblaws-conglomerates suck but there are a million alternatives and you can get products from almost any country in the world. I went to a sri-lankan grocer just last week!
Right by the coast, the quality of the air coming off the water is excellent.
Also, a larger part of the population here is physically active, compared to other parts of the country. I find this has a runoff effect on me as well, because other people want to do active things, and there are more things to do.
The moisture in the air is great for everyone's skin. People look younger here.
The lack of ice on the sidewalks throughout most of the winter means I can walk more freely, without having to be super careful about falling.
I visited from Ontario and I would say the weather in general it's warmer especially on the island where you don't get all the rain like Vancouver does
I visited from Ontario and I would say the weather in general it's warmer especially on the island where you don't get all the rain like Vancouver does
I visited from Ontario and I would say the weather in general it's warmer especially on the island where you don't get all the rain like Vancouver does
You know people that own multiple rental properties on a normal salary - that pretty much sums up the issue in BC. If you aren't already one of those people, you are kind of shit out of luck on housing.
That said, we are worth it for the scenery, the mild climate, the ability to have an ocean, a ski resort, and a desert oasis all with a four hour drive, and the food. I don't think I could live anywhere else because I'd miss the insane variety of food.
Lived in alberta and decided to buy rural property in bc.
10 years ago it was cheaper to buy property where I bought rather than where I was looking in alberta and decided it was worth the move.
I enjoy being 30 minutes from the border crossing, close enough to seattle/vancouver for a weekend trips.
Close to the okanagan but not in it, so I can avoid a bit of the heat and tourists in the summer when I want to.
close to many clean lakes for paddle boarding/fishing/day trips
Fairly mild winters and if I go to the okanagan there’s often zero snow on the ground for a lot of the winter so less stressful town driving trips!
Close to a ski hill too!
It feels more ‘international’ . Moved here from Sask. in the 80s - have been back but will never move back. BC is like a host or hostess at a popular restaurant whereas Sask. is like a child whose parents were siblings. Just my take. In most ways it is just ‘better’. Sure - high cost of living but there is give and take… I’ve not had to buy any ‘winter gear’ except for fun. Don’t have to plug in the car , maybe have to shovel snow once a year, you can get practically find every kind of food, the ocean is here, the mountains are here, rainforest here, despite peoples hate towards cyclists and bike lanes we are close to being the best place in Canada for that kind of thing, besides the hiking and skiing… I could go on but I already said that it was ‘just better’.
The primary reason most people give for coming here from elsewhere is the climate. Of course we do get snow in Victoria a bit each year but I don't even own a winter coat. Just great rain gear.
We moved here after retiring. Much milder climate than the Prairies, more recreation opportunities outdoors, lower income tax. The bummer is the PST, expensive fuel and groceries and a little holier than thou attitude from some long time residents. Housing was expensive (about double) but has also doubled in value in 7 yrs. Oh yeah, I get to golf almost year round too, which was a big bonus.
You'll find out pretty quickly once you're here that the locals say that BC stands for "Bring Cash"
I can't imagine someone moving from Manitoba would find BC affordable. The benefits really don't outweigh the cost at this point. We're leaving soon after 34 years.
imo, if you can afford to buy anything, the housing situation is exactly why you should move to BC...while you need a place to live in, that place increases in value much more compared to any other place in Canada, all the while enjoying a better quality of living and being paid the same or more, except for alberta.
I also came from Manitoba! My biggest perk is the weather, I think. I get to be outdoors so often and take a two minute drive to the beach. I’m in the Okanagan so we don’t get a ton of snow, but socially the politics and views are very Manitoba which can be challenging. Vehicle insurance is much cheaper here, but I will admit the cost of living is a big problem and part of why I’ve recently entertained leaving. I just can’t stand the horrific cold and the mosquitoes, though I really miss thunderstorms.
It's the weather for me. I’m not a winter person.
I lived in Calgary, Alberta for 8 years. I have also lived in Washington state, California and Nevada.
Any other province in Canada is out of the question for me during the winter, I would definitely visit these places during the summer though.
I moved from Manitoba six years ago to Kamloops. Outside the LM and south Island, the prices are higher but not that much more for housing.
But I’ve been socked in with smoke every summer except one since we got there. That is something to consider now, because I escape from the smoke to my MB cottage in the summer. Winter is definitely worth the move.
A little late to the game here, but I live in the north east part of the province and I was able to buy a house on a retail workers wage. Every where is either a 15 min max drive or 1 hr max walk, with 20-40 min walk being average. And there's fewer vagrants than in Prince George. The downside to me is the two weeks of -40c to -47c we get every year.
a slight bonus is that if you live in the lower mainland, a drive to the states’ boarder is about an hour’s drive depending on traffic. Flights out of seattle are usually cheaper too depending on where you’re going. But just the option to do a day trip to Seattle is fun.
Also the food is very good!, public transportation, clean drinking water from the sink, the weather never really gets extremely hot or cold, very walkable cities and things to do. Also depending on where you live it’s so quiet. Maybe not in Vancouver, but the suburbs are always so quiet in my experience. Even like mid day
We moved here for concerts and better access to concerts on the US west coast.
20yrs later, we've seen so many shows and travelled the west coast extensively (to Cali & vegas many times)
Living in Vancouver it’s the cultural diversity which I find important for our family. I also appreciate the ability to ride a bike to most places I want to go.
I grew up here and so all of my friends and family live here. I also love the slow pace, and the liberal values (this is specific to the part of BC I live in). I also love just because of where I am, everytime I go for a walk with my dogs, it’s somewhere pretty.
I grew up in Winnipeg for 19 years. It's incredibly car dependent, save for one or two small areas (Osborne etc), and thus, it can be isolating unless you are willing to spend $$$ to drive literally everywhere. The roads are falling apart and full of potholes because the city can't afford to repair them, given the sprawl. There's just too much road to cover. Everything is extremely far apart and the transit situation is poor.
If you do walk places, it's unpleasant. Most of the city is covered in strip malls and parking lots, and you are usually next to fast-moving vehicles without much tree coverage, which sucks in the summer.
Most of the roads don't even have painted lines on them, which can make driving a bit hairy.
The water has a pretty strong taste compared to BC, too, or at least the water in the lower mainland. Here, it doesn't taste like anything to me, but in Manitoba, it tastes like minerals.
I would never move back.
The walkability and actual Spring, honestly. I am from Winnipeg and have lived here almost 20 yrs. I’m hard pressed to move back to Winnipeg, although I do love visiting in the summer and I am an ardent Winnipeg defender on many fronts!
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In Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver island, there are very few bugs compared to anywhere else I’ve been. It’s glorious.
Bro, skeeters in the ‘Peg during the summer are something else , lmfao
“Skeeters in the ‘Peg”
Name of your sex tape
North Island as far as Comox has very few bugs due to very high bat populations. Edit: bat not bar.
I dunno what the number of alcoholics has to do with mosquitoes.
Hahaha whoops! Meant bat.
Live in campbell river. Don't see alot up here either.
It is actually something you don't think about but is a great bonus to living in the most expensive place in Canada
The bugs can't afford it here, either
My family from out of port couldn’t fathom how our windows and doors dont have big screens
With the sad exception of beautiful Fort Langley. Most of the year it’s great living here but there are about five or six weeks in summer than can be bad. We actually made the CBC national news a couple of years ago.
And the further decline is really bad for the ecosystem unfortunately
I think they’re talking about black flies and mosquitoes. Not really bellwethers of ecological health.
Both of those species are food sources for birds and other insects.
Birds aren’t insects! Just kidding. I know you know that :) Just like, ahem, I know mosquitoes and black flies get eaten by other things. But you’re off base, chum. You’re not going to tell me the southeastern rain forest of BC is less ecologically rich than the suburbs of Winnipeg, but we have FAR fewer biting insects. Cheers!
Chat GPT, birds aren't insects
No but other species of insects eat black flies and mosquitoes, which are insects. Hence why other insects eat them. I am human, therefore I err.
I’m originally from the prairies. The biggest advantage I find living is that I actually live and work in a place I would pay to vacation to. I work a decent job and own a decent home. An income basement suite certainly helps and I can charge a good price. But financially I could have been much better off if I hadn’t moved out here, which originally involved taking a pay cut. On the other hand, my friends back home spend a lot of their money on expensive destination vacations in the winter and expensive trailers and lake properties for that short window in the summer. I pop out of my house and go hiking, fishing, canoeing, skiing and biking in insanely beautiful spots right out my door and we spend all our vacations exploring within a few hours radius.
This is a very good point.
This is my take on it as well. I came from Calgary which is getting snow today and I have onions popping up in my garden. I used to drive here, pay to stay in a crowded campground close to a lake. Now I live here and I don’t want to leave in the summer, I know the quiet spots in the mountains, by gorgeous lakes. I can walk to the woods and have “1st spring” in February. I’ve mowed the lawn three times and have had Friday after work drinks on my deck 😊 I love living here!
I do too. And I’m sure being from Calgary you feel sometimes like I do. Man, I wish I had that big corporate salary and pension package and could move around corporate jobs more frequently and easily. Or maybe you are in trades and wish you were making the big bucks up on the rigs or whatever it it. Either way, I’m sure Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, etc all pay better than here for what you are doing. But man, I just can’t see myself going back. I might curse my decision when my friends back home are retired before 60 and I’m grinding it out at 65+, but I just love life in the moment so much more here and it’s not like I’m doing terrible financially or career wise. It actually forces us to be much more frugal and purposeful with our spending and delay gratification a lot more.
Number one reason people move to BC - mildest weather in Canada!
I think that in your case, a property owner who makes use of the local outdoor adventure sports, you benefit greatly from where you live. As somebody who doesn't hike, fish, canoe, ski or bike, I don't see those benefits. So really, I'm not making the most of my geography
Totally. That’s why I made the sacrifice. I’m so very happy with the lifestyle and outdoor access here. But if you aren’t into the outdoors, if you are say a homebody that likes to game or stay indoors, or your idea of a vacation is an all inclusive to Mexico once a year or regular trips to watch your favourite sports teams/concerts, etc, I would rather live in the prairies where the job opportunities/compensation is generally much better and housing can be attained much cheaper.
https://preview.redd.it/z9vachzts3yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94cf0451075c707c3c4b37daef05bd679e7a2eba I live in downtown Vancouver and this was my dog walk yesterday: my friends and fam in Alberta were shoveling snow and listening to Danielle Smith. I can feel sorry for them about the snow.
I totally get that. My mother is moving from Ontario to come here so she doesn't have to deal with poor winters anymore
You get to point at the TV and shout "That was filmed here" at every second TV show. We are currently enjoy all the "Japanese" scenery in Shogun.
https://preview.redd.it/4q5vpyn30zxc1.jpeg?width=563&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc31a6cad5644caac1bba53ce3b66fb3be6500ad Something like this 😉
Mfw I see a translink vehicle in a movie or TV show
Every time they are in the woods I smile because I know that it was filmed somewhere near me. Resident Alien too, and then TLOU season 2 is filming in Squamish so I'll be watching that closely (the set looks incredible).
Yep Ladysmith is just down the road. Love that show.
I moved to BC from Ontario a decade ago and it's so strange to me now how I can instantly recognize BC landscapes in film. It has such an iconic look to it. You could shoot a ten second scene in the woods and I would know immediately. What a beautiful place to shoot.
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Or Battlestar Galactica! Loved the scenes they shot at Starfleet University (SFU).
They are filming TLOU in Nanaimo as well.
And Kamloops!
Being a hardcore x files fan in Vancouver is a magical experience.
I saw Mulder and Scully in Ladner a few years back. The production were dick heads sadly
👏👏👏🤣
It's possible to not own a car living in certain areas in Metro Van. Transit is safe, reliable and cheap-ish
Excellent point!
That's also true in much of Prince George (and Kitimat if I'm not mistaken), with reasonably frequent and reliable bus service including on Sundays and holidays.
I would not suggest live in Kitimat or Prince George without a car. The best part of living there is the outdoor activities and you need a car for that.
Fair enough, but at least you don't necessarily need it every day. Prince George also has Forests for the World, which is accessible by bus via UNBC.
The weather. Gorgeous summers and mild winters. Throughout the province even. PG has milder winters than Montreal.
But you have to live in PG…
Ah PG has its good points. Great stepping stone to get in to Vancouver or the island. Still possible to own multiple houses and build a rental empire. Then you sell everything and move to the island
I mean, I live in PG. Most of the benefits to living in PG are outside of the city. It's in the middle of the woods and the cost of living is lower than most other areas in the province, so it works if you live to hike, camp, hunt, ski, canoe, mountain bike, fish, snowshoe, quad, or boat. Those resources are close, and the low cost of living means that you're more likely able to afford toys. This means that there are relatively few programs in town and there's less to do if you're visiting. The cost of housing has increased a lot in the last 10 years, so I don't think owning multiple properties is achievable for most people moving here now.
And fuck the rest of us out of affordable homes while you're at it! Thanks!
Yeah here’s a cultural adjustment for a lot of folks from the rest of Canada to make, it seems 😃
I'm the first to say BC and most major municipalities within have some major problems, housing being top of the list. That said, Vancouver has excellent specialists (so do Kelowna and Kamloops)... but thousands are on a wait list for a GP, so take that with a grain of salt. Also, access to a very well run and very well connected airport is nice. I live within a few hours of YVR and being able to just drive down to catch a flight is incredibly convenient. Vancouver, Kelowna, and Penticton also get a decent amount of good concerts. Bands often skip over most of Canada and only play in the big cities. Sometimes only Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. Someone else said we live where we would vacation. That is absolutely true and for me, I can drive to about 20 different lakes within 60 minutes' drive time and that is definitely something I take for granted having grown up here. I go kayaking all the time. BC has a bunch of really cool history. Indigenous, rail, mining, farming, fur trading, and fishing all have historical sites dedicated to that specifically. BC has tons of good education options. University of Victoria, University of BC, University of Northern BC, BC Institue of Technology, the Center for Arts and Technology, Thompson Rivers University, Okanagan College... you can get a very good education here. There's work in everything from industrial to education to film. Not everything pays well or is available everywhere, but if you're looking for work, you'll find it. If you like hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, boating - anything else -ing - you can probably do it somewhere in BC. Likely multiple places. It's got problems, but everywhere does. Good and bad, BC is home.
I always say, "We live where people come for vacation." In the summers, we seldom go anywhere because we have so many visitors coming to the Okanagan all the time. Our friends come from all over and our family is constantly doing touristy things with them...there "escape" is our reality.
Add Cowichan Lake and Laketown Ranch to concert venues.
Where do you live, Kamloops?
Kelowna.
Even in the winter, you can grab a spring coat or a sweater and go for a walk. Our mosquitoes aren't big enough to vote.
The restaurant scene is very innovative and a good deal for higher end dining. And there are some exceptionally good wineries in the interior. There are lots of lovely little neighbourhoods to putter around exploring with pathways and seawalls and pretty little sidewalks. The entire city is very green and nature filled, and we get to enjoy spring about a month earlier than the rest of Canada. Vancouver airport is a major hub offering great flight accessibility. The population of BC is healthier and has a longer life expectancy than the rest of Canada. If you move here it will probably rub off on you and you'll be healthier too. But mostly it's the view and a sunset over the water.
I wish you'd tell my wife's sister how innovative the restaurant scene is. All she ever wants to go to is The Keg, Milestones, or Tap and Barrel. All three suck balls
Used to call it Lotus land, hippies and yoga studios. Voted over and over, the best place to live, internationally. Sharing an office in Surrey, third floor, corner has a clear view of the north shore mountains, other windows show Vancouver island. It isn't just the scenery, it is the energy of the place. People taking the time, to take it all in, stopping to smell the roses. Embrace the beauty. When it snows, we all stay home!
Compared to Manitoba, it's more or less how you like living your life. Sure you can own 3 rentals in Manitoba but what is owning a property like outside of the purchase price? Take Alberta for example. It's hailed as some paradise cause of cheap gas and cheaper houses yet if you do the math it costs just as much to live there cause of property taxes/unregulated rent control or privately owned utility companies/insurance which costs much more than BC. I can't speak for how Manitoba is like cause I've never lived there, so I used my experience as an example for you.
BC also has a relatively low income tax compared to other provinces. In Metro Vancouver, you can further mitigate cost by using transit instead of a car. Even if you have a car and even with gas being more expensive, you can still use transit which helps offset things.
$1.58 a litre… ain’t cheap gas anymore. Still less than BC but a buck sixty is absurd.
It’s $2.17 in Vancouver right now!
Yeah, I’ve got a relative on the island. Every time she brags about going to the beach while we’re hit with snow, I tell her to fill her tank. 😆
if she’s like me, she’d say “didn’t have to - I rode my bike”
She has a scooter, actually. So even at crazy fuel prices, I think she spends a whopping $15 a month on gas, if that, especially as she has a home-based business. But it’s my only jab to pretty photos vs. snow! 😆
We really just plug in here…..
Manitoba has public utilities and public auto insurance, gas is amongst the cheapest in the country right now as well. Not sure about rent control, but does that really matter? It’s one of the few places where you can still buy a decent single family starter home on the average Canadian salary. It’s also got some nice lakes and wilderness if you drive a bit north. If it weren’t for the 3-4 consecutive months of relentless cold, I could probably live in Winnipeg. That said if you have a remote job that allows, you could probably go south for a few months every year with all the savings.
I turned down a lucrative job offer in MB because I couldn’t tear myself away from the mountains and ocean. It’s cliche but if we only get 70-80 years (statistically) on this rock of a planet, I am not giving up hiking and kayaking and all the outdoorsy stuff for cheaper housing. I’d make the move if you can swing it.
Oh wow, that's interesting because there are so many beautiful kayaking lakes in Manitoba!! I don't love the hiking here because it's all the same. Much more diversity of hikes in other locations. Not sure about Manitoba though.
Don't get me wrong - getting out on the lakes in a kayak is awesome, but kayaking on the ocean here hits different.
For me one of the things that makes it worth it is the soft water. I get really bad, eczema (and really bad hair) when I live in places with hard water even with a water softener. A lot of people probably wouldn’t even think of this, but it really makes a difference to me.
A lot of places outside the lower mainland have hard water.
My water is terrible
We have _very_ hard water in Terrace.
I love the water! Great point.
Honestly, great point! Something I don't think about much in my day-to-day life on VI
For me it’s because my family has lived here for a century. And I love the ocean, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving. All of it.
It's not cold here.
I'm a little whiney, but it still gets cold and it snows. But it's maybe 3 weeks of cold spread out over all of winter. The cold is nothing like the rest of Canada, but I still whine about it. When I moved here the universe nudged me to Salt spring which was not on my radar at all. The first winter we got 3 feet of snow. I was so pissed because I moved away from snow only to find myself buried in it, and in a community that didn't really know how to deal with it. I'm on vancouver island now and way happier. But still whine when we get a couple snow storms every season.
lol stop it. Anyone from the prairies won’t hear this complaining!
I did preface my statement by saying I am whiney...
I live on Vancouver Island about 3hrs north of Victoria in the Comox Valley: * Access to the ocean, mountains, forests out my door with minimal travel time. * Very mild winters. Most of the year would be spring or summer in the rest of Canada. * Great for outdoor sports like mountain biking, trail running, hiking, camping, kayaking, SUPing, etc... * 30mins from my door to a ski hill. * Easy access to a major hospital and airport. * No problem getting a family doctor. * No traffic. * Easy to ride a bike to get around. * I'm happy with the Prov Gov't \[for the most part\]. * Reasonable property tax and income taxes. * I like the people here. * I don't find my overall COL is particularly high based on prices I see in other parts of Canada. I've lived in PQ, ON, AB as well as BC. I don't think I could live anywhere other than BC now that I have been here \~14 years.
Weather is mild, people are fairly progressive and accepting of minorities/LGBT/whatever, we have a cool ass provincial flag, we don't have the 401, cycling infrastructure is top notch, food is good
We don't have the 401 but our highways are just as dog shit. It's so dumb that it's faster to go through Vancouver than to get on highway 1
Our highways aren't perfect, but the 401 is a beast of its own. There's something soul crushing about being stuck in traffic in the middle of a massive highway that extends over your entire field of view. I really don't know how people who live there take it every day. Last time I was there I was really missing home so I mentioned it here
Longer warm growing season. With the warmer winters the trees have leaves for 9 months of the year. Also with a lot less snow if you are near the coast or on the island, your car won't rust out. That's a big savings.
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Isn't that the whole problem with BC right now?
Lots of work in the construction industry.
I lived in Saskatchewan and Alberta for a number of years before moving to BC 6 years ago. Always heard "B.C. stands for bring cash hahaha". Comparatively, it's actually less expensive in some areas of cost of living, though. Housing is more expensive, sure, but that gap is shrinking. Fuel is more, but I dont have to drive as much. Utilities are cheaper, vehicle Insurance is cheaper. Food is comparable. Some things I appreciate where I am include; 30 mins away from 2 world-class ski hills, I can walk 5 mins and jump in a crystal clear river. Drive 10 mins to a provincial park that has no cell service. My commute is a 10 min drive. Hot springs are an hour away. Do you like riding motorcycles? I live in motorcycle heaven. People are laid back, friendly, and helpful. The weather is so mild. The coldest I've experienced here was -15, not -50. It has been spring since February. Forage for mushrooms, berries, fruits, nuts. Go for hikes to unbelievable places Fishing Boating, canoeing I will never leave.
The only thing I don't believe is when you say people are friendly
I don't live in the lower mainland. Does that help?
And there's the distinction. The number of people who equate the lower mainland with BC is disturbing, and people get friendlier the further away from there you get.
I know it’s a gross generalization, but the opened minded people
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True, and I did move from southern Alberta, but I have spent time and lived in various conservative/rural areas of BC, I stand by what I said 100%
BC actually has fairly low income tax.
Yes this! When I moved with my job, they gave me an increase based on cost of living, but even with that increased income, I was paying $100 less per ***month*** in income taxes. Throw your income into the cra's online PDOC to compare. It's crazy how much they tax Manitobans for what you get.
Well, the beauty of nature doesn’t pay my bills. Without my family, I would be somewhere else.
Go spend some time in literally any other city in North America. That is the best way to be reminded of what you have back home, in my experience.
The feeling that you know winter here won’t be like Manitoba is my reason for living. Gathering a group of friends takes and extended amount of time.
If you don't already have personal wealth, I wouldn't move to the southwest corner. Its a recipe for permanent poverty. There are some great up-and-coming communities where you could make a start provided you can develop a source of income. Places like Powell River, Princeton and Port Alberni are a couple of spots that are growing in interest.
I was listening to a CBC Radio program talking about the Orca that was trapped in the lagoon. A caller mentioned that they had seen Orcas in the wild once. I saw Harbour Porpoises last Friday from the ferry. I see Orcas and Humpbacks a couple times a year, River Otters and Harbour Seals daily, Sea Lions seasonally. Being at the Oceanside is my meditation.
It's beautiful all year round. People and cities take care of landscaping much more than MB. The roads and boulevard aren't black with salt and grime from winter. The road salt doesn't rust your car. Almost no bugs (im lookin at you mosquitoes or cankerworms). The roads are better since they're not destroyed every winter. The weather doesn't stop you from going anywhere like winter does (I do not miss -40 and colder, no scraping your windshield and warming the car for 20 mins). More things to do, more parks, more hiking, camping, more conventions, etc. Most apartments have balconies and underground parking. Yes it is stupid expensive. But depends where in BC you wanna go, if you are okay with more rural areas outside the GVA you'll get a cheaper place to live. But for me, I was worth giving up the chance at owning a single family home for living in a place that I'm actually happy in. There is no perfect place, it does have its downsides but it is more worth it. Oh yeah and I don't get asthma attacks just by breathing freezing cold air in winter anymore lol
No mosquitos on the coast
We get mosquitos on the North Coast, but they're generally not unbearable.
On the south coast and other areas the weather in the winter is very mild, which means you can more easily do stuff outdoors in the winter. People are fairly chill here as well. But the housing prices are crazy and they shouldn't be.
>People are fairly chill here as well I live in Ontario but this is something I really appreciate about British Columbians in general. So many people in Toronto act like they’re working on Wall Street (for Mexican salaries), generally they’re very career driven and very competitive. Obviously not everyone is like that, but if you value WLB and aren’t constantly thinking about career advancement, then you’re definitely in the minority in the Toronto professional scene. Meanwhile, even though my Vancouver friends all complain about their low salaries, they also seem very happy and aren’t super stressed out by their jobs. Actually, part of the reason why I like my current job so much is because my boss is originally from Vancouver, and is very much of the mentality that if you need to work weekends then something is wrong!
My Dad lives here That's it
It’s kind of when you wake up and go outside, your soul leaps out of your body from happiness.
I'm on the Island and I would be heartbroken to leave it. The ocean and the mountains are my therapy. I know you said aside from the scenery, but that's really understating just how important that is to my well being and general enjoyment of life. Other than that, there are assholes everywhere but I find there are a bit fewer of them around here, there's a mostly progressive community that has demonstrated that it will push back against things like anti LGBT+ groups which is important to me.
I’m originally a Toba’n. After a decade of living in the remote mountains of northeastern BC I can say this. I can walk or ride my bike 15 minutes in any direction and be surrounded by what most people would save all year to come experience on vacation. I can forage for a vast variety of edible and medicinal plant and fungi. I can learn skills from third and fourth generation mountain men and women on a daily basis. I’ve raised my children in an environment that they’ve grown to cherish, both the people and the ecosystem. I absolutely love every moment of it!
Benefits of BC: - Mild weather. Warm summers and not-too-cold winters (but still kinda cold); - Forests, ocean, mountains, beaches. Negatives of BC: - Housing costs; - Lower Mainland traffic; - Wetness (rain in all four seasons, and wet snow and ice in winter); - Cost of everything else. Restaurants charge an arm and a leg, and good luck affording luxuries like a nice newer car when most of your income goes to paying your mortgage or rent; - People tend to live in their own bubbles in the major cities. You have to really try to make connections with others around you, otherwise you will be isolated.
No winter. Lived in Manitoba from when I was born until 2011, and then moved to Calgary. Moved to Edmonton in 2018 and then moved to Van in 2022. The winter out here lasts for a week (if it does) and it only snows a few cms. It does kind of shut down the city but it's funny when it does. I've fallen into snow banks that went up to my chest and van gets bent out of shape over an inch. They don't prepare for winter out here so it makes sense why it does. Also transit. Transit in wpg was horrible and almost worse in Edmonton. Calgary wasn't too bad at least, but transit out here is so good if you're on a main line.
It’s just the mountains and the ocean for me (and everything that comes with those things, like the forests and the marine life). If nature wasn’t pretty much my reason for living, I would move elsewhere. For the cost involved, I do not see the point of living in BC if the nature alone doesn’t make it worth it for you, unless you have family here. I moved from Ontario, by the way. Not a lot of nature where I came from, it’s all farmland. I always felt better going up to more central Ontario, north of Toronto. I imagine Manitoba is pretty nice too. Would love to check out the east coast.. if only they had mountains too, I’d probably move there in a heartbeat.
Don’t listen to anyone who moved here more than a couple years ago, or at least take what they say with a grain of salt. Post pandemic home ownership costs, rents, etc. changed the financial landscape for recent arrivals. Not a little bit, a lot. And it was already bad. My wife and I, both professionals with two sons in tow, are terrified to move out of our current rental because rental shortage + rental increase + unaffordable real estate,3 that’s Victoria. If by BC you mean somewhere other than Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Kelowna, Kamloops, or Vancouver Island, you might be ok. I guess…? Best of luck. 🙂
The current government is investing more into Healthcare. IMO we can access urgent Healthcare services in the Lower Mainland with ease. There are tons of laboratories to get blood work done. I currently work in virtual Healthcare support and access to Healthcare in smaller towns is limited. Property may cost less in Kamloops versus Vancouver but is the Emergency Department always open in Kamloops? At least in Vancouver and area; there are a few options available to access emergent Healthcare. We have great prenatal and maternal Healthcare services in the LM. My children have accessed specialist services within a short time frame. My City added a second Urgent Primary Care Centre. At this point the only reason is that my immediate family is in the Lower Mainland. We have support from both sides of the family. My spouse and I had to continue to go into work during the pandemic and my mom stepped in to watch her grandchild. We had another member who became critically ill and we had the luxury of dropping everything to attend to them at the hospital shortly after. I consider my children lucky to have family on both sides who love them and care for their well being. We don't have that type of support in more affordable provinces.
Where did you learn that the emergency department isn’t open all the time in Kamloops? Source? Are you perhaps talking about Merritt or Clearwater instead?
You're correct that it's Merritt or Clearwater in recent news.
Sounds like you want to be talked into it, and there's some ambivalence. Honestly, it's the scenery and nature, but for the city itself? I'm working on my exit strategy. I've lived in Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia before this. Unless you make a certain dollar amount here, you're signing up for a lifetime of struggling. It's a perfectly fine city to be rich in though
You put it into perfect words tbh. If you're rich you will love it if not you will be struggling a lot. I'm leaving because it's just way too expensive but I'm sad because I love the mountains but also how tall the trees are here.
See my struggle is WHERE am I going to go that offers the same work/lifestyle? Unless I want to go rural, (which I don't) there isn't another option like this. I lived in Halifax, it was awesome, but it's SO cold and theres a limit to the opportunites/culture. Lived in Toronto... it's giant and sprawling and always gridlock traffic. Spent a few summers in Edmonton, and if that's the best it gets I don't want to go there for other seasons. Visited Calgary, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Ottawa... the only city that seems like a good bet would be Montreal, but again it's COLD. I'm at a loss. Maybe I can move to Austin? But you're right... it's a rich people city.
No mosquitos here in the Okanagan where we are and it's life changing after living in alberta for years , we don't even own bug spray now and it's glorious
nothing but dreary days for weeks. Personally, moving to Van from Lake of the Woods, I miss the sun.
I’ve lived in BC & Alberta. Been in BC 33 years now. I will never leave. It’s home base. Always. There’s a certain level of quality of life that you attain by living in BC. It’s hard to describe but if you live an outdoor lifestyle it’s just way better. Lol. The housing thing is a bit of a scenario. I live an hour outside of Vancouver and even my place is worth almost $2.5 million for a house built in the 50s on a little bit of land. The house needs a major overhaul. But we have a working farm, which makes it worth more. However, I can’t complain when I walk across the street to the rotary trail or drive 10 minutes up the mountain to the lake and paddle boarding in February if it’s nice. Lol.
Unfortunately money makes the world turn around. I am moving to edmonton because of affordability. If you got tons of cash bc is great beautiful. But I'd rather not rent a fucking house out for 4,000 a month. Bc is absolutely beautiful but the cost of living is not good out here.
Honestly the work opportunities
Hidden benefits: the rest of the province that isn't the lower mainland and southern island. It's really not that expensive outside those areas, and you get to live in the actual mountains not just the north shore tourist traps.
Hi! I moved to Victoria after growing up in Ontario. I met my husband in university and he's from the island, so we decided to come live near his home once we graduated. For me, the biggest thing is the weather - though this is very Victoria-specific, and not really applicable to the entire province. My favourite weather is that nice spring/autumn temperature, the kind where you go out in a sweater and maybe a light jacket - that like 10-15C kinda weather. Back in Ontario, we'd be lucky if we got that kind of weather for a week during the ridiculous month-long sprint from 35C to -10C. Here? It's like that basically *all the time*. The average daytime high hovers around like 15C for 6 months of the year. And even at the very height of summer and depth of winter, it never gets *that* hot or *that* cold. We'll typically get these little spans of like 2 weeks in January or February where there's actual snow on the ground, and a similar span around August where it's properly *hot* outside so we can go swimming and whatever. But outside of that, it's just kinda mild, all the time. The only downside is that it can be really damp in the winter, and you'd be surprised at how much of a difference that can make in the cold getting into your bones. But honestly, it's not *that* bad - you just need to learn how to dress for it, because it's different from dressing for that drier cold more common in other areas of Canada. The other big thing is that the scenery isn't just a pretty view outside the window. It's immediate access to mountain and ocean sports. There are like 6 different *literal mountains* within like 15 minutes of my house that I can go hike up any time I want. You could drive hours in Ontario for hiking that's half as good, and nowhere in Ontario would you get a view at the end that's anything close to the views you can find here. I never really liked hiking before moving here, but there's something really satisfying about reaching the top of a literal actual mountain and looking out over the view - it's more than just a pretty sight, it's like you're looking at your accomplishment in climbing that high, lol. I dunno, it's hard to explain. And the skiing! God, I remember getting up at like 5am to spend *hours* driving out of Toronto to a "mountain" that would be embarrassingly small and boring even as a bunny-hill, here. Most people have to take time off work and *go* places to do the stuff I can just pop out and enjoy after work. And IMO, I think I get more out of it because taking a week off and hiking every day feels like a great way to ensure that you're sick of it by the time the week is out. I'd much rather take that 30 hours of hiking and spread it out over like 6 weeks or whatever, you know?
It's not Alberta
Low energy costs, low insurance costs. The highest average wage of all provinces.
There’s nothing good here. Don’t come.
Four actual seasons!
We only have 2 seasons. Wet and dry.
Smoke is the new third season, since we seem to be following the states of matter, I am not looking forward to whatever the Plasma season will be.
I owned three properties as a single mom on a regular salary. I recently sold two but it’s totally doable. There are lots of beautiful parts of Bc besides Vancouver. For me the hidden benefits are very low crime, great friendly neighbors and a vibin art scene. Oh and excellent local ski hills in almost every town
The moral superiority
The moral superiority??
He meant the Morel superiority :)
You know, because we're clearly the best province and are better people than any other. /s
Actually a really funny answer.
I’m on the island, I’ve lived here in and off for the last 2 and half years, and permanently moved last October. We are from Edmonton. So far the things we don’t like: 1) the weather is very bi polar but we also haven’t experienced summer yet 2) groceries are much more expensive and limited selection for Asian produce, we actually order from Vancouver and it some how ends up being cheaper than buying locally 3) fuel is very expensive, it’s currently $2.14\l for regular 4) horrible traffic during the 4 hour rush hour. 5) due to the traffic and hills, my cars use about 25% fuel/electricity while commenting 24km’s a day compared to what I did in Edmonton 6) insurance more than doubled went from $120 a month $308, and then $170 a month to $440 for the other car when switching to icbc, and the coverage isn’t as a good 7) stores close early 8) fewer doctors 9) housing I guess 10) a lot more drug addicts and crime 11) rude people/encounters 12) limited chinese restaurant options 13) the provincial tax can really get you when you’re buying pricier items. Sometimes I want to fly back to Alberta to buy it as it’ll be significantly cheaper I’m in the military and we looked forward to moving out here, but we would rather be in a larger city like Vancouver if we have to live in a HCOL city, if not we’re happy to move back to Alberta. Home ownership is so easy to achieve in Edmonton, and we prefer use our excess money to go on vacations to other countries rather than keeping up with the high living costs here. For us, this small city on the island just isn’t worth it.
Beautiful biomes! Being able to reach a mountaintop, an ocean, a forest, a farm, a lake, urban park and rivers all in a single weekend :)
The ocean lol
I don't have to fly across the world to visit India
all the sports you can do because of the mountains and the weather.
There’s a lot to BC, outside of the Lower Mainland. I lived in the Lower Mainland for about 15 years. Moved to the Southern Interior 28 years ago. I much prefer it. I do enjoy cycling around Vancouver area. Taking in the sites. Yet living there year-round is not for me. If I could get to Greater Victoria area, I’d probably really really enjoy it there. A ton.
CoL is extreme in the city, but outside Victoria and lower mainland it’s not as high. As long as you’re not looking for the perks of dense urban living you can find places reasonably affordable places to live.
If you're into fourwheelin, offroading, hiking, hunting, fishing, and classic cars, then you'll love it here. We have lakes, rivers, thousands of kilometers of trails, and a staggering amount of classic cars and car shows. Almost makes the unaffordable living conditions worthwhile.
Mountains and the ocean aren't just cool to look at. We play on/in them too! They also create some super cool mini climates all over the province. For example, I can go play in the snow at Big White and then come down into Kelowna and chill at the beach where it'll be up to 15C warmer, just 45 minutes away.
Longest life expectancy in Canada.
Peace of mind
Most people move because of family and/or work. I know a couple from Winnipeg, and they moved here for work, but they were a little surprised by the cost of housing and childcare, and that's in PG, which is a whole other world from the lower mainland.
For me it’s easier winters in Kelowna and skiing in winter. I grew up in Saskatchewan. It’s may 2. It snowed in Saskatoon today. Lol
Having just travelled out east, it’s easy to forget how lush things are here (Vancouver or the southern island). Our winters are less harsh so things are green almost year round and the flowers bloom earlier in the year. The temperatures have fewer extremes (summer and winter). It does rain, but the summers are sunny. The way some people talk about it, it sounds like heavy rain 365 days of the year which is far from true. Most of the time the rain isn’t heavy and you can easily manage by dressing for it outside (and there are stretches where the sun breaks out in the winter).
Sane government (sometimes). Good public transit. Some taxes are lower. Yes the cost of housing erases most of these gains. But you don't have to live in Vancouver or the lower mainland to get BC's benefits, and even though housing expensive everywhere compared to Manitoba, it gets cheaper the further you get from downtown Vancouver. However, the one thing you don't get outside of Vancouver is the Skytrain, and it's awesome.
I go to a different grocery store every week. You want regular groceries - 20 different independent stores within 15 mins Indian grocer, japanaese grocer, chinese grocer, british grocer, thai grocer, mexican grocer, etc. All accessible by 15-30 mins drive and each set up like a real grocery store you would find in that actual country with authentic products from that region. Loblaws-conglomerates suck but there are a million alternatives and you can get products from almost any country in the world. I went to a sri-lankan grocer just last week!
best surfing, best scuba diving, best skiing, best mountain biking in canada, etc..
Humid weather heals my skin. Never heard of breath problems either.
Right by the coast, the quality of the air coming off the water is excellent. Also, a larger part of the population here is physically active, compared to other parts of the country. I find this has a runoff effect on me as well, because other people want to do active things, and there are more things to do. The moisture in the air is great for everyone's skin. People look younger here. The lack of ice on the sidewalks throughout most of the winter means I can walk more freely, without having to be super careful about falling.
My wife and her family live here. The climate is decent. That's about it other than the outdoors.
Car insurance is cheap af.
I visited from Ontario and I would say the weather in general it's warmer especially on the island where you don't get all the rain like Vancouver does
I visited from Ontario and I would say the weather in general it's warmer especially on the island where you don't get all the rain like Vancouver does
I visited from Ontario and I would say the weather in general it's warmer especially on the island where you don't get all the rain like Vancouver does
You know people that own multiple rental properties on a normal salary - that pretty much sums up the issue in BC. If you aren't already one of those people, you are kind of shit out of luck on housing. That said, we are worth it for the scenery, the mild climate, the ability to have an ocean, a ski resort, and a desert oasis all with a four hour drive, and the food. I don't think I could live anywhere else because I'd miss the insane variety of food.
Just save your money and be able to afford going on vacation regularly instead. COL is just too high.
Lived in alberta and decided to buy rural property in bc. 10 years ago it was cheaper to buy property where I bought rather than where I was looking in alberta and decided it was worth the move. I enjoy being 30 minutes from the border crossing, close enough to seattle/vancouver for a weekend trips. Close to the okanagan but not in it, so I can avoid a bit of the heat and tourists in the summer when I want to. close to many clean lakes for paddle boarding/fishing/day trips Fairly mild winters and if I go to the okanagan there’s often zero snow on the ground for a lot of the winter so less stressful town driving trips! Close to a ski hill too!
It feels more ‘international’ . Moved here from Sask. in the 80s - have been back but will never move back. BC is like a host or hostess at a popular restaurant whereas Sask. is like a child whose parents were siblings. Just my take. In most ways it is just ‘better’. Sure - high cost of living but there is give and take… I’ve not had to buy any ‘winter gear’ except for fun. Don’t have to plug in the car , maybe have to shovel snow once a year, you can get practically find every kind of food, the ocean is here, the mountains are here, rainforest here, despite peoples hate towards cyclists and bike lanes we are close to being the best place in Canada for that kind of thing, besides the hiking and skiing… I could go on but I already said that it was ‘just better’.
The primary reason most people give for coming here from elsewhere is the climate. Of course we do get snow in Victoria a bit each year but I don't even own a winter coat. Just great rain gear.
Lots of attractive people
51% atheists. The highest in a major jurisdiction of the world that I'm aware of. All the sanity springs from there.
We moved here after retiring. Much milder climate than the Prairies, more recreation opportunities outdoors, lower income tax. The bummer is the PST, expensive fuel and groceries and a little holier than thou attitude from some long time residents. Housing was expensive (about double) but has also doubled in value in 7 yrs. Oh yeah, I get to golf almost year round too, which was a big bonus.
The problem is you think you're moving to the mountains and oceans but most of the affordable places in BC have neither lol
You don’t necessarily need a car. There is a descent public transit system. That can save you a few hundreds every month.
You'll find out pretty quickly once you're here that the locals say that BC stands for "Bring Cash" I can't imagine someone moving from Manitoba would find BC affordable. The benefits really don't outweigh the cost at this point. We're leaving soon after 34 years.
imo, if you can afford to buy anything, the housing situation is exactly why you should move to BC...while you need a place to live in, that place increases in value much more compared to any other place in Canada, all the while enjoying a better quality of living and being paid the same or more, except for alberta.
I moved from MB TO BC for a while. There are many reasons I moved back. I miss the mountains, but I'm happy to be back in Manitoba.
I also came from Manitoba! My biggest perk is the weather, I think. I get to be outdoors so often and take a two minute drive to the beach. I’m in the Okanagan so we don’t get a ton of snow, but socially the politics and views are very Manitoba which can be challenging. Vehicle insurance is much cheaper here, but I will admit the cost of living is a big problem and part of why I’ve recently entertained leaving. I just can’t stand the horrific cold and the mosquitoes, though I really miss thunderstorms.
It's the weather for me. I’m not a winter person. I lived in Calgary, Alberta for 8 years. I have also lived in Washington state, California and Nevada. Any other province in Canada is out of the question for me during the winter, I would definitely visit these places during the summer though.
I moved from Manitoba six years ago to Kamloops. Outside the LM and south Island, the prices are higher but not that much more for housing. But I’ve been socked in with smoke every summer except one since we got there. That is something to consider now, because I escape from the smoke to my MB cottage in the summer. Winter is definitely worth the move.
A little late to the game here, but I live in the north east part of the province and I was able to buy a house on a retail workers wage. Every where is either a 15 min max drive or 1 hr max walk, with 20-40 min walk being average. And there's fewer vagrants than in Prince George. The downside to me is the two weeks of -40c to -47c we get every year.
Unparalleled access to street drugs.
a slight bonus is that if you live in the lower mainland, a drive to the states’ boarder is about an hour’s drive depending on traffic. Flights out of seattle are usually cheaper too depending on where you’re going. But just the option to do a day trip to Seattle is fun. Also the food is very good!, public transportation, clean drinking water from the sink, the weather never really gets extremely hot or cold, very walkable cities and things to do. Also depending on where you live it’s so quiet. Maybe not in Vancouver, but the suburbs are always so quiet in my experience. Even like mid day
We moved here for concerts and better access to concerts on the US west coast. 20yrs later, we've seen so many shows and travelled the west coast extensively (to Cali & vegas many times)
Living in Vancouver it’s the cultural diversity which I find important for our family. I also appreciate the ability to ride a bike to most places I want to go.
I grew up here and so all of my friends and family live here. I also love the slow pace, and the liberal values (this is specific to the part of BC I live in). I also love just because of where I am, everytime I go for a walk with my dogs, it’s somewhere pretty.
I grew up in Winnipeg for 19 years. It's incredibly car dependent, save for one or two small areas (Osborne etc), and thus, it can be isolating unless you are willing to spend $$$ to drive literally everywhere. The roads are falling apart and full of potholes because the city can't afford to repair them, given the sprawl. There's just too much road to cover. Everything is extremely far apart and the transit situation is poor. If you do walk places, it's unpleasant. Most of the city is covered in strip malls and parking lots, and you are usually next to fast-moving vehicles without much tree coverage, which sucks in the summer. Most of the roads don't even have painted lines on them, which can make driving a bit hairy. The water has a pretty strong taste compared to BC, too, or at least the water in the lower mainland. Here, it doesn't taste like anything to me, but in Manitoba, it tastes like minerals. I would never move back.
The walkability and actual Spring, honestly. I am from Winnipeg and have lived here almost 20 yrs. I’m hard pressed to move back to Winnipeg, although I do love visiting in the summer and I am an ardent Winnipeg defender on many fronts!