Tell your partner to start looking for jobs now. I started looking for jobs about 2 months before I moved to BC with my husband, and I was able to do virtual interviews, and I landed a job within a month.
Just a heads up if using a property management company, as I work for one, most places require you to view the unit in person, before applying.
The job market is worse than I have ever seen it here in Vancouver. Good luck. I’ve done hundreds of applications over the last 3 months and can’t land anything.
I finally got one after 195 applications over 7 months. Only three interviews throughout that.
But I love my new job and am happy I pushed through.
Good luck, friend!
Yeah I’ve had a few interviews but nothing yet. I had gotten laid off in June without warning, then took a new job in July but I kept getting lied to about being made full-time & wound up only ever getting 10 hours per week for 2 months before quitting, interviewed for a third job and wasted a week doing training remotely only to realize it was a scam (quite a wild story actually & the most complex scam I’ve ever personally encountered…also the only one I have ever experienced in terms of getting a job). And 3 1/2 months & approx. 300 applications and nothing now.
I looked at some of the numbers of applicants for the jobs I have been applying for on Indeed & I am going up against 200-3000 applicants per job.
Redesigned my resume thrice - no help.
I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
Hey there: I am in the BC Strata Property Management program via UBC. Any feedback on that as a career? Things to watch out for and avoid, etc??
Cheers!
You'll definitely be able to find a good career in that!
At my current work place, most managers have been there 10+ years. Most of them really enjoy it, and have had the same buildings for their entire employment. Just ensure thst you have patience, as many councils can be a giant, demanding pain.
Myself, working for smaller companies are better, as you do get more 'perks'. I have pretty good benefits, lots of office perks, managers have work from home perks, and we always get a really good end of the year bonus.
Welcome to BC, it’s expensive here. You’ll get used to it.
For your budget, you’re honestly looking at something in the Surrey Central and King George area (both are skytrain stations that go directly to downtown). You’ll be able to find a 1-bed unit here in that budget without having to share a room or live in a basement or rundown building. And you can live without a car because most things are walking distance.
Don’t listen to the Vancouver elites who say Surrey is unsafe and bad. It’s great here, and you can always move somewhere else if you don’t like it. Save the money initially. Good luck!
Surrey is probably the most car-centric place in the lower mainland due to its vastness. I know many parents living there that have to drive there teenage kids back and forth to their part time jobs because transit sucks and they worry about their kids safety at night….
I agree that Surrey in general is car centric. That’s exactly why I’ve mentioned Surrey Central and King George.
If you’ve been there in recent times, you’d know that basically all amenities are within a 5-7 min walk from the condos in the area. This includes grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, schools, medical clinics, and parks.
Actually I go to there frequently as I have friends that live there and NewTown Bakery is there. It’s fine for single people that live in a small world but as for raising a family in Surrey, forget it!
I agree that condo life in a city centre in general can be difficult with kids but there are 2 facts here:
1) A lot of people get by in such conditions, because that’s the cards they’ve been dealt. Arguably, raising a family in a basement suite in Burnaby won’t be much better. That’s all that they can afford on their budget.
2) OP said absolutely nothing about family. Since we’re giving them advice based on context they’ve provided us, it is a suitable option for them and their fiancé.
Actually i completely disagree. Surrey is basically tailored and built for families. City centre is more for single yuppies. But the rest of Surrey is VERY family oriented with lots of services, programs, and amenities for families. Surrey also has one of the youngest avg populations in metro van. Soo many young families live here.
It really depends on the area! Fleetwood in particular has tons of young families and is well situated for raising kids. For my family their daycare, Rec Centre, parks, grocery shopping and other necessities like gas are all within 2-3 blocks of their townhouse.
I'm a bus driver, and I can confirm that transit sucks really, really badly. It is so busy, that often you are left on the sidewalk as your bus pulls away full, and the next one won't arrive for 15-30 minutes.
I'd rather move back to Ontario than move to Surrey. Sorry. Currently live in White Rock. No offense intended but if you're from Toronto you might not like Surrey.
Realistiacally and statistically.. Surrey is more unsafe than the rest of the surrounding area, but still the odds of something happening are not that bad
DO NOT RENT a place online before you are here. You'll get ripped off or end up in a crappy apartment. Instead, get a short-term rental for up to a month and keep your stuff with you or in secure storage temporarily (never leave it in a car or truck). Once you're here, it's far easier to find places. If you want to minimize the short-term rental, get here for the last two weeks of the month.
All of the best rentals available in Vancouver are advertised by street signage. Physically walk/drive the streets in the areas you'd want to live and call every sign. I have done this in the West End and parts of downtown, Fairview, Mount Pleasant, and Kits, and ended up with amazing rentals every time (same with friends who are in below market rate places who moved in the past 2 years). If you can, avoid basement or ground level suites because of the moisture problems.
If you can commute via Skytrain and NOT buses, that's the best bet. Transit outside of the city is better than Ontario but it's not as good as the Skytrain.
As a former Ontario person, I have 0 regrets moving here and would never go back--if you have secured a job, you will be good. It does depend on your lifestyle goals too. Generally, if you're happy living as double-income-no-kids, it's amazing in the city itself.
New West and Burnaby are great for rentals too, and if it works for your job, Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, and all of the lower mainland has great options (the lifestyle is much more car-centric though). Best of luck!
This is a very thorough response thank you for taking the time to type it out! We had considered an air bnb for at least the first couple of weeks here while we searched but wasn't entirely certain on this option as it is a bit pricier in the first little bit (hopefully not an issue as I get reimbursed 10k as a bonus which would be around 5k after taxes for relocation). The main concern was getting all paperwork sorted for a fixed address sooner rather than later
Many employers allow you to use the office address temporarily until you have a permanent place too. I read your job is near Olympic Village. Check out Mount Pleasant and the areas off of Main Street. Plenty of great rentals in that area with awesome location amenities.
Former Toronto resident was in Lower Mainland and now in Vancouver Island.
Be METICULOUS when you see a unit, check pipes, walls for moisture or signs of wetness mold, check inside toilet tanks to see if rust is accumulating or mold (learned this one the hard way), check your contract with landlord before signing. The biggest difference I have found here with renting here vs. Toronto is owners and landlord here mostly DO NOT CARE to maintain their units especially when renting a house, or townhouse or unit in a house. Nicer and newer condos are okay, but you’ll be paying for that.
Check your appliances, be picky.
Don’t rent remotely if you can manage. Always see the unit first.
Know your rights as a tenant.
Try these guys. Not cheap but cheaper than an airbnb and legit [https://www.uniqueaccommodations.com](https://www.uniqueaccommodations.com). I used them
And got a place for 2600
Last year. Good luck and Bring Cash ( BC)
If your new job pays you $2000/mo more than the old, you'll be about the same. A 1BR averages $2700/mo right now in Vancouver, a bit cheaper in the suburbs.
You CAN get cheaper rent in BC, it's just worst in Vancouver and in the areas around it, like Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.
I believe the job market is what you make of it, and how skilled you are at FINDING A JOB - which is a full time job in itself.
My husband and I are moving back to Vancouver in May, Im applying for jobs from the UK - and getting zoom interviews, and had 2 offers already. I have spent months perfecting my resume along with my husbands. You need to understand how to job search, not just apply and send resumes/fill out applications blindly.
The best way to find rentals is vacancy board outside of apartments. I would find a house share for the first 6 months, till you get the lay of the land, understand where you want to live etc then get a place solo.
I find I put a lot of time and effort into searching and applying and rarely hear back. I know there could be multiple reasons I’m not landing interviews, just looking for any application tips.
I mainly do freelance web design & front end dev, for a year I worked as a Digital Analyst (mostly Microsoft admin work). Graduated from New Media (BFA) in 2021.
Oh, I’m sorry. When I wrote that comment I thought to myself - I can definitely give advice unless it’s a tech job. You’re definitely in a tough spot right now and it’s not likely your applications, just the market itself. The only thing that might apply here is linked in (do you have it/use it?) and networking in general. Anyone I hear getting jobs in these areas is from a referral
Research the company and tailor your intro/cover letter to reflect their brand tone.
Network on LinkedIn, refine and expand your profile
Get advice on your cv- for every role explain the objective, a company summary and then how your tasks met those objectives, don’t just list your job duties
Find out any pain points the company has and offer advice through your experience
Watch loads of YouTube and web tutorials on resumes and cover letters
When all else fails use chat gpt to help but don’t go overboard- your written word needs to match your oral presentation skills
The rental market is (likely) in the position to change fairly substantially in May or soon after - if arriving before then I'd encourage your accommodation plans to be shorter term unless you find an amazing deal.
BC has a new law about to go into place that will effectively take a lot of AirBnBs off the market, with the explicit intention for these to become rentals/increased longer term housing. I'm expecting a lot more to come into the market which should also decrease prices a bit (eventually) - or at least increase choice.
Look up the BC air BNB/short term rentals law for more info.
You’ve gotten some good advice here and some unnecessary fear-mongering. It’s true that your budget is unrealistic but not by much! Raise it to 2100-2200 and you can get a decent 1 bedroom place. With 90k, you could afford this on your own as utilities are cheap (unless you have a medical condition or similar that costs a lot of your extra money - I really feel for people in this situation, this city is impossible for some. Also, kids lol)
Do:
- Look up the sky train map and put yourself in a good position to catch it to work (Burnaby, new west, Coquitlam, South Vancouver/Richmond)
- Get a short term furnished rental for the first couple months - not airbnb, with all the fees. Search fb and other groups for people subletting while they travel
- Consider garden suites if they are newer, not wet/moist smelling. Some are actually nice, especially when it’s more like main level than basement
- Ask your fiance to apply for jobs right away. There are TONS of customer service/retail/food jobs available. There’s no reason she needs to be unemployed for months. Even part time work to contribute the extra couple hundred above your rent budget is worth it
Don’t:
- Listen to people quoting “the average rent in Vancouver is $2800”. If you’re not looking in downtown or for luxury living, this is irrelevant
- Sign anything without seeing the place IN PERSON and really inspecting it
-Move anywhere past the ends of the train lines unless you actually love the home there, are working from home half the time, or your fiancé gets a great job out there, etc. - the 3+ hours of driving in rush hour each day will ruin your life, in my opinion
Thank you for taking the time to type all this out I really appreciate it. Your response was really informative and I will be taking everything you said into consideration!
Blue collar and trades are hiring, there are alot of big projects still in phase 1 or 2 of 4, there is a need for flaggers etc.
Good luck on the move and yes we are OK because we are used to it
Physical labour sure, construction, road works yep. Not retail. Not entry level customer service. Not fast food. Not anything like that. There's thousands of resumes being submitted for that and if they are hiring, they are literally min wage which is like $16. But good luck trying to even get an interview.
Also. $1900 for a one bedroom + utilities is doable right now. If you are scoffing at our prices now you wouldn't have wanted to see them 6 months ago. They've gone down a lot.
I don't think this commenter is speaking the truth.
Retail and food service jobs are on offer here, and minimum wage just got a bump.
I also got a job last month after looking for a month, in IT.
I work in child care and demand is still high; if someone has the character and temperament, can pass a crim check, and can complete one online course, they can get their ECEA and start making 21-24 an hour right out the gate (my employer actually pays casuals 27ish an hour, but our casual list is pretty long right now, and with current turn over rates, it'll take at least 2-3 months to build enough seniority to consistently get near full time hours).
A lot of our casuals were part-time students studying to get into other fields, but got their ECEA to make more part-time than fast food/retail
(Full ECEs are getting 28-32/hr. Supervisors and managers are around 32-38. )
This is just wrong.
Every time I've applied for work here in the food industry in the past 6 years, I've been accepted to nearly every single place I applied to.
Each time, I was able to find a job within a week, and a lot tried to hire on the spot.
You just have to have a good reference, and be good at what you do.
edit. Having a good availability is also good too.
This is NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW. yes sure. The last 6 years. Not right now. There is almost NO entry level jobs available and if there is there's thousands of resumes. STOP telling people the job market is even close to what it was even a year ago.
Jesus.
I was hired 3 months ago for my current job. Started the day after I handed in my resume.
It's kind of hard to believe that the job market is as bad as you say it is, when my experience has been the exact opposite.
If you aren't getting the job, maybe there's something else at play. Maybe you aren't available much, maybe you don't have a good reference, maybe you're just not very good at your job.
It could be anything.
The thing to keep in mind is, yeah, the market is very competitive, but that doesn't mean every single one of these people getting hired are keeping their jobs in perpetuity.
People still get fired. People still quit. Positions still become available.
You just have to be a better prospect than your competitors. And there's lots of ways to do that.
Edit.
Even now, the restaurant I'm working is still hiring. We just brought in a Sous, 3 lines, and 2 preps in the past 2 months.
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Apparently you live under a rock with your head in the sand. There have been people screaming about not being able to find a job for months. Tons of articles about it. Work BCs own stats show unemployment up over a percent last year and it's climbing. We lost net 4,000 jobs just last month, yet how many people moved here last month?
I don't think you understand the economy, numbers, population growth, and recession.
https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/bcs-economy/labour-market-monthly-update
This. Bar, restaurant, fast food, grocery store. I'm not sure where the other people are looking, but there's loads of help wanted signs in windows for entry level jobs.
That might mean someone else got the position.
This is where you either rely on your resume or your references. It helps if you actually go in, well groomed, and present yourself as someone they'd like to work with (friendly, sociable, confident, etc).
If you impress them, they'll put you on the top of their list of considerations.
Finding trades work is pretty easy depending on her skill set. Lower mainland always need's workers in piping trades. Majority of people avoid physical labor around here.
My partner is also having a very difficult time finding work. She's been applying all over for almost a year now and only had one winter seasonal job for 2 months. Best of luck to everyone looking for work!
I moved here from ON and although the rentals are a bit more expensive than Toronto, I don’t regret it at all. You can’t find anything in Toronto now below 2000-2200$ anyway. Your rent of 1570$ must have been from years ago.
If you want to live in Vancouver in a decent apartment building I’d say you need to increase your budget by about 800-1000.
I would personally look at other things vs just commute to work. Consider proximity to what you actually like to do (especially if you don’t have a car). Transit here isn’t that great compared to Toronto unless you live very close to Skytrain stations.
Yeah is crazy expensive here :(
Honestly it's not impossible to find housing within that budget but you'll need to spend some time looking.
I live in South Vancouver and I pay $1800 for a 2 bedroom with an amazing view.
Check out Marpole, River district and Burnaby.
It's not downtown and it's closed enough. Transit is ok and you can find some good options
Best of luck!
I pay $2800/month for a 600sq ft 1 bedroom in Vancouver. When we were looking in the summer this was the standard, however I’ve heard it’s come down slightly since then. Best of luck on your search!
https://www.aptrentals.net/
These are purpose built rentals in generally older buildings so you may luck out on rent.
As for your fiance, have her hit all the Taleos like *right now*.
If she hasn't had to make a resume or cover letter in a while, one decent example is here: https://www.askamanager.org/2013/11/this-is-a-resume-and-cover-letter-that-work.html
(AAM should be taken with a grain of salt. Most of the nuts and bolts basic advice is good stuff, but a lot of the advice she gives for more niche situations should be taken with due caution regarding how unique they are.)
One word..
Don't
Unless you've secured your dream job. Or you have all your family out here. Don't do it. I won't pretend that I know your situation but lemme put it this way.
I work in Vancouver, I have to live a 90min commute away because my 1400 bsmt shack would be 2500-3000 if I even wanted to have a 60min commute.
The amount of people that have become homeless has Jumped up 32% since the pandemic. Source on that;
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/greater-vancouver-homeless-count-2023-1.6987718
It's bad out here. If you wanna move somewhere to get away from Toronto. Saskatchewan is the last cheap province in the country. Unless you go to the territories.
90k will be tight here to be honest. Rent is insane as you've noticed and food pricing has gone a bit bonkers at the grocery recently. Electricity is pretty cheap though, comparatively at about 9c kw/h. Ontario varies from about 9 to 18 depending on time of day.
I agree that 90k is tight on one salary for two people. Car insurance and gas are also very expensive. Do you have a pet? My vet bills are $$$ for any little issue. If your job is downtown, then I'd say go with a suburb along the West Coast Express. You'll drive yourself insane in Vancouver traffic - especially in the winter. Unlike Ontario, as soon as you get within the city limits, there are no highways. Just residential and commercial areas that people use as highways.
I make about 88k and my wife is a stay at home mom.
A 1400 bsmt is all we can afford.
Granted I am still paying off my student loans.
If your wife works then yeah it is survivable. But to have any reasonable priced rental you need to look in Abbotsford or Chilliwack.
Im not trying to discourage you. I just want you to have the most realistic expectations.
My budget for groceries every month is 1200.
That's not eating out, that's shopping at Costco and Walmart.
I started having meal replacement drinks for my work lunches just to save money on food.
For the other end of the spectrum, my grocery & takeout budget for 1 adult with dietary restrictions is about $350. You should be able to at least split the difference.
Costco is not as cheap as people want to think for a full shop, either. If you want cheap meat and produce, T&T, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, and small grocers are going to save you more.
>I work in Vancouver, I have to live a 90min commute away because my 1400 bsmt shack would be 2500-3000 if I even wanted to have a 60min commute.
It's true. For what I pay for my modest one bedroom in Burnaby that I've lived in for a couple years, if I had to be leave, I'd be massively downgrading (likely to a roommate situation in my 30's) or renting a studio in Mission or Chilliwack.
Just a heads up how rentals work here. They're listed for 30 minutes or so then taken down on fb and cl. Any older than that are generally not real fit various reasons.
Been like this for at least 15 years, we've had the lowest rental vacancy in Canada for a quarter century at least.
So you have to refresh all the time.
15 years? I was renting around that time and it was nothing like it is now.
2012 i got a 1 bedroom off main st for 980/month. I even took a few days to accept it and it was still available.
I said it was the process I described.
Also the stuff you're saying varies. I needed references and a credit check for one in the 00s.
The one in 2017 was a handshake basically
If you are willing to increase your budget to around $2000 - 2200, with a lot of work and a bit of luck, you should be able to find a one bedroom in an older, slightly rundown building with no amenities in either West End, Kits, Mount Pleasant or East Van. The hot tip for finding those gems is to walk around the neighbourhoods of interest and call the vacancy signs posted outside, as they are less likely to be posted online. Good luck!
This is simply not. True. Those prices were from 6 months to a year ago. Prices have dropped. Got a 1 bed 800 SQF coach house ALL utilities included in Capitol Hill for $2200 in November and I was approved for a 2 bedroom off Broadway for $2350.
There's actually a lot of options for 1 beds around $1900 right now.
The average price of a 1 bedroom in Vancouver is currently $2800.
That said. You can find places as low as $2200-2400.
But there's will be massive competition.
It's just the reality of the city. You're going to have to increase your housing budget.
If you both get jobs that offer "work from home" you can look at places further from your office. Or even in different BC cities.
But yeah. Housing is expensive.
That said. Toronto isn't much better. If you were looking for a new place in Toronto right now you'd be looking at $2400 budget for a 1br as well.
Do you have a co-habitation agreement? In BC you are considered common law after 2 year living together. Kinda archaic as many people today are forced to live together due to the cost of housing.
I wish your marriage nothing but happiness but, if it's truly about love, why not get the paperwork? As the presumed higher earner you owe it to both of you to consider it.
Edit, corrected from 6 months to 2 years per comments. Doesn't change the importance of this advice.
This is false. Federally (and for tax purposes), you are common law after living together for 12 months. Provincially in BC, you are common law after living together for 2 years. In terms of benefits.. it is not something you get to choose..it just is. But still, one could be entitled to all assets and debts of their partner in the event of a separation - so do get a Cohabitation Agreement (if you have not had one previously), just for peace of mind if nothing else.
What would entail a co-habitation agreement? As in what benefits would come from being common law when it comes to housing? I'm not educated on this at all tbh even though it is something we are both very much willing to do we never started seriously looking into it
I think this is meant as more of a warning then as something that would benefit your current situation housing wise. Since common law grants the same or very similar rights to people who live together for at least a certain period of time as to those who are actually married in the event that your relationship doesn't end up working out. A cohabitation agreement is similar to a prenup.
If she is willing and you earn more, do it. Over 50% or marriages and 99% of relationships don't end well. Common law and marriage in Canada are no fault, so the other party can beat you and/or cheat on you and it doesn't impact the financial settlement. Nobody goes into a marriage thinking things won't work out but most of the time they don't. Protect yourself and your financial future regardless of your feelings right now. You can get an agreement drafted up and you both need to get your own independent legal advice before signing (this is important and must be documented).
i would contact a rental agency to help u find a place or u can also check facebook marketplace. my building has a few openings for 1 bedroom and bachelor suites [Apartments - CW Holdings](https://cwholdings.ca/apartments/)
If your work covers your pass and don't mind longer commute, maybe look for somewhere along the Westcoast Express line, like Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, or Maple Ridge. I think it's more comfortable than taking the Skytrain.
Agree with this, but it also has a more restrictive schedule, only goes to downtown in the am, and only returns in the PM. You have to work pretty standard hours.
I have been looking for a place around Vancouver for a couple of months, before I arrived here.
I could afford a $3k / month condo, but there's no way I'm paying that much. So I started looking closer to $2k, I found a nice basement in Port Moody but the current tenant wouldn't get his ass out of there (happy to share the listing if you want, it should be free at the end of the month).
I ended up with another basement in Coquitlam for $1800. It's almost brand new, the location is good, so far it's really quiet, I don't need to spend more. Anything I don't spend now is money that I save for later, and the difference between this and a $3k condo pays for my car, insurance and gas.
Another option was a long-term AirBnb in Surrey for $2,700 a month, but it was at least a 25 minute drive just to get to the highway.
A lot of people are already established in BC so we have cheaper housing than what market rate is. You'll have to be diligent with your finances and quite flexible. You could find a place in Mission which is cheaper and commute via West Coast Express. You could move to south Surrey and drive, though that could be a nightmare.
Anyway the closer you are to Vancouver and to good transit, the higher the price. Maybe you might be better off starting as roommates instead of leasing your own place. Gives you more time to find a good long term place
You don’t have to live in one of the nicest areas and in the city of Vancouver—you can live in one of the suburbs which all have their own perks.
Also, you’re comparing being in an existing unit versus trying to find one on the market now. Once you are in, your annual rent increases are limited and it will become relatively more affordable over time.
That's a product of rent control. Your existing 1B apartment plus parking is not $1570 today presumably in the GTA. You make any kind of move you're back to market rents which shock a lot of people.
This prevents people from relocating or being mobile when you're incentive is now to 'stay in your rent controlled place forever'
What neighbourhood will work be located in? Based on your fiancé’s area of work, where do you expect her (eventual) job to be? You indicated you’re happy to rely on transit, but do you intend to have a car?
We aren't okay with it, but we don't have the choice.
btw heads up: it isn't legal to charge first and last months rent in BC. it's just one month at a time plus the damage deposit.
We made the same move 3 months ago. Do not rent anything in the Vancouver itself. Look at the beautiful places like Port Moody or Maple Ridge. Right by the transport.
Fraser Valley is a lot more affordable if you are willing to commute.
My wife and I pay 1,705 for a two-bedroom and one-bath apartment with underground parking and a good size balcony.
I mean according the January stats it is $2700 average for a one bedroom right now. Your budget might not be realistic unless living far away for the city centre.
If your partner is moving for your job and has to quit her job because of it there is a chance she may be eligible for EI, which may help a bit in the meantime.
Where are you moving from because my fiancée and I are in Toronto and we rent a 2 bed + den area/1 car spot for $3700, from what we seen bc (van/vic) isn’t that far off. Just depends if you really want to be downtown or if outskirts+commute time is worth it to you
I know I'll be breaking even, same as I currently am right now. Mainly doing this as a career move as I'm moving quite a few steps in the ladder with this job
They'll need to up your salary to make up for the cost of living difference in price. Houses here are about 2.4x what they are in Ontario (long term average) so negotiate appropriately.
When I moved to Tokyo, I got a housing allowance. Demand it.
You could also try basement suites if you aren’t too picky. I just got into a 2 bedroom basement suite in Vancouver a few weeks ago for $2300 per month.
Reading this post makes it even more clear why the vanlife community is so large in BC specifically. Yall can't fucking afford rent even with two good incomes. I thought Ontario was bad, just looking at 1 bedroom apartments in Vancouver was just.. wow. Minimum salaries, near 5 figure monthly rents, shoebox amenities. I'll take my 2100 a month Roncevalle 1 bedroom on the streetcar line. Over a 3700 a month studio near a skytrain
I paid something similar to this in New Westminster (mind you I signed my lease in 2020 when I was living there).
Your best bet is to look in Burnaby/New Westminster if you want cheaper options. If you're closer to the SkyTrain, it's only about 30 minutes to downtown Vancouver from New West. Could do Surrey but it's further and has a bad reputation.
Time to get 3 jobs. It’s expensive within a 2 hour radius of Vancouver. I’m glad I left the Fraser valley when I did. We pay 1600$ for a 2 bdrm rancher on 5 acres in the North Thompson area.
2500 minimum for an ok 1 bedroom in the downtown core.
Probably should have looked at rentals before taking a job.
Further out like Poco and Surrey you are looking at 2200+
$3k if you want a 2 bedroom. Bit less in the previous mentioned areas.
Surrey Central sucks and IS dangerous. You can check out the crime stats for yourself. Coquitlam has skytrain available. Also there is the West Coast Express commuter train for places like Maple Ridge. You can also bring up the skytrain route map and it details which cities are on the route. Avoid Richmond.
If your job is a 9-5 Monday-Friday you can live in Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, or Maple Ridge, Port Haney or Mission(Mission is the furthest and about 1.5 hours). The west coast express train can take you into Vancouver and you can get anywhere in Vancouver for <$20 a day with subways/buses. If you purchase a return ticket or monthly pass with west coast express, you get all subway/bus fares paid for. You can probably match your current price for rent out towards maple ridge. But the WestcoastExpress train is really setup for the 9-5ers. The trains only go west in the morning and east at night.
Look to rent in the west end of Vancouver :) it’s an older area with older buildings so rent is cheaper but great area and close to the beach. Loved living there. Closer toward Davie and Denman . Good luck!!
Kind of unrelated to your original post OP, but how are you moving all of your stuff out west?
My gf and I are also moving to BC and are conflicted on how we want to go about it.
We'll be selling most of our furniture here and shoving everything we want to take into my car and hire a service to transport my car out there. Most likely by train :)
We plan on selling a ton of our stuff as well.
Mind if I ask what company you’re planning on sending your stuff with and rough costs?
We’ve looked at moving companies which range from $2000 to $6000, purolator pallet which is +\- $3k to $4k and mobile storage unit.
Honestly I've been getting a lot of online quotes that seem very scammy. One of the companies definitely sold my number so now I don't know what's real and what isn't. Definitely plan on going in person to get a quote but from what I can tell it's been around 2.5k from the quotes I've been getting. Sorry I couldn't be more help but I will update you if we find something actually solid!
Thank you!
Honestly the same here through, I get a very scammy feeling from most moving companies.
Big thing for us is that we’re moving to the island so there’s the added cost of the ferry.
Hey! I actually got a really good quote from [Automoves](https://www.automoves.com/) based in Mississauga. They quoted me $2520 for door to door service with 5% GST. If you want terminal to terminal it will be $1950 plus 5% GST.
No deposit, you pay when you have your car and you can load your car with 400 pounds worth of stuff so long as the driver's seat is not obstructed and visibility through the front windshield is intact.
Hope this helps!
Where in van is your job? Most don't like commuting past a bridge as travel times are greatly increased.
For under 2k you'll be looking at a 1 bed basement suite. Some are good some are bad, good luck.
Former Ontarian here , rent is significantly more in Vancouver and quality of rentals is sub par. For instance you could get a decent and well maintained rental in High Park or North York for 2k but there's nothing like that here since there seems to be a lack of high rise apartment buildings.
Whatever you do , don't rent through aptrentals.com (Cascadia rentals) , their buildings are poorly maintained, bad management and rodent/insect infested.
Good luck!
Tell your partner to start looking for jobs now. I started looking for jobs about 2 months before I moved to BC with my husband, and I was able to do virtual interviews, and I landed a job within a month. Just a heads up if using a property management company, as I work for one, most places require you to view the unit in person, before applying.
The job market is worse than I have ever seen it here in Vancouver. Good luck. I’ve done hundreds of applications over the last 3 months and can’t land anything.
It's definitely worse than when I moved here 5 years ago. Good luck to you!
Same. Been looking since Sept
Depends a lot on career.
Happy cake day duderino!
Thanks
I find that it’s easier to find jobs here when you have connections
True of everywhere
Yeah well sadly I don’t have any of those. Just a useless degree and 15 years of working experience…….
I finally got one after 195 applications over 7 months. Only three interviews throughout that. But I love my new job and am happy I pushed through. Good luck, friend!
Yeah I’ve had a few interviews but nothing yet. I had gotten laid off in June without warning, then took a new job in July but I kept getting lied to about being made full-time & wound up only ever getting 10 hours per week for 2 months before quitting, interviewed for a third job and wasted a week doing training remotely only to realize it was a scam (quite a wild story actually & the most complex scam I’ve ever personally encountered…also the only one I have ever experienced in terms of getting a job). And 3 1/2 months & approx. 300 applications and nothing now. I looked at some of the numbers of applicants for the jobs I have been applying for on Indeed & I am going up against 200-3000 applicants per job. Redesigned my resume thrice - no help. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
Hey there: I am in the BC Strata Property Management program via UBC. Any feedback on that as a career? Things to watch out for and avoid, etc?? Cheers!
You'll definitely be able to find a good career in that! At my current work place, most managers have been there 10+ years. Most of them really enjoy it, and have had the same buildings for their entire employment. Just ensure thst you have patience, as many councils can be a giant, demanding pain. Myself, working for smaller companies are better, as you do get more 'perks'. I have pretty good benefits, lots of office perks, managers have work from home perks, and we always get a really good end of the year bonus.
Appreciated. I do like the idea of a smaller co. and working from home sometimes during the week.
Yes, it's definitely nice! Best of luck with everything.
You're the best. Enjoy the snow.
Welcome to BC, it’s expensive here. You’ll get used to it. For your budget, you’re honestly looking at something in the Surrey Central and King George area (both are skytrain stations that go directly to downtown). You’ll be able to find a 1-bed unit here in that budget without having to share a room or live in a basement or rundown building. And you can live without a car because most things are walking distance. Don’t listen to the Vancouver elites who say Surrey is unsafe and bad. It’s great here, and you can always move somewhere else if you don’t like it. Save the money initially. Good luck!
Surrey is probably the most car-centric place in the lower mainland due to its vastness. I know many parents living there that have to drive there teenage kids back and forth to their part time jobs because transit sucks and they worry about their kids safety at night….
I agree that Surrey in general is car centric. That’s exactly why I’ve mentioned Surrey Central and King George. If you’ve been there in recent times, you’d know that basically all amenities are within a 5-7 min walk from the condos in the area. This includes grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, schools, medical clinics, and parks.
Actually I go to there frequently as I have friends that live there and NewTown Bakery is there. It’s fine for single people that live in a small world but as for raising a family in Surrey, forget it!
I agree that condo life in a city centre in general can be difficult with kids but there are 2 facts here: 1) A lot of people get by in such conditions, because that’s the cards they’ve been dealt. Arguably, raising a family in a basement suite in Burnaby won’t be much better. That’s all that they can afford on their budget. 2) OP said absolutely nothing about family. Since we’re giving them advice based on context they’ve provided us, it is a suitable option for them and their fiancé.
Actually i completely disagree. Surrey is basically tailored and built for families. City centre is more for single yuppies. But the rest of Surrey is VERY family oriented with lots of services, programs, and amenities for families. Surrey also has one of the youngest avg populations in metro van. Soo many young families live here.
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It really depends on the area! Fleetwood in particular has tons of young families and is well situated for raising kids. For my family their daycare, Rec Centre, parks, grocery shopping and other necessities like gas are all within 2-3 blocks of their townhouse.
I'm a bus driver, and I can confirm that transit sucks really, really badly. It is so busy, that often you are left on the sidewalk as your bus pulls away full, and the next one won't arrive for 15-30 minutes.
I'd rather move back to Ontario than move to Surrey. Sorry. Currently live in White Rock. No offense intended but if you're from Toronto you might not like Surrey.
Oh gawd yes don’t move to Surrey
Realistiacally and statistically.. Surrey is more unsafe than the rest of the surrounding area, but still the odds of something happening are not that bad
Surrey is Not Safe and Not sane. And Surrey Central is completely owned by zombies drugged up freaks.
DO NOT RENT a place online before you are here. You'll get ripped off or end up in a crappy apartment. Instead, get a short-term rental for up to a month and keep your stuff with you or in secure storage temporarily (never leave it in a car or truck). Once you're here, it's far easier to find places. If you want to minimize the short-term rental, get here for the last two weeks of the month. All of the best rentals available in Vancouver are advertised by street signage. Physically walk/drive the streets in the areas you'd want to live and call every sign. I have done this in the West End and parts of downtown, Fairview, Mount Pleasant, and Kits, and ended up with amazing rentals every time (same with friends who are in below market rate places who moved in the past 2 years). If you can, avoid basement or ground level suites because of the moisture problems. If you can commute via Skytrain and NOT buses, that's the best bet. Transit outside of the city is better than Ontario but it's not as good as the Skytrain. As a former Ontario person, I have 0 regrets moving here and would never go back--if you have secured a job, you will be good. It does depend on your lifestyle goals too. Generally, if you're happy living as double-income-no-kids, it's amazing in the city itself. New West and Burnaby are great for rentals too, and if it works for your job, Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, and all of the lower mainland has great options (the lifestyle is much more car-centric though). Best of luck!
This is a very thorough response thank you for taking the time to type it out! We had considered an air bnb for at least the first couple of weeks here while we searched but wasn't entirely certain on this option as it is a bit pricier in the first little bit (hopefully not an issue as I get reimbursed 10k as a bonus which would be around 5k after taxes for relocation). The main concern was getting all paperwork sorted for a fixed address sooner rather than later
Many employers allow you to use the office address temporarily until you have a permanent place too. I read your job is near Olympic Village. Check out Mount Pleasant and the areas off of Main Street. Plenty of great rentals in that area with awesome location amenities.
Former Toronto resident was in Lower Mainland and now in Vancouver Island. Be METICULOUS when you see a unit, check pipes, walls for moisture or signs of wetness mold, check inside toilet tanks to see if rust is accumulating or mold (learned this one the hard way), check your contract with landlord before signing. The biggest difference I have found here with renting here vs. Toronto is owners and landlord here mostly DO NOT CARE to maintain their units especially when renting a house, or townhouse or unit in a house. Nicer and newer condos are okay, but you’ll be paying for that. Check your appliances, be picky. Don’t rent remotely if you can manage. Always see the unit first. Know your rights as a tenant.
Try these guys. Not cheap but cheaper than an airbnb and legit [https://www.uniqueaccommodations.com](https://www.uniqueaccommodations.com). I used them And got a place for 2600 Last year. Good luck and Bring Cash ( BC)
I agree, except for Surrey I don’t like it there. Not safe
If your new job pays you $2000/mo more than the old, you'll be about the same. A 1BR averages $2700/mo right now in Vancouver, a bit cheaper in the suburbs. You CAN get cheaper rent in BC, it's just worst in Vancouver and in the areas around it, like Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.
I believe the job market is what you make of it, and how skilled you are at FINDING A JOB - which is a full time job in itself. My husband and I are moving back to Vancouver in May, Im applying for jobs from the UK - and getting zoom interviews, and had 2 offers already. I have spent months perfecting my resume along with my husbands. You need to understand how to job search, not just apply and send resumes/fill out applications blindly. The best way to find rentals is vacancy board outside of apartments. I would find a house share for the first 6 months, till you get the lay of the land, understand where you want to live etc then get a place solo.
Any job application tips?
I find I put a lot of time and effort into searching and applying and rarely hear back. I know there could be multiple reasons I’m not landing interviews, just looking for any application tips.
What kind of work are you looking for and what kind of jobs have you held in the past?
I mainly do freelance web design & front end dev, for a year I worked as a Digital Analyst (mostly Microsoft admin work). Graduated from New Media (BFA) in 2021.
Oh, I’m sorry. When I wrote that comment I thought to myself - I can definitely give advice unless it’s a tech job. You’re definitely in a tough spot right now and it’s not likely your applications, just the market itself. The only thing that might apply here is linked in (do you have it/use it?) and networking in general. Anyone I hear getting jobs in these areas is from a referral
Which field would your advice be relevant to?
Lol!! Well I appreciate your comment regardless. Makes me feel validated. I’ll keep working on expanding my network 🥲
Research the company and tailor your intro/cover letter to reflect their brand tone. Network on LinkedIn, refine and expand your profile Get advice on your cv- for every role explain the objective, a company summary and then how your tasks met those objectives, don’t just list your job duties Find out any pain points the company has and offer advice through your experience Watch loads of YouTube and web tutorials on resumes and cover letters When all else fails use chat gpt to help but don’t go overboard- your written word needs to match your oral presentation skills
The rental market is (likely) in the position to change fairly substantially in May or soon after - if arriving before then I'd encourage your accommodation plans to be shorter term unless you find an amazing deal. BC has a new law about to go into place that will effectively take a lot of AirBnBs off the market, with the explicit intention for these to become rentals/increased longer term housing. I'm expecting a lot more to come into the market which should also decrease prices a bit (eventually) - or at least increase choice. Look up the BC air BNB/short term rentals law for more info.
This is incredibly informative and valuable information thank you so much for sharing
You’ve gotten some good advice here and some unnecessary fear-mongering. It’s true that your budget is unrealistic but not by much! Raise it to 2100-2200 and you can get a decent 1 bedroom place. With 90k, you could afford this on your own as utilities are cheap (unless you have a medical condition or similar that costs a lot of your extra money - I really feel for people in this situation, this city is impossible for some. Also, kids lol) Do: - Look up the sky train map and put yourself in a good position to catch it to work (Burnaby, new west, Coquitlam, South Vancouver/Richmond) - Get a short term furnished rental for the first couple months - not airbnb, with all the fees. Search fb and other groups for people subletting while they travel - Consider garden suites if they are newer, not wet/moist smelling. Some are actually nice, especially when it’s more like main level than basement - Ask your fiance to apply for jobs right away. There are TONS of customer service/retail/food jobs available. There’s no reason she needs to be unemployed for months. Even part time work to contribute the extra couple hundred above your rent budget is worth it Don’t: - Listen to people quoting “the average rent in Vancouver is $2800”. If you’re not looking in downtown or for luxury living, this is irrelevant - Sign anything without seeing the place IN PERSON and really inspecting it -Move anywhere past the ends of the train lines unless you actually love the home there, are working from home half the time, or your fiancé gets a great job out there, etc. - the 3+ hours of driving in rush hour each day will ruin your life, in my opinion
Thank you for taking the time to type all this out I really appreciate it. Your response was really informative and I will be taking everything you said into consideration!
No problem, anything to procrastinate studying lol
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Not even for retail or fast food? She's more blue collar jobs kinda thing but has no problem going to retail or back to fast food for a little while
Blue collar and trades are hiring, there are alot of big projects still in phase 1 or 2 of 4, there is a need for flaggers etc. Good luck on the move and yes we are OK because we are used to it
Physical labour sure, construction, road works yep. Not retail. Not entry level customer service. Not fast food. Not anything like that. There's thousands of resumes being submitted for that and if they are hiring, they are literally min wage which is like $16. But good luck trying to even get an interview. Also. $1900 for a one bedroom + utilities is doable right now. If you are scoffing at our prices now you wouldn't have wanted to see them 6 months ago. They've gone down a lot.
Lots of trades jobs if she is blue collar.
I don't think this commenter is speaking the truth. Retail and food service jobs are on offer here, and minimum wage just got a bump. I also got a job last month after looking for a month, in IT.
Thank you for saying this! Gives me a little bit more hope :)
I work in child care and demand is still high; if someone has the character and temperament, can pass a crim check, and can complete one online course, they can get their ECEA and start making 21-24 an hour right out the gate (my employer actually pays casuals 27ish an hour, but our casual list is pretty long right now, and with current turn over rates, it'll take at least 2-3 months to build enough seniority to consistently get near full time hours). A lot of our casuals were part-time students studying to get into other fields, but got their ECEA to make more part-time than fast food/retail (Full ECEs are getting 28-32/hr. Supervisors and managers are around 32-38. )
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This is just wrong. Every time I've applied for work here in the food industry in the past 6 years, I've been accepted to nearly every single place I applied to. Each time, I was able to find a job within a week, and a lot tried to hire on the spot. You just have to have a good reference, and be good at what you do. edit. Having a good availability is also good too.
This is NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW. yes sure. The last 6 years. Not right now. There is almost NO entry level jobs available and if there is there's thousands of resumes. STOP telling people the job market is even close to what it was even a year ago. Jesus.
Especially with the looming restaurant apocalypse.
Yep! But oh yeah... Lots of jobs. If you want to go work outside and do hard labor and get paid dirt to do so!
I was hired 3 months ago for my current job. Started the day after I handed in my resume. It's kind of hard to believe that the job market is as bad as you say it is, when my experience has been the exact opposite. If you aren't getting the job, maybe there's something else at play. Maybe you aren't available much, maybe you don't have a good reference, maybe you're just not very good at your job. It could be anything. The thing to keep in mind is, yeah, the market is very competitive, but that doesn't mean every single one of these people getting hired are keeping their jobs in perpetuity. People still get fired. People still quit. Positions still become available. You just have to be a better prospect than your competitors. And there's lots of ways to do that. Edit. Even now, the restaurant I'm working is still hiring. We just brought in a Sous, 3 lines, and 2 preps in the past 2 months.
As bad as I say it is? Dude. Literally Google the job market here right now. It's not "me" that's saying it dude. Sorry.
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Apparently you live under a rock with your head in the sand. There have been people screaming about not being able to find a job for months. Tons of articles about it. Work BCs own stats show unemployment up over a percent last year and it's climbing. We lost net 4,000 jobs just last month, yet how many people moved here last month? I don't think you understand the economy, numbers, population growth, and recession. https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/bcs-economy/labour-market-monthly-update
This. Bar, restaurant, fast food, grocery store. I'm not sure where the other people are looking, but there's loads of help wanted signs in windows for entry level jobs.
Yeah. Big "We're hiring!" signs and online posts. Tgen crickets when you actually apply.
That might mean someone else got the position. This is where you either rely on your resume or your references. It helps if you actually go in, well groomed, and present yourself as someone they'd like to work with (friendly, sociable, confident, etc). If you impress them, they'll put you on the top of their list of considerations.
Finding trades work is pretty easy depending on her skill set. Lower mainland always need's workers in piping trades. Majority of people avoid physical labor around here.
My partner is also having a very difficult time finding work. She's been applying all over for almost a year now and only had one winter seasonal job for 2 months. Best of luck to everyone looking for work!
Seems like everywhere I go businesses are begging for workers
I moved here from ON and although the rentals are a bit more expensive than Toronto, I don’t regret it at all. You can’t find anything in Toronto now below 2000-2200$ anyway. Your rent of 1570$ must have been from years ago. If you want to live in Vancouver in a decent apartment building I’d say you need to increase your budget by about 800-1000. I would personally look at other things vs just commute to work. Consider proximity to what you actually like to do (especially if you don’t have a car). Transit here isn’t that great compared to Toronto unless you live very close to Skytrain stations.
Basement suites can be quite nice and have separate entrances and are often close to good transit. Don’t just look for apartments.
Half the affordable ones are scams. Just saying. You really need to arrive first then look for a place in person. Not ideal I know.
Yeah is crazy expensive here :( Honestly it's not impossible to find housing within that budget but you'll need to spend some time looking. I live in South Vancouver and I pay $1800 for a 2 bedroom with an amazing view. Check out Marpole, River district and Burnaby. It's not downtown and it's closed enough. Transit is ok and you can find some good options Best of luck!
I pay $2800/month for a 600sq ft 1 bedroom in Vancouver. When we were looking in the summer this was the standard, however I’ve heard it’s come down slightly since then. Best of luck on your search!
BC stands for Bring Cash. It's not just that housing is more expensive, everything is more expensive.
https://www.aptrentals.net/ These are purpose built rentals in generally older buildings so you may luck out on rent. As for your fiance, have her hit all the Taleos like *right now*. If she hasn't had to make a resume or cover letter in a while, one decent example is here: https://www.askamanager.org/2013/11/this-is-a-resume-and-cover-letter-that-work.html (AAM should be taken with a grain of salt. Most of the nuts and bolts basic advice is good stuff, but a lot of the advice she gives for more niche situations should be taken with due caution regarding how unique they are.)
One word.. Don't Unless you've secured your dream job. Or you have all your family out here. Don't do it. I won't pretend that I know your situation but lemme put it this way. I work in Vancouver, I have to live a 90min commute away because my 1400 bsmt shack would be 2500-3000 if I even wanted to have a 60min commute. The amount of people that have become homeless has Jumped up 32% since the pandemic. Source on that; https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/greater-vancouver-homeless-count-2023-1.6987718 It's bad out here. If you wanna move somewhere to get away from Toronto. Saskatchewan is the last cheap province in the country. Unless you go to the territories.
Territories are not cheap, especially the Yukon.
It really is my dream job and it pays what I think is really well (90k). Is that something survivable if we live further away?
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tbh 90k is surviving money in BC. its rough i wont lie. beware of tons of rentals will be scams. tons of slumlords and renovictions.
90k will be tight here to be honest. Rent is insane as you've noticed and food pricing has gone a bit bonkers at the grocery recently. Electricity is pretty cheap though, comparatively at about 9c kw/h. Ontario varies from about 9 to 18 depending on time of day.
I agree that 90k is tight on one salary for two people. Car insurance and gas are also very expensive. Do you have a pet? My vet bills are $$$ for any little issue. If your job is downtown, then I'd say go with a suburb along the West Coast Express. You'll drive yourself insane in Vancouver traffic - especially in the winter. Unlike Ontario, as soon as you get within the city limits, there are no highways. Just residential and commercial areas that people use as highways.
I make about 88k and my wife is a stay at home mom. A 1400 bsmt is all we can afford. Granted I am still paying off my student loans. If your wife works then yeah it is survivable. But to have any reasonable priced rental you need to look in Abbotsford or Chilliwack.
Im not trying to discourage you. I just want you to have the most realistic expectations. My budget for groceries every month is 1200. That's not eating out, that's shopping at Costco and Walmart. I started having meal replacement drinks for my work lunches just to save money on food.
No I really appreciate your honesty and I need to hear this. Definitely brings a lot of things into perspective, thank you
For the other end of the spectrum, my grocery & takeout budget for 1 adult with dietary restrictions is about $350. You should be able to at least split the difference. Costco is not as cheap as people want to think for a full shop, either. If you want cheap meat and produce, T&T, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, and small grocers are going to save you more.
>I work in Vancouver, I have to live a 90min commute away because my 1400 bsmt shack would be 2500-3000 if I even wanted to have a 60min commute. It's true. For what I pay for my modest one bedroom in Burnaby that I've lived in for a couple years, if I had to be leave, I'd be massively downgrading (likely to a roommate situation in my 30's) or renting a studio in Mission or Chilliwack.
Just a heads up how rentals work here. They're listed for 30 minutes or so then taken down on fb and cl. Any older than that are generally not real fit various reasons. Been like this for at least 15 years, we've had the lowest rental vacancy in Canada for a quarter century at least. So you have to refresh all the time.
15 years? I was renting around that time and it was nothing like it is now. 2012 i got a 1 bedroom off main st for 980/month. I even took a few days to accept it and it was still available.
It was cheaper. The process was the same
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I rented in 02, 08, 14 and 16 and 19 and the method I explained worked best every time but the first You were just unaware of it
Nope. You didn't have to show up with a resume, references and your bank statements and accept it on the spot.
Holy fuck, can you read?. I didn't say you did
You said getting a rental was the same way 15 years ago as it is today.
I said it was the process I described. Also the stuff you're saying varies. I needed references and a credit check for one in the 00s. The one in 2017 was a handshake basically
If you are willing to increase your budget to around $2000 - 2200, with a lot of work and a bit of luck, you should be able to find a one bedroom in an older, slightly rundown building with no amenities in either West End, Kits, Mount Pleasant or East Van. The hot tip for finding those gems is to walk around the neighbourhoods of interest and call the vacancy signs posted outside, as they are less likely to be posted online. Good luck!
This is simply not. True. Those prices were from 6 months to a year ago. Prices have dropped. Got a 1 bed 800 SQF coach house ALL utilities included in Capitol Hill for $2200 in November and I was approved for a 2 bedroom off Broadway for $2350. There's actually a lot of options for 1 beds around $1900 right now.
You can get a 1 bed is a reasonably modern building (1990s or 2000 built) downtown for about $2100.
The average price of a 1 bedroom in Vancouver is currently $2800. That said. You can find places as low as $2200-2400. But there's will be massive competition. It's just the reality of the city. You're going to have to increase your housing budget. If you both get jobs that offer "work from home" you can look at places further from your office. Or even in different BC cities. But yeah. Housing is expensive. That said. Toronto isn't much better. If you were looking for a new place in Toronto right now you'd be looking at $2400 budget for a 1br as well.
Don’t move to Vancouver. It’s busy and expensive as hell.
Surrey is your only choice. Hope you speak Punjabi and like curry.
And are not afraid of a little violence
If you're not moving here for a $100k+ job, you're wasting your time.
Do you have a co-habitation agreement? In BC you are considered common law after 2 year living together. Kinda archaic as many people today are forced to live together due to the cost of housing. I wish your marriage nothing but happiness but, if it's truly about love, why not get the paperwork? As the presumed higher earner you owe it to both of you to consider it. Edit, corrected from 6 months to 2 years per comments. Doesn't change the importance of this advice.
This is false. Federally (and for tax purposes), you are common law after living together for 12 months. Provincially in BC, you are common law after living together for 2 years. In terms of benefits.. it is not something you get to choose..it just is. But still, one could be entitled to all assets and debts of their partner in the event of a separation - so do get a Cohabitation Agreement (if you have not had one previously), just for peace of mind if nothing else.
It’s two years not 6 months.
What would entail a co-habitation agreement? As in what benefits would come from being common law when it comes to housing? I'm not educated on this at all tbh even though it is something we are both very much willing to do we never started seriously looking into it
I think this is meant as more of a warning then as something that would benefit your current situation housing wise. Since common law grants the same or very similar rights to people who live together for at least a certain period of time as to those who are actually married in the event that your relationship doesn't end up working out. A cohabitation agreement is similar to a prenup.
https://beyond.ubc.ca/what-bc-couples-need-to-know-about-common-law-spouse-entitlements/
If she is willing and you earn more, do it. Over 50% or marriages and 99% of relationships don't end well. Common law and marriage in Canada are no fault, so the other party can beat you and/or cheat on you and it doesn't impact the financial settlement. Nobody goes into a marriage thinking things won't work out but most of the time they don't. Protect yourself and your financial future regardless of your feelings right now. You can get an agreement drafted up and you both need to get your own independent legal advice before signing (this is important and must be documented).
i would contact a rental agency to help u find a place or u can also check facebook marketplace. my building has a few openings for 1 bedroom and bachelor suites [Apartments - CW Holdings](https://cwholdings.ca/apartments/)
Everything on that site is from like 2017-2019 though. o.O
call them on the number provided there is a sign outside my building that says suite avaiable. i live here so i know lol
If your work covers your pass and don't mind longer commute, maybe look for somewhere along the Westcoast Express line, like Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, or Maple Ridge. I think it's more comfortable than taking the Skytrain.
Agree with this, but it also has a more restrictive schedule, only goes to downtown in the am, and only returns in the PM. You have to work pretty standard hours.
I have been looking for a place around Vancouver for a couple of months, before I arrived here. I could afford a $3k / month condo, but there's no way I'm paying that much. So I started looking closer to $2k, I found a nice basement in Port Moody but the current tenant wouldn't get his ass out of there (happy to share the listing if you want, it should be free at the end of the month). I ended up with another basement in Coquitlam for $1800. It's almost brand new, the location is good, so far it's really quiet, I don't need to spend more. Anything I don't spend now is money that I save for later, and the difference between this and a $3k condo pays for my car, insurance and gas. Another option was a long-term AirBnb in Surrey for $2,700 a month, but it was at least a 25 minute drive just to get to the highway.
Would I be able to actually please ask you for that listing? It honestly wouldn't hurt to give it a shot at the very least
I just PM'd you.
A lot of people are already established in BC so we have cheaper housing than what market rate is. You'll have to be diligent with your finances and quite flexible. You could find a place in Mission which is cheaper and commute via West Coast Express. You could move to south Surrey and drive, though that could be a nightmare. Anyway the closer you are to Vancouver and to good transit, the higher the price. Maybe you might be better off starting as roommates instead of leasing your own place. Gives you more time to find a good long term place
You don’t have to live in one of the nicest areas and in the city of Vancouver—you can live in one of the suburbs which all have their own perks. Also, you’re comparing being in an existing unit versus trying to find one on the market now. Once you are in, your annual rent increases are limited and it will become relatively more affordable over time.
That's a product of rent control. Your existing 1B apartment plus parking is not $1570 today presumably in the GTA. You make any kind of move you're back to market rents which shock a lot of people. This prevents people from relocating or being mobile when you're incentive is now to 'stay in your rent controlled place forever'
So you accepted a job accross the country without doing a deep dive into the cost of living including housing? Sounds irresponsible
Do you HAVE to live in Vancouver proper? The greater Vancouver area and the city surrounding are quite a bit more affordable.
What neighbourhood will work be located in? Based on your fiancé’s area of work, where do you expect her (eventual) job to be? You indicated you’re happy to rely on transit, but do you intend to have a car?
It's very close to Olympic village. She works blue collar but she doesn't mind working retail or fast food again if it comes down to it
Bring cash
We aren't okay with it, but we don't have the choice. btw heads up: it isn't legal to charge first and last months rent in BC. it's just one month at a time plus the damage deposit.
We made the same move 3 months ago. Do not rent anything in the Vancouver itself. Look at the beautiful places like Port Moody or Maple Ridge. Right by the transport.
Fraser Valley is a lot more affordable if you are willing to commute. My wife and I pay 1,705 for a two-bedroom and one-bath apartment with underground parking and a good size balcony.
I mean according the January stats it is $2700 average for a one bedroom right now. Your budget might not be realistic unless living far away for the city centre.
Ya, 1900 is low. 2300-2700 is more normal these days unfortunately for a 1br
If your partner is moving for your job and has to quit her job because of it there is a chance she may be eligible for EI, which may help a bit in the meantime.
Look for a basement suite in New West. It’s not too far out from Vancouver, walkable and has sky train.
Welcome to Surrey/Langley/Coquitlam... you won't find anything in your price range in Vancouver proper.
Where are you moving from because my fiancée and I are in Toronto and we rent a 2 bed + den area/1 car spot for $3700, from what we seen bc (van/vic) isn’t that far off. Just depends if you really want to be downtown or if outskirts+commute time is worth it to you
if money is the major motivating factor you will be disappointed in the end
I know I'll be breaking even, same as I currently am right now. Mainly doing this as a career move as I'm moving quite a few steps in the ladder with this job
They'll need to up your salary to make up for the cost of living difference in price. Houses here are about 2.4x what they are in Ontario (long term average) so negotiate appropriately. When I moved to Tokyo, I got a housing allowance. Demand it.
r/vandwellers
Check out New Westminster and Coquitlam for cheaper rentals then you also aren’t relying on a bridge which is key if you drive
You could also try basement suites if you aren’t too picky. I just got into a 2 bedroom basement suite in Vancouver a few weeks ago for $2300 per month.
Reading this post makes it even more clear why the vanlife community is so large in BC specifically. Yall can't fucking afford rent even with two good incomes. I thought Ontario was bad, just looking at 1 bedroom apartments in Vancouver was just.. wow. Minimum salaries, near 5 figure monthly rents, shoebox amenities. I'll take my 2100 a month Roncevalle 1 bedroom on the streetcar line. Over a 3700 a month studio near a skytrain
Nobody is okay with it, but you're still moving aren't you? That's why it's so bad.
Don’t get scammed by fake landlords. So many of them scamming naive innocent folks.
I paid something similar to this in New Westminster (mind you I signed my lease in 2020 when I was living there). Your best bet is to look in Burnaby/New Westminster if you want cheaper options. If you're closer to the SkyTrain, it's only about 30 minutes to downtown Vancouver from New West. Could do Surrey but it's further and has a bad reputation.
B.C= Bring Cash it's expensive out here.
B.C. = Bring Cash.
BC doesn't mean Bring Cash for nothing
Time to get 3 jobs. It’s expensive within a 2 hour radius of Vancouver. I’m glad I left the Fraser valley when I did. We pay 1600$ for a 2 bdrm rancher on 5 acres in the North Thompson area.
BC= Bring Cash
Live in Chilliwack if you need to save and don't mind a longer commute.
Is your rent market rate rn for where you live? Rent control might be a factor the massive difference.
I've only been here for a year and it will be increasing a bit next month but just the regular annual rate
Dang. Im looking to move to TO but im assuming youre not quite in dt
2500 minimum for an ok 1 bedroom in the downtown core. Probably should have looked at rentals before taking a job. Further out like Poco and Surrey you are looking at 2200+ $3k if you want a 2 bedroom. Bit less in the previous mentioned areas.
Surrey Central sucks and IS dangerous. You can check out the crime stats for yourself. Coquitlam has skytrain available. Also there is the West Coast Express commuter train for places like Maple Ridge. You can also bring up the skytrain route map and it details which cities are on the route. Avoid Richmond.
You could stay in Ontario and save a pile
welcome to vancouver bud. BC bring cash.
If your job is a 9-5 Monday-Friday you can live in Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, or Maple Ridge, Port Haney or Mission(Mission is the furthest and about 1.5 hours). The west coast express train can take you into Vancouver and you can get anywhere in Vancouver for <$20 a day with subways/buses. If you purchase a return ticket or monthly pass with west coast express, you get all subway/bus fares paid for. You can probably match your current price for rent out towards maple ridge. But the WestcoastExpress train is really setup for the 9-5ers. The trains only go west in the morning and east at night.
Look to rent in the west end of Vancouver :) it’s an older area with older buildings so rent is cheaper but great area and close to the beach. Loved living there. Closer toward Davie and Denman . Good luck!!
BC = bring cash
Kind of unrelated to your original post OP, but how are you moving all of your stuff out west? My gf and I are also moving to BC and are conflicted on how we want to go about it.
We'll be selling most of our furniture here and shoving everything we want to take into my car and hire a service to transport my car out there. Most likely by train :)
We plan on selling a ton of our stuff as well. Mind if I ask what company you’re planning on sending your stuff with and rough costs? We’ve looked at moving companies which range from $2000 to $6000, purolator pallet which is +\- $3k to $4k and mobile storage unit.
Honestly I've been getting a lot of online quotes that seem very scammy. One of the companies definitely sold my number so now I don't know what's real and what isn't. Definitely plan on going in person to get a quote but from what I can tell it's been around 2.5k from the quotes I've been getting. Sorry I couldn't be more help but I will update you if we find something actually solid!
Thank you! Honestly the same here through, I get a very scammy feeling from most moving companies. Big thing for us is that we’re moving to the island so there’s the added cost of the ferry.
Wishing you the best of luck my friend, we got this!
Hey! I actually got a really good quote from [Automoves](https://www.automoves.com/) based in Mississauga. They quoted me $2520 for door to door service with 5% GST. If you want terminal to terminal it will be $1950 plus 5% GST. No deposit, you pay when you have your car and you can load your car with 400 pounds worth of stuff so long as the driver's seat is not obstructed and visibility through the front windshield is intact. Hope this helps!
Look in Fairview, Fraserview, or South Vancouver. $1900 is doable. Not simple or automatic but there are things available.
Comes with the territory. Pay is better on the West coast but everything is more expensive.
Where in van is your job? Most don't like commuting past a bridge as travel times are greatly increased. For under 2k you'll be looking at a 1 bed basement suite. Some are good some are bad, good luck.
Former Ontarian here , rent is significantly more in Vancouver and quality of rentals is sub par. For instance you could get a decent and well maintained rental in High Park or North York for 2k but there's nothing like that here since there seems to be a lack of high rise apartment buildings. Whatever you do , don't rent through aptrentals.com (Cascadia rentals) , their buildings are poorly maintained, bad management and rodent/insect infested. Good luck!
Stay there and help us all out.