Thinking Of Moving To Vancouver, BC? Here’s What You Need To Know

Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Life, Relocation
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With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, and British Columbia under the spotlight, I’ve been getting more and more inquiries about relocating to Vancouver.

Since other expats (you, maybe?) may have similar questions, I have decided to compile a little FAQ over a few posts, and to put said posts up permanently somewhere on the website for easy reference.

All right – let’s rock and roll! For starters, here are a few things you need to know about Vancouver.

Is Vancouver really such a great place to live?

In a nutshell: yes, yes and oh yes!
Vancouver consistently ranks among the best places to live in the world, and with good reason.

- Natural beauty
Vancouver is a stunningly beautiful city. The landscapes and the greenery are so arresting that they’re part and parcel of the quality of life here.

The many beaches, hiking trails, provincial parks and ski resorts minutes away from downtown are a nice perk too.

- Quality of life
You’ll find all the amenities of big-city life here, without the rush and crowds of your typical major city.
Vancouver is clean, easy to navigate, and very safe for a city its size – a definite plus if you’re a woman.

- Diversity and tolerance
40% of Vancouverites were born outside of Canada, so you’ll feel right at home among other expats.
Tolerance is a fundamental Canadian value, and you’ll fit in no matter what your skin colour, your religion or your sexual orientation.
And of course, you’ll get to enjoy the fantastic food and captivating celebrations that come with such ethnic diversity.

What Vancouver isn’t

- An Eldorado for young professionals
You don’t come to Vancouver to build up your savings, or to advance your corporate career. Rents and real estate are very expensive, and there are comparatively few “good jobs” to be had (most corporate headquarters for Western Canada are in Calgary, not Vancouver).
It’s not a bad place to start your own business, though, especially if you’re building a location-independent career.

- A nightlife hotspot
My friend Melanie summed it up perfectly in our recent interview: Vancouver is a great place to raise children, but if you’re young, single and wanting to party, keep looking. Early closing times, antiquated liquor bylaws, and a focus on outdoor activities translate into a lacklustre nightclub scene.

- Sunny
While Vancouver weather is ridiculously mild by Canadian standards, it does rain an awful lot here. If you suffer from SAD, that’s definitely a concern.
On the other hand, if you want to live in Canada but extreme temperatures aren’t your thing, coastal BC is just what you need!

Do you have other questions about what it’s like to live in Vancouver, BC? Leave a comment or send me an email!

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Emmanuelle

Images by Road Fun (top) and janusz I (bottom), both via Flickr Creative Commons