Vancouver at a Glance

Moving to Vancouver

Vancouver can captivate anyone, with its diverse neighborhoods and suburbs for every taste.

If you’re thinking of moving to Vancouver as an expat, you’re in good company! Immigrants and expats from all over the globe are drawn there for various good reasons. Moving to Vancouver can be the beginning of a great new life in the True North! We tell you all about housing and visa regulations.

Moving to Vancouver, you have the choice between many attractive neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct feel and population mix. When making your decision of moving to Vancouver, find a community that fits you and your lifestyle. Also consider commuting times and public transport connections to your office or your children’s school.

If possible, visit a place in person and get a feel for the location and neighbourhood. As there are many temporary housing options available, it is a good idea to start searching for a new permanent home after actually moving to Vancouver.

Moving to Vancouver: Popular Residential Areas

The neighbourhoods west of the downtown area are among the most popular residential areas in the city proper. In Kitsilano in particular, residents enjoy the sandy beaches right at their doorstep and a beautiful view of the nearby mountains. Another attractive option is moving to Vancouver’s northern districts, across the Lions Gate Bridge.

Vancouver’s most exclusive residential areas are found in the West End, close to the University of British Columbia. West Point Grey and Shaughnessy are known as Canada’s most expensive neighbourhoods. Both boast many older, luxurious homes.

More and more expats decide against moving to Vancouver itself, preferring the nearby communities of the metro area. Housing is considerably cheaper here. Most places are well connected via public transport, and commuting times are acceptable. Popular communities among expats moving to Vancouver’s outskirts include Burnaby, Surrey and the Tri Cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

Move to Vancouver: Types of Accommodation

If you consider moving to Vancouver’s busy downtown, high-rise apartment buildings and condominiums are your typical accommodation options. There is also a good choice of townhouses and single family houses available to you if you move to Vancouver’s outer districts and suburbs.

Normally, the minimum rental period is one year, except for short-term housing. Before moving to Vancouver, keep in mind that most landlords ask for a security deposit of one or two months’ rent, and some may also be asking for references. Please note that cited rent prices usually do not include utility charges!

There are both furnished and unfurnished rental homes available to those moving to Vancouver. However, even unfurnished apartments usually come with basic appliances such as an oven and a stove.

Moving to Vancouver: Rent Prices

In relation to average incomes, Vancouver has the third-highest housing costs among English-speaking cities worldwide. Moving to Vancouver and buying a home will currently set you back about C$600.000. Rent prices are similarly high.

Want to move to Vancouver and don’t need a lot of space? Still, the city is quite expensive. 1-bedroom apartments and suites in downtown usually start at around C$1,000 per month. If you’d like to move to Vancouver’s more exclusive areas or are looking for a place with ocean view, expect to pay C$1,500 or more. 3-bedroom apartments or townhouses are available from C$3,000.

As a rule of thumb, rent prices decrease steadily, the further away from downtown Vancouver you are looking. Moving to Vancouver’s suburbs such as Coquitlam and Surrey may only cost you half of what you would be paying in central Vancouver: from C$600 for a 1-bedroom apartment and around C$1,500 for a 3-bedroom home.

Move to Vancouver: Finding Accommodation

Vancouver’s newspapers, such as The Vancouver Sun and The National Post, have classified sections and are your best friends if you consider moving to Vancouver. Classifieds and some general hints on housing in Canada can also be found online at househunting.ca.

As in many other North American cities, craigslist can also be a valuable resource for people moving to Vancouver., Here you can look for homes as well as appliances, furniture, even jobs. Its Vancouver site has hundreds of new postings in “apartments and housing for rent” on an average weekday.

If you want to save yourself some of the hassle of house hunting and shorten the process of moving to Vancouver, you can always consult one of the city’s many real estate agencies. This holds for buying as well as for renting a new home.