Vancouver

THE ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE

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We prepare this guide to help you answer some basic questions about Vancouver. Where is it? How's the cost of living? What's the weather like? How's the public transportation?

Overview

Province : British Columbia
Population : City -> 0,6 million / Metropolitan area -> 2,5 million (2016)
Climate : Oceanic or marine west coast,
Demonym : Vancouverite
Time zone : Pacific Standard Time PST (GMT -8 hours)
Area phone code : beginning with 604, 778, or 236
Postal code : beginning with V5K to V6T, V6Z, or V7X to V7Y

Location

Vancouver is located on the West Coast of Canada, just 50 Km north of the U.S. border. Seattle is 230 Km to the south.

Cost of Living

Getting started can be tough due to the relatively high cost of living in Vancouver. Vancouver is among the least affordable cities in which to live in Canada, with the highest housing prices in the country. The cost of a monthly pass for Vancouver's public transportation could cost between $90 to $170, depending on how many zones are required.

​Overall, living costs in Vancouver are expensive (as much as, if not more than Toronto) and above national average, but this can be offset by slightly higher wages and lower taxes. Note that you need to pay premiums for healthcare, check here to learn more.

Check here for detailed prices of the cost of living in Vancouver. You can choose your currency for more ease of comparison.

Weather

Summer months are typically dry in Vancouver, but temperate and rarely uncomfortably hot. In contrast, most days during late fall and winter are rainy. This regular rain can be one of the toughest things about Vancouver life. And for many, the rain can be worth tolerating, knowing that the dry and sunny months from April to October are just around the corner. 

Vancouver has one of the mildest winters in Canada, with average temperatures rarely falling below 0°C. With the mostly rainy winter and mountains around, Vancouver presents an interesting balance for amateurs of skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports.

Transportation

Public transport in Vancouver is excellent. Translink is the main operator, running a network of buses, rapid transit trains (SkyTrain), commuter rail (West Coast Express), and sea ferry (SeaBus).

The metropolitan area is divided into three zones. Your fare will depend on how many zones you travel through on your journey. You can find details on fares and zones here.

There is a city-wide network of bike lanes and the use of bicycles as a primary mode of transportation is widely used. More people walk or bike to work in Vancouver than in any other Canadian city.

Pros and Cons

Negatives :

• Ridiculously expensive house prices, renting is more affordable but still expensive
• The highest cost of living of any city in North America
• Higher crime rates
• Wet, overcast winters

Positives :

• Best health and longest lived people in Canada
• One in six people walk or bike to work
• A strong economy with opportunities
• A very moderate climate, rarely any snowfall
• Moderately warm, dry, sunny summers
• Spectacularly beautiful landscapes
• Very clean air quality
• Consistently ranks in the world’s top livable cities

For more information on how to get a British Columbia Healthcare Card, click here.

To learn more about driving and getting a driver's licence in British Columbia, click here.

For the Top 10 Free Things to do in Vancouver, check out this link.