Version Française
Vancouver City Guide
THE ULTIMATE CITY GUIDE
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 of Vancouver
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
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 of Vancouver
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 in Vancouver
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 the 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.
Overall, living costs in Vancouver are expensive (as much as, if not more than Toronto) and above the 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 in Vancouver
Vancouver's summer season is generally dry, however temperatures stay around 20°C and very rarely rise above 30°C. During most of winter and fall, it could get depressing as it is often cloudy and rainy. This is one of the few negatives of Vancouver, but it is balanced by a the shiny months during spring and summer.
Besides, 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.
Besides, 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 in Vancouver
Vancouver's public transportation is very developed. Translink is the name of transportation system in Vancouver, running rapid transit trains (SkyTrain), commuter rail (West Coast Express), a fleet of buses, and a sea ferry (SeaBus).
Vancouver's metropolitan area is split into 3 zones. Fares depend on how many zones you will cross. 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 part of the local culture. More people walk or bike to work in Vancouver than in any other Canadian city.
Vancouver's metropolitan area is split into 3 zones. Fares depend on how many zones you will cross. 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 part of the local culture. More people walk or bike to work in Vancouver than in any other Canadian city.
Pros and Cons of Vancouver
|
Negatives :
Positives :
|
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.
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.
