Archives for July 2018

Living in Vancouver means days spent enjoying beaches and waterfront parks, nights out eating at the best restaurants in British Columbia, and weekend-long festivals that bring international visitors and locals together. Before you take off for the city, read our moving guide and get a sense of what it’s really like to live in Vancouver.

Cost of Living

Here are some facts and figures about the average cost of living to keep in mind before moving to Vancouver.

• Rent: the average cost to rent a 1-bedroom apartment is $2,000 and $3,200 for a 2-bedroom. These rates put Vancouver in the top 5 most expensive cities in Canada to rent.
• Transportation: British Columbia residents spend an average of 18.5% of their income on monthly transit passes. We’ll go into more detail on transportation options later.
• Food costs: residents in BC spend 14.1% of their household budget on food, just slightly under the national average of 14.3%.
• Taxes: sales tax in Vancouver is 12%.

Utilities

Utilities: the average cost of utilities in Vancouver is $135.

• Clark Public Utilities: Electricity
• Fortis BC: Gas
• City of Vancouver: Garbage, Water, and Sewage

Internet: internet services are around $60. Below are some of the largest providers in the Vancouver area.

• Telus
• Shaw
• Novus

Weather

Vancouver has fairly pleasant weather throughout the year. Its summers see average highs around 17 degrees Celsius and winter lows get down to 1 degrees Celsius. The city gets an average annual snowfall of just 45 centimeters, making it one of the Canadian cities with the least amount of snow per year.

Vancouver Neighbourhoods

Of course, living in certain neighborhoods can alter your cost of living, so here are a few popular ones.

• Yaletown: This is possibly the most hipster of the Vancouver neighborhoods, but it’s certainly well-liked by locals. Boasting hip restaurants and shops housed in old warehouses, this hood is bursting with places to go. David Lam Park, a waterfront hangout spot with space for almost any activity, is in this neighbourhood backyard, and ample public transit options make Yaletown one of the most accessible parts of the city.
• Kitsilano: Hugging the northwestern shores of the English Bay and Burrard Inlet, Kitsilano is a place for beach-lovers, history buffs, and foodies. Suffice to say, this hood has it all. Check out the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver, and the H.R. Macmillan Space Center, all located in Kitsilano. Head to AnnaLena for a cocktail and dinner at one of Vancouver’s best new restaurants
• Gastown: This is where it all happens. Gastown is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver, but don’t let its age fool you. This lively area is full of new pubs on cobblestone streets and trendy restaurants housed in decade-old-buildings. Its mix of new and old make this a premier spot for locals wanting to get out for a day or night on the town.

Don’t Miss

Arguably one of the most breathtaking spot in all of Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Park sits 152 meters above sea level and takes up 52 hectares. The park grounds feature beautifully-landscaped gardens, an arboretum with 1,500 trees, a rose garden , public art, and blooming perennials and shrubs. The Vancouver International Film festival draw huge crowds every year who come to see the latest from the best filmmakers in the industry. Stanley Park, free to the public, is a massive, 400-hectare urban park with bike paths, scenic views along the seawall, and Canada’s largest aquarium.  

Transportation

The Translink operates Vancouver’s subways, ferries, commuter rails, and a bus system. The SkyTrain connects downtown Vancouver to the airport and nearby cities. The bus system is expansive, and covers just about every nook and cranny of Vancouver. The SeaBus is what you’ll want to take to cross over the Burrard Inlet into the North Shore, and you’ll commute into the city via the West Coast Express.

How to Get to Vancouver

To get to Vancouver by air, fly into Vancouver International Airport. Forget the cab, take the SkyTrain and you’ll be in downtown Vancouver in about 30 minutes. If you’re driving from within British Columbia, BC-1 will take you to the city.

Moving to Vancouver from Montreal

You might want to hop on a flight for this one. A road trip from Montreal to Vancouver will take you around 46 hours, and you’ll be driving through the northern U.S. A flight, though, will get you there in just 4.5 hours.

Moving to Vancouver from Seattle

You won’t have too much to stress over if moving from Seattle; Vancouver is just a little over 3 hours away by car. Bolt Buses also have direct routes between the two cities, as does Amtrak Cascades.

Tips for Moving to Vancouver

• Do: eat up at Vancouver’s best restaurants. A 17 -day festival, Dine Out Vancouver, celebrates some of the city’s top eateries and gives locals a chance to participate in workshops and classes, try tasting menus, and go on neighbourhood tasting tours.
• Don’t: miss out on the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Vancouver has more than 40,000 cherry trees lining its city streets, and they’ll all be blooming during this festival.
• Do: check out the event of the summer, the Celebration of Light. It’s the largest international fireworks competition in the world and takes place over three days in July.
• Don’t: expect to use Lyft or Uber here. Luckily, Vancouver operates a few different taxi systems that work just as well with the eCab app.

Does Vancouver sounds like the place for you? Make sure you find the perfect Vancouver apartment before you get out there and enjoy this waterfront city.

*Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

As the capital of Ontario, Toronto is the place to go for all the action. Walk around this diverse city and you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different world; in fact, it’s estimated that one half of Toronto residents were born outside the country and more than 140 languages are spoken in this city. Home to some of the best restaurants in the world, festivals for all occasions, and stunning waterfront views, Toronto leaves nothing to be desired.

Cost of Living

Here are some facts and figures about the average cost of living to keep in mind before moving to Toronto.

• • Rent: the average cost to rent a 1-bedroom apartment is $2,070 and $2,730 for a 2-bedroom. These rates make Toronto the second most expensive city to rent in Canada.
  • Transportation: Ontario residents spend an average of 18.8% of their income on monthly transit passes. We’ll go into more detail on transportation options later.
  • Food costs: residents in Ontario spend 13.5% of their household budget on food, just slightly under the national average of 14.3%.
  • Taxes: tax in Toronto is 13%, but things like public transportation and groceries are not taxed.

Utilities

• Utilities: the average cost of utilities in Toronto is $142.46.
  • Toronto Hydro: Electricity
  • Enbridge: Gas
  • City of Toronto: Garbage, Water, and Sewage
• Internet: internet services range from $50-$150. Below are some of the largest providers in the Toronto area.
  • Bell
  • Rogers
  • Dotto-One
  • EBOX

Weather

Get your winter clothes ready; Toronto experiences all four seasons. Summer temperatures reach average highs in the 70s, while winter temperatures dip to the 20s, on average. Expect snowfall in Toronto, too; this city gets about 45 inches of fresh powder per year. Beginning in late August, Toronto starts to cool down, giving way to fall foliage beginning in September.

Toronto Neighbourhoods

Of course, living in certain parts of the city can alter your cost of living, so here are a few popular Toronto neighbourhoods.

• Kensington Market: A super walkable neighbourhood, Kensington Market is known for its hip, bohemian shops, tasty restaurants, and multicultural community. In fact, it’s not just locals who love this hood; Kensington Market was dedicated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006.
• Yonge-Eglinton: You’ll never run out of things to do in this neighbourhood, as it offers prolific entertainment and dining options. Massive high rise condos, transit options galore, and plenty of bars and shops make this hood an easy sell and a local favorite.
• Harbourfront: Want views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands every morning? This is your hood. Along with the view, Harbourfront is home to free concerts at the Toronto Music Garden, the 10-acre Harbourfront Centre, and lakeside jogging paths.

Don’t Miss

Every July, Toronto hosts its Festival of Beer, where festival goers can taste some 400+ brews. While they sip on local and international beers, guests will have plenty of food vendors to choose from and a different musical performance to watch each night. Casa Loma is a 98-room Toronto landmark that was built in the late 1800s, and its European elegance and storied past draw thousands of locals and tourists to its grounds each year. Check out the incredible restaurant scene, starting with Richmond Station where quality ingredients and inventive recipes are at the forefront of the menu. Spend a day in the Distillery District and you’ll want to come back to experience the rest of the museums, art galleries, coffee shops, and performance venues.

Transportation

The Toronto Transit Commission operates the public transit options throughout the city. The TTC has streetcars, buses, and a subway system that locals take advantage of, especially those who live right off one of the system’s lines. Because of this city’s comprehensive public transit, a car isn’t necessary in Toronto.

How to Get to Toronto

From outside of Toronto catch a flight into Toronto Pearson International Airport. Whether you’re moving from Chicago or Vancouver, a flight is probably your best bet. From the airport, you can take the UP Express into downtown and hop on a train or bus line that will take you where you need to go.

Relocating to Toronto from New York

If you’re coming from NYC, fly into Pearson International and get ready to take on your new city. Flights out of NYC’s airports take about an hour and a half, so you’ll be in Toronto in no time. Don’t forget that Toronto uses Canadian dollars, so you’ll want to visit a currency exchange when you get there.

Relocating to Toronto from the Bay Area

The Bay Area has plenty of flight options for your move to Toronto. Fly out of Oakland, San Jose, or San Francisco and into Pearson; a direct flight will take you about 5 hours, so buckle up and download some good podcasts for the trip.

Tips for Moving to Toronto

• Do: join in on Pride Week. Toronto hosts the second-largest Pride celebration in the world, and this city sure knows how to throw a party.
• Don’t: miss the annual Fringe Festival, the largest theater festival in Ontario. Attendees can see performances at more than 40 venues across the city, and catch free music performances and grab food and drinks at event’s gathering place, The Patio.
• Do: get a smoked meat sandwich from Katz’s Deli. You’ll also want to try a peameal bacon sandwich and poutine while you’re at it.
• Don’t: underestimate the smaller attractions. Chinatown offers a good area for a stroll and the cherry blossoms in High Park are beautiful on a spring day.

There’s plenty to love about Toronto; from its hip, walkable neighbourhoods to the local eats you’ll start to crave, this city certainly doesn’t disappoint. Make sure you find the perfect Toronto apartment and, once you’re settled in, head out and explore your new city.