Questions for the Canadians out there

[Anduril]

My wife and I are discussing moving to Vancouver, Canada. To those native to the city, what would a good part of town be for a couple who is mid-twenties, early thirties with a modern mindset (sorry, thats the best way I know how to describe it).

Our current city is Louisville, Ky. If anyone on here is familiar with the city, we live in the Butchertown area. Thats the kind of setting we want, but only in Vancouver.

Plus a place where apartments are descently priced. We pay $550 a month for a one bedroom for instance. The most we have paid is $750. Something within that range would be workable for us.

Tell me everything! Feel free to ask anything!

 

[Colonel Green]

I live in Victoria at the moment, but lived in Vancouver for about 6 years. When you say "modern" do you mean you're looking for a walkable downtownish neighbourhood, or are you looking for more suburban feel?

 

[Canadave]

I've never lived in Vancouver, but be warned that the rental prices are ridiculous there. I wouldn't expect to find anything in that price range that's in a decent neighborhood. That's a tough range to find a decent 1 BR in a good neighborhood in any big Canadian city outside of Montreal, to be honest.

 

[Uncle Sol]

Do you have your heart set on Vancouver or are you willing to live in the surrounding area? If not, just from checking craigslist, you could find some places in the price range. Mostly older basement suites, nothing that nice. I believe you would find nicer places for the same price of Vancouver in one of the neighboring cities. And if you found something by a skytrain line, you would be able to move around the city easily enough.

Could you describe Butchertown? What is the area like? Is it an older heritage part of town? What kind of people live there? (Students, young families, yuppies, hipsters)

 

[Shanndee]

Vancouver is absolutely beautiful with the mountain and ocean views, but it is a lifestyle that comes with a very high price.

If you want to live in the centre of town you are looking at about $1400 to $1500 for rent. If you are willing to cross one of the many bridges in the city you can rent a place for about $1100.

If you are willing to live a little farther away but close to a skytrain station or bus stop you can find places in the $800 to $900 range.

I moved here 11 years ago and I love it...but it is ridiculously expensive.

If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer...just let me know!

 

[Anduril]

Thanks everyone! The high cost of living you have mentioned confirms what I've read from others. Have to find a good job I guess! Anyone with advice in that regard would win many Internets. I'm currently working on a dam remediation project. Have been for six months. Expecting the job to be done in another year.

By modern, I'm not thinking suburban. Don't want to live in the burbs. Someone mentioned surrounding cities. How far away are we talking from downtown for example? A half hour commute isn't intolerable for me; I do that everyday.

Butchertown is an older part of Louisville that is about a ten minute walk to downtown. Our apartment was built around the turn of the century. Most of the houses neighboring us aren't as old as ours. As far as i can tell, there aren't many families on our block. A few, but mainly couples. The majortiy of people seem to be older than 45, with a few younger couples also.

 

[Ashu]

I've never lived in Vancouver, but be warned that the rental prices are ridiculous there. I wouldn't expect to find anything in that price range that's in a decent neighborhood. That's a tough range to find a decent 1 BR in a good neighborhood in any big Canadian city outside of Montreal, to be honest.

That's what I was thinking. I managed to find a good apartment in central Edmonton for 550, but I doubt itd meet all the criteria you are looking for. That and Edmonton isn't as expensive as Vancouver lol.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Victoria is just as beautiful, slightly less expensive but you have to factor in the Ferry to the mainland.
Either way if you come Welcome!

 

[Uncle Sol]

Here's a photo a friend on Facebook posted about Vancouver

http://i.imgur.com/jvefd.jpg

It may not be 100% accurate, but I find it funny.

As for the surrounding cities, if you are going to live near a Skytrain station (our version of the subway) it shouldn't take more than 40 minutes to an hour to get downtown. That's if you lived the farthest away from downtown and were still near a station.

If you wanted something close to downtown, I would try Kits (near beaches, nice neighborhoods, the tv show ReBoot named a part of mainframe after it), South Granville (the area directly south of the Granville bridge, nice apartments and shops, major bus route) or Cambie (cute houses, near a large park and mall, on a Skytrain line). Learning to get around town by bike wouldn't hurt either.

 

[sojourner]

Here's a photo a friend on Facebook posted about Vancouver

http://i.imgur.com/jvefd.jpg

It may not be 100% accurate, but I find it funny.

I found the image a bit offensive.

 

[Canadave]

^ Any particular reason why? I'm only vaguely familiar with Vancouver, but I still found it funny based on what I know.

 

[Shanndee]

I live in Vancouver, and I have to say I find it kind of funny (because its kind of true-ish)