Living In Vancouver, BC vs Toronto, ON

[Kappelan]

We are thinking about moving from Toronto Area to Vancouver Area. I've got a job offer which requires moving to Vancouver. We are all exited, although never been there. The closest places to Vancouver I've visited are Seattle and Portland.

So we are collecting as many information as we can.

What pros and cons of living in Vancouver.
How is the living there compare to Toronto.

We are thinking to buy a property: house, townhouse. So which neighbourhoods and suburbs are the best?

We don't mind to live in suburb within an hour drive from downtown or so. Not going to drive to Vancouver everyday.

We have to kids (5 and 7) so we want good schools and quite neighbourhood.

So far we were thinking about Squamish, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, even Abbotsford and Cultus Lake.

Will appreciate any suggestions, thoughts and ideas.

Thanks.

 

[khughes44]

We are thinking about moving from Toronto Area to Vancouver Area. I've got a job offer which requires moving to Vancouver. We are all exited, although never been there. The closest places to Vancouver I've visited are Seattle and Portland.

So we are collecting as many information as we can.

What pros and cons of living in Vancouver.
How is the living there compare to Toronto.

We are thinking to buy a property: house, townhouse. So which neighbourhoods and suburbs are the best?

We don't mind to live in suburb within an hour drive from downtown or so. Not going to drive to Vancouver everyday.

We have to kids (5 and 7) so we want good schools and quite neighbourhood.

So far we were thinking about Squamish, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, even Abbotsford and Cultus Lake.

Will appreciate any suggestions, thoughts and ideas.

Thanks.

Did this move happen?

 

[Kappelan]

Nope. Not yet.

 

[gnatty8]

He's obviously waiting on your recommendations before making the jump. Come on you guys, get on it..

 

[Kappelan]

Absolutely! Can't wait already.

 

[MonsieurVersailles]

Absolutely! Can't wait already.

The air is better, the outdoors is lovely.

However, you have to turn a blind eye to the dress sense of people and its much less social if you dont make a big effort.

Not to mention, I do not think highly of Toronto either...

 

[Ebitdaddy]

I don't recommend living in vancouver as there aren't many real jobs there. Hasn't been a huge deal to me as I have businesses in the US but home prices relative to jobs in Vancouver do not compute.

In San Francisco, NYC etc there are plenty of 6 figure jobs but definitely not the case in Vancouver...

All the suburbs you mentioned are not places I would personally want to live and some are going to have awful schools relative to what you'd be paying to live there.

 

[CBrown85]

Come to White Rock! Decent restaurants and right near the 99, which will take you downtown. You can probably get a nicer place the further from Vancouver you go, depending on your budget. All of the places you mentioned are great. Any specific questions?

 

[imatlas]

Come to White Rock! Decent restaurants and right near the 99, which will take you downtown. You can probably get a nicer place the further from Vancouver you go, depending on your budget. All of the places you mentioned are great. Any specific questions?

Best place for a couple to live near Vancouver with a housing budget of $500,000 USD?

 

[CBrown85]

Best suggestion is to check out realtor.ca and see what you can do.

$668,000 CAD doesn’t go far in the GVRD, certainly not a single family home.

Lots of townhome and condo options for that, however. New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, and maybe even North Vancouver are nice- close enough to downtown but also to the water and local mountains.