:: TIPS TO SAVE MONEY WHILE LIVING IN VANCOUVER, BC ::
Vancouver is just about the most expensive city in Canada in which to live. Still, there are lots of ways you can save money here and there. Let's begin with the accommodations, which are the steepest cut of all. After taking care of that, the rest is easy.
Accommodations
Cheaper apartments in Vancouver generally come in three flavours: bachelor, studio, and with one or more bedrooms sharing a common living area, kitchen, and bathroom. Bachelor apartments are barely more than a single room. Studio apartments have a loose division between a living area and a sleeping area, rather like a low-end hotel suite. By North American standards, the size of the apartment is very small for what you're getting. If you have ever taken a cruise, you get the idea. The best deals come if you can deal with a cramped apartment. Once you get into modest two- and three-bedroom apartments, the monthly rent skyrockets.
Some parts of Vancouver are cheaper to live in than others. Vancouver proper divides into three parts: Downtown, East Side, and West Side. The downtown area is on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean. The rest of Vancouver divides into east and west along Ontario Street. The further west you go, the more expensive it gets. Water and mountain views are more expensive than urban views. Expect to pay close to $1000 Canadian for an average one-bedroom apartment anywhere except the East Side.
Fairview Slopes and South Granville are among the most affordable areas on the West Side, and also have the advantage of being near downtown Vancouver. In large Canadian cities, living close to downtown is an advantage, since we don't have the doughnut city effect. Downtown West End is cheap by Vancouver standards, has lots of character, and has denser housing than almost anywhere else in North America. Downtown Yaletown gets very expensive. If you don't know the place, you probably want to avoid Downtown Eastside entirely.
Transportation
It's easy to get around without a car in Vancouver. Think on how much money that will save you! More people walk or bike to their work or school here than anywhere else in Canada. (The mild weather helps.) All parts of the city are accessible by bikepath.
If you live further out, the bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express commuter rail system are cheap, safe, and well integrated. If you have a lot of commuting to do, a pass is the cheapest way to go. Plan how your transportation is going to work out, and buy the pass which best fits your needs. Current rates are available at the TransLink website.
If you do bring a car, read exactly what the parking sign says before parking. Some on-street parking is reserved for the people who live in those buildings, who have special residential permits. All other cars are ticketed or towed. If you will be living in British Columbia for an extended time, you will also need to get a local driver's license.
All Canadian prices are in metric. Gas in Canada is priced per litre. Roughly four litres (3.79) make up an American gallon. (A Canadian gallon is roughly 20% larger than an American gallon.) Yes, it's always more expensive in Canada than it is in the United States. Vancouver is middle-of-the nearly-road as far as Canadian gas prices go.
Food
Here is where you can really save money. There are plenty of markets and grocery stores in all parts of Vancouver, and it's cheapest to cook for yourself. Because Vancouver is so multicultural, it's also easy to get international ingredients and that all-purpose staple, bulk rice, for cheap. Watch for sales, coupons, produce clearance sections of grocery stores, and day-old bread and pastries.
Food price per weight is either per 100 grams (g) or per kilogram (kg). If it's marked per 100 g, multiply by 10 to get the per kilogram price. One kilogram is roughly 2.2 pounds.
There are also lots of restaurants in Vancouver, some pricier than others. You can find some real deals here once you start hunting around. Chinese, Indian, and other Southeast Asian lunch buffets often offer great value. Some restaurants also send out coupons for 2-4-1 deals or percentage discounts. Many Vancouver restaurants give postsecondary students with valid ID a break.
If you will be living in Vancouver for a semester or more, it might be worthwhile to sign up for a store loyalty program. Most major stores and gas stations have their own loyalty programs, giving you discounts on future shopping. Coffee loyalty cards which give you a free coffee for every eight or ten you buy are very common. Air Miles gives you points when shopping at their partner stores, which can be traded in for free travel, merchandise, or gift cards.
Health Care
Health care is covered by the government. If you are a taxpaying resident of Canada, the BC Medical Services Plan will cover you, and you can get by without extra insurance. You may still have to pay for amenities such as a semi-private or private hospital room as well as for some services not covered by British Columbia's MSP, either personally or through a private insurance plan. Prices vary considerably, so shop around for the plan which best fits your needs. Although hospitals in Canada won't turn you away if you are not covered, it is still a very good idea for visitors from outside Canada to purchase medical insurance. Many staff at hospitals and community health centres in Vancouver speak more than one language, including some of the obscure ones.
Entertainment
There are lots of street festivals and cultural events in Vancouver, many of them free. For paid events such as Bard On The Beach, matinees are cheaper than evening performances. Some movie theatres have cheaper tickets for Tuesdays, matinees, or when you purchase them online. The University of British Columbia student union also runs its own cheap movies through AMS FilmSoc, and you don't have to be a student to take advantage of them. If you are into the bar scene, Vancouver has happy hours just like everywhere else, driven by a strong student market.
;D...Happy staying in Vancouver,British Columbia,CANADA !! ;D
...Bobby554
Vancouver is just about the most expensive city in Canada in which to live. Still, there are lots of ways you can save money here and there. Let's begin with the accommodations, which are the steepest cut of all. After taking care of that, the rest is easy.
Accommodations
Cheaper apartments in Vancouver generally come in three flavours: bachelor, studio, and with one or more bedrooms sharing a common living area, kitchen, and bathroom. Bachelor apartments are barely more than a single room. Studio apartments have a loose division between a living area and a sleeping area, rather like a low-end hotel suite. By North American standards, the size of the apartment is very small for what you're getting. If you have ever taken a cruise, you get the idea. The best deals come if you can deal with a cramped apartment. Once you get into modest two- and three-bedroom apartments, the monthly rent skyrockets.
Some parts of Vancouver are cheaper to live in than others. Vancouver proper divides into three parts: Downtown, East Side, and West Side. The downtown area is on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean. The rest of Vancouver divides into east and west along Ontario Street. The further west you go, the more expensive it gets. Water and mountain views are more expensive than urban views. Expect to pay close to $1000 Canadian for an average one-bedroom apartment anywhere except the East Side.
Fairview Slopes and South Granville are among the most affordable areas on the West Side, and also have the advantage of being near downtown Vancouver. In large Canadian cities, living close to downtown is an advantage, since we don't have the doughnut city effect. Downtown West End is cheap by Vancouver standards, has lots of character, and has denser housing than almost anywhere else in North America. Downtown Yaletown gets very expensive. If you don't know the place, you probably want to avoid Downtown Eastside entirely.
Transportation
It's easy to get around without a car in Vancouver. Think on how much money that will save you! More people walk or bike to their work or school here than anywhere else in Canada. (The mild weather helps.) All parts of the city are accessible by bikepath.
If you live further out, the bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express commuter rail system are cheap, safe, and well integrated. If you have a lot of commuting to do, a pass is the cheapest way to go. Plan how your transportation is going to work out, and buy the pass which best fits your needs. Current rates are available at the TransLink website.
If you do bring a car, read exactly what the parking sign says before parking. Some on-street parking is reserved for the people who live in those buildings, who have special residential permits. All other cars are ticketed or towed. If you will be living in British Columbia for an extended time, you will also need to get a local driver's license.
All Canadian prices are in metric. Gas in Canada is priced per litre. Roughly four litres (3.79) make up an American gallon. (A Canadian gallon is roughly 20% larger than an American gallon.) Yes, it's always more expensive in Canada than it is in the United States. Vancouver is middle-of-the nearly-road as far as Canadian gas prices go.
Food
Here is where you can really save money. There are plenty of markets and grocery stores in all parts of Vancouver, and it's cheapest to cook for yourself. Because Vancouver is so multicultural, it's also easy to get international ingredients and that all-purpose staple, bulk rice, for cheap. Watch for sales, coupons, produce clearance sections of grocery stores, and day-old bread and pastries.
Food price per weight is either per 100 grams (g) or per kilogram (kg). If it's marked per 100 g, multiply by 10 to get the per kilogram price. One kilogram is roughly 2.2 pounds.
There are also lots of restaurants in Vancouver, some pricier than others. You can find some real deals here once you start hunting around. Chinese, Indian, and other Southeast Asian lunch buffets often offer great value. Some restaurants also send out coupons for 2-4-1 deals or percentage discounts. Many Vancouver restaurants give postsecondary students with valid ID a break.
If you will be living in Vancouver for a semester or more, it might be worthwhile to sign up for a store loyalty program. Most major stores and gas stations have their own loyalty programs, giving you discounts on future shopping. Coffee loyalty cards which give you a free coffee for every eight or ten you buy are very common. Air Miles gives you points when shopping at their partner stores, which can be traded in for free travel, merchandise, or gift cards.
Health Care
Health care is covered by the government. If you are a taxpaying resident of Canada, the BC Medical Services Plan will cover you, and you can get by without extra insurance. You may still have to pay for amenities such as a semi-private or private hospital room as well as for some services not covered by British Columbia's MSP, either personally or through a private insurance plan. Prices vary considerably, so shop around for the plan which best fits your needs. Although hospitals in Canada won't turn you away if you are not covered, it is still a very good idea for visitors from outside Canada to purchase medical insurance. Many staff at hospitals and community health centres in Vancouver speak more than one language, including some of the obscure ones.
Entertainment
There are lots of street festivals and cultural events in Vancouver, many of them free. For paid events such as Bard On The Beach, matinees are cheaper than evening performances. Some movie theatres have cheaper tickets for Tuesdays, matinees, or when you purchase them online. The University of British Columbia student union also runs its own cheap movies through AMS FilmSoc, and you don't have to be a student to take advantage of them. If you are into the bar scene, Vancouver has happy hours just like everywhere else, driven by a strong student market.
;D...Happy staying in Vancouver,British Columbia,CANADA !! ;D
...Bobby554
I hope to land in vancouver soon!