Thanks everyone for your advice and insight on the cost of living in Vancouver and surroundings. Glad that someone asked that question before me so I had some ready answers because my husband and I are thinking of moving to Vancouver in 2007. What I want to know is: can a relatively thrifty couple live comfortably with a combined minimum income of $50,000 per annum? We will be renting a condo/apartment and not buying property. However, we would plan to buy a second hand compact car to get around because I am hoping to give birth there. Thanks and any advice/input, general or otherwise would be much appreciated.

A combined income of $50,000 really isn't that much. You can do it, but you probably won't be living in Vancouver. In Vancouver, rentals for a basic 2 bedroom rental average about the following... Downtown - 1500 Westside - 1200 Eastside - 900 Subtract about 20% for a one bedroom. Prices will vary up and down on the specifics of the building, suite and neighbourhood but I'd say that this is a decent average. You might want to look for a rental place in the suburbs where it is cheaper - New Westminster, Burnaby or Coquitlam - and maybe near a Sky Train station so you have good transit access. Of course, it depends on where you will be working and if transit access is important to your needs. Suburb rentals can be anywhere from 40 to 60% cheaper than in Downtown Vancouver...although sometimes they can be just as pricey.

You will do fine with that salary. Live either in Joyce (closest to downtown) or burnaby or new west. All good places, close to all amenities and transportation and cheaper in everything (rent, groceries). ISecond hand car, North American made is cheaper, and recommendable, after all it is only to get you from point A to B. If you can, budget $5,000-$7,500 will get you a second hand car and no debt. The older the car and the non sportier is better for new comer who might not have the history thus the best discount from the monopolity ICBC (car insurance). As you get your footing here, then you can plan more. Buying ultimately will be cheaper than renting, there is 2 years from now to 2007, so two years worth of savings or invest in education for both so by 2007, the combine income and the upcoming baby will be 50K or more [;)]. But yes, it is do-able. If you can, plan that you will be here more than 3 mths before the baby arrival, hence there is no headache on Health coverage and all those hair raising thing. 3 most stressful things in live: 1. Moving to a new city/country 2. New Job 3. New Baby So not doing them at the exact same time will be wise and one better have job (when baby arrive). Good luck.

$50k for 2 ppl will be very tight, but you will do fine if you really watch your expenses. I make more then that as one person...and still find it tough. Although, I live in Yaletown and some people tell me that's half the problem. But I love the area so I'm not going to move anytime soon. Like Orca said, look for areas with lower rent prices, and shop at cheaper grocery stores. Clip coupons etc etc. Do an invitory of what is cheaper where. Good luck and we'll see you in a couple of years :)

quote:

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3 most stressful things in live(sic): 1. Moving to a new city/country 2. New Job 3. New Baby

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Correction- The 3 most stressful events in a person's life are 1-death in the family 2-divorce 3-moving (this from someone who has lived a life not just read about it on the Internet) $50k for 2 people is lots as long as you eat strict vegetarian~no restaurants/take the bus and don't smoke/drink.You'll never take a vacation or even leave the city but that doesn't matter to some people. Remember Income Tax here is high as is Sales Tax.

Totally agree with Lex and MrMr. Everything depends on the lifestyle. Living modestly can even include a low-maintenance vehicle. Having a child is probably the most expensive commitment and responsibility.

Lex says "$ is more then enough... 12000 a year for rent, 12000 for food, 12000 for misc stuff expenses like clothing, transportaion and entertainment... + 14000 of saving or it can be spend on extra things"...but he forgets that 50 000 a year is really around 32-35 000 after tax, so I would say we need to budget it this way. 12000 for rent is too high for a 30 000 a year income so we cut it to 8000 (maybe they need to rent in Richmond or Marpole)then food..12000 is too much, they should spend about 6000 a year and it should include Wendy's and White spots once a week adn good restourant meal once a month. Clothing should be bought at Value Village for everyday life purposes and once a year shopping for good clothes should be done. So I'd budget around 2-3000 a year. A car will cost 1200 on gas, and 1500 on insurance. + 1000-2000 on maintanance per year. The miscellanious expences will be around 5-6000 a year. There you are now with 25-26000 a year with spendings and around 3-4 grand with savings so you can buy yourself a new TV at the end of the year or have a good turkey for christmas. That's how you survive in Vancouver. Good Luck

Wow, what kind of car are you budgeting for at $1,500 for insurance? My car was estimated at $2,500 and it's already 7 years old! ('98)...and that's just for a lesiure registration. Doesn't BC have strict guidelines for fuel emissions? So I'm assuming a car, from the ie late '80s, early '90s may have a lower insurance cost (to meet your $1,500 estimate), but wouldn't it be harder for them to meet the guidelines? I'm not sure, still learning about this, so I'm interested to know. Stick to the bus if you're on a strict budget. approx $70 for one zone x 12 months = just under $840 for the current rate.

50,000 minus taxes, you are going to loose about 20 something percent of your money to the government. Go to this website to find out more: http://www.taxtips.ca/tax_rates.htm#CombinedTaxRates So, let's say they take away some $14,000 which is probably what you'll loose. You will be left with some $36,000(maybe less, do the figures using the above page). You can get a 2 bedroom apartment in the West End for $1300 to $1500.But lets go with $1300. That's $16,000 in rent a year if we round it up. Now lets say for food, all your meals are cooked at home. You spend some $600 on groceries/household items. That's about $7000 a year. If you buy a 1 zone bus pass for a year it should come to $70 per month, for a year that's $840. Now telephone plus high speed internet with Telus costs about $75 a month. For a year we're talking $900. For your hydro some $25 per month. That's $300 a year. Basic cable is around $25 a month. You should budget for baby stuff (diapers, baby food, etc), plan for $100 a month. Some $30 dollars a month for laundry. About $100 for fun/misc a month. So that comes to (during a year) Rent: 16,000 Groceries/household:7000 Bus pass: 840 Phone and internet: 900 Hydro: 300 Basic cable: 300 Baby: 1200 Fun/misc: 1200 Laundry: 360 That gives you a grand total of 28,100 for a year. You still need to budget in clothes/new stuff for a year, you'll have to buy lots of clothes for baby and all. Lets say you shop at inexpensive places, plan for a MAXIMUM of about $4000 in clothes/new stuff for yourself, husband and child. That should get you to 32,100 in expenses for a year. You'll probably have some 4000 left for other stuff...if you have a car then budget in car instead of bus pass.

Remember too, that this is 50K COMBINED income. So if things were split evenly, that would be 25K per person and then when the baby comes cut about 40% of one of those for a year of maternity leave. And of course the taxes. It can be done, other people do it...but you will not be living in Kits or Yaletown and driving a new Infiniti or BMW. I still say look at properties east of Main and in the suburbs. Check out the canada.com group of websites to research car prices, wages, and rentals. working.canada.com for jobs autos.canada.com for cars homes.canada.com for a place to live

Hey if you think that Vancouver is difficult , come to
Quebec and you'll see... the taxes... no job and you have to try hard even if you have a university degree....

Lex

Attention: REGISTER / LOGIN to view the image!Posted - 1/1/2005 5:30:00 PM     In comparison to Toronto, i'd say Vanocuver prices are reasonable. Plus, tuition fees are 50% higher in Toronto. 50000$ is more then enough... 12000 a year for rent, 12000 for food, 12000 for misc stuff expenses like clothing, transportaion and entertainment... + 14000 of saving or it can be spend on extra things.

Editing

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/forbes/P121206.asp?GT1=6706

Here is a site that broke down what it would cost a fictional family to live a good life for a year at different locations in the USA.

Is there something similar for Canada?

We have been through this one a hundred times before!
The list of most expensive goes something like this:
1. Vancouver (some of you idiots think its Toronto, its not!)
2. Toronto
3. Ottowa
4. Montreal
5. Calgary
6. Halifax
7. Edmonton
8. Regina
9. Saskatoon
10. Winnipeg

Not a definitive guide as there are many places some where in between on this list, I have just ranked the larger settlements.

If you are looking for good value for your $ and nice weather, and your retired you could do a lot worse than Brownsville, TX.

Of course that is PLENTY if its just the 2 of you no kids.

I like how people have broken down the costs for living in Vancouver.  But here's the question:  How much would it cost for 2 people and a kid to live comfortably in Vancouver?

Hi All

But what if the person is single and alone like me; I would be coming anytime during this year on a work permit and a expected salary of around $24000 - $30000. How the cost of living will cut out for a bachelor like me.

Regards,
Manish.

yes

you can do Vancouver on 50k plenty of people here living on less but you've got to budget and really get to know the city, it has become a millionaires playground and can be one of the most expensive cities in the world until you've been here awhile and figure it out. My Aunt came here after four years in London, England and thought it was expensive, buying is basically impossible unless you've got something to sell where you are now as a down payment or have inherited enough for down, although there are a few hard to find holdouts like the odd 30 yo wooden shag carpet 1 bedroom condo for 250-300. Real-estate here doesn't even make sense to the average working person anymore, hardly a house under 1 mil. in Vanc city limits condos range 450 for a tiny studio off the back alley to in the 20 millions for a spatious penthouse,(who's buying?,the international elite) amazingly there are roomy apartments even in Vanc proper under 700/mth (I know people living in some) but get one?????Lots of co-op housing which tends to be below market around the Commercial drive area for some reason. take what u can get and get your name on the co-op list as soon as u can. groceries??was grocery shopping in TO last year and the charge was 16.41, I said "are you sure, you must have missed something", but it was right 4 bags of groceries for 16.41, I was expecting it to be about 40$(vancouver price), don't want to discourage you but be prepared for a few surprises, but just like anywhere, one finds the bargains. Numero Uno take-out pizza DELICIOUS and fresh at 1.50 a slice, all day breakfast at Bon's 2.95 with real potatoes, Siegels Bagels, lots of mid-Eastern quality cheap fast food.
Great live music at several venues on Granvile or Main for free upto 5 dollars Mon-Wed., get used to reg drip coffee(but thats really good in Van)cause anything fancy is 3-10. good used cars available cheap here cus the weather doesn't kill them for 2-3 G sometimes even less(buy in the fraser valley)EXCELLENT 10-15yo cars around. if u live right in van consider the car co-op, check it out on the internet, people using it swear by it. of course tha wonderful thIng about Vanc is one doesn't have to spend much to entertain themselves, even in the winter the outdoor life is UNBEATABLE BY ANY BIG CITY Stanley park, the seawall, trek/bike in numerous huge half-wild parks Minnekata, Burke, Mountain, Northshore,SFU and UBC, beaches, sailing and paddling, three great ski areas basically in town just make sure you learn about bears, cougars, racoons, deer, cayotes, skunks, seals, sea lions, devil's club etc. and the terrain before you go out. that's VERY IMPORTANT around here. twice this year people 'walking their dog' had to get rescued off of a cliff.

I think you'd be comfortable

Yikes that's a lot of money! Seriously, what kind of car is it, Supercharge Mustang? In 2006 I was paying $1400 a year on a 2 year old minivan full coverage including normal driving (no km restrictions), with only I think like 5% discount for roadstar or whatever, I've already forgotten the system, but it wasn't much of a discount.

proem: I'm a swat, looking toward being a CPA, but questioning my dash high-quality, change, and situation/life in general.

What are your thoughts on how your task affects you individualality? If you be suffering with a repetitious accounting job, do you change repetitious? On the furious side, does a wearying job absolutely arouse you to be venturesome and mind-blowing faint of m‚tier, craving firebegets to redress the tiresome m‚tier environment?

What do you do the day you wake up and comprehend you shrink your job? What if that's EVERY morning? What are some textile jobs with which one can stump the rat-the turf or winnings some satisfaction? I show being a the fuzz fuzz, firefighter, angel of mercy, etc. as being emotionally worthwhile, moreso than a enterprise joint job.

Does anyone recognize a all principled estate to pick up c espouse one of those Job deployment tests, that pick all advantageously flys for you? Are they accurate?

I'm awareness somewhat absolute now, I security to start a straightforward examination with some words of wisdom. Thanks guys

I see/cognizant of too numberless people situationing jobs they shrink to take a run-out powder steal monied to buy things they don't difficulty to try and provide the without caused by non-fulfilment with their life/job/wshrinkver. (refer to debate repel mace, LOL). Is that how the planet m‚tiers?

To sum it all up, I over I'm a hot, exultant himself currently. Is the planet after college the vivacity-crushing, numbing gadget it can earmarks of to be at times from this side of the fence?

Talking about an old thread brought back to life lol

Maybe the problem is that I expected it to be easy and learned too late that is extremely challenging. The difficulty of life combined with the disapointment brought by major experience (love, work, friendship) keeps me up or makes me bury my head under the pillow.

Yup.....you left out Victoria.

Vancouver is expensive.

And worth every penny of it!

So I've been sorta-kinda told that I'll on the agenda c trick a job in D.C. waiting for me when I graduate (don't ask, hunger life ). I planned on unfixed there after undergrad anyways, but this makes it more qualified that I transfer pick up stakes and go to Washington.

I scarcity to get wind of ifiable inclusive info. connected with D.C. Basically, whatever comes to your mind. What's sedateness hither it? Is it vibrant, lots of restaurants/bars/etc. around? Does it bring into the world foot See trade ahunger the lines of NYC or LA or Chicago (not enceinte it to be as leaden as those)?

I fancy the essential questions are "Is it a kind-hearted view to busy" and "Do you/did you take to living in D.C.".

Again, deem without to unprejudiced bounce off whatever comes to mind. Thanks in advance.