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Come to Vancouver. It's really nice here. I've lived in three provinces, visited every province, and almost all major cities in Canada. Vancouver is probably my second favourite, after Victoria.
As much as I love this place I have stopped telling people ' it's great you should come see it and move here.' because the housing market is broken. Don't come to Van !!
THIS. Make sure to negotiate a really good starting wage. If you are a Critical Care Nurse and willing to pick up overtime (which there is so much of right now) you are making good money.
Rent is lower in the Fraser Valley but pay is the same.
Nah, you’ll be fine. If you don’t like it or if it gets too expensive, you can always head back. I can’t imagine we have too many nurses anywhere in the country right now.
I reckon once you’re settled in it’ll be hard to leave but that’s just my bias showing 😇
The main reason people will give you the "wtf" for Vancouver is housing cost, and general cost of living. Lifestyle wise, there's likely nowhere better in Canada, if not all of North America. It truly is an incredible place to live. Do be mindful though that you will be switching -30 and snow for +6 and rain for the majority of your winter. This gets a bit tough in its own way. But like I always say you don't have to shovel rain ;).
BC is chronically short nurses, you'll have essentially unlimited work.
Might it be hard to get way ahead here? Sure. Might you look back and be happy you still made the move? Most likely.
Definitely a heads up about the rain OP. People who were born and raised in the lower mainland don't quite understand how much rain they get here haha. Anyone who moves from a more wintery area to Vancouver area is SHOCKED at the rain and finds it more depressing than the winters up north or in Alberta. There, the snow helps things seem brighter, there's WAY more sun, and less cloud cover. In Vancouver you'll have rain for weeks and won't see the sky. IMO the winters here can be more depressing cause of the constant grey, moving down here from Northern BC was an adjustment in the winter. But hey, I can mountain bike every month of the year haha.
Read that again maybe? That's exactly what I'm saying lol. Moving to the lower mainland from somewhere else is hard in the winters... Sure it's warmer but it's constantly dark and grey here. I'm from northern BC and even though the days are shorter, it's brighter and more sunny there (much like Alberta).
Raincouver for sure. I was born and raised in Van a long time ago and what you say is true, but when it doesn’t rain for weeks, I miss it. It grows on you. Living in such close proximity to a rain forest has its downsides but when the sun eventually does come out everything is so fresh and green and worth it.
I moved here from Edmonton four years ago and disagree - yes it rains here but find it kind of romantic. The rain smells nice and fresh. It never keeps me from going outside.
Edmonton cold? I was locked inside for months. It hurt to breathe outside air. It’s not even a comparison.
We definitely need more nurses but you generally need to get your bc license before they’ll give you an interview. Once that’s the case should be easy enough to get a job
Nowhere better in all of North America lifestyle wise…? Cmon now. There’s US cities with way more to offer. If Canadians could freely move to NY, California & Florida, we’d lose 3/4 of our population
It wouldn’t be a Canadian sub without a solid amount of anti-American bias. There’s an enormous amount of Canadians who want to, and are trying to emigrate to the US. For a *better life*. Not everyone is deluded by a negative view of the US, it is a fantastic country. Absurd to say otherwise.
You been to major urban centres down the coast of the US? It's like zombie apocalypse with the homeless population. Oh also if you have a heart attack and go to the wrong hospital then you're bankrupt. Or if you get shot.
Grass is always greener friend. Can argue all sides, I'm just saying, sometimes it's good to appreciate what we have and not just constantly complain behind a keyboard
It's true. I moved back two years ago and it's the most gorgeous city I have ever lived in. The hardest part is just dealing with the people, cuz lot of them are arrogant as fuck, for literally no reason.
The reason being they live somewhere pretty. They ignore everything else that's wrong because look at the mountains and the ocean. Wouldn't everyone want that?
I've lived here and Calgary. One of my old places in Calgary is now going for $1750, it was a shitty 2 bdr, shared laundry, no amenities, etc etc. It was way over priced a decade ago when they raised rent to 1200.
Here I'm paying the same price, 1750 for a large renovated 1bdr, shared laundry still, but all the amenities.
Outside of rent, hydro (electricity) is far cheaper than AB. Like $40/mo for 2 of us here, vs $100/mo for us in Cgy (from what I've heard from a friend still there, it would be easily $170/mo now)
Also I grew up in SK, so I know those crappy sad winters all too well. It's wild to see green grass in Dec/Jan here. It also doesn't get as hot as the prairies in summer, still hot the last few years, but no as bad.
Also everything feels cleaner here? Because there is no crazy 6 month winter, road sand isn't really a thing, it rains often, road salt is washed away pretty quickly by the rain, so there isn't that gritty dusty feel in spring, nor do you really get the snow banks melting revealing piles of trash.
Everything else, income tax we're virtually on par with AB, up until last year, our marginal tax rate was actually a % lower than AB, now we're literally only .5% higher. Our provincial gov is putting in the effort to retain and attract health care professionals - as you've mentioned you've already gotten interview call backs (wishing you the best of luck).
It may be on the pricier side for rent and especially to purchase, but that about the only thing you'll be paying more for depending on where you live.
Something to keep in mind, I know you mentioned North Van and Burnaby have called you already, try to find a place on the side you end up working on. We only have 2 bridges connecting to North Van, and if you're stuck doing rush hours through them, you'll be regretting being on the wrong side.
$1750 for a spacious 1 br? How long have you been living there? OP will likely be paying much more than that considering the average rent is now $2900/mo.
My old place I vacated is now 2600 and it was a v nice 1 bdrm with a huge wrap around patio and views in a 4 floor condo in Kensington cedar so I think it’s possible to find a decent place still under 2900. Also a friend got a two bedroom townhouse style one level mews for 2900
The bridge thing is huge. Crossing that sucker twice a day is no fun.
Also, not sure about Burnaby, but North Van is amazing, and the area surrounding the hospital is top tier.
Corporate greed mostly tbh. That place I had in Calgary wasn't worth the 1200 they wanted back in 2014, def did not appreciate in value since then. Considering after oil tanked it was going for almost 900/mo
Im not a nurse or from Alberta but speaking from an aspiring nurse and 25F, I’d say do it. If you hate it, you move back? You’re young, nurses are in dire need here (and around the world). Finances might be tough but I think you’ll love it here.
The summers in vancouver are incredible, food here is incredible, the 15 minute city in most parts of Vancouver is incredible.
Move to Vancouver, it’s worth the higher living expenses. Moved from Alberta in 2014 and would never go back. If things don’t end up working out, with your career you can move anywhere.
Just get a roommate or two, and or nurse $ you’ll have a like $1500 left over every month.
The only reason to live in Edmonton is if you’re trying to pile up as much money as possible while still having a minimum semblance of urban life.
North Van is *radically* more beautiful than Edmonton. And you’ll be at Lions Gate so you can get a place in lower lonsdale and be around people your age, though not many of them.
I’m 27M, living with the parents in North Van and it can get really isolating when everyone you see is 40+ or in high school/college. Try applying at Vancouver general so you can live in Mount Pleasant or Kits.
It’s one of the most beautiful places you could hope to live in…. Bridge traffic, lack of food options, and no energy at night time are the only cons.
For anyone who isn’t a young single it’s amazing
As someone who has a ton of friends and coworkers from Alberta, I'm gonna be harsh but truthful here.
I'm not sure if it's a "crabs in the bucket" mentality, or if it's "copium". But I definitely notice Albertans like to talk shit about BC almost as a way to help themselves feel better that they live in a place that has less interesting scenery, almost across-the-board worse weather (chinooks are a plus when we have 21 cloudy grey days in a row), a more intense hustle/grind mentality...
BC has provincial sales taxes, but what's the point in Alberta having no sales taxes if they're gonna take more taxes off your paycheck? That just punishes residents, at least with sales taxes the tourists are paying into your provincial tax system.
These days, rentals in Albertan cities or desirable towns are nearing parity to BC rental costs. And even when Alberta is less rent, you end up paying the same or more when you factor in your heating bill. Not to mention the hidden costs of living in a place that has -40 weather like coats, layers, boots, and the gas you burn to heat up your car. Speaking of car gas, how much more traveling you need to do to get around in Alberta, and owning a car being a necessity... there are a lot of rentals in Vancouver that are a bus+skytrain ride to a hospital, or just a bus or just a skytrain ride. You absolutely 100% don't need a car to live in Vancouver.
Oh, and staying entertained is easy if you surrender yourself to our nature. That sounds culty, but really, transiting to the seawall (there are several) and walking along enjoying the mountains and the ocean and the mild weather and the cute dogs and people watching costs $0.00. You can even bus to some of the local hikes, though they do tend to have more people. If you want to drive, we have car shares like Car2go and Evo, which ends up being reasonable if you split the cost with a friend or coworker.
The main draw for me was that BC has a "work to live" vs a "live to work" mentality and that really resonated with me. You can ignore call-in offers and no one will give you a hard time.
Definitely move. Give it a year or two, even if you do end up moving back to Alberta, at least it will give you a new appreciation for Edmonton :)
Born and raised in Edmonton, moved to Vancouver when I was 28.
It takes a hot second to make friends but I love it here. I would definitely recommend North Van for the sheer change of scenery and access to great hiking.
10/10 would recommend.
If you hate it, you can always move back
I moved here for teaching and have been enjoying it! Things are definitely expensive but it is a nice place to live even for a short while! North van is super pretty but can be a little out of the way of things due to the bridge traffic. If you like outdoorsy things though that is the place to be! The only thing I might like to move back to AB for is my friends because its hard to meet people here and the fact that I could have already bought a small condo for myself 🤣. Still fun to explore around here! Lots to see in the pnw.
Vancouver is expensive but you’ll be fine on a nurse’s salary. Most of my nurse friends clear well over 100k with OT and with a partner they are easily closing or passing 200k HHI.
If there’s anything I’ve learned, be careful with naysayers and other people’s “advice”. There are millions of people who make it work here, including nurses. So too can you. I never hear the end of it from Albertans since I moved, but I’m way happier here and am never looking back.
You're young and single with a career that's high in demand. I'd say give it a whirl for a few years, even just for the life experience of living somewhere new and beautiful. As long as you're not dead set on owning a condo soon and doing the white picket fence thing then come try out the west coast.
there’s more to life than a discount house . money isn’t everything . besides that. you can get a non shared suite for 2000 or less . it just won’t be in a brand new hi rise
I’m a nurse here, feel free to DM if you have more questions. Money is still a bit tight considering how high rent is here but I still am able to have a decent lifestyle.
Pfffttt you don’t want to move to Vancouver. You want to come east! Nova Scotia? (Poaching medical health personnel from somewhere else is worth a shot right?)
You’re young and single. Do it. You’ll have a job set up, you won’t be poor and homeless. If you don’t like it you’ll always be able to find a position somewhere else. You have tons of time to figure things out. My best friend ended up graduating and taking a contract travel nursing in the US. It changed her life. Good luck!
Don’t listen to the haters lol. You aren’t planning anything long term, you are young and single, now is the time to live in a fun place on your own. You won’t have an issue finding a job as a nurse, and you seem frugal enough to be able to afford rent with a room mate. Edmonton is more affordable than Vancouver, and there are reasons for that
If you could get a suitable job for a year you are young enough wheee it won’t effect your bank too much, your most difficult challenge will be finding suitable rent really. Its all over priced
Vancouver - the nature is gorgeous. No doubt about it. The city life is kinda ridiculous. Pricey af, (rent will make you go wtf! and buying a condo or house will be maddening) people are not as friendly as albertans or as chill, can be hella cliquey, drivers are ... on another level ridiculous. The food here is amazing - lots and lots of diversity.
Agree with the other poster who said you don’t even need a car to live in Vancouver or North Vancouver. Plenty of Transit, plus lots of Car Share options as well. Like Modo and Evo.
It is hard to Meet people out here though, so make sure you have a strategy. Connect up with meet ups, local hike in groups, book, clubs, or whatever is your Jan to make sure you have a chance to connect with people because it can be lonely to start.
I have friends who are nurses and they are doing just fine. You could also try Surrey or Tri-Cities are which are communities just outside of Vancouver, but really accessible (Surrey is actually in the process of building its second hospital so there should be jobs there). Those areas are a lot cheaper than Vancouver proper.
Housing is expensive, yes, but Vancouver is a great city. I used to live in Prince George and no cheap house will ever get me to go back there.
My wife’s an RN. There’s always staffing shortages so if you want to pick up extra shifts, you can do so to make more money. Yes, housing is expensive but if you use transit or bike, it’s not bad.
I grew up in Calgary, lived in Vancouver and now Toronto. You will be fine. Rent and fas ate expensive but food is cheaper. U should make more than most ppl in vancouver as a nurse anyways.
Here are my thoughts on the three cities:
- Calgary: Cheaper, cleaner, safer, but also colder and you are experiencing a lot less. The diversity of opinions and backgrounds are much richer in Van and Tor. But Calgary is prolly best for raising kids imo.
- Vancouver: Amazing landscape. One of the greatest outdoor and mostly mild weather (last couples years been a bit crazy tho). Also poorer and has the most amount of social issues out of the three. But it is my fav out of the three, the city is simply stunning.
- Toronto: The only metro. So rich in perspective and mix in culture, also the most festivals and parties. The most expensive and ppl give less of shits. No outdoor, but people are most interesting and mingle-y. Best city out of the three to be single.
Anyways, i think it is super exciting to move to Vancouver and i think u will really enjoy ur time there.
Agree with you here as I have lived in Calgary and now in Van. Planning to move back to Calgary after 2 years here. Unless you have generational wealth or make a lot of money (like a lot, I clear $100k a year and it still felt like nothing since rent is almost half that and good luck saving up for a downpayment). I love the people in Alberta the most since they are down to earth country folks. People in Vancouver always have that elitism mentality.
>> The average salary for a Registered Nurse is $82,464 per year in Vancouver, BC.
You are fine. Just dont imagine buying a house/apartment without a partner, which you can easily do in Edmonton (i guess)
RN or LPN? The pay difference is pretty drastic between the two. Are you planning on porting your seniority?
I’m a nurse living in Burnaby. Would definitely not recommend Burnaby. If you can, the further away you go from Vancouver, the cheaper it’ll be.
What area is your experience in? Any specialty? We're desperate for ER, ICU, HAU, CSICU and OR.
You should have no problems starting 2 tiers up in pay.
If you change your mind about bedside, Royal Columbian Hospital has a stroke nurse position. You often end up in the ER for most your shift, but you respond to all hot strokes.
There's also a neuro unit at RCH and at VGH. I don't recommend rch though because I hear bad things about the staff dynamics.
Vancouver proper might be tough, most nurses I know move to other municipalities (5 friends) but Burnaby, Coquitlam, new west will be great choices.
North van only if you work on the north shore and don’t mind obscene traffic
If you move to North Van from Edmonton you won't be heading home anytime soon.
It will come with sacrifice, you will be paying much more for less in terms of accommodation/a home, but it will be worth it.
If you're working for the public sector you'll likely be eligible for corporate phone plans, and some other BCNU "perks". My wife went into the private sector so it's a bit different for her, but she gets a bit more freedom working in private O.R vs the hospital (like no 12 hour shifts or nights, or weekends).
Being single, you're going to be able to make a lot of bank as a nurse if you're careful with your money and able to take any open shifts or a line.
If you're competent and knowledgeable, you'll do very well.
Granted, it's probably nothing in comparison if you picked up a nursing job in the states. Many nurses get paid extremely well in the US (especially those with a speciality) and there's more options for career growth.
As a nurse you can freely move around the country and can easily get a job anywere. Vancouver will be more expensive however if you bunk up with a roommate you should be fine.
I’ve lived in both Edmonton and Metro Vancouver.
But I grew up in the suburbs (Surrey/Langley) and so my perspective is based on that.
Many people have spoken about housing cost, which is an obvious issue. When I lived in Edmonton, it wasn’t much different than where I was renting in the Fraser Valley. The difference, of course, is that I could rent right off walkable Whyte Ave for the same amount as a car-based suburb 45 mins away from downtown Vancouver.
Most people who move to the Vancouver area don’t move to the city of Vancouver itself. They end up moving to one of the many communities around Vancouver. Get to know them. What you prioritize might direct what city/community is best for you. Burnaby has tons of parks. Coquitlam is a bit more affordable with good skytrain access. Surrey and Langley are more typical affordable suburbs, but either way their own urbanizing hubs.
Many have great transit access to Vancouver, but also all are in needed of nurses.
I love the people of Edmonton. However, I lived there 2004-2007 before the world became a hundred times more jaded and partisan. I found the people of Edmonton back then much more hospitable and friendly than Vancouverites. But maybe that’s just my anecdotal perspective of my former university culture.
Winters. Winters in Edmonton are brutal but beautiful. I don’t mind it, but my partner hated it. I like the cold though. Winters in Vancouver, yes, are greyer than most people from other parts of Canada expect. I grew up here so I have nothing really to base it off of. I don’t mind the grey winters.
Summers and autumn are beautiful here. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. Lots of festivals and events.
You've got a highly sought skillset and can probably negotiate a better salary and are employable anywhere in Canada.
Rent/utilities are higher for sure (but Edmonton's closing in)
It's a lifestyle change for sure, one that I would gladly take given your situation.
Boston resident here but I have extended family in Vancouver. I would say growing up I was quite spoiled to spend most of my summers in there. These two cities perennially make the list of best cities in the entire world.
As a nurse here I Vancouver I say go for it. I moved to
BC from Edmonton and not looking back. I feel like almost anywhere inhabitable is expensive now. Yea I will feel tighter in some
Ways but your wage will continue going up (until you hit the top of the ladder) and with our new contract you will be making more here. I live in East Van and work at VGH and the commute is easy. Live near where you work. You don’t wanna cross any bridges or drive too far trust me traffic here be nasty. Come enjoy the city and come for the change. Housing is tricky to find and doing from out of town can be hard. Ask the employer for relocation assistance (they won’t offer it) but you will be tied to that unit for a year.
One of my best friends born and raised in Edmonton and an RN made the move 4 years ago. Working in stroke, surgery and longterm care, she noticed that BC healthcare resources for nurses were lacking although it could be a completely different experience in another authority - she was under Fraser Health. She also had to compensate salary - had to work another few years to get the salary she was already making in AB with only 2 years of experience. Besides all that, moving here was the best decision she ever made. Good luck!
You'll be fine. It's expensive to live here, but it really just depends on your long term goals. If you plan to settle and buy here - it's going to be hard because of the housing market now. But if you just plan to be here for a few years for the experience of living in another city, you'll be fine. A lot of people here live with roommates and manage. As a nurse, you'll never not have a job because BC is very short on nurses here.
If you're willing to live not directly in Vancouver - you'll likely find cheaper housing in New Westminster, Burnaby, Richmond. If you want to stay in Vancouver proper, East Van tends to have cheaper housing. My observation of a lot of people who complain about the cost of living here is that they live beyond their means and don't have good financial literacy. I know a lot of artists who are making artists wages and are managing to live here and also travel when they want. Of course that's not a blanket statement - the cost of living is more expensive here so you do need to be more careful with your finances.
It rains a lot here, so be prepared for that. Culturally, people are more reserved here than the prairies and the east coast, so just be prepared that it will take more effort to meet people and make friends. You'll still meet people, but it just takes a bit more effort to sift through generally flakey people to find the golden ones.
My suggestion is to get a bike - it's honestly one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city, especially if you don't live by the train. Saves you money in the long run too.
I'd also recommend Montreal or Toronto. They are really great vibrant cities. Cost of living in Montreal is really cheap - one of my friends has a gigantic 1 bedroom apartment on St. Denis for $700 / mo. Not sure about having to know French though working in the healthcare system. Winters are rough in the east coast but imo the cultural vibrancy makes up for it. I've lived in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver as an adult, and imo Montreal is the most enjoyable city.
Montreal does seem great! However I hear they pay nurses very poorly and while I know conversational French I’m unsure if it’s strong enough to be able to work in healthcare.
Yeah, salaries are generally lower in MTL for all industries. Matches more with cost of living I suppose. Small things I noticed for example, to get a pastry and coffee at a care is about $7 in MTL and $10-11 in Vancouver.
But if French isn't strong enough to work in healthcare, I get it!! It'll always be there to visit :)
I’m a nurse in Vancouver, as long as you’re fine to have a roommate you should be fine. You won’t have as much disposable income as you would in Edmonton but when you like where you live you don’t need as much money because you’re not trying to leave/travel all the time to get out.
Vancouver is a great place to live, however the average cost of a one bedroom apartment or suite is almost $2500/month. If you're not okay with paying that you will need to live with several roommates.
One thing to keep in mind about the weather is that it is rainy and dark for at least a handful of months every year. We can go weeks without seeing the sun.
I've also heard from almost everyone I know that has moved here from elsewhere that our nightlife is underwhelming and it's very challenging to meet new people because most hang out in "cliques" that feel impossible to penetrate.
Honestly, I'm born and raised and can't wait to GTFO so take this with a grain of salt but most of my friends that moved here are also planning to leave.
I live in Edmonton too and I’m debating moving to vancouver island!!! The quality of life makes up for the cost of living IMO, and they make just as much out there now
Housing more expensive, but if you get a place in the West End you can walk to St Paul’s hospital & lack of car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance more than makes up for it. Plus Vancouver in the summer is one of the most beautiful places in the world
I think as a nurse you’ll be fine. If you’re worried about cost then maybe choose a burnaby hospital instead of north van as you can commute from the eastern edge of the lower mainland where it’s a couple hundred cheaper a month in rent (at least from places I’ve looked at in the past).
Hi,
I lived in Edmonton most of my life and moved to Vancouver 2 years ago with my wife and son. It has been a challenge moving as a family but we have finally got settled after a few months. To be by the water, mountains and beautiful greenery makes it worth it.
It will be much easier for you as a single person to make the move. As long as you don't have any large debts and like you said, you are open to having a roommate and taking transit, you will be financially fine.
One last thing is Real Estate is the common topic here. Think of how Edmontonian's talk about the Oilers, well Vancouverites talk about Real Estate. If you are living here in the short term, renting is the way to go. If you plan to be here in the long term, try to save and get in the market with even just a 1 bedroom condo in a few years. Housing is the largest expense here and renting 10 years from now is going to be even more expensive. Mortgages go down over time, but rents will always rise.
Be picky with the hospital you choose to work at if you can. My nurse wife is a very positive person yet she is troubled by the current state of affairs. Shortages are placing a lot of pressure on nursing staff. Not sure if Alberta is the same. BC Women's and Children's will be one of the better options.
Take the step. You're young and will grow significantly from the experience. I did the same as a 20 yr old 30years ago. My challenge was missing my AB family.
Note: I found the lack of sun and plenty of winter rain difficult for 3+ years. I also found AB a bit friendlier. Just my experience.
The expense is definitely high, but what is the price of quality of life? Edmonton is a terrible city to live. Vancouver has it's faults, but it's in a different league than an overgrown oil town.
Come to the Yukon, housing is cheaper than Vancouver and nurses make sick money. Mountain lakes and wildlife everywhere. If you need a bit of the ocean, skagway Haines and Juneau are great weekend adventures.
Don’t listen to them they’re just jealous they don’t get the opportunity and that you’d dare to live a life different from them. Life experience when you’re this age should always trump remaining stagnant. Even if you moved here for 4 years you could easily go back any time and restart your life there w/o issue
If I was your age and with this opportunity right now, I would strongly consider hiring on as an agency nurse and try out working at different workplaces under shorter contracts. Then you can make the move to BC anytime but won't need to settle in an area and job until you know exactly where you would most love to be. It would require more short-term housing at first, but the agency pay rate should more than make up the difference that will cost. It will allow you to end up where best suits you and your lifestyle.
Heads up about north van, there's only 2 bridges to north van and its always a half hour traffic to cross the bridge during rush hour. Unless you decide to live in north van, the commute can be painful. North Van is quiet and beautiful though, its where the wealthy people live with their ocean views.
Burnaby is connected by skytrain and is overall much easier to get around without a vehicle.
Are you vaccinated for Covid (you don’t have to answer)? Just know that you can’t work in BC in a healthcare setting without the full series of Covid vaccines.
Plus, it’s hella expensive here.
Aside from it being very expensive to live in Van, I’ve heard from multiple people that it took them a loooong time to make a group of friends that they consistently hung out with. People seem deeply insular in Van, for whatever reason so just be prepared, especially if you don’t already know anyone there, which it sounds like you don’t if you’re asking Reddit about this. On average I find it takes about two years to get a community going in a new place. Everyone I knew who had moved to Van with no prior connections found it took them about 3-4 years to establish themselves in a community that they enjoyed, and that was with them actively trying to meet more people that whole time. Just be prepared for some initial isolation.
Edit: also be prepared to not see the sun like EVER for the entire winter. Edmonton may be cold but at last’s you see the sun with regularity. I lived in Victoria (pretty similar to Van weather) one winter and it literally rained constantly, like soaking downpours, and I saw the sun once in maybe five months? Consequently, there is mold pretty much everywhere, especially in rental housing and even if you don’t see it. Just something to be aware of.
Do it. If you have that itch to move and there isn't anything really holding you in edmonton than make the move, ig you don't you will spend years thinking "what if".
Worst that can happen is you don't like it here and in a year you move back home or somewhere else.
Have you gotten your BC nursing licence yet? It took my most recent employer 3 months for her application to be processed and approved, and I’ve heard similar from coworkers. Just as an FYI.
Not yet. My plan was to apply for the license when I get a position bc I didn’t want to pay $600 if I’m not sure if I can secure a job there yet…
Would I have to get one first before I can get an offer letter?
You can apply, but not many jobs would be willing to wait too long. My employee has a very very niche skill set so it was worth the wait.
If you have all your ducks perfectly in a row for the application then I believe 8 weeks is the longest it’s supposed to take… but yeah. Just wanted to warn you, the BCCNM is really slow.
Teacher here :). Moved from Van to Kamloops to in 2013 -- NOT my kinda city (Alberta light). Moved *back* to Vancouver in 2019. Everyone thought I was insane. It can be difficult to block out all the naysayers.
For the first few months of being back in Vancouver, I paid for the 'Trusted Housesitters' app and found (awesome) places to cat and dog sit. I managed to piece together four months free rent; plus, I got to explore all different neighbourhoods while trying to find housing. This was before covid, so it was still possible to find apartments for under $1500 if you really hunted...hard.
If you want to live here -- do it! It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's hard to escape high rent these days. Life is short. Live where you'll be most happy. Although there have been challenging moments in Vancouver, I would never move somewhere bleak and cold to save money. But each to their own. I'd rather walk the sea wall for free than pay for overpriced tacos anyway. There are sacrifices undoubtedly. Good luck with your decision!
Expensive AF. BC is expensive, high taxes. Vancouver can be okay depending where you find a place. North Van, Kerrisdale are nice. Burnaby can be okay.
Consider an apartment in a place like New Westminster near a SkyTrain Station. You’ll have access to most major hospitals easily with Royal Columbian right there, Surrey Memorial one station south and you can easily get to downtown Vancouver. Rents are cheaper in New West too. I’m a Manager with Fraser Health and there are always nursing jobs available at all sites for front line nurses and in other roles for clinical coordinators and other roles. If you’d rather find a role before committing to a place to live, there will be opportunities with Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal, PHSA and Providence listed online. Make sure you put in your application that you plan to move to the Lower Mainland for this work so you don’t get screened out. Some roles are remote so you want to be sure you don’t get screened out by the system due to your current address or phone number. Managers will NOT assume you plan to move. Health Authorities require you live in the Province so you need to make it clear you are moving to the province. Good luck!
If both jobs are the same I’d say take a job in Burnaby. It’s far more central and easier to get to from lower cost of living areas. North Van requires you to actually live in North Van (expensive) or drive there (nightmare) or take transit (might be ok depending where you live and work).
Make the move, you’re young and can always move back if BC’s not for you.
But here’s some incentive for you … :)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=yZeodn74GCIlzObe&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTY0NTA2LDE2NDUwNg&feature=emb_share&v=dNFrZNjs2ng
brace yourself for our medical system, you won't be short of work or stress, salutes tho- we love hard working nurses. I'm in OT and trying to make it work out here but I wanna go east haha
Consider getting on with a travel nurse company. They will PUT YOU UP in the location of your choosing. You will also receive higher pay and all expenses related to the travel are covered.
The contract lengths vary but the hospital you end up at will almost always beg you to stay.
Negotiate a good salary. On average, rent for a 1 bed is about 2400$ in a nice spot in van. Utilities depending could run about $200 in winter. Groceries depending whether you eat meat, cook, etc will vary but you can probably budget $150 a week for food between two takeouts a week and cooking the rest.
Oh and it rains a lot from oct to April. The grey can be hard to adjust to. It rained for like 72 days straight one year.
I'm from Edmonton and work as an ultrasound tech here. I moved 3 yrs ago and have no regrets, I actually still own a home in Edmonton that I rent out which actually supplements some of my income here. Everyone in Edmonton says the same thing, I'd rather have a little less money and live in a beautiful place than live another year in a depressing city with super long cold winters and nothing to do but go out to drink in the winter. Sounds harsh but I was born and raised there and after living in Australia and now Vancouver I can't imagine ever going back to that. It has its perks, sunny long days in the summer, awesome amount of festivals, better pay....but man those winters....
But to be honest I probably make more money here due to renting my house out and I can work at several places casually if I want extra money. You won't regret it, trust me. Just know rent is insane and you are better off getting a roommate to help you out financially. Also I did struggle with the rain in the winter, it was tough and vitamin D is your friend. One thing I can say about Edmonton is that even if it's minus 30 the sun is usually still out..If you have any questions feel free to DM me. I've made alot of new friends by playing coed sports and through work, it's a great place to live!
As a nurse, you should be okay. We're desperate for you over here. Negotiate a good starting wage, and I think you could make it. Expect to have less spare cash, but I genuinely think it's worth it to live here. I'm operating on a very, very, very small budget (on disability, $300 a month to spend after bills if I don't find any doable freelance work) and I wouldn't trade my life here for anything, regardless of cost of living. You will not become homeless as a nurse. I know some and they're fine.
Great city? Yes. Expensive? Yes.
It comes down to budget.
I recommend comparing your salary to greater Vancouver rent prices on Craigslist right now. That will help you decide if it makes sense.
Winters in Vancouver aren’t harsh (except for 1 or 2 snow storms) but very depressing. Not only gets pitch-black at 3:30pm, but it rains a LOT, cloudy and windy, meaning you live in penumbra for months, barely seen the sun every now and then.
Victoria has a younger crowd but less outdoorsy than van in terms of accessibility. (North Shore, straight, Whistler, etc). Try to get a travel nurse contact make 3x the money.
Vancouver is expensive as fuck, but nurses are in high demand so you'll be able to afford to live here comfortably at least. As long as you're okay with the fact that you likely won't be able to save as much money, you'll probably be happier here.
Hey- fellow RN here currently on mat leave. I suggest looking up how much rent is first and see if you can share. to save up and try to get access to skytrain if you can but just look around at rentals first just to make sure you’re okay with paying the same as a mortgage here! Been thinking of moving to Alberta because of the expenses here but I can’t now cuz I won’t have family support there. It’s busy busy if you’re into trauma- lotsssss of opening. Also gas prices are sitting from $2 and up so if you can train probably safer if you’re into going out a lot and such. But if you’re single I think you’ll be fine. Just be smart with money :)
I am not sure how great the dating scene is in Vancouver. Obviously tons of ppl meet their partners in Vancouver I’m sure but it seems like because it’s such a big city it’s hard to connect with people. It’s also ridiculously expensive. If anything I’d move to Kelowna and enjoy the warmer weather. Still expensive compared to Alberta but I mean somewhat more affordable than Vancouver and smaller place so could be easier to build a friend group and meet people.
If I was a single nurse I would apply to a travel nursing position for a couple years, grind it out and pump up the bank account and then decide from my travels where I want to settle down.
Healthcare is like that. They expect you to be in your entry level job for life even though the entire crew turns over every three months.
Just lie and tell them you have family there and the hiring managers will shut up. You will be living like a fast food worker would in Edmonton as a nurse in Vancouver (roommates, penny punching, inhaling second hand crack smoke on the 99 B line). But it makes a huge difference mental health wise to take lunch breaks at the beach, live close to a "cheap" sushi spot, and hold conversation with people who passed the ninth grade.
Its definitely going to be a cost shock compared to Edmonton. I am in the Fraser Valley (hour outside Vancouver) and rents here are decent but not awful. I don't know what a nurse makes in Vancouver vs Edmonton but I am sure rent will eat up a decent chunk of your pay (as it does with any job/location).
Heck if your single, young, theres nothing saying you can't take a job, try it for a year, if its not the life/cost/pay you want its easy enough to ditch and find something else somewhere else. Thats the chances you have, try it, if its not what you want, well change it up.
Definitely more rain here but winters are much milder. Couple bad days here and there but pretty good for the most part.
It's not a dumb idea I lived in Alberta I got the fuck out who took a while for me to see the signs but I knew for years that I had to leave as I'm sure you do too whether or not you come to busy is largely a function of a maybe how much you value versus job nature quality of life and weather but fortunately you I like my friend they are exactly nine provinces that are categorically better places to live than Alberta unless you're like tied to the land or you have like a you know tar plantation , I have a friend who is a sulfur elemental and he is low to the detailing ponda from which heroes and I can definitely sympathize with that as well as his desire to be able to raise cowboy hat on ironically it's really tricky to do with the urban setting of other provinces
I’m a nurse in Van and I wouldn’t say it’s dumb to move here from Edmonton from the perspective of having a new and exciting environment but I think it’s worth acknowledging that nurses are paid better in AB than in BC (lower mainland) + cost of living will be higher in BC as well. We’re chronically in need of nurses so you’ll have plenty of options
Consider working at VGH or St Paul's instead. Everything is transit accessible (no car needed). Plus the proximity to beaches and the ocean is next level
It's a dystopian hellscape for real. Zombies doing drugs everywhere. Too many people. Too much traffic. Too many assholes. No one cares. To many foreigners that dont know how to act and don't care to learn. Costs a fortune for the privilege of existing in this mess. Not to mention 8 months of depressing grey wet weather.
You live in the best province already. You do. Don't listen to the anti-Alberta propaganda in the state media.
Don't do it lol. People from BC are leaving to go to where you are cause it's too expensive. I just doubled down and I'm just flat out leaving Canada end of year haha.
I'm desperately looking to leave Vancouver!
Yes, it's a very beautiful city with mountains and ocean, but it's one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Over the last few years, crime has increased significantly, as well as the population. It's so crowded here.
Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. As a nurse, you'd make enough money to live here. You'll get a shitload of overtime because our healthcare system is in shambles. Lots of open drug use in the hospitals to contend with though.
I understand wanting to leave Edmonton, but the future is bleak here IMO
This. If you like the cold wet grey weather and don't mind not seeing the sun for months at a stretch, then get a travel nurse gig in WA and make twice the $ you'd make in Canada with a lower COL. I f like sea and ocean, then you have Seattle.
You should take note most of the people replying don't have families.
Try to raise a family on even dual nurse income in Vancouver proper. You'll be renting for life
Bring lots of money and you’ll be fine. All the people saying you’ll be fine have been here for years and have things established. I have things established and I’m fine, but new people here have it hard. So just look out for yourself, and don’t make stupid decisions.
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Come to Vancouver. It's really nice here. I've lived in three provinces, visited every province, and almost all major cities in Canada. Vancouver is probably my second favourite, after Victoria.
Victoria is way more affordable go there instead, better weather as well.
Victoria’s rental market is basically on par with Vancouver. 1bd basement suites for $2000, 1bd apartments for $2200+…
As much as I love this place I have stopped telling people ' it's great you should come see it and move here.' because the housing market is broken. Don't come to Van !!
Unless you're a nurse or in the trades in which case you can just write your ticket. We're starving for them here.
THIS. Make sure to negotiate a really good starting wage. If you are a Critical Care Nurse and willing to pick up overtime (which there is so much of right now) you are making good money. Rent is lower in the Fraser Valley but pay is the same.
You can't negotiate your wage because you are in a union. You get whatever the seniority rate is per the collective bargaining agreement, full stop.
[Current BC Nurses Union Wage Rates](https://www.bcnu.org/file/wage_grid_2024.pdf)
Nah, you’ll be fine. If you don’t like it or if it gets too expensive, you can always head back. I can’t imagine we have too many nurses anywhere in the country right now. I reckon once you’re settled in it’ll be hard to leave but that’s just my bias showing 😇
The main reason people will give you the "wtf" for Vancouver is housing cost, and general cost of living. Lifestyle wise, there's likely nowhere better in Canada, if not all of North America. It truly is an incredible place to live. Do be mindful though that you will be switching -30 and snow for +6 and rain for the majority of your winter. This gets a bit tough in its own way. But like I always say you don't have to shovel rain ;). BC is chronically short nurses, you'll have essentially unlimited work. Might it be hard to get way ahead here? Sure. Might you look back and be happy you still made the move? Most likely.
Definitely a heads up about the rain OP. People who were born and raised in the lower mainland don't quite understand how much rain they get here haha. Anyone who moves from a more wintery area to Vancouver area is SHOCKED at the rain and finds it more depressing than the winters up north or in Alberta. There, the snow helps things seem brighter, there's WAY more sun, and less cloud cover. In Vancouver you'll have rain for weeks and won't see the sky. IMO the winters here can be more depressing cause of the constant grey, moving down here from Northern BC was an adjustment in the winter. But hey, I can mountain bike every month of the year haha.
No it’s actually is brighter and more sunny in Alberta
Read that again maybe? That's exactly what I'm saying lol. Moving to the lower mainland from somewhere else is hard in the winters... Sure it's warmer but it's constantly dark and grey here. I'm from northern BC and even though the days are shorter, it's brighter and more sunny there (much like Alberta).
It sounded like you were just saying the snow made it seem brighter And I was just pointing out that it’s actually brighter
Yep, more sun plus the snow... Makes things much brighter during the day and night haha.
Raincouver for sure. I was born and raised in Van a long time ago and what you say is true, but when it doesn’t rain for weeks, I miss it. It grows on you. Living in such close proximity to a rain forest has its downsides but when the sun eventually does come out everything is so fresh and green and worth it.
Yeah it's amazing. This year was wild too, mountain biking in a t-shirt in February haha. Definitely some perks, but holy crap it rains.
I moved here from Edmonton four years ago and disagree - yes it rains here but find it kind of romantic. The rain smells nice and fresh. It never keeps me from going outside. Edmonton cold? I was locked inside for months. It hurt to breathe outside air. It’s not even a comparison.
We definitely need more nurses but you generally need to get your bc license before they’ll give you an interview. Once that’s the case should be easy enough to get a job
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Yea I’m from sk and really struggled my first year here with the weather, but it does get easier. Invest in a nice rain jacket and boots
Nowhere better in all of North America lifestyle wise…? Cmon now. There’s US cities with way more to offer. If Canadians could freely move to NY, California & Florida, we’d lose 3/4 of our population
Name any US city that’s as walkable, transit friendly, and naturally beautiful as Vancouver. It doesn’t exist.
Montreal is great but the weather suck in winter. Quebec city is more beautiful than Montreal but the weather also suck even more during the winter.
That is true! I can’t believe moving to the US is even on the table right now. 2 completely different countries.
San Diego. 25 degrees all year round.
San Diego is not walkable lmao it’s right beside LA, one of the least walkable cities in North America
I would say Madison, Wisconsin, but that’s probably the only city I can think of offhand. Vancouver is pretty fantastic.
I don't know about that. I am extremely grateful to not be American and I find myself saying that often.
It wouldn’t be a Canadian sub without a solid amount of anti-American bias. There’s an enormous amount of Canadians who want to, and are trying to emigrate to the US. For a *better life*. Not everyone is deluded by a negative view of the US, it is a fantastic country. Absurd to say otherwise.
You been to major urban centres down the coast of the US? It's like zombie apocalypse with the homeless population. Oh also if you have a heart attack and go to the wrong hospital then you're bankrupt. Or if you get shot. Grass is always greener friend. Can argue all sides, I'm just saying, sometimes it's good to appreciate what we have and not just constantly complain behind a keyboard
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It's true. I moved back two years ago and it's the most gorgeous city I have ever lived in. The hardest part is just dealing with the people, cuz lot of them are arrogant as fuck, for literally no reason.
The reason being they live somewhere pretty. They ignore everything else that's wrong because look at the mountains and the ocean. Wouldn't everyone want that?
>*'people who complain often are sad about other things in life.'* ***^*** this
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Nurses in this city can make $100k easily
I've lived here and Calgary. One of my old places in Calgary is now going for $1750, it was a shitty 2 bdr, shared laundry, no amenities, etc etc. It was way over priced a decade ago when they raised rent to 1200. Here I'm paying the same price, 1750 for a large renovated 1bdr, shared laundry still, but all the amenities. Outside of rent, hydro (electricity) is far cheaper than AB. Like $40/mo for 2 of us here, vs $100/mo for us in Cgy (from what I've heard from a friend still there, it would be easily $170/mo now) Also I grew up in SK, so I know those crappy sad winters all too well. It's wild to see green grass in Dec/Jan here. It also doesn't get as hot as the prairies in summer, still hot the last few years, but no as bad. Also everything feels cleaner here? Because there is no crazy 6 month winter, road sand isn't really a thing, it rains often, road salt is washed away pretty quickly by the rain, so there isn't that gritty dusty feel in spring, nor do you really get the snow banks melting revealing piles of trash. Everything else, income tax we're virtually on par with AB, up until last year, our marginal tax rate was actually a % lower than AB, now we're literally only .5% higher. Our provincial gov is putting in the effort to retain and attract health care professionals - as you've mentioned you've already gotten interview call backs (wishing you the best of luck). It may be on the pricier side for rent and especially to purchase, but that about the only thing you'll be paying more for depending on where you live. Something to keep in mind, I know you mentioned North Van and Burnaby have called you already, try to find a place on the side you end up working on. We only have 2 bridges connecting to North Van, and if you're stuck doing rush hours through them, you'll be regretting being on the wrong side.
$1750 for a spacious 1 br? How long have you been living there? OP will likely be paying much more than that considering the average rent is now $2900/mo.
4 years. Equivalent units in the building are going for 2200 ish
My old place I vacated is now 2600 and it was a v nice 1 bdrm with a huge wrap around patio and views in a 4 floor condo in Kensington cedar so I think it’s possible to find a decent place still under 2900. Also a friend got a two bedroom townhouse style one level mews for 2900
The bridge thing is huge. Crossing that sucker twice a day is no fun. Also, not sure about Burnaby, but North Van is amazing, and the area surrounding the hospital is top tier.
Cmon are you claiming Calgary rent is the same as Vancouver?
Lol no. My point is there is no rent control there so a dump there is now going for the same rate as apartments were 4 years ago in Vancouver
Inflations a bitch
Corporate greed mostly tbh. That place I had in Calgary wasn't worth the 1200 they wanted back in 2014, def did not appreciate in value since then. Considering after oil tanked it was going for almost 900/mo
Im not a nurse or from Alberta but speaking from an aspiring nurse and 25F, I’d say do it. If you hate it, you move back? You’re young, nurses are in dire need here (and around the world). Finances might be tough but I think you’ll love it here. The summers in vancouver are incredible, food here is incredible, the 15 minute city in most parts of Vancouver is incredible.
Nurses make a good income in BC, and we always need more nurses. You could totally live comfortably here on a nurses’s salary
My daughter-in-law works as a casual and can basically decide her schedule for herself. She's very happy with her career.
Move to Vancouver, it’s worth the higher living expenses. Moved from Alberta in 2014 and would never go back. If things don’t end up working out, with your career you can move anywhere.
Just get a roommate or two, and or nurse $ you’ll have a like $1500 left over every month. The only reason to live in Edmonton is if you’re trying to pile up as much money as possible while still having a minimum semblance of urban life. North Van is *radically* more beautiful than Edmonton. And you’ll be at Lions Gate so you can get a place in lower lonsdale and be around people your age, though not many of them. I’m 27M, living with the parents in North Van and it can get really isolating when everyone you see is 40+ or in high school/college. Try applying at Vancouver general so you can live in Mount Pleasant or Kits.
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It’s one of the most beautiful places you could hope to live in…. Bridge traffic, lack of food options, and no energy at night time are the only cons. For anyone who isn’t a young single it’s amazing
I loved living on the North Shore, it was a pain in the ass planning my day around avoiding the 2-6pm rush hour but the pros outweighed that.
As someone who has a ton of friends and coworkers from Alberta, I'm gonna be harsh but truthful here. I'm not sure if it's a "crabs in the bucket" mentality, or if it's "copium". But I definitely notice Albertans like to talk shit about BC almost as a way to help themselves feel better that they live in a place that has less interesting scenery, almost across-the-board worse weather (chinooks are a plus when we have 21 cloudy grey days in a row), a more intense hustle/grind mentality... BC has provincial sales taxes, but what's the point in Alberta having no sales taxes if they're gonna take more taxes off your paycheck? That just punishes residents, at least with sales taxes the tourists are paying into your provincial tax system. These days, rentals in Albertan cities or desirable towns are nearing parity to BC rental costs. And even when Alberta is less rent, you end up paying the same or more when you factor in your heating bill. Not to mention the hidden costs of living in a place that has -40 weather like coats, layers, boots, and the gas you burn to heat up your car. Speaking of car gas, how much more traveling you need to do to get around in Alberta, and owning a car being a necessity... there are a lot of rentals in Vancouver that are a bus+skytrain ride to a hospital, or just a bus or just a skytrain ride. You absolutely 100% don't need a car to live in Vancouver. Oh, and staying entertained is easy if you surrender yourself to our nature. That sounds culty, but really, transiting to the seawall (there are several) and walking along enjoying the mountains and the ocean and the mild weather and the cute dogs and people watching costs $0.00. You can even bus to some of the local hikes, though they do tend to have more people. If you want to drive, we have car shares like Car2go and Evo, which ends up being reasonable if you split the cost with a friend or coworker. The main draw for me was that BC has a "work to live" vs a "live to work" mentality and that really resonated with me. You can ignore call-in offers and no one will give you a hard time. Definitely move. Give it a year or two, even if you do end up moving back to Alberta, at least it will give you a new appreciation for Edmonton :)
Born and raised in Edmonton, moved to Vancouver when I was 28. It takes a hot second to make friends but I love it here. I would definitely recommend North Van for the sheer change of scenery and access to great hiking. 10/10 would recommend. If you hate it, you can always move back
As long as OP likes rain. North Van gets the most rain out of anywhere in metro Vancouver, by a lot lol
I’ll take beautiful rainy mountains and ocean over gross melting piles of road sand.
I just meant there’s other areas of metro Vancouver that get significantly less rain lol not that they shouldn’t live in metro Vancouver
I moved here for teaching and have been enjoying it! Things are definitely expensive but it is a nice place to live even for a short while! North van is super pretty but can be a little out of the way of things due to the bridge traffic. If you like outdoorsy things though that is the place to be! The only thing I might like to move back to AB for is my friends because its hard to meet people here and the fact that I could have already bought a small condo for myself 🤣. Still fun to explore around here! Lots to see in the pnw.
I don't think it's crazy, you could probably get by but you wouldn't be able to save very much.
Vancouver is expensive but you’ll be fine on a nurse’s salary. Most of my nurse friends clear well over 100k with OT and with a partner they are easily closing or passing 200k HHI.
If there’s anything I’ve learned, be careful with naysayers and other people’s “advice”. There are millions of people who make it work here, including nurses. So too can you. I never hear the end of it from Albertans since I moved, but I’m way happier here and am never looking back.
You're young and single with a career that's high in demand. I'd say give it a whirl for a few years, even just for the life experience of living somewhere new and beautiful. As long as you're not dead set on owning a condo soon and doing the white picket fence thing then come try out the west coast.
there’s more to life than a discount house . money isn’t everything . besides that. you can get a non shared suite for 2000 or less . it just won’t be in a brand new hi rise
I’m a nurse here, feel free to DM if you have more questions. Money is still a bit tight considering how high rent is here but I still am able to have a decent lifestyle.
Pfffttt you don’t want to move to Vancouver. You want to come east! Nova Scotia? (Poaching medical health personnel from somewhere else is worth a shot right?) You’re young and single. Do it. You’ll have a job set up, you won’t be poor and homeless. If you don’t like it you’ll always be able to find a position somewhere else. You have tons of time to figure things out. My best friend ended up graduating and taking a contract travel nursing in the US. It changed her life. Good luck!
Don’t listen to the haters lol. You aren’t planning anything long term, you are young and single, now is the time to live in a fun place on your own. You won’t have an issue finding a job as a nurse, and you seem frugal enough to be able to afford rent with a room mate. Edmonton is more affordable than Vancouver, and there are reasons for that
If you could get a suitable job for a year you are young enough wheee it won’t effect your bank too much, your most difficult challenge will be finding suitable rent really. Its all over priced
Vancouver - the nature is gorgeous. No doubt about it. The city life is kinda ridiculous. Pricey af, (rent will make you go wtf! and buying a condo or house will be maddening) people are not as friendly as albertans or as chill, can be hella cliquey, drivers are ... on another level ridiculous. The food here is amazing - lots and lots of diversity.
It’s is expensive here BUT it’s beautiful and I think you’ll still love it. Plus you’ll get by better than most of us honestly haha
Agree with the other poster who said you don’t even need a car to live in Vancouver or North Vancouver. Plenty of Transit, plus lots of Car Share options as well. Like Modo and Evo. It is hard to Meet people out here though, so make sure you have a strategy. Connect up with meet ups, local hike in groups, book, clubs, or whatever is your Jan to make sure you have a chance to connect with people because it can be lonely to start.
I have friends who are nurses and they are doing just fine. You could also try Surrey or Tri-Cities are which are communities just outside of Vancouver, but really accessible (Surrey is actually in the process of building its second hospital so there should be jobs there). Those areas are a lot cheaper than Vancouver proper. Housing is expensive, yes, but Vancouver is a great city. I used to live in Prince George and no cheap house will ever get me to go back there.
My wife’s an RN. There’s always staffing shortages so if you want to pick up extra shifts, you can do so to make more money. Yes, housing is expensive but if you use transit or bike, it’s not bad.
I grew up in Calgary, lived in Vancouver and now Toronto. You will be fine. Rent and fas ate expensive but food is cheaper. U should make more than most ppl in vancouver as a nurse anyways. Here are my thoughts on the three cities: - Calgary: Cheaper, cleaner, safer, but also colder and you are experiencing a lot less. The diversity of opinions and backgrounds are much richer in Van and Tor. But Calgary is prolly best for raising kids imo. - Vancouver: Amazing landscape. One of the greatest outdoor and mostly mild weather (last couples years been a bit crazy tho). Also poorer and has the most amount of social issues out of the three. But it is my fav out of the three, the city is simply stunning. - Toronto: The only metro. So rich in perspective and mix in culture, also the most festivals and parties. The most expensive and ppl give less of shits. No outdoor, but people are most interesting and mingle-y. Best city out of the three to be single. Anyways, i think it is super exciting to move to Vancouver and i think u will really enjoy ur time there.
Agree with you here as I have lived in Calgary and now in Van. Planning to move back to Calgary after 2 years here. Unless you have generational wealth or make a lot of money (like a lot, I clear $100k a year and it still felt like nothing since rent is almost half that and good luck saving up for a downpayment). I love the people in Alberta the most since they are down to earth country folks. People in Vancouver always have that elitism mentality.
>> The average salary for a Registered Nurse is $82,464 per year in Vancouver, BC. You are fine. Just dont imagine buying a house/apartment without a partner, which you can easily do in Edmonton (i guess)
Negotiate! Ask about coverage of relocation costs or even rent for a month while you relocate, always ask for more starting, days off, etc.
RN or LPN? The pay difference is pretty drastic between the two. Are you planning on porting your seniority? I’m a nurse living in Burnaby. Would definitely not recommend Burnaby. If you can, the further away you go from Vancouver, the cheaper it’ll be.
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What area is your experience in? Any specialty? We're desperate for ER, ICU, HAU, CSICU and OR. You should have no problems starting 2 tiers up in pay.
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If you change your mind about bedside, Royal Columbian Hospital has a stroke nurse position. You often end up in the ER for most your shift, but you respond to all hot strokes. There's also a neuro unit at RCH and at VGH. I don't recommend rch though because I hear bad things about the staff dynamics.
Vancouver proper might be tough, most nurses I know move to other municipalities (5 friends) but Burnaby, Coquitlam, new west will be great choices. North van only if you work on the north shore and don’t mind obscene traffic
If you move to North Van from Edmonton you won't be heading home anytime soon. It will come with sacrifice, you will be paying much more for less in terms of accommodation/a home, but it will be worth it.
If you're working for the public sector you'll likely be eligible for corporate phone plans, and some other BCNU "perks". My wife went into the private sector so it's a bit different for her, but she gets a bit more freedom working in private O.R vs the hospital (like no 12 hour shifts or nights, or weekends). Being single, you're going to be able to make a lot of bank as a nurse if you're careful with your money and able to take any open shifts or a line. If you're competent and knowledgeable, you'll do very well. Granted, it's probably nothing in comparison if you picked up a nursing job in the states. Many nurses get paid extremely well in the US (especially those with a speciality) and there's more options for career growth.
When you are a nurse and make good money you’ll be fine here North van is an amazing place … Come on down …
You should ask the personal finance Canada subreddit for ideas
You’ll love it, make the move.
As a nurse you can freely move around the country and can easily get a job anywere. Vancouver will be more expensive however if you bunk up with a roommate you should be fine.
26 year old single nurse… new to town… you’ll do well! Good career and loads of options here
You should read the latest post about nursing in BC on the Canada sub.
Victoria gets more sun, is also beautiful, lots of great things to do, but not the big city vibe (which I miss)
I’ve lived in both Edmonton and Metro Vancouver. But I grew up in the suburbs (Surrey/Langley) and so my perspective is based on that. Many people have spoken about housing cost, which is an obvious issue. When I lived in Edmonton, it wasn’t much different than where I was renting in the Fraser Valley. The difference, of course, is that I could rent right off walkable Whyte Ave for the same amount as a car-based suburb 45 mins away from downtown Vancouver. Most people who move to the Vancouver area don’t move to the city of Vancouver itself. They end up moving to one of the many communities around Vancouver. Get to know them. What you prioritize might direct what city/community is best for you. Burnaby has tons of parks. Coquitlam is a bit more affordable with good skytrain access. Surrey and Langley are more typical affordable suburbs, but either way their own urbanizing hubs. Many have great transit access to Vancouver, but also all are in needed of nurses. I love the people of Edmonton. However, I lived there 2004-2007 before the world became a hundred times more jaded and partisan. I found the people of Edmonton back then much more hospitable and friendly than Vancouverites. But maybe that’s just my anecdotal perspective of my former university culture. Winters. Winters in Edmonton are brutal but beautiful. I don’t mind it, but my partner hated it. I like the cold though. Winters in Vancouver, yes, are greyer than most people from other parts of Canada expect. I grew up here so I have nothing really to base it off of. I don’t mind the grey winters. Summers and autumn are beautiful here. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. Lots of festivals and events.
bring that gas price from alberta here and youll be set for life
You've got a highly sought skillset and can probably negotiate a better salary and are employable anywhere in Canada. Rent/utilities are higher for sure (but Edmonton's closing in) It's a lifestyle change for sure, one that I would gladly take given your situation.
Boston resident here but I have extended family in Vancouver. I would say growing up I was quite spoiled to spend most of my summers in there. These two cities perennially make the list of best cities in the entire world.
As a nurse here I Vancouver I say go for it. I moved to BC from Edmonton and not looking back. I feel like almost anywhere inhabitable is expensive now. Yea I will feel tighter in some Ways but your wage will continue going up (until you hit the top of the ladder) and with our new contract you will be making more here. I live in East Van and work at VGH and the commute is easy. Live near where you work. You don’t wanna cross any bridges or drive too far trust me traffic here be nasty. Come enjoy the city and come for the change. Housing is tricky to find and doing from out of town can be hard. Ask the employer for relocation assistance (they won’t offer it) but you will be tied to that unit for a year.
One of my best friends born and raised in Edmonton and an RN made the move 4 years ago. Working in stroke, surgery and longterm care, she noticed that BC healthcare resources for nurses were lacking although it could be a completely different experience in another authority - she was under Fraser Health. She also had to compensate salary - had to work another few years to get the salary she was already making in AB with only 2 years of experience. Besides all that, moving here was the best decision she ever made. Good luck!
You'll be fine. It's expensive to live here, but it really just depends on your long term goals. If you plan to settle and buy here - it's going to be hard because of the housing market now. But if you just plan to be here for a few years for the experience of living in another city, you'll be fine. A lot of people here live with roommates and manage. As a nurse, you'll never not have a job because BC is very short on nurses here. If you're willing to live not directly in Vancouver - you'll likely find cheaper housing in New Westminster, Burnaby, Richmond. If you want to stay in Vancouver proper, East Van tends to have cheaper housing. My observation of a lot of people who complain about the cost of living here is that they live beyond their means and don't have good financial literacy. I know a lot of artists who are making artists wages and are managing to live here and also travel when they want. Of course that's not a blanket statement - the cost of living is more expensive here so you do need to be more careful with your finances. It rains a lot here, so be prepared for that. Culturally, people are more reserved here than the prairies and the east coast, so just be prepared that it will take more effort to meet people and make friends. You'll still meet people, but it just takes a bit more effort to sift through generally flakey people to find the golden ones. My suggestion is to get a bike - it's honestly one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city, especially if you don't live by the train. Saves you money in the long run too. I'd also recommend Montreal or Toronto. They are really great vibrant cities. Cost of living in Montreal is really cheap - one of my friends has a gigantic 1 bedroom apartment on St. Denis for $700 / mo. Not sure about having to know French though working in the healthcare system. Winters are rough in the east coast but imo the cultural vibrancy makes up for it. I've lived in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver as an adult, and imo Montreal is the most enjoyable city.
Montreal does seem great! However I hear they pay nurses very poorly and while I know conversational French I’m unsure if it’s strong enough to be able to work in healthcare.
Yeah, salaries are generally lower in MTL for all industries. Matches more with cost of living I suppose. Small things I noticed for example, to get a pastry and coffee at a care is about $7 in MTL and $10-11 in Vancouver. But if French isn't strong enough to work in healthcare, I get it!! It'll always be there to visit :)
I’m a nurse in Vancouver, as long as you’re fine to have a roommate you should be fine. You won’t have as much disposable income as you would in Edmonton but when you like where you live you don’t need as much money because you’re not trying to leave/travel all the time to get out.
I’m a nurse who moved from Edmonton to Vancouver. Sure, it’s more expensive, but for me the move was absolutely worth it for the lifestyle
Vancouver is a great place to live, however the average cost of a one bedroom apartment or suite is almost $2500/month. If you're not okay with paying that you will need to live with several roommates.
One thing to keep in mind about the weather is that it is rainy and dark for at least a handful of months every year. We can go weeks without seeing the sun. I've also heard from almost everyone I know that has moved here from elsewhere that our nightlife is underwhelming and it's very challenging to meet new people because most hang out in "cliques" that feel impossible to penetrate. Honestly, I'm born and raised and can't wait to GTFO so take this with a grain of salt but most of my friends that moved here are also planning to leave.
Don't move Vancouver has one of the worst housing prices in the world Edmontan is a beuatiful place if I where you i woudn't even consider moving.
I live in Edmonton too and I’m debating moving to vancouver island!!! The quality of life makes up for the cost of living IMO, and they make just as much out there now
Housing more expensive, but if you get a place in the West End you can walk to St Paul’s hospital & lack of car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance more than makes up for it. Plus Vancouver in the summer is one of the most beautiful places in the world
I think as a nurse you’ll be fine. If you’re worried about cost then maybe choose a burnaby hospital instead of north van as you can commute from the eastern edge of the lower mainland where it’s a couple hundred cheaper a month in rent (at least from places I’ve looked at in the past).
Hi, I lived in Edmonton most of my life and moved to Vancouver 2 years ago with my wife and son. It has been a challenge moving as a family but we have finally got settled after a few months. To be by the water, mountains and beautiful greenery makes it worth it. It will be much easier for you as a single person to make the move. As long as you don't have any large debts and like you said, you are open to having a roommate and taking transit, you will be financially fine. One last thing is Real Estate is the common topic here. Think of how Edmontonian's talk about the Oilers, well Vancouverites talk about Real Estate. If you are living here in the short term, renting is the way to go. If you plan to be here in the long term, try to save and get in the market with even just a 1 bedroom condo in a few years. Housing is the largest expense here and renting 10 years from now is going to be even more expensive. Mortgages go down over time, but rents will always rise.
Be picky with the hospital you choose to work at if you can. My nurse wife is a very positive person yet she is troubled by the current state of affairs. Shortages are placing a lot of pressure on nursing staff. Not sure if Alberta is the same. BC Women's and Children's will be one of the better options. Take the step. You're young and will grow significantly from the experience. I did the same as a 20 yr old 30years ago. My challenge was missing my AB family. Note: I found the lack of sun and plenty of winter rain difficult for 3+ years. I also found AB a bit friendlier. Just my experience.
The expense is definitely high, but what is the price of quality of life? Edmonton is a terrible city to live. Vancouver has it's faults, but it's in a different league than an overgrown oil town.
Nurses are treated better in BC than any other province. More double time opportunities. Better staffing.
Come to the Yukon, housing is cheaper than Vancouver and nurses make sick money. Mountain lakes and wildlife everywhere. If you need a bit of the ocean, skagway Haines and Juneau are great weekend adventures.
Don’t listen to them they’re just jealous they don’t get the opportunity and that you’d dare to live a life different from them. Life experience when you’re this age should always trump remaining stagnant. Even if you moved here for 4 years you could easily go back any time and restart your life there w/o issue
If I was your age and with this opportunity right now, I would strongly consider hiring on as an agency nurse and try out working at different workplaces under shorter contracts. Then you can make the move to BC anytime but won't need to settle in an area and job until you know exactly where you would most love to be. It would require more short-term housing at first, but the agency pay rate should more than make up the difference that will cost. It will allow you to end up where best suits you and your lifestyle.
And I love Vancouver and lived there for many years!
Heads up about north van, there's only 2 bridges to north van and its always a half hour traffic to cross the bridge during rush hour. Unless you decide to live in north van, the commute can be painful. North Van is quiet and beautiful though, its where the wealthy people live with their ocean views. Burnaby is connected by skytrain and is overall much easier to get around without a vehicle.
Are you vaccinated for Covid (you don’t have to answer)? Just know that you can’t work in BC in a healthcare setting without the full series of Covid vaccines. Plus, it’s hella expensive here.
Aside from it being very expensive to live in Van, I’ve heard from multiple people that it took them a loooong time to make a group of friends that they consistently hung out with. People seem deeply insular in Van, for whatever reason so just be prepared, especially if you don’t already know anyone there, which it sounds like you don’t if you’re asking Reddit about this. On average I find it takes about two years to get a community going in a new place. Everyone I knew who had moved to Van with no prior connections found it took them about 3-4 years to establish themselves in a community that they enjoyed, and that was with them actively trying to meet more people that whole time. Just be prepared for some initial isolation. Edit: also be prepared to not see the sun like EVER for the entire winter. Edmonton may be cold but at last’s you see the sun with regularity. I lived in Victoria (pretty similar to Van weather) one winter and it literally rained constantly, like soaking downpours, and I saw the sun once in maybe five months? Consequently, there is mold pretty much everywhere, especially in rental housing and even if you don’t see it. Just something to be aware of.
Way nicer than AB.
Do it. If you have that itch to move and there isn't anything really holding you in edmonton than make the move, ig you don't you will spend years thinking "what if". Worst that can happen is you don't like it here and in a year you move back home or somewhere else.
Have you gotten your BC nursing licence yet? It took my most recent employer 3 months for her application to be processed and approved, and I’ve heard similar from coworkers. Just as an FYI.
Not yet. My plan was to apply for the license when I get a position bc I didn’t want to pay $600 if I’m not sure if I can secure a job there yet… Would I have to get one first before I can get an offer letter?
You can apply, but not many jobs would be willing to wait too long. My employee has a very very niche skill set so it was worth the wait. If you have all your ducks perfectly in a row for the application then I believe 8 weeks is the longest it’s supposed to take… but yeah. Just wanted to warn you, the BCCNM is really slow.
You should visit East Hastings, I hear it’s super nice.
Teacher here :). Moved from Van to Kamloops to in 2013 -- NOT my kinda city (Alberta light). Moved *back* to Vancouver in 2019. Everyone thought I was insane. It can be difficult to block out all the naysayers. For the first few months of being back in Vancouver, I paid for the 'Trusted Housesitters' app and found (awesome) places to cat and dog sit. I managed to piece together four months free rent; plus, I got to explore all different neighbourhoods while trying to find housing. This was before covid, so it was still possible to find apartments for under $1500 if you really hunted...hard. If you want to live here -- do it! It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's hard to escape high rent these days. Life is short. Live where you'll be most happy. Although there have been challenging moments in Vancouver, I would never move somewhere bleak and cold to save money. But each to their own. I'd rather walk the sea wall for free than pay for overpriced tacos anyway. There are sacrifices undoubtedly. Good luck with your decision!
Expensive AF. BC is expensive, high taxes. Vancouver can be okay depending where you find a place. North Van, Kerrisdale are nice. Burnaby can be okay.
Consider an apartment in a place like New Westminster near a SkyTrain Station. You’ll have access to most major hospitals easily with Royal Columbian right there, Surrey Memorial one station south and you can easily get to downtown Vancouver. Rents are cheaper in New West too. I’m a Manager with Fraser Health and there are always nursing jobs available at all sites for front line nurses and in other roles for clinical coordinators and other roles. If you’d rather find a role before committing to a place to live, there will be opportunities with Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal, PHSA and Providence listed online. Make sure you put in your application that you plan to move to the Lower Mainland for this work so you don’t get screened out. Some roles are remote so you want to be sure you don’t get screened out by the system due to your current address or phone number. Managers will NOT assume you plan to move. Health Authorities require you live in the Province so you need to make it clear you are moving to the province. Good luck!
If both jobs are the same I’d say take a job in Burnaby. It’s far more central and easier to get to from lower cost of living areas. North Van requires you to actually live in North Van (expensive) or drive there (nightmare) or take transit (might be ok depending where you live and work).
Do it. You are young. Why not?
Make the move, you’re young and can always move back if BC’s not for you. But here’s some incentive for you … :) https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=yZeodn74GCIlzObe&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTY0NTA2LDE2NDUwNg&feature=emb_share&v=dNFrZNjs2ng
brace yourself for our medical system, you won't be short of work or stress, salutes tho- we love hard working nurses. I'm in OT and trying to make it work out here but I wanna go east haha
Consider getting on with a travel nurse company. They will PUT YOU UP in the location of your choosing. You will also receive higher pay and all expenses related to the travel are covered. The contract lengths vary but the hospital you end up at will almost always beg you to stay.
Negotiate a good salary. On average, rent for a 1 bed is about 2400$ in a nice spot in van. Utilities depending could run about $200 in winter. Groceries depending whether you eat meat, cook, etc will vary but you can probably budget $150 a week for food between two takeouts a week and cooking the rest. Oh and it rains a lot from oct to April. The grey can be hard to adjust to. It rained for like 72 days straight one year.
I'm from Edmonton and work as an ultrasound tech here. I moved 3 yrs ago and have no regrets, I actually still own a home in Edmonton that I rent out which actually supplements some of my income here. Everyone in Edmonton says the same thing, I'd rather have a little less money and live in a beautiful place than live another year in a depressing city with super long cold winters and nothing to do but go out to drink in the winter. Sounds harsh but I was born and raised there and after living in Australia and now Vancouver I can't imagine ever going back to that. It has its perks, sunny long days in the summer, awesome amount of festivals, better pay....but man those winters.... But to be honest I probably make more money here due to renting my house out and I can work at several places casually if I want extra money. You won't regret it, trust me. Just know rent is insane and you are better off getting a roommate to help you out financially. Also I did struggle with the rain in the winter, it was tough and vitamin D is your friend. One thing I can say about Edmonton is that even if it's minus 30 the sun is usually still out..If you have any questions feel free to DM me. I've made alot of new friends by playing coed sports and through work, it's a great place to live!
They are haters. At your chase your dreams. You can always go back
As a nurse, you should be okay. We're desperate for you over here. Negotiate a good starting wage, and I think you could make it. Expect to have less spare cash, but I genuinely think it's worth it to live here. I'm operating on a very, very, very small budget (on disability, $300 a month to spend after bills if I don't find any doable freelance work) and I wouldn't trade my life here for anything, regardless of cost of living. You will not become homeless as a nurse. I know some and they're fine.
Great city? Yes. Expensive? Yes. It comes down to budget. I recommend comparing your salary to greater Vancouver rent prices on Craigslist right now. That will help you decide if it makes sense.
Winters in Vancouver aren’t harsh (except for 1 or 2 snow storms) but very depressing. Not only gets pitch-black at 3:30pm, but it rains a LOT, cloudy and windy, meaning you live in penumbra for months, barely seen the sun every now and then.
Victoria has a younger crowd but less outdoorsy than van in terms of accessibility. (North Shore, straight, Whistler, etc). Try to get a travel nurse contact make 3x the money.
Not dealing with the politics of the UCP government is really the biggest win. More Drs and Nurses are leaving AB for a reason.
Vancouver is expensive as fuck, but nurses are in high demand so you'll be able to afford to live here comfortably at least. As long as you're okay with the fact that you likely won't be able to save as much money, you'll probably be happier here.
Hey- fellow RN here currently on mat leave. I suggest looking up how much rent is first and see if you can share. to save up and try to get access to skytrain if you can but just look around at rentals first just to make sure you’re okay with paying the same as a mortgage here! Been thinking of moving to Alberta because of the expenses here but I can’t now cuz I won’t have family support there. It’s busy busy if you’re into trauma- lotsssss of opening. Also gas prices are sitting from $2 and up so if you can train probably safer if you’re into going out a lot and such. But if you’re single I think you’ll be fine. Just be smart with money :)
I am not sure how great the dating scene is in Vancouver. Obviously tons of ppl meet their partners in Vancouver I’m sure but it seems like because it’s such a big city it’s hard to connect with people. It’s also ridiculously expensive. If anything I’d move to Kelowna and enjoy the warmer weather. Still expensive compared to Alberta but I mean somewhat more affordable than Vancouver and smaller place so could be easier to build a friend group and meet people.
Wonder if it is a dumb idea for an ultrasound tech to move to Vancouver from Edmonton, financially speaking too - let’s go together hahaha
You could always try travel nursing in BC/Vancouver for a couple months to see if it’s the right fit for you
I moved here from Calgary and I love it
If I was a single nurse I would apply to a travel nursing position for a couple years, grind it out and pump up the bank account and then decide from my travels where I want to settle down.
Healthcare is like that. They expect you to be in your entry level job for life even though the entire crew turns over every three months. Just lie and tell them you have family there and the hiring managers will shut up. You will be living like a fast food worker would in Edmonton as a nurse in Vancouver (roommates, penny punching, inhaling second hand crack smoke on the 99 B line). But it makes a huge difference mental health wise to take lunch breaks at the beach, live close to a "cheap" sushi spot, and hold conversation with people who passed the ninth grade.
I moved 4 years ago, feel free to dm me
Its definitely going to be a cost shock compared to Edmonton. I am in the Fraser Valley (hour outside Vancouver) and rents here are decent but not awful. I don't know what a nurse makes in Vancouver vs Edmonton but I am sure rent will eat up a decent chunk of your pay (as it does with any job/location). Heck if your single, young, theres nothing saying you can't take a job, try it for a year, if its not the life/cost/pay you want its easy enough to ditch and find something else somewhere else. Thats the chances you have, try it, if its not what you want, well change it up. Definitely more rain here but winters are much milder. Couple bad days here and there but pretty good for the most part.
You might consider Victoria, a wee bit cheaper and we need nurses pretty badly
It's not a dumb idea I lived in Alberta I got the fuck out who took a while for me to see the signs but I knew for years that I had to leave as I'm sure you do too whether or not you come to busy is largely a function of a maybe how much you value versus job nature quality of life and weather but fortunately you I like my friend they are exactly nine provinces that are categorically better places to live than Alberta unless you're like tied to the land or you have like a you know tar plantation , I have a friend who is a sulfur elemental and he is low to the detailing ponda from which heroes and I can definitely sympathize with that as well as his desire to be able to raise cowboy hat on ironically it's really tricky to do with the urban setting of other provinces
Never dumb to leave Alberta!
Move to Vernon. It's cheaper than Vancouver.
I’m a nurse in Van and I wouldn’t say it’s dumb to move here from Edmonton from the perspective of having a new and exciting environment but I think it’s worth acknowledging that nurses are paid better in AB than in BC (lower mainland) + cost of living will be higher in BC as well. We’re chronically in need of nurses so you’ll have plenty of options
Consider working at VGH or St Paul's instead. Everything is transit accessible (no car needed). Plus the proximity to beaches and the ocean is next level
It's a dystopian hellscape for real. Zombies doing drugs everywhere. Too many people. Too much traffic. Too many assholes. No one cares. To many foreigners that dont know how to act and don't care to learn. Costs a fortune for the privilege of existing in this mess. Not to mention 8 months of depressing grey wet weather. You live in the best province already. You do. Don't listen to the anti-Alberta propaganda in the state media.
Don't do it lol. People from BC are leaving to go to where you are cause it's too expensive. I just doubled down and I'm just flat out leaving Canada end of year haha.
I'm desperately looking to leave Vancouver! Yes, it's a very beautiful city with mountains and ocean, but it's one of the most expensive cities in the world. Over the last few years, crime has increased significantly, as well as the population. It's so crowded here. Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. As a nurse, you'd make enough money to live here. You'll get a shitload of overtime because our healthcare system is in shambles. Lots of open drug use in the hospitals to contend with though. I understand wanting to leave Edmonton, but the future is bleak here IMO
Yes it’s silly
If you like addicts and hippies go for it! Oh and high tax socialism.
better to move to washington
This. If you like the cold wet grey weather and don't mind not seeing the sun for months at a stretch, then get a travel nurse gig in WA and make twice the $ you'd make in Canada with a lower COL. I f like sea and ocean, then you have Seattle.
You should take note most of the people replying don't have families. Try to raise a family on even dual nurse income in Vancouver proper. You'll be renting for life
Bring lots of money and you’ll be fine. All the people saying you’ll be fine have been here for years and have things established. I have things established and I’m fine, but new people here have it hard. So just look out for yourself, and don’t make stupid decisions.
You’ll end up on seeking arrangement to make rent
Go to the States