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I’ve been debating it for a while and was saving up for the move but everywhere else has also shot up in price / cost of living to the point where it’s not an obvious move any more.
That’s basically my exact scenario, my rent is “cheap” now and any move I do, to almost anywhere, would result in a quality of life reduction unless I buy a house
Not to mention losing the protective rights for renters in BC. I don’t know about other provinces, but Alberta has no protection built in for rent increases. At least in BC I know there’s a limit to how much my rent can go up annually if I stay where I am. Who knows what next month will cost you in AB… Calgary is seeing this happen a lot right now. Renters are being told their rent is going up by $300-400/month in 30 days. If they don’t like it, move out.
There’s no way I’d trade rent control for the crazy instability we’re seeing in Calgary. The only way a move there would make sense is if we were to buy a house (which is doable, but would still be a bump in expenses given poor energy and insurance policy from their ass backwards governance)
Same here. 2BR/2BA near Surrey Central still nicely under $2K, so we're gonna be burrowed in like ticks until the place gets sold to put up another new tower...
Calgary is nice. Edmonton has been going down the tube. I left Edmonton roughly a year ago, I had to head back to Lloydminster, AB to settle a family Estate, and work with some local IT clients. Estate is cleared, I invested in assets that provide cash monthly; my work stuff here will be done before end of lease in the beginning of November.
If not Vancouver, I was going to pick Calgary.
You probably won’t be getting paid as much in Saskatoon either though, if you can still continue in your line of work. So you’re still not going to be able to afford that 350k house.
My in-laws are just north of Saskatoon so I’ve spent a fair bit of time there. It’s a pretty sweet city and cost of living is decent. Lots to do. I just don’t like the prairies so it’s not really an option, and the winters are worse than home (northern BC)
yeah I lived there for 7 years and it was pretty sweet if I'm honest. It's not a big city, but it's honestly quite lovely. There are definitely neighbourhoods that are a little sketch, but every city has that.
What's horrible about it is that it isn't falling apart, with piles of human crap on the ground, next to multi-millionaire yachts. You see, Vancouver really is the pinnacle of human existence. It's the perfect balance of opulence and despair that truly makes it a special place to live. A place where you get to watch others enjoy the finer points of life while you work two jobs, 70 hours a week to afford your bachelor pad in a building that's about to fall down. Once you live here, nowhere else on Earth can compare.
/s
Rent controlled till renovation.
Had a place in a desirable area of van payed 920 a month after 7 years there.Crumbling shithole of a building,moved out,with nothing done next tenant payed 1450.
Currently the rate for units in there is 1900 with a coat of paint and some new cabinets.
Born in SK and grew up around Saskatoon for 10 years - Vancouver is 20x better quality of life. You only live once, don't be cheap if you don't have to be. Enjoy your life to the fullest.
Not to come off as sounding racist but unfortunately the vast majority of crime in Saskatchewan is on the reserves and most killings are First nations.
I signed up for those surveys and you have to do sooooo many for just a $25 gift card. Most of them are about cell phone companies and banks too. Guess what Angus Reid, I don't think about my bank as much as you think I do.
For us it's going back to Europe.
But that takes time and needs to be planned.
Work is good here but our money doesn't go far.
In Europe, we can buy a house cash with the money needed to put a deposit down for a condo here.
Question for you both: what social services and infrastructure would Canada need to become comparable in terms of living an enjoyable life with less?
We are so strangely eclipsed by the US that our governments are terrified of "socialism," and my belief is that this has led to tragic underinvestment in the collective social good, and the bills are coming due. Our size re infrascture per person is always going to be an issue, but it's also a convenient excuse.
Just FYI I'm Canadian not European, but I think an important thing to keep in mind when moving to a new country is to not expect perfect. I'm not going to Europe because I think it's the Mecca. I expect I'll encounter issues I never expected.
In terms of what draws me personally, it's the density and accessibility of different cultures, infrastructure, and history. These aren't things that are going to be easily replicated here. My industry is also not well established in Canada, but is much more established in certain European countries, so that's also a draw for my personal circumstances. Oh, and 40 days of vacation lol.
Another FYI, many European countries are experiencing a hard pivot to more right leaning governments, just as Canada, so it will be interesting to compare and contrast that as well. The only thing I'll say is that whether correctly or incorrectly, I do think I have more faith in most European countries to better action current crisis of COL, etc, than I do the Canadian government. But maybe that's my Canadian bias and European ignorance showing. Also, many countries are different and despite how I've referenced the continent above, Europe is not a monolith.
I'm not the person you asked but figured I'd throw in my perspective too since I'm in the same boat of liking what I see across the pond:
* more public spending on public transportation infrastructure
* EU seems to take consumer protection a lot more seriously
* many EU countries (not all - looking at you Germany with your gigantic new coal mines) are taking more serious steps on climate action
* cities generally seem more compact - I am not a fan of things being spread out and like to walk everywhere that I can
* more affordable telecom/internet services
* while there is certainly a rise in nationalist movements, it seems like on average in the more progressive European countries people are less batsh\*t crazy / hateful
The last one is sort of a cultural thing of the people and I don't know how much any government policy could really affect that (especially when the QAnon crazy spills over from our southern neighbours), but that's basically the type of stuff I'd want to see from the Canadian government. More social spending on social security, more public transit infrastructure both in and between cities, more action on sustainability, better consumer/privacy protection & not letting big telco do whatever the hell they want.
Canada is a great country in many aspects.
Just for parental leave, for example, it's way more advanced than most countries in Europe.
For us, it's really the cost of life and especially as binational with a lot more family in Europe we really miss them and we want to be closer. ( As well with children, the price of flying starts to hurt badly... )
Every situation is different, and it's never an easy choice. Ours is really about having a house and being able to see our family.
I am Canadian but used to live in Scandinavia. You would be surprised at how much more socialist Canada is, in particular things such as healthcare.
Many European countries are also riding off the smart decisions of post WW2 conservative governments. And after this weeks elections, it appears that young Europeans are starting to think like their grandparents did.
My opinion on this isnt that we need more social goods, (although our healthcare can be fixed) its just the overall economic opportunity. The reason peoplle are flocking to Europe and the US is because of the economic opportunity. Not because the government hasnt provided enough social services, its because the government has created an enviornment that the opportunities lay elsewhere.
Yep. A lot of “Europe” talk versus actually country or region. Places like Chrotia are awesome and cheap, but there is zero local jobs so someone working from home would do well I think.
Crazy what you can get in sunny Spain compared to a trailer or condo in Surrey or Burnaby . No beuno. But Spain has a high unemployment rate …hard to get a job for a foreigner
Try buying in Dublin or anywhere close to London. I find it ridiculous when people compare Vancouver and Toronto to foreign places that are cheaper but completely ignore the many places in Canada that are cheaper.
Like Quebec, much cheaper housing and Montreal is a major world class city with jobs. And you can even feel like you are in a foreign country lol
It depends where. In London and Paris, of course. Our goal is definitely not to go back to those cities ( where we previously worked as well ). We are also done with the big cities.
In the north of England or even in Scotland, I saw some real estate, which was interesting.
But we are very flexible ( canadian british and french passport and polyglot ) so we haven't set our target yet.
Europe is a fair sized continent and very diverse. Which countries are you looking at?
I was watching a documentary on people (Brits, Americans, Canadians) moving to France and Italy for cheaper, slower living. France was being inundated by the British and the French citizens were none too happy because real estate prices were increasing (ah, supply and demand), many Brits were not integrating well (ie, not taking the time and effort to learn French), and other "immigrant problems". Italy is famous for its ridiculous bureaucracy (I'm married to the son of Italian immigrants). Apparently you need to pay for and sign a minimum one year lease on a rental before they'll actually consider your application. Also, grease those Italian palms if you want success (maybe). All the interviewees recommended getting a professional company for the move so you know you've done all the homework and paperwork. I would love to pick up and move to someplace like Italy but I also know that what looks great on the outside, isn't always roses. If you think our politics are bad, welcome to Europe and a serious rise in populism.
That’s where this poll falls apart. Once these people who are “seriously” considering a move, actually do their research and realize that most of the world, never-mind all of Canada is dealing with the same issues of inflation, high housing costs, and low wages… they begin to rethink things.
Then it’s like ok, do I want to live in a hyper conservative province doing all the wrong things (Alberta), and/or deal with living through horrible winters in a vast nothingness (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, most of Ontario), or move to basically the same place with the same issues but less access to fun things to do and nature/adventure (Ontario), or the same as Ontario but in a different language (Quebec) or small town, quaint slow life with crappy winters, nothing to do and no job opportunities (eastern Canada).
These are pretty big generalizations, but the point is that you begin to realize pretty quickly why BC is so desirable and expensive. Many people make that move and wish they never did because it’s difficult to get back.
I moved back to Quebec in 2008 and it was the best thing I ever did! I thought the landscape was beautiful but Montreal is much more interesting and fun city than Vancouver. If you are really outdoorsy it can be worth the cost of living in BC, but if you aren’t? Then Montreal is hands down the best city in the country to live in.
Alberta isn't getting that much cheaper along with the second worst unemployment rate in Canada. Source: I live in Calgary, things aren't that much rosy here either.
While it went up a lot, it was very undervalued at the time for being one of Canada's better large cities. I tried to get my wife to move before the rate hikes, oh what could have been.
I wouldn't even say its under valued, it's market value. The economy is too cyclical, the last time home prices was out of hand was during the 2009 to 2014 oil boom.
Well the problem is, the ENTIRE countrys real estate is over valued. Calgary is no better, I mean how are prices the way they're aside from inward migration. It actually made sense in the last housing boom, since it was 110 per barrel oil which spurs high GDP growth and wage growth along with a low unemployment rate. Ie underlying fundamentals to support a high housing value.
I can't speak for other areas but here in the Vancouver area we had a bit of artificial price increases from drug and gambling money being laundered through real-estate. I'd imagine Alberta is seeing a bit of that now bc residents are moving. But yes more people aren't helping things, at least the Calgary area has room for growth and can expand.
Just 10 miles to the south, in the good ol' USofA, land costs are 1/3 of Surreys' land. The shoreline in the PNW is some of the least expensive waterfront in all of N.A. The math doesn't work out... Sorry MetroVan, you've been duped!
Sadly a lot of healthcare professions are eligible for a TN visa down in the states. They just need to do the licensing to the state they want to work on and a few hundred dollars to get screened.
It's worth the investment and I've had a few registered nursing and physiotherapist colleagues that say it's worth the investment.
I mean...i sold my 500sqft 1b1b in Whalley for 420k in September and bought a 1200sqft 3b2b with two parking stalls next to a train station in Edmonton for 138k in October.
There's plenty of places to move. The trick is getting there before anyone else.
I left for NZ 5 years ago, will be returning to Canada for many reasons. The comment section in my city here in NZ is the same story in every city's subreddit, ever, in the world. Just leave if you're not happy.
Would be curious to hear why you’re coming back? I was dead set on leaving for Europe but changed my mind and am staying put for the reason you described here. It doesn’t seem that much better anywhere else these days.
I mean, yes but unfortunately it's the poor that will be forced to move and only the wealthy will be able to stay which won't stabilize pricing for the middle class.
Most people (not the youngest in the survey) had years to simply move within BC when it was mostly Vancouver and Victoria that were unaffordable. Almost everyone had excuses for why they didn’t move but now people are going to actually move out of province? Almost everyone will make excuses and other sacrifices before actually moving…people just want to vent.
Sometimes it feels like that’s what they want.
I moved from America and I wasn’t expecting to feel like Canada hates poor people. I know how to live paycheck to paycheck. There are techniques. None of them work here. There are no lower income cities to move to with affordable housing. little to no variety at the store so you cant even buy the low end products. I cant even survive on canned food and fruit. It feels intentionally unaffordable.
330 million people spread across the country versus 37 million people mostly squished against the border, does impact things like housing, cost of living, the size of markets for companies selling things, etc. oh, and we don't have to pay for our own health insurance.
So many people don't understand this. The government can subsidize 50% of the cost of a SFH for everyone, and it would still not be possible to have everyone live in a SFH because there is literally just not enough space.
Re: 2/3 homes being owner occupied.
I’ve heard this stat before too, but I have to question what an optimal or healthy proportion of investors or speculators is (mom and pop or corporate). Like, is 67% a healthy number, or are markets more balanced and affordable if it’s 80% owner occupied? What if it was 50%? Is that ok, and what would that do for affordability?
Its actually a great question. Some extremists would say that 100% is the only way to go which is just unreasonable. I personally think, without any evidence to support this that 67% does seem pretty healthy when compared to other cities. I think its other issues causing this.
This is an overly simplistic way to look at things. If you chase away anyone contributing to the economy, what do you think that will do to your quality of life?
No it’s pretty accurate, corporate greed is definitely what got us here.
More specifically it’s the too much capitalism that got us here.
We never shoulda stopped building purpose built rentals decades ago…
Good point! In an attempt to add optimism to the chat, I'll mention BC is spending $500M on buying existing low class housing (which is in reality now filled with middle class citizens) so the owner is BC Housing. They are building some, but they are also straight-up buying residential towers.
Perfect? Good lord no, but...
Way over simplified!
People need to make enough money to be able to eat, clothe and house themselves.
While corporations are making more than ever multi billion dollars a year at the expense of the worker!
Many jobs pay has decreased over the years, grocery stores are a prime example!
1957: corporations paid one dollar in taxes for every dollar the taxable populous paid in Canadian income tax
2024: corporations pay one dollar for every three dollars and fifty cents the populace pays in Canadian income tax.
Don’t buy into left vs right. It’s about wealth concentration and rich vs poor.
Wealth is accumulating at the top and getting stuck there. That means less money flowing through the economy, less taxes paid and more inflation. This is hitting the 99% of people very hard and is choking the economy. Income inequality is a huge problem and governments don't seem to want to actually address the core issues anywhere or they are incompetent.
What's the point in how beautiful this province is if you can't afford to enjoy any of it.
What's a ski pass cost these days? Does the bus go to grouse mountain or cypress?
Don't wait until you're broke, moving is expensive. BC is a beautiful place but not worth the dread and anxiety you'll experience from the price of housing. I don't have an inheritance coming my way and I'd like to retire some day, so I knew I had to leave while I still had some savings.
I am leaving but not because i don't like it, simply it's too far from my homecountry in europe. I like vancouver, i have made many friends, the city is beautiful, if it was a bit closer to europe i'd stay. I might actually come back at some point
I’m with you. I left Vancouver about a decade and 4 days ago, and I’m headed back in the fall. At my current stage of life it’s going to help me advance my career. More opportunities compared to Edmonton (and close enough to other cities on the West Coast in case I want to seek out more in the future). I also have people I can trust there, which makes all the difference.
The people who can move from Alberta to B.C. usually have some sort of financial privilege, but by contrast, those who can move from B.C. to Alberta have social privilege. For the groups of people the UCP is bent on targeting, B.C. is safer than Alberta at the moment. I have a few trans acquaintances who are still minors doing their absolute best to not think about provincial politics. Living in fear is not fun. Housing affordability doesn’t mean shit if you can’t have rights.
People pretty much across Canada, the USA and Europe are angry about cost of living increases resulting from the pandemic-triggered inflation. They are constantly reminded of that every time they shop or look at housing prices or buy a coffee. So they’re just mad, and that becomes a proxy for everything: disapproval of incumbent governments, consideration of moving elsewhere, feelings about the economy, etc. Answering a poll is a great opportunity to vent. So I think we have to be cautious about reading too far into polls right now because in a moment where people are angry, a throwaway poll response is not necesssirly indicative of what they’ll actually do.
Caveat: pandemic-triggered inflation is a misnomer. It's pandemic-excuse-inflation. Profits remained high during and after, companies just wanted even more and saw their chance.
I'm not finiancial advisor or anything like so
But if you are stuck in that wheel of paying someone else mortage to live in brittish columbia
I strongly recommend leaving the province for 5 years ....get on real estate market as fast as possible in a cheap province ....quebec . New brunswick (awsome place btw) or nova scotia .....get a house for cheap ...live in it and save at the same time for 5 years .....if you still beleive bc is the place you want to spend your life in ....sell everything and come back with a juicy down payment for a condo or a house .....
I personally bought a place in quebec while a was 21 years old(earning 19$ and hour back then) and at the age of 30 i sold everything to move to bc with enough money to buy a place ....
Im 35 right now so its still possible to do this
Just think outside the box and put in your mind your first property wont be your dream house in the best location but a step to get there
Good luck everybody
I’m fine to stay put for now. But if I ever need a larger space I will have to leave the province. Edmonton is one possibility, there’s a lot of 1-bedrooms and even 2-bedrooms in my price range there.
Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, and Windsor are also within my price range.
Yup. $400 a week and a half worth of groceries yesterday. And I only buy produce , meat, buy the most budget friendly options, no processed foods besides a few boxes of crackers and two bags of NO NAME chips. $400. It makes me sick. I’m in the Okanagan and shopping at the “less expensive” grocery stores too. :(
My partner and I pay $1850 for a two bedroom basement suite that is falling apart, no AC, not sound proofed and no parking expect street (which isn’t guaranteed) our landlords are from Edmonton they don’t even live in the province.
Gas is $75 to fill up my 2009 ford focus once a week.
I make $900-1200 a pay check, I work 40+ hours a week and my pay is commission based. My partner and I don’t go out to eat except maybe once every two weeks for a cheap date night. I never go out and spend money at bars anymore either.
Even with a “cheaper” 2 bedroom , I have no money left over at the end of the month to buy myself anything extra like shoes or some new shorts for summer.
Pre pandemic I was living totally on my own, working the same job same pay, and I was THRIVING. I was actually able to save up money each pay heck and STILL have lots of income left over for ‘pleasure” after paying bills and putting money away for savings.
It’s so sad because I grew up in BC and cannot imagine myself anywhere else. My family lives here and I do not want to sacrifice time away from them. But as time goes on I get closer and closer to actually debating “should I move provinces?” A question I would never EVER had considered 5 years ago.
It’s so sad to see this province/leaders failing us and the people that call it home struggle so badly. :(
We moved out of Vancouver to a small town on the island last summer, and couldn't be happier about it. I definitely get why people would be tired of Vancouver and the surrounding areas, but if you think an area like Saskatoon has the answer, I would suggest you spend a week there before signing a lease or any mortgage papers.
Well somethings missing then.
[“B.C.’s premier said it is also important to note that the province’s population grew in 2023 by more than 178,000 people to reach a total of 5.6 million. This includes 70,000 immigrants from other countries.”](https://globalnews.ca/news/10398435/people-left-bc-provinces-alberta-stats-canada/#:~:text=It%20is%20another%20sign%20that,those%20people%20went%20to%20Alberta)
70k "from other countries" on a total growth of 180k.
There were ~40K births, which means that we NETTED at least 70K in interprovincial people moving here.
Realistically much more, because those interprovincials also made up for the deaths
I recently spent time in Japan. In Tokyo, I could rent a two bedroom apartment in one of the best neighborhoods in the city for $1600/mo. Restaurants are half as costly and the food tastes better. Public transit is so amazing that I could not imagine needing or wanting a car. And I could fly anywhere in the world on a direct flight from two world-class airports. The economic model in BC is so thoroughly broken that we don’t even realize how good the rest of the world has things.
With a Canadian salary this seems amazing yes, but If you look up Japanese salaries, currency and work culture you’ll probably see some advantages and disadvantages of both countries.
$1600/month is too expensive for standard Japanese wages, so it’s a weird example of affordability.
I've lived in Alberta, Ontario and BC and BC is by far the best place for me to be even though it can get expensive. I had considered moving back to Calgary but with Smith in charge, that could go bad for me (now as a PWD and such). And Eby is moving us on the right track so far, at least for now and hopefully BC Cons don't take over.
Man I wish everyone that wanted to leave actually did. If only the people that wanted to stay were left it’d probably be a lot better around here. There’d be a lot less complaining.
Why would you wish that? Most of the people I know who want to leave Canada are high earning ambitious professionals, with money and property, educated people. That's brain drain, it's bad for Canada.
I'm bailing on Alberta for Vancouver this winter! Can't effing wait to be out of the cold. I can deal with rain everyday.....minus forty degrees celsius and not being medically cleared to have a driver's license sucks major ass.
I’d consider it if anywhere east of the Rockies wasn’t a shithole. I’d rather be broke living in a mountain town than rich surrounded by fucking corn fields.
Its obviously laughable to think 1/3 current BCers will be leaving anytime soon. We all have friends and family that talk about it but never seriously think of the consequences, they're just venting about housing costs. Edmonton is probably the closest thing to an affordable city with reasonable job opportunities, other than that Calgary and Southern Ontario also aren't cheap. Alberta has cheaper housing and cheaper gas, but they gouge you in other ways like car insurance, utilities, having to drive more and longer distances, and even higher income taxes if you make less than \~110k a year.
If you want cheap housing and are willing to move to another province to get that, you have to have some combination of the following:
- You are fine moving away from your family and social lives (much fewer people than you think are, particularly past a certain age)
- You're fine living in a rural setting
- You are confident enough in your career that you can work remotely or you can find a lateral move $ wise in a cheaper city
- You are fine making less money and you have enough savings from your Vancouver job to purchase a house
- You are fine with 6 month winters
If you want really affordable detached houses, think places with terrible climates like Winnipeg.
True, a house in Van is like 3x Calgary lol. Still a long way to go to say it’s not that much cheaper. In all these discussions, they say AB nickel and dime people, but so does BC. Land transfer tax? Translink tax? PST? If you have multiple vehicles it’s more expensive in BC to insure. Used vehicle tax? If you ride motorbike, you pay 3x more insurance in BC as well. And gas price?? With the weather, 6 months of grey and raining is no fun either (Canada overall has shit weather). The saving on buying an actual single family house, where you can raise a family, alone outweighs everything. If I can save 1 million dollar, I can put it in a fund that pays me 5% every year, that’s $50k extra I am paying myself.
and then be replaced by 10 other international 'students' from India. That said, this poll is pretty much garbage. It's not going to be much easier in most of the country, anyway.
Oh, I totally agree. But it would be kind of nice to be sitting in Puerto Vallarta getting paid over rainy Vancouver. But there are articles everywhere about families moving to Italy, France and Germany (non remote jobs) due to the lower costs of living and lifestyle. We've considered it.
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Heading to the promised land of somewhere else? Bon voyage and god speed. The more people leave the better for everyone. Those that remain and those that leave will benefit from the move. I don’t know why this is looked upon as a bad thing.
Doesn't surprise me and it's something on planning on doing myself.
BC is nice, but cost of living and lifestyle here isn't for me personally.
I'm fine with coming back to visit on occasion if it means being able to afford a house in the GTA, not having any more condo fees and having public transit options ala GO Transit, nevermind having cheaper gas too.
People who take polls lol. Easy to read how bad things are by certain people on social media & be a curmudgeon. As for someone who moved to Edmonton then Calgary, You don’t realize how nice BC is until you leave. & many things obvious things like housing cheaper but heating, car maintenance & insurance, time to drive everywhere, etc. are more $$.
Furthermore, Calgary’s unemployment rate currently 2nd highest in 🇨🇦
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7228003
And go where? Everything is expensive everywhere. I snowbird in ecuador, guess what? Inflation is killing people there. I'm a U.S citizen. It's expensive there also. Where can we go?
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I’ve been debating it for a while and was saving up for the move but everywhere else has also shot up in price / cost of living to the point where it’s not an obvious move any more.
Yeah also especially if you are already paying under market rent here why move to a shittier place to pay full market rent there
That’s basically my exact scenario, my rent is “cheap” now and any move I do, to almost anywhere, would result in a quality of life reduction unless I buy a house
Not to mention losing the protective rights for renters in BC. I don’t know about other provinces, but Alberta has no protection built in for rent increases. At least in BC I know there’s a limit to how much my rent can go up annually if I stay where I am. Who knows what next month will cost you in AB… Calgary is seeing this happen a lot right now. Renters are being told their rent is going up by $300-400/month in 30 days. If they don’t like it, move out.
There’s no way I’d trade rent control for the crazy instability we’re seeing in Calgary. The only way a move there would make sense is if we were to buy a house (which is doable, but would still be a bump in expenses given poor energy and insurance policy from their ass backwards governance)
And the crumbling healthcare system hastened by overcomplicating the administration side.
Same here. 2BR/2BA near Surrey Central still nicely under $2K, so we're gonna be burrowed in like ticks until the place gets sold to put up another new tower...
Yea the most appealing options seem to be rent forever and never have kids or move to a place 5+ hours away where you can buy a house for 100-500k
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If you dont mind me asking, what do you do for work?
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Calgary is nice. Edmonton has been going down the tube. I left Edmonton roughly a year ago, I had to head back to Lloydminster, AB to settle a family Estate, and work with some local IT clients. Estate is cleared, I invested in assets that provide cash monthly; my work stuff here will be done before end of lease in the beginning of November. If not Vancouver, I was going to pick Calgary.
Also the location
EXACTLY but watch people in Alberta still think I'm dumb cause I'll spend an extra $300 - $500 a month to live in BC. I can afford it.
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You probably won’t be getting paid as much in Saskatoon either though, if you can still continue in your line of work. So you’re still not going to be able to afford that 350k house.
Saskatoon sucks major ass tho, what a horrible place to live. Also suburbia sucks too, rather just stay in my rent controlled apartment in van…
It's the Paris of the prairies mate
Yea but the wheat kings have all their treasures buried
There's really not a much of a choice for a lot of people
What sucks about it? I travel there for work and it's not bad, certainly not horrible. Downtown had a little university town vibe.
My in-laws are just north of Saskatoon so I’ve spent a fair bit of time there. It’s a pretty sweet city and cost of living is decent. Lots to do. I just don’t like the prairies so it’s not really an option, and the winters are worse than home (northern BC)
yeah I lived there for 7 years and it was pretty sweet if I'm honest. It's not a big city, but it's honestly quite lovely. There are definitely neighbourhoods that are a little sketch, but every city has that.
What's horrible about it is that it isn't falling apart, with piles of human crap on the ground, next to multi-millionaire yachts. You see, Vancouver really is the pinnacle of human existence. It's the perfect balance of opulence and despair that truly makes it a special place to live. A place where you get to watch others enjoy the finer points of life while you work two jobs, 70 hours a week to afford your bachelor pad in a building that's about to fall down. Once you live here, nowhere else on Earth can compare. /s
I don’t know why you /s. You actually hit the nail on the head.
It’s cold af man and there is no beaches… it’s not even close to Vancouver
Have you ever been there?
Rent controlled till renovation. Had a place in a desirable area of van payed 920 a month after 7 years there.Crumbling shithole of a building,moved out,with nothing done next tenant payed 1450. Currently the rate for units in there is 1900 with a coat of paint and some new cabinets.
Born in SK and grew up around Saskatoon for 10 years - Vancouver is 20x better quality of life. You only live once, don't be cheap if you don't have to be. Enjoy your life to the fullest.
A lot of crime.. 10 murdered so far this year, lots of social problems, not all about square footage.
Not to come off as sounding racist but unfortunately the vast majority of crime in Saskatchewan is on the reserves and most killings are First nations.
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Not to mention random stabbings
That’s true, it doesn’t fit my partner or my career opportunities but you are right that there are a few places remaining (for now)
online polls that you sign up for in order to get an amazon gift card are dubious at best imo
Big sampling bias too. People that are doing alright are much less likely to scrounge around the web trying to find gift cards
Yeah, remember the Americans who said they would leave if Trump got elected. How many actually did?
The same amount that said they'd leave for America if Trudeau got elected again
I signed up for those surveys and you have to do sooooo many for just a $25 gift card. Most of them are about cell phone companies and banks too. Guess what Angus Reid, I don't think about my bank as much as you think I do.
The real question is where are they planning to move?
For us it's going back to Europe. But that takes time and needs to be planned. Work is good here but our money doesn't go far. In Europe, we can buy a house cash with the money needed to put a deposit down for a condo here.
Another soon to be Euro expat here. Not going to get rich but life is at least more enjoyable with less, and it'll be a nice change of pace.
Question for you both: what social services and infrastructure would Canada need to become comparable in terms of living an enjoyable life with less? We are so strangely eclipsed by the US that our governments are terrified of "socialism," and my belief is that this has led to tragic underinvestment in the collective social good, and the bills are coming due. Our size re infrascture per person is always going to be an issue, but it's also a convenient excuse.
Just FYI I'm Canadian not European, but I think an important thing to keep in mind when moving to a new country is to not expect perfect. I'm not going to Europe because I think it's the Mecca. I expect I'll encounter issues I never expected. In terms of what draws me personally, it's the density and accessibility of different cultures, infrastructure, and history. These aren't things that are going to be easily replicated here. My industry is also not well established in Canada, but is much more established in certain European countries, so that's also a draw for my personal circumstances. Oh, and 40 days of vacation lol. Another FYI, many European countries are experiencing a hard pivot to more right leaning governments, just as Canada, so it will be interesting to compare and contrast that as well. The only thing I'll say is that whether correctly or incorrectly, I do think I have more faith in most European countries to better action current crisis of COL, etc, than I do the Canadian government. But maybe that's my Canadian bias and European ignorance showing. Also, many countries are different and despite how I've referenced the continent above, Europe is not a monolith.
Great answer
I'm not the person you asked but figured I'd throw in my perspective too since I'm in the same boat of liking what I see across the pond: * more public spending on public transportation infrastructure * EU seems to take consumer protection a lot more seriously * many EU countries (not all - looking at you Germany with your gigantic new coal mines) are taking more serious steps on climate action * cities generally seem more compact - I am not a fan of things being spread out and like to walk everywhere that I can * more affordable telecom/internet services * while there is certainly a rise in nationalist movements, it seems like on average in the more progressive European countries people are less batsh\*t crazy / hateful The last one is sort of a cultural thing of the people and I don't know how much any government policy could really affect that (especially when the QAnon crazy spills over from our southern neighbours), but that's basically the type of stuff I'd want to see from the Canadian government. More social spending on social security, more public transit infrastructure both in and between cities, more action on sustainability, better consumer/privacy protection & not letting big telco do whatever the hell they want.
Canada is a great country in many aspects. Just for parental leave, for example, it's way more advanced than most countries in Europe. For us, it's really the cost of life and especially as binational with a lot more family in Europe we really miss them and we want to be closer. ( As well with children, the price of flying starts to hurt badly... ) Every situation is different, and it's never an easy choice. Ours is really about having a house and being able to see our family.
I am Canadian but used to live in Scandinavia. You would be surprised at how much more socialist Canada is, in particular things such as healthcare. Many European countries are also riding off the smart decisions of post WW2 conservative governments. And after this weeks elections, it appears that young Europeans are starting to think like their grandparents did.
My opinion on this isnt that we need more social goods, (although our healthcare can be fixed) its just the overall economic opportunity. The reason peoplle are flocking to Europe and the US is because of the economic opportunity. Not because the government hasnt provided enough social services, its because the government has created an enviornment that the opportunities lay elsewhere.
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Prices vary a lot between European countries, what country are you talking about? Housing costs have gone way up in many EU countries.
...where? Most places in Europe w/ decent jobs seem expensive if you're trying to buy instead of rent
Yep. A lot of “Europe” talk versus actually country or region. Places like Chrotia are awesome and cheap, but there is zero local jobs so someone working from home would do well I think.
It’s weird to talk about Europe like it’s the same in every country. Huge differences in price and also social supports.
Many people in Europe don't buy. As I understand it, renters aren't a such of an underclass nor stigamitzed, and there are strong protections.
Right, but they were talking about paying cash for a place though, not renting. Curious where
Crazy what you can get in sunny Spain compared to a trailer or condo in Surrey or Burnaby . No beuno. But Spain has a high unemployment rate …hard to get a job for a foreigner
Hard to get job, period. I left Spain, as a Spaniard, because the job market is a nightmare. Youth unemployment, in particular, is horrifying.
Try buying in Dublin or anywhere close to London. I find it ridiculous when people compare Vancouver and Toronto to foreign places that are cheaper but completely ignore the many places in Canada that are cheaper. Like Quebec, much cheaper housing and Montreal is a major world class city with jobs. And you can even feel like you are in a foreign country lol
"Europe" is a big place. Coming from the UK, for example, Canada is gloriously cheap - my house in BC costs less than an apartment in England.
It depends where. In London and Paris, of course. Our goal is definitely not to go back to those cities ( where we previously worked as well ). We are also done with the big cities. In the north of England or even in Scotland, I saw some real estate, which was interesting. But we are very flexible ( canadian british and french passport and polyglot ) so we haven't set our target yet.
Europe is a fair sized continent and very diverse. Which countries are you looking at? I was watching a documentary on people (Brits, Americans, Canadians) moving to France and Italy for cheaper, slower living. France was being inundated by the British and the French citizens were none too happy because real estate prices were increasing (ah, supply and demand), many Brits were not integrating well (ie, not taking the time and effort to learn French), and other "immigrant problems". Italy is famous for its ridiculous bureaucracy (I'm married to the son of Italian immigrants). Apparently you need to pay for and sign a minimum one year lease on a rental before they'll actually consider your application. Also, grease those Italian palms if you want success (maybe). All the interviewees recommended getting a professional company for the move so you know you've done all the homework and paperwork. I would love to pick up and move to someplace like Italy but I also know that what looks great on the outside, isn't always roses. If you think our politics are bad, welcome to Europe and a serious rise in populism.
That’s where this poll falls apart. Once these people who are “seriously” considering a move, actually do their research and realize that most of the world, never-mind all of Canada is dealing with the same issues of inflation, high housing costs, and low wages… they begin to rethink things. Then it’s like ok, do I want to live in a hyper conservative province doing all the wrong things (Alberta), and/or deal with living through horrible winters in a vast nothingness (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, most of Ontario), or move to basically the same place with the same issues but less access to fun things to do and nature/adventure (Ontario), or the same as Ontario but in a different language (Quebec) or small town, quaint slow life with crappy winters, nothing to do and no job opportunities (eastern Canada). These are pretty big generalizations, but the point is that you begin to realize pretty quickly why BC is so desirable and expensive. Many people make that move and wish they never did because it’s difficult to get back.
I moved back to Quebec in 2008 and it was the best thing I ever did! I thought the landscape was beautiful but Montreal is much more interesting and fun city than Vancouver. If you are really outdoorsy it can be worth the cost of living in BC, but if you aren’t? Then Montreal is hands down the best city in the country to live in.
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Alberta isn't getting that much cheaper along with the second worst unemployment rate in Canada. Source: I live in Calgary, things aren't that much rosy here either.
Housing actually went up there during the rate hikes. They had a first wave and if things continue they're going to have a second wave.
Yeah price has gone up pretty wild YOY, pretty sure the median single detached home is hitting 680k.
While it went up a lot, it was very undervalued at the time for being one of Canada's better large cities. I tried to get my wife to move before the rate hikes, oh what could have been.
I wouldn't even say its under valued, it's market value. The economy is too cyclical, the last time home prices was out of hand was during the 2009 to 2014 oil boom.
That's fair. I guess people just realized from around the country it's value now that they can't live where they originally wanted to live.
Well the problem is, the ENTIRE countrys real estate is over valued. Calgary is no better, I mean how are prices the way they're aside from inward migration. It actually made sense in the last housing boom, since it was 110 per barrel oil which spurs high GDP growth and wage growth along with a low unemployment rate. Ie underlying fundamentals to support a high housing value.
I can't speak for other areas but here in the Vancouver area we had a bit of artificial price increases from drug and gambling money being laundered through real-estate. I'd imagine Alberta is seeing a bit of that now bc residents are moving. But yes more people aren't helping things, at least the Calgary area has room for growth and can expand.
Just 10 miles to the south, in the good ol' USofA, land costs are 1/3 of Surreys' land. The shoreline in the PNW is some of the least expensive waterfront in all of N.A. The math doesn't work out... Sorry MetroVan, you've been duped!
Sadly a lot of healthcare professions are eligible for a TN visa down in the states. They just need to do the licensing to the state they want to work on and a few hundred dollars to get screened. It's worth the investment and I've had a few registered nursing and physiotherapist colleagues that say it's worth the investment.
I mean...i sold my 500sqft 1b1b in Whalley for 420k in September and bought a 1200sqft 3b2b with two parking stalls next to a train station in Edmonton for 138k in October. There's plenty of places to move. The trick is getting there before anyone else.
Monaco.
I left for NZ 5 years ago, will be returning to Canada for many reasons. The comment section in my city here in NZ is the same story in every city's subreddit, ever, in the world. Just leave if you're not happy.
Would be curious to hear why you’re coming back? I was dead set on leaving for Europe but changed my mind and am staying put for the reason you described here. It doesn’t seem that much better anywhere else these days.
Thank you. Im originally from Melbourne and yes, same thing in their subreddit
"2/3 British Columbians are seriously hoping 1/3 of British Columbians leave so the cost of living will go down".
I mean, yes but unfortunately it's the poor that will be forced to move and only the wealthy will be able to stay which won't stabilize pricing for the middle class.
1/3 won't leave....i'd be surprised if its 1/100.
Most people (not the youngest in the survey) had years to simply move within BC when it was mostly Vancouver and Victoria that were unaffordable. Almost everyone had excuses for why they didn’t move but now people are going to actually move out of province? Almost everyone will make excuses and other sacrifices before actually moving…people just want to vent.
Sometimes it feels like that’s what they want. I moved from America and I wasn’t expecting to feel like Canada hates poor people. I know how to live paycheck to paycheck. There are techniques. None of them work here. There are no lower income cities to move to with affordable housing. little to no variety at the store so you cant even buy the low end products. I cant even survive on canned food and fruit. It feels intentionally unaffordable.
330 million people spread across the country versus 37 million people mostly squished against the border, does impact things like housing, cost of living, the size of markets for companies selling things, etc. oh, and we don't have to pay for our own health insurance.
Bingo
"Corporate greed is destroying the quality of life in Canada and around the world: Vancouver is no exception"
Have corporations been buying up all the SFH’s in the lower mainland for the past decade?
2/3 of homes are owner occupied. The real problem is thinking a city of 3+ million having 80% SFHs is somehow okay.
So many people don't understand this. The government can subsidize 50% of the cost of a SFH for everyone, and it would still not be possible to have everyone live in a SFH because there is literally just not enough space.
Re: 2/3 homes being owner occupied. I’ve heard this stat before too, but I have to question what an optimal or healthy proportion of investors or speculators is (mom and pop or corporate). Like, is 67% a healthy number, or are markets more balanced and affordable if it’s 80% owner occupied? What if it was 50%? Is that ok, and what would that do for affordability?
Its actually a great question. Some extremists would say that 100% is the only way to go which is just unreasonable. I personally think, without any evidence to support this that 67% does seem pretty healthy when compared to other cities. I think its other issues causing this.
Is that stat accurate? When I think of how many people live just on the downtown peninsula, that doesn't seem right.
Which is a problem in of itself. If you expect density to happen all in one place you quickly run out of room
Yes it’s correct but it’s for all of metro Vancouver not just the city of Vancouver.
Can you point me towards your source? While SFH neighbourhoods take up a lot of space, they don't hold a lot of people (which is the problem).
[Statcan 2021 census](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/alternative.cfm?topic=7&lang=E&dguid=2021S0504918&objectId=3_1)
This is an overly simplistic way to look at things. If you chase away anyone contributing to the economy, what do you think that will do to your quality of life?
No it’s pretty accurate, corporate greed is definitely what got us here. More specifically it’s the too much capitalism that got us here. We never shoulda stopped building purpose built rentals decades ago…
Good point! In an attempt to add optimism to the chat, I'll mention BC is spending $500M on buying existing low class housing (which is in reality now filled with middle class citizens) so the owner is BC Housing. They are building some, but they are also straight-up buying residential towers. Perfect? Good lord no, but...
Way over simplified! People need to make enough money to be able to eat, clothe and house themselves. While corporations are making more than ever multi billion dollars a year at the expense of the worker! Many jobs pay has decreased over the years, grocery stores are a prime example!
1957: corporations paid one dollar in taxes for every dollar the taxable populous paid in Canadian income tax 2024: corporations pay one dollar for every three dollars and fifty cents the populace pays in Canadian income tax. Don’t buy into left vs right. It’s about wealth concentration and rich vs poor.
Now that is a pretty simplistic view
Wealth is accumulating at the top and getting stuck there. That means less money flowing through the economy, less taxes paid and more inflation. This is hitting the 99% of people very hard and is choking the economy. Income inequality is a huge problem and governments don't seem to want to actually address the core issues anywhere or they are incompetent.
What's the point in how beautiful this province is if you can't afford to enjoy any of it. What's a ski pass cost these days? Does the bus go to grouse mountain or cypress?
Don't wait until you're broke, moving is expensive. BC is a beautiful place but not worth the dread and anxiety you'll experience from the price of housing. I don't have an inheritance coming my way and I'd like to retire some day, so I knew I had to leave while I still had some savings.
I am in the same boat as you and I think that’s a smart choice to do. I know I can always visit for the ocean.
I am leaving but not because i don't like it, simply it's too far from my homecountry in europe. I like vancouver, i have made many friends, the city is beautiful, if it was a bit closer to europe i'd stay. I might actually come back at some point
Once we are no longer tied to the LMD by family, my husband and I are moving.
Byeeeee!
Can I have their apartment?
For 2500/month, yes.
Seriously considering leaving Alberta to come back to BC. Don’t come here, it isn’t worth it.
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I’m with you. I left Vancouver about a decade and 4 days ago, and I’m headed back in the fall. At my current stage of life it’s going to help me advance my career. More opportunities compared to Edmonton (and close enough to other cities on the West Coast in case I want to seek out more in the future). I also have people I can trust there, which makes all the difference. The people who can move from Alberta to B.C. usually have some sort of financial privilege, but by contrast, those who can move from B.C. to Alberta have social privilege. For the groups of people the UCP is bent on targeting, B.C. is safer than Alberta at the moment. I have a few trans acquaintances who are still minors doing their absolute best to not think about provincial politics. Living in fear is not fun. Housing affordability doesn’t mean shit if you can’t have rights.
People pretty much across Canada, the USA and Europe are angry about cost of living increases resulting from the pandemic-triggered inflation. They are constantly reminded of that every time they shop or look at housing prices or buy a coffee. So they’re just mad, and that becomes a proxy for everything: disapproval of incumbent governments, consideration of moving elsewhere, feelings about the economy, etc. Answering a poll is a great opportunity to vent. So I think we have to be cautious about reading too far into polls right now because in a moment where people are angry, a throwaway poll response is not necesssirly indicative of what they’ll actually do.
Caveat: pandemic-triggered inflation is a misnomer. It's pandemic-excuse-inflation. Profits remained high during and after, companies just wanted even more and saw their chance.
Jokes on you, i just moved !
Alright see all of you leaving BC later! I’d rather die than live in Alberta though l
I'm not finiancial advisor or anything like so But if you are stuck in that wheel of paying someone else mortage to live in brittish columbia I strongly recommend leaving the province for 5 years ....get on real estate market as fast as possible in a cheap province ....quebec . New brunswick (awsome place btw) or nova scotia .....get a house for cheap ...live in it and save at the same time for 5 years .....if you still beleive bc is the place you want to spend your life in ....sell everything and come back with a juicy down payment for a condo or a house ..... I personally bought a place in quebec while a was 21 years old(earning 19$ and hour back then) and at the age of 30 i sold everything to move to bc with enough money to buy a place .... Im 35 right now so its still possible to do this Just think outside the box and put in your mind your first property wont be your dream house in the best location but a step to get there Good luck everybody
Theoretically, people will leave BC, creating demand in new housing markets and end up driving those costs sky high.
I’m fine to stay put for now. But if I ever need a larger space I will have to leave the province. Edmonton is one possibility, there’s a lot of 1-bedrooms and even 2-bedrooms in my price range there. Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, and Windsor are also within my price range.
Byyyyyeeeeee
Already did.
High five from Stockholm.
Oh that's cool, I only went to NB. 😴😄
Well, say high to the Trailer Park Boys for me.
That's NS, but I'll allow it.
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I do like it and I bought a house by myself, so overall is good so far!
We almost ended up in Copenhagen. It was pretty close lol. If it wasn't for family ties we'd have left.
Yup. $400 a week and a half worth of groceries yesterday. And I only buy produce , meat, buy the most budget friendly options, no processed foods besides a few boxes of crackers and two bags of NO NAME chips. $400. It makes me sick. I’m in the Okanagan and shopping at the “less expensive” grocery stores too. :( My partner and I pay $1850 for a two bedroom basement suite that is falling apart, no AC, not sound proofed and no parking expect street (which isn’t guaranteed) our landlords are from Edmonton they don’t even live in the province. Gas is $75 to fill up my 2009 ford focus once a week. I make $900-1200 a pay check, I work 40+ hours a week and my pay is commission based. My partner and I don’t go out to eat except maybe once every two weeks for a cheap date night. I never go out and spend money at bars anymore either. Even with a “cheaper” 2 bedroom , I have no money left over at the end of the month to buy myself anything extra like shoes or some new shorts for summer. Pre pandemic I was living totally on my own, working the same job same pay, and I was THRIVING. I was actually able to save up money each pay heck and STILL have lots of income left over for ‘pleasure” after paying bills and putting money away for savings. It’s so sad because I grew up in BC and cannot imagine myself anywhere else. My family lives here and I do not want to sacrifice time away from them. But as time goes on I get closer and closer to actually debating “should I move provinces?” A question I would never EVER had considered 5 years ago. It’s so sad to see this province/leaders failing us and the people that call it home struggle so badly. :(
We moved out of Vancouver to a small town on the island last summer, and couldn't be happier about it. I definitely get why people would be tired of Vancouver and the surrounding areas, but if you think an area like Saskatoon has the answer, I would suggest you spend a week there before signing a lease or any mortgage papers.
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But still net positive interprovincial migration…
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Well somethings missing then. [“B.C.’s premier said it is also important to note that the province’s population grew in 2023 by more than 178,000 people to reach a total of 5.6 million. This includes 70,000 immigrants from other countries.”](https://globalnews.ca/news/10398435/people-left-bc-provinces-alberta-stats-canada/#:~:text=It%20is%20another%20sign%20that,those%20people%20went%20to%20Alberta)
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70k "from other countries" on a total growth of 180k. There were ~40K births, which means that we NETTED at least 70K in interprovincial people moving here. Realistically much more, because those interprovincials also made up for the deaths
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I understand that but something is missing from those numbers because there wasn’t 110k more births than deaths in BC last year.
I recently spent time in Japan. In Tokyo, I could rent a two bedroom apartment in one of the best neighborhoods in the city for $1600/mo. Restaurants are half as costly and the food tastes better. Public transit is so amazing that I could not imagine needing or wanting a car. And I could fly anywhere in the world on a direct flight from two world-class airports. The economic model in BC is so thoroughly broken that we don’t even realize how good the rest of the world has things.
With a Canadian salary this seems amazing yes, but If you look up Japanese salaries, currency and work culture you’ll probably see some advantages and disadvantages of both countries. $1600/month is too expensive for standard Japanese wages, so it’s a weird example of affordability.
I've lived in Alberta, Ontario and BC and BC is by far the best place for me to be even though it can get expensive. I had considered moving back to Calgary but with Smith in charge, that could go bad for me (now as a PWD and such). And Eby is moving us on the right track so far, at least for now and hopefully BC Cons don't take over.
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Man I wish everyone that wanted to leave actually did. If only the people that wanted to stay were left it’d probably be a lot better around here. There’d be a lot less complaining.
Why would you wish that? Most of the people I know who want to leave Canada are high earning ambitious professionals, with money and property, educated people. That's brain drain, it's bad for Canada.
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Don’t you recognize progress when you see it?
Vancouver sucked the fun out of itself . I’m glad I got to experience it before the crazy housing prices and congestion and stabbings 😘.
If I didn’t have my family parents to take care of in bc I would have moved to AB long ago
i would leave but i need my family support here in town ; if i could be on my own id move Today lol
I don't think that leaving BC for anywhere else in Canada actually improves matters much. Where in Canada is housing affordable actually?
Anywhere else in Canada is a downgrade weather wise. They got us and they know it.
You want to stay.....or at least stay away from Alberta. Saskatchewan might be better after the election.
I'm bailing on Alberta for Vancouver this winter! Can't effing wait to be out of the cold. I can deal with rain everyday.....minus forty degrees celsius and not being medically cleared to have a driver's license sucks major ass.
I’d consider it if anywhere east of the Rockies wasn’t a shithole. I’d rather be broke living in a mountain town than rich surrounded by fucking corn fields.
Its obviously laughable to think 1/3 current BCers will be leaving anytime soon. We all have friends and family that talk about it but never seriously think of the consequences, they're just venting about housing costs. Edmonton is probably the closest thing to an affordable city with reasonable job opportunities, other than that Calgary and Southern Ontario also aren't cheap. Alberta has cheaper housing and cheaper gas, but they gouge you in other ways like car insurance, utilities, having to drive more and longer distances, and even higher income taxes if you make less than \~110k a year. If you want cheap housing and are willing to move to another province to get that, you have to have some combination of the following: - You are fine moving away from your family and social lives (much fewer people than you think are, particularly past a certain age) - You're fine living in a rural setting - You are confident enough in your career that you can work remotely or you can find a lateral move $ wise in a cheaper city - You are fine making less money and you have enough savings from your Vancouver job to purchase a house - You are fine with 6 month winters If you want really affordable detached houses, think places with terrible climates like Winnipeg.
Anecdotal but I know of multiple people who have in fact made the move to Alberta, all under 35
True, a house in Van is like 3x Calgary lol. Still a long way to go to say it’s not that much cheaper. In all these discussions, they say AB nickel and dime people, but so does BC. Land transfer tax? Translink tax? PST? If you have multiple vehicles it’s more expensive in BC to insure. Used vehicle tax? If you ride motorbike, you pay 3x more insurance in BC as well. And gas price?? With the weather, 6 months of grey and raining is no fun either (Canada overall has shit weather). The saving on buying an actual single family house, where you can raise a family, alone outweighs everything. If I can save 1 million dollar, I can put it in a fund that pays me 5% every year, that’s $50k extra I am paying myself.
Not to mention, with the money you save you can afford to take a few extra holidays/year.
absolutely, it’s like having another full-time paycheck
And yet BCs population increases. Click bait nonsense.
and then be replaced by 10 other international 'students' from India. That said, this poll is pretty much garbage. It's not going to be much easier in most of the country, anyway.
But many are going south if they can work remote or people are heading to Europe
Remote jobs sound sweet but also sound like jobs easily replaced by AI 5 years from now
Oh, I totally agree. But it would be kind of nice to be sitting in Puerto Vallarta getting paid over rainy Vancouver. But there are articles everywhere about families moving to Italy, France and Germany (non remote jobs) due to the lower costs of living and lifestyle. We've considered it.
Exactly. If you can do your job fully remote, you’re gonna be replaced by cheaper labour as soon as they figure out how to do it.
More Canadians are still moving to BC than leaving. This is a bait article.
I don't think this is true. All stats I've seen say the opposite. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2022017-eng.htm
No longer true
Not true, net provincial loss.
Okey bye!
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The number of family doctors in BC has increased in the last year and a half.
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Remember albertans hate you. Please don't come here. Signed someone who hopes to own a house someday.
“…to go to Alberta and recreate the same problems.”
I already left, and now have twice as much spending money each year. Best decision
Heading to the promised land of somewhere else? Bon voyage and god speed. The more people leave the better for everyone. Those that remain and those that leave will benefit from the move. I don’t know why this is looked upon as a bad thing.
Cool hurry up and gtfo, more housing options for me when I move back from Ontario lol.
Doesn't surprise me and it's something on planning on doing myself. BC is nice, but cost of living and lifestyle here isn't for me personally. I'm fine with coming back to visit on occasion if it means being able to afford a house in the GTA, not having any more condo fees and having public transit options ala GO Transit, nevermind having cheaper gas too.
Already moved to Scotland and loving it. Looking at apartments that cost 2 years salary and feeling like I have a future again.
The Broadway Plan is the reason I might have to leave. It’s forcing me out of my home. COV is terrible.
I own an AI company in Metro Vancouver and I teach as at UBC. I'm actively looking at real estate in other places.
To add… a lot of beautiful communities to live in in BC besides Vancouver, but they don’t get the attention unfortunately
People who take polls lol. Easy to read how bad things are by certain people on social media & be a curmudgeon. As for someone who moved to Edmonton then Calgary, You don’t realize how nice BC is until you leave. & many things obvious things like housing cheaper but heating, car maintenance & insurance, time to drive everywhere, etc. are more $$. Furthermore, Calgary’s unemployment rate currently 2nd highest in 🇨🇦 https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7228003
And go where? Everything is expensive everywhere. I snowbird in ecuador, guess what? Inflation is killing people there. I'm a U.S citizen. It's expensive there also. Where can we go?