Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Vancouver

Downtown

Although Vancouver is representative of typical big cities, with its skyscrapers and boulevards, the city centre itself is not particularly large. In fact, it won’t take you more than 30 minutes to get from one end to the other. Shopping at Pacific Centre or Robson Street; having drinks or dinner on Granville Street; lingering on the Canada Place promenade… this is how you will spend your free time in Vancouver!

Two small neighbourhoods that are part of the downtown area, Yaletown and Gastown, are also a pleasant area to stroll through at any time of day or night.

Chinatown, in the far southeast of Downtown, is Canada’s largest Chinatown. This is not surprising, given the large population of Asian origin that lives in Vancouver (although many now live in Richmond). In Chinatown, you will find Asian restaurants, grocery stores and low-cost souvenir shops.

The downtown business district is made up of Davie St, Denman St, Georgia St and Granville St. The majority of major businesses, restaurants and bars are concentrated there. Rent in this area will set you back at least CA$1,600 (for a one-bedroom apartment) or CA$1,000 for a shared room.

The further north you go (the closer you get to the West End) and the more you border Stanley Park, the more natural the area becomes and, therefore, more expensive! Stanley Park is the city’s best-known and, arguably, most magnificent park.

Gastown

This is the historic district of Vancouver; the very first to have been founded! Today, it has a mix of old architecture (cobbled streets and brick buildings) and new. Although very touristy, Gastown remains a trendy area both for tourists and for Vancouverites.

Gastown is not just known for being the oldest district of the city. It’s also known for its renowned Steam clock. The steam clock was built in 1977 and chimes every quarter of an hour. It is one of the most famous monuments in the city. To learn more, visit the City of Gastown website.

Chinatown

Vancouver’s Chinatown is home to many Asian grocery stores and restaurants, as well as several buildings featuring Asian architecture, like the Sam Kee building, the narrowest commercial building in the world. There is also a botanical garden. In summer, one of the main attractions is the night market. To learn more, visit Vancouver Chinatown.

Yaletown

Once an industrial area, Yaletown is gradually being reborn and becoming one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city. Here, you can find plenty of parks, a big draw for people wanting to run, cycle or walk along the waterfront.

Downtown Eastside

The most famous street (and not necessarily for the better) in the Downtown Eastside is East Hastings. It is considered the most dangerous street in Canada, as the crime rate and instances of drug trafficking are high. It is not recommended to walk there alone at night.

West End

Located between Downtown and the famous Stanley Park, the West End is the ideal neighbourhood (if you can afford it!): residential, quiet, close to the beaches and facing the mountains. It is also famous for its gay district.

It is expensive to live in the West End since it is located only a few steps from Downtown. Davie Street, which leads to English Bay, is one of the main, bustling streets.

West Point Gray

It is one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Vancouver, with lots of villas. Jericho Beach and Jericho Park are popular with walkers in Vancouver. You can find a mix of independent businesses and shops in this area.

Kitsilano

Kitsilano is one of the most popular areas of the city, thanks to its high quality of life and its proximity to the sea. Kitsilano Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the city. It’s a young neighbourhood, mainly made up of West Broadway and 4th Avenue. The University of British Columbia (UBC) is nearby.

Rent is not as expensive here as it is in West Vancouver but it is still an expensive neighbourhood. The city centre is only 10 minutes away by public transport, which explains the high prices!

This neighbourhood is quiet, less built-up and more family friendly. Some good restaurants liven up the area, especially around 4th Avenue and Kits Beach.

The UBC neighbourhood

The UBC Area is the university district where the University of British Columbia (UBC) is located. Further from the city centre (allow 40 minutes by bus), the area is lively all year round, except in summer, when all the students have returned home. The UBC neighbourhood is popular because of its beautiful greenery and close proximity to beaches like Wreck Beach, a naturist beach. It is usually easier to find shared accommodation around this area.

East Vancouver

Strathcona

Strathcona, south of the Downtown Eastside, is an old neighbourhood that is home to a more cosmopolitan population. Close to the city centre, it doesn’t have the best reputation because of its proximity to the Downtown Eastside district.

Commercial Drive

Commercial Drive, also known as The Drive, is a busy street in East Vancouver (East Van, for short). It has a large student population and is home to Vancouver’s Little Italy, as well as many other diverse restaurants, brasseries and cafes.

Grandview Woodland

A popular and multicultural neighbourhood, Grandview Woodland is one of the best areas to live in Vancouver. There, you will find a multicultural and artistic community. Commercial Drive is the main thoroughfare of this neighbourhood. Epicureans or lovers of good coffee will enjoy the mix of small independent restaurants and coffee shops abound.

Mount Pleasant and Fairview

These two neighbourhoods sit alongside each other and offer a picturesque view of the city centre with the mountains in the background. They are still quite close to Downtown. The main street is West Broadway, a commercial street with a multitude of restaurants and stores.

North Vancouver

North Vancouver is located on the north shore of Vancouver, on the mountainside. You can reach the city centre in 15 minutes with the SeaBus. It is a quiet, residential area offering beautiful views of the city, numerous walking paths and the seaside near Deep Cove.

West Vancouver

West Vancouver, on the city’s north shore, is the wealthiest and most middle-class neighbourhood. And, obviously, the most expensive. Very family-friendly, you will find stunning villas and even manors in this area. This is a neighbourhood that you will probably only be able to visit as a tourist, unless you have plenty of money to spend on rent.

Neighbourhoods further south

Mostly residential and a little further from the city centre, neighbourhoods such as Dunbar, Arbutus Ridge or Shaughnessy are also a good option to live in. The downside is it will take you longer to get to the city centre. However, the Canada Line and many buses will take you to Downtown quite quickly.

Kerrisdale

Close to Granville Street and 41st, this is a neighbourhood not to be overlooked. Here, you will find small local shops, a welcoming atmosphere and relatively affordable rent, depending on your requirements.

The districts further east

Mostly accessible thanks to the SkyTrain, neighbourhoods like Kensington or Renfrew Collingwood are mostly residential and made up of houses.

Are there any neighbourhoods in Vancouver to avoid?

When looking for an apartment, East Vancouver is a neighbourhood that does not have the best reputation (particularly in the area around Hastings Street, where poverty and the proportion of homelessness is significant).

Some parts of East Vancouver, on the other hand, are notably welcoming, like Commercial Drive, which has been considered safe and full of “hipsters” for several years.

Vancouver’s suburbs

Housing in Vancouver is arguably the most expensive in all of Canada, so you might need to look at living outside of the city in one of Vancouver’s surrounding suburbs. For maximum mobility without a car, here is an overview of the suburbs that are served by the Skytrain network: Richmond, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Surrey.

Richmond

Richmond is directly south of Vancouver and is home to YVR airport. It is connected to Vancouver by the Canada Line. Richmond is home to a large East Asian population so if you like dim sum, stir fries, ramen, and dumplings, there’s truly no better place in all of Western Canada! It is largely a residential town and access to nature is average, but if your priority is to eat well, shop well, and have access to decent public transportation, Richmond could be your next home.

Burnaby

Burnaby is the first suburb east of Vancouver. Because of its proximity to Vancouver and its numerous luxury developments, Burnaby is the most expensive suburb. It’s especially popular among young professionals who commute to Vancouver for work. Home to Metropolis, Canada’s third-largest mall, downtown Burnaby is bustling with so much life, you might forget that it’s a suburb at all. Plus, Burnaby has some top notch parks. With all Burnaby has to offer, you’d be lucky to find housing for a reasonable price here.

Coquitlam

Coquitlam is the next eastern suburb after Burnaby. It covers a large area and has all sorts of diverse neighbourhoods, from Westwood Plateau in the mountains to Maillardville, the francophone cultural hub of Greater Vancouver. Though there’s little in the way of nightlife and few cultural points of interest, Coquitlam does have a substantial downtown filled with North American-style malls, shops and restaurants. A lot of families choose to settle here. If you’re looking to experience the local life of an average Canadian, Coquitlam is a cheaper alternative to Burnaby and Vancouver that’s worth consideration.

Port Moody

Port Moody is somewhat nestled within Coquitlam and is by far the smallest suburb on this list. With about 40,000 residents, compared to the other cities, Port Moody feels more like a seaside town. Because it wraps around the Port Moody Inlet, it has extensive access to waterfront views and promenades, as well as tons of forested terrain with plentiful hiking trails. It is home to a modest downtown with family-owned shops and restaurants, but the real draw of Port Moody is its excellent access to nature.

Surrey

Surrey is situated directly South of Coquitlam and Port Moody. It is a large municipality, and is home to a significant Indian community. It’s separated from the suburbs listed above by the Fraser River so for journeys by car, you’ll need to cross one of the bridges. Surrey covers an area that is even bigger than the city of Vancouver so it’s hard to generalize but, overall, it is relatively residential and spacious. Because of the separation by water, Surrey is a bit isolated from the other places. However, if you end up finding a good deal near a Skytrain station, you won’t notice the difference. According to locals, some areas see higher crime (that is, by Canadian standards). As with any other town, visit neighbourhoods in person to make sure you feel comfortable before committing to a lease.