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Hi,
Vancouver is far too expensive for a low-medium earner (let's say $11-18 per hour). Rents are $700+ for a lousy apartment in Marpole (for example). Add $400 for the cheapest car possible with insurance and gas. You are at $1100 and have not eaten anything, yet. No TV, no phone, no dentist, no vacation, etc.
The quality of live here is bad unless you come from overseas (Asia) with money.
Canada has to wake up (which they won't) and give their citizens a decent quality of live. They have to supplement the people that work full time and still struggle.
People that say that Vancouver is OK are all making more than $50,000 a year (or have their house/apartment paid for), believe me.
Hi,
Vancouver is far too expensive for a low-medium earner (let's say $11-18 per hour). Rents are $700+ for a lousy apartment in Marpole (for example). Add $400 for the cheapest car possible with insurance and gas. You are at $1100 and have not eaten anything, yet. No TV, no phone, no dentist, no vacation, etc.
The quality of live here is bad unless you come from overseas (Asia) with money.
Canada has to wake up (which they won't) and give their citizens a decent quality of live. They have to supplement the people that work full time and still struggle.
People that say that Vancouver is OK are all making more than $50,000 a year (or have their house/apartment paid for), believe me.
You're from Germany, correct?
Let me ask you a question: How is life in Munich, Hamburg and other desirable German cities? How much do you guys pay there for your health insurance and so on?
You're 19 years in Vancouver? Maybe, it's time to go back to Germany?
According to the Numbeo cost of living comparison, Vancouver is much more expensive than Portland in all categories. Numbeo is very accurate and up to date.
Consumer Prices in Vancouver are 26.89% higher than in Portland, OR
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Vancouver are 22.52% higher than in Portland, OR
Rent Prices in Vancouver are 14.88% higher than in Portland, OR
Restaurant Prices in Vancouver are 17.54% higher than in Portland, OR
Groceries Prices in Vancouver are 42.55% higher than in Portland, OR
Local Purchasing Power in Vancouver is 16.18% lower than in Portland, OR
Local purchasing power is what is important as that is a measure of what one can buy based on cost of living vs income. A person living in Portland can purchase 16.18% more goods than a person in Vancouver.
What is not being mentioned here, is Portland does not have a sales tax. Add a sales tax and everything will cost more. Washington does not have personal income tax. Rents, cost of living has far exceeded income.
Cost of living in Vancouver is very close to major cities in Europe. Here in California we have high sales tax, income tax and high rents. Real Estate prices are out of sight. The high price of home and property taxes keep the average worker unable to buy, so they must rent.
What is not being mentioned here, is Portland does not have a sales tax. Add a sales tax and everything will cost more. Washington does not have personal income tax. Rents, cost of living has far exceeded income.
Cost of living in Vancouver is very close to major cities in Europe. Here in California we have high sales tax, income tax and high rents. Real Estate prices are out of sight. The high price of home and property taxes keep the average worker unable to buy, so they must rent.
Which European cities? I haven't dug into this too deep, but just on the service France for example has a
VAT of 19.6 percent, with some exceptions at 5.5 percent and a whopping 33 percent on watches and other items ( I'm guessing mostly luxury items? )
Whereas in Vancouver we have a GST of 5 percent on some items, and a provincial sales tax of 7 percent on some items, with many items having both, so 12 percent.
From my experiences in Europe, the cost of food, especially restaurants, is more expensive in Europe as are services such as electricity, gasoline, water etc. Water is included in my property taxes and is not monitored.
As a side note, my friends from France, ( Lyon ) and friends from Amsterdam, when visiting Vancouver always comment on how cheap it is from a tourists standpoint. Clothing and restaurants etc.
I looked at a few with comparable size as Vancouver - metro population 2-2.5 million
Turin, Italy
You would need around 5,506.97C$ (3,914.02€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,000.00€ in Turin (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Vienna, Austria
You would need around 5,496.48C$ (3,906.57€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,100.00€ in Vienna (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index
Lyon, France
You would need around 5,568.46C$ (3,957.73€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,500.00€ in Lyon (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Valencia, Spain
You would need around 5,522.75C$ (3,925.24€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 2,400.00€ in Valencia (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Manchester, UK
You would need around 5,508.13C$ (3,092.69£) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 2,800.00£ in Manchester (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Stuttgart, Germany
You would need around 5,528.40C$ (3,929.25€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,200.00€ in Stuttgart (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
You would need around 5,616.78C$ (3,992.07€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,300.00€ in Rotterdam (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
So if one rents, Vancouver is 64% more expensive than Valencia, 30% more expensive than Turin, 26% more than Vienna, 23% more than Stuttgart, 13% more than Lyon, 12% more than Rotterdam and 10% more so than Manchester.
How does renting compare to cost of buying in Europe?
In the US rents are much higher relative to the cost of buying. For example in San Diego. rents are a little higher than Vancouver but the cost of buying a home or condo is much cheaper in San Diego. San Diego is considered a very expensive city for real estate. Below is what I am talking about.
Rent Per Month
San Diego Vancouver
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre $ 1,435.71 $ 1,262.43 $ -12.07 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre $ 1,100.83 $ 886.22 $ -19.50 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre $ 2,733.33 $ 2,685.33 $ -1.76% Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre $ 2,149.58 $ 1,759.90 $ -18.13%
Buy Apartment Price
San Diego Vancouver
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre 2,745.69 $6,626.62 $ +141.35 %
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 1,641.11 $4,454.39 $ +171.43 %
It is little difficult to read but I think you can see what I mean.
This is true of just about all US cities.
Last edited by JohnSoCal; 12-08-2014 at 08:05 PM..
Which European cities? I haven't dug into this too deep, but just on the service France for example has a
VAT of 19.6 percent, with some exceptions at 5.5 percent and a whopping 33 percent on watches and other items ( I'm guessing mostly luxury items? )
Whereas in Vancouver we have a GST of 5 percent on some items, and a provincial sales tax of 7 percent on some items, with many items having both, so 12 percent.
From my experiences in Europe, the cost of food, especially restaurants, is more expensive in Europe as are services such as electricity, gasoline, water etc. Water is included in my property taxes and is not monitored.
As a side note, my friends from France, ( Lyon ) and friends from Amsterdam, when visiting Vancouver always comment on how cheap it is from a tourists standpoint. Clothing and restaurants etc.
I like Vancouver a lot, but there is no way cost of living in Vancouver is lower than in most European countries.
I looked at a few with comparable size as Vancouver - metro population 2-2.5 million
Turin, Italy
You would need around 5,506.97C$ (3,914.02€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,000.00€ in Turin (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Vienna, Austria
You would need around 5,496.48C$ (3,906.57€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,100.00€ in Vienna (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index
Lyon, France
You would need around 5,568.46C$ (3,957.73€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,500.00€ in Lyon (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Valencia, Spain
You would need around 5,522.75C$ (3,925.24€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 2,400.00€ in Valencia (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Manchester, UK
You would need around 5,508.13C$ (3,092.69£) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 2,800.00£ in Manchester (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Stuttgart, Germany
You would need around 5,528.40C$ (3,929.25€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,200.00€ in Stuttgart (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
You would need around 5,616.78C$ (3,992.07€) in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 3,300.00€ in Rotterdam (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
So if one rents, Vancouver is 64% more expensive than Valencia, 30% more expensive than Turin, 26% more than Vienna, 23% more than Stuttgart, 13% more than Lyon, 12% more than Rotterdam and 10% more so than Manchester.
I don't like using CPI since it includes many items in it's " basket " that not everyone uses. It's too broad. It's purpose originally was to measure inflation.
It also does NOT include income tax. Just doing a quick look at income tax ( I know it can be very complicated, but I'm looking at the basics ) Canada is much cheaper it seems.
It looks like income taxes are much less in Canada compared to the U.S. We get taxed all to way to 39.6%
This does not include State Income Tax, that can add another 10 to 15%.
2014 Tax Rates & Tax Brackets
The IRS released the final 2014 tax brackets. Here are the federal 2014 tax tables:
Tax Rate Single Married Filing Joint Married Filing Separate Head of Household 10% Up to $9,075 Up to $18,150 Up to $9,075 Up to $12,950 15% $9,076 – $36,900 $18,151 – $73,800 $9,076 – $36,900 $12,951 – $49,400 25% $36,901 – $89,350 $73,801 – $148,850 $36,901 – $74,425 $49,401 – $127,550 28% $89,351 – $186,350 $148,851 – $226,850 $74,426 – $113,425 $127,551 – $206,600 33% $186,351 – $405,100 $226,851 – $405,100 $113,426 – $202,550 $206,601 – $405,100 35% $405,101 – $406,750 $405,101 – $457,600 $202,551 – $228,800 $405,101 – $432,200 39.6% Over $406,750 Over $457,600 Over $228,800 Over $432,200
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