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I was doing the comparisons and actually Portland, Oregon is just as expensive as Vancouver pretty much aside from real estate and groceries. Rent is about the same, eating out is about the same, and if you're poor Canada has lower taxes and comparable to better social supports.
I also think for what you get, access to the ocean, snowboarding, much better restaurants, more worldliness, Vancouver is a much better deal than Portland or Seattle. Again of course, unless you're buying real estate but if home ownership is not that important to you Vancouver is not that bad.
Well, you also have to take into account salaries, I guess.
For example, if average rents in Seattle and Vancouver are comparable, but salaries in Seattle are higher, than renting, eating out (and everything else) in Seattle automatically becomes more affordable, as you have more disposable income.
Well, you also have to take into account salaries, I guess.
For example, if average rents in Seattle and Vancouver are comparable, but salaries in Seattle are higher, than renting, eating out (and everything else) in Seattle automatically becomes more affordable, as you have more disposable income.
The average family in Vancouver makes $70K CAD compared to $40K USD in Portland. Not sure about Seattle.
It is expensive, but not like people make it up to be. People seem to expect to be able to own a huge mansion with a pool for an affordable price. If you only buy what you need (condo, townhouse, rent) it is just as affordable as any other city in North America.
If belmont22's stats are correct, families in Vancouver make 175% of that of a family in Portland. Vancouver's price is probably only 120%-140% of Portland's price.
In Detroit, you can buy a house for $1, in New York City, you can buy a condo for $1 million. This pattern happens in almost every place in the world. Better economy= higher real estate. So, that obviously says something about Vancouver's economy.
Figures for family median household (median household income is different than median family income and the latter tend to be higher) by US stats are higher for Portland and distributed by family size
For example in 2013 Median family income for a family of four was over 68K for Portland.
If belmont22's stats are correct, families in Vancouver make 175% of that of a family in Portland. Vancouver's price is probably only 120%-140% of Portland's price.
Have to be careful about reading things online - it is easy to find cheap rent in Vancouver, whether or not it is a complete dive is another story. A clean, safe apartment or basement suite without tons of petty crime is NOT cheap in Vancouver. One where you are housed with various people of dodgy background, petty theft, etc.... those are fairly affordable.
Housing is in such high demand that poor quality housing in Vancouver (illegal suites, poorly managed properties, nearly all properties are month-to-month with amateur landlords) are tolerated. I live in Montreal now, and you couldn't get away with that crap here.
I lucked out once with a clean, new basement suite in a large house in Burnaby for a great deal ($650 all included) but that was a rare experience, most aren't so lucky in that price range.
Vancouver is an expensive city but in no way is it the most expensive city in north america. Portland is a relatively cheap city btw, lastly metro vancouver and not just CoV is cheaper than portland.
You can rent 1 bedroom apartments in surrey for $700-$900 a month. It's not as bad here as the media portrays.
Canada doesn't have an economy period to be fair. Vancouver has no economy outside of real estate. But do me a favour and tell me what Companies known outside of canada that are from canada you can think of outside of RIM/Blackberry.
This country is a backwater. We are doomed to mediocrity.
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