Is Vancouver more expensive (except for housing) ? (car insurance, buying)

[wjlz]

Hi,

I know the housing in Vancouver is more expensive than other Canadian cities. But, what about cost of living (except for housing)? Grocery? Electricity? Natural gas (heating and hot water)? Transportation?

Thanks.

[kkgg7]

Should not be much different. Transportation is cheaper than Toronto or Montreal as Vancouver is considerably smaller.

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by kkgg7

Should not be much different. Transportation is cheaper than Toronto or Montreal as Vancouver is considerably smaller.

I highly doubt transportation is cheaper in Vancouver, and even if it is, I doubt it's because it's a "smaller" city - it still services a large geographical area sprawling out of Vancouver into the Fraser Valley.

Currently to ride the bus (or skytrain or seabus) it costs...

$2.50 for a one zone fare.
$3.75 for a two zone fare.
$5 for a three zone fare.

Paying that much will give you 90 minutes on the public transit system. After 90 minutes, you'll have to pay that again.

A one zone fare monthly transit pass will cost you about $100 for unlimited access on public transit.

Also, if you have your own car, car insurance is pretty expensive because you have to go through ICBC (typically looking at $1500-2000 per year, give or take) and gas is the most expensive in the entire country because of the crazy fuel taxes added on.

Groceries? It depends on where you shop. Some things can be cheaper, some more expensive - it completely depends on your lifestyle, where you shop, what you're buying. It's more expensive downtown but a heck of a lot cheaper in the suburbs.

[kkgg7]

thanks. I somehow thought the montly pass of Vancouver is cheaper. $100 for a city the size of tiny Vancouver... that's crazy.

Originally Posted by Robynator

I highly doubt transportation is cheaper in Vancouver, and even if it is, I doubt it's because it's a "smaller" city - it still services a large geographical area sprawling out of Vancouver into the Fraser Valley.

Currently to ride the bus (or skytrain or seabus) it costs...

$2.50 for a one zone fare.
$3.75 for a two zone fare.
$5 for a three zone fare.

Paying that much will give you 90 minutes on the public transit system. After 90 minutes, you'll have to pay that again.

A one zone fare monthly transit pass will cost you about $100 for unlimited access on public transit.

Also, if you have your own car, car insurance is pretty expensive because you have to go through ICBC (typically looking at $1500-2000 per year, give or take) and gas is the most expensive in the entire country because of the crazy fuel taxes added on.

Groceries? It depends on where you shop. Some things can be cheaper, some more expensive - it completely depends on your lifestyle, where you shop, what you're buying. It's more expensive downtown but a heck of a lot cheaper in the suburbs.

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by kkgg7

thanks. I somehow thought the montly pass of Vancouver is cheaper. $100 for a city the size of tiny Vancouver... that's crazy.

My apologies - they are cheaper.

It's $73 for one-zone (if you only plan to travel in Vancouver proper and not to neighbouring Burnaby or North Van or Richmond, for example).

It's $99 for two-zone (allows you to travel from Vancouver to Richmond, or from Richmond to Delta, or from Vancouver to North Van, or from Vancouver to Burnaby, etc.)

It's $136 for three-zone (allows you to travel anywhere).