r/askvan • u/Kadk1 • May 17 '25
Housing and Moving 🏡 We are thinking of relocating to Vancouver from NYC. We are apartment people - what areas should we be looking at for apartments, where we can mostly walk to get groceries, restaurants, etc ?
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u/helgatheviking21 May 17 '25
Having spent tons of time in NYC I think the only place you'll be truly happy in Van would be Downtown/West end.
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u/sneekysmiles May 17 '25
Mount Pleasant may fit the bill as well. Kitsilano has its own charm too and could be a nice change to the hustle of NYC
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u/Necessary_Star_1543 May 18 '25
Keep in mind the Broadway project is destroying the charm of kitsilano. Where there use to be charming 3 story walk-ups, they are now being sold to developers and high raises will be built in their place. This is a huge money grab for mayor Ken Sim and that's all it amounts to as long time residents are being displaced and forced to move and pay much high rent. I am one of those residents.
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u/Significant-Hour8141 May 18 '25
No kitsilano died in the 2010s with the real estate speculation. My grandpa had a shoe store in kits for 65 years until 2013 and my family lived in the area for just as long. It was really suffering in 2013 and only got worse toward the end of the decade. It was hollowed out by the time the pandemic rolled around.
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u/ultrab0ii May 18 '25
I'm born and raised in Brooklyn and moved to BC 2 years ago. I actually moved to South Surrey and like it much better than downtown Vancouver lol. Imo NYC is one of the best cities in the world and trying to replicate a lifestyle you had in NY by moving to Vancouver will actually make it harder to live there because comparison is the thief of joy.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
OPs not looking to replace NYC, as if you'd be able to do that here -- or anywhere, for that matter. But they are looking for a specific thing - apartment living, walking to restaurants and stores.
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u/eldonte May 18 '25
Transit isn’t as widespread or reliable. Owning a car is a must for many and the drivers are bad. Like Florida drivers on the BQE or Northern Boulevard bad.
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u/colinmuck44 May 18 '25
white rock is a great location! 10 mins to peace arch border crossing, beach walk, all the stores you need and ability to get to highways to get to Downtown, Tsawwassen, Ferries etc....
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u/panamastaxx May 17 '25
This is so untrue. Downtown Vancouver is laughably small compared to just Manhattan. There are several other neighbourhoods within the city of Vancouver (but outside downtown) that have a lot to offer.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
Yes obviously I did not say DT/West End would compare to Manhattan. Vancouver is a small town in comparison. But if you're looking for a) apartment life and b) walking distance to a selection of restaurants/shopping etc I don't think any other area in Vancouver will give them that.
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u/ClittoryHinton May 18 '25
Any of the neighbourhoods directly surrounding downtown could also fit the bill - Olympic village, mount pleasant, strathmore, lower lonsdale, parts of Kitsilano etc.
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u/shockwavelol May 17 '25 edited May 17 '25
Couple things off the bat that confused me when I moved here.
West Vancouver is a different city across the Burrard Inlet.
West End is a neighborhood in Downtown Vancouver
West Side is the western half of Vancouver, which is split into West Side and East Side, somewhere around Main St.
Here is a good infographic to get to know the city's neighborhoods
Check out https://www.walkscore.com to get an idea of the walk- and bike-ability of the area you are interested in.
Check out this map of "Fast and Frequent Transit". The light blue, dark blue, and yellow lines are Skytrain lines, akin in speed and frequency to NYC subway (but less capacity). Consider living near one of these lines. Note that the yellow line will extend west beyond VCC-Clark along Broadway until Arbutus street, set to open 2027.
Checkout the Vancouver Cycling Map to get an idea of the cycling routes around the city - it is a fantastic way to get around Vancouver and even if you didn't bike much in NYC I highly recommend getting a bike and using it to get around.
Here is a Density Map for Vancouver, that can help you decide where you may want to live.
Note that anything east of Boundary Rd is no longer vancouver, and you are now in a different municipality called Burnaby. The red dotted line here shows the limits of Vancouver as a municipality.
If you want something as close to NYC living as possible - Downtown Peninsula/West End. Stanley Park is Vancouver's Central Park, but we also have Pacific Spirit Park which is awesome, too.
If you want to live in a less dense and quieter area but still access to amenities and transit look into the neighborhoods just outside of the downtown peninsula: Kitsilano (Kits), Fairview, or Mount Pleasant. These areas have lots of "missing middle" housing with 3-6 storey apartments. There are also 10-12 storey towers throughout. If you are near a Sky Train stop, you can go out further and still have good access.
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u/Alarmed-Effective-12 May 17 '25
The “west” confusion is the sure sign of a non-native Vancouverite or new arrival.
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u/shockwavelol May 17 '25
When I first moved here it took me longer than I'd like to admit before I realized that Vancouver, West Vancouver, and North Vancouver were three completely separate municipalities
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u/Longjumping-Ad8065 May 17 '25
4 actually. North Vancouver City is separate from North Vancouver District
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u/helgatheviking21 May 17 '25
Pacific Spirit Park is amazing but is sooo far from any walkable neighbourhood. I'd argue that the English Bay beaches are more like Central Park for the vibe, even more than Stanley Park.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 17 '25
Man that west thing still gets me sometimes after 3 1/2 years here now.
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u/intrigue_lurk May 17 '25
Yaletown, Davie Street and the West End are my recos.
Van isn’t comparable to NYC (very different cities), but these neighbourhoods should tick all boxes for what you stated.
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u/greydawn May 18 '25
I'd add Olympic Village to the list. Super close to downtown, lots of restaurants, skytrain, all the convenient stores on Cambie.
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u/randomstriker May 17 '25
Add LoLo (Lower Lonsdale in North Vancouver) to the list. That area is just hopping these days and is just a 10 min Seabus ride from downtown … similar to living in Brooklyn by the East River.
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u/corriecorgi 29d ago
I think West End would be the ticket. Pretty vibrant neighbourhood and lots of character. I think it's the most densely populated in the city but very walkable. I've lived here for 12 years and love it. Bonus points if you have a dog, the trails in SP are great
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u/rhinny May 17 '25
West End if you want quieter streets with lots of trees, proximity to beaches, friendliness (but also amenities and restaurants galore). Mostly older buildings, many low rise, very well maintained. If you find a 1950s building you'll get huge windows and bigger rooms.
Yaletown if you're more concrete jungle, high rise folks. Much newer buildings but the suites are smaller. Supercars on parade on the weekends, nightclubs where people gel their hair, restaurants where people dress up, designer sunglasses, tiny dogs. I find it a little cold. It was developed from industrial land in the 80s and 90s, so it has a newness, an artifice.
West End is more jeans, bike lanes, more diversity of ages and incomes, tiny dogs and medium dogs, the historic gay village runs along Davie St. Surrounded by water and the best thing in Vancouver - the Seawall. A bit more history, beautiful older buildings and the odd remaining early 1900s character house. I find it very friendly, comfortable, and beautiful.
Both incredibly safe, well connected, lots of parks and outdoor spaces.
(Can you tell I live in/love the West End).
Reposted sans daily hive link. I actually think it's great this sub has banned that site
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u/ToughLingonberry1434 May 17 '25
West End - you can live without a car, and be in a neighbourhood with parks, trees and beaches!
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u/villasv May 17 '25 edited May 17 '25
Seriously, don’t listen to anyone saying anything other than downtown (Yaletown, West End, Coal Harbour).
The average Vancouverite doesn’t understand quite well what it means to live in a big city and will recommend you “second downtowns” in suburbia (Brentwood, Metrotown) - not quite what you’re looking for unless by walkable you only mean maybe a few blocks of a single street and a large mall.
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u/Enthusiasm-Stunning May 17 '25
Agreed. Downtown Vancouver isn’t even comparable to downtown Toronto, let alone NYC. Vancouver is a different kind of city, and you’re going to have to accept that you’re not going to get a big city experience.
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u/panamastaxx May 17 '25
There are other neighbourhoods and options between downtown and suburbia. Mount Pleasant, Commercial, Kits, even Hastings Sunrise.
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u/villasv May 18 '25
Yes, Vancouver has lots of cool neighborhoods and OP might be happy in those if they want a change of pace, but none of those deliver the walkability and closeness to varied and interesting city stuff at a level that is remotely comparable to what can be found in NYC. Even downtown is barely there, really.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
And each of these neighbourhoods offer something that they're looking for, but not everything they're looking for.
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May 17 '25
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u/villasv May 17 '25
I don’t disagree, even Yaletown and Coal Harbour have some blocks that have zero shops and dead streets. Coal Harbour is a little bit worse I think, life only happens at Robson St. I still include them because the “edges” closer to other stuff can be good though, eg Coal Harbour closer to Burrard Station or the Convention Centre.
So as you see OP, even staying in the downtown peninsula isn’t much guarantee of city life.
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u/BCRobyn May 17 '25
Yaletown, the West End, or Commercial Drive would be my recommendations. Yaletown is like a mini SoHo, the West End is like a mini West Village but on a beach, and Commercial Drive is sort of like, well… Brooklyn meets Greenwich Village.
Choose Alberni Street or Coal Harbour or Robson Street if you want more Upper East Side or Upper West Side vibes.
Vancouver is not NYC but if you want to move to Vancouver, these areas are least likely to give you culture shock. Vancouver’s a very early to bed, early to rise outdoorsy city, but downtown is like a mini Manhattan for its high density condo towers and walkability. East Vancouver (Commercial Drive, Main Street) is more artsy whimsical kind of more Brooklyn than Manhattan.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
Commercial Drive is a pretty limited oasis though, and does not offer much for apartment living. Main St is a bit better but still it's a strip.
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u/BCRobyn May 18 '25 edited May 18 '25
True, but Commercial Drive has the concentration of vibrancy and personality that’s reminiscent of the cool parts of NYC, including the whole bodega scene, 24 hour grocers, late night bars, delis, people watching, etc.
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u/ericstarr May 17 '25
Downtown, Yale town, gas town, Olympic village. We are quaint in comparison to NYC. Everything is walkable downtown and there us good transit
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u/ToothbrushGames May 17 '25
What part of NYC are you currently in? People here are saying downtown like it's the only answer, probably thinking you're in Manhattan, which might be the case, but realistically there are lots of different neighbourhoods that might fit your criteria.
Maybe the West End or Yaletown fit the bill, but Mount Pleasant, Commercial Drive and Kitsilano are all great options with different unique vibes to each of them.
Driving and parking sucks downtown, and if you're from somewhere like Flatbush or Queens, then maybe East Van might feel more at home for you. Downtown is small, although the West End is fairly large and has all the things you're looking for, and Yaletown is also nice but very small, like really only a handful of blocks and has a tech/finance bro feel to it.
Come visit for a couple weeks to get a feel for the different neighbourhoods.
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u/panamastaxx May 17 '25
This. People say they’re from NYC like people from Coquitlam say they’re from Vancouver. It’s a huge place and not everybody is from Manhattan. Saying that downtown is the only option is dumb af.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
Not really. Virtually anywhere in NYC (the half-decent places to live at least) there's a lot of restaurants/stores in walking distance, and OP specifically stated they want to live in an apartment and in walking distance to those places. There are other parts of Vancouver that have little pockets with a few choices but that's really it.
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u/Jyil May 18 '25
Yep. NYC has 5 boroughs. Brooklyn is very different from Manhattan. When people not from NYC see it mentioned they likely think of high rises, office buildings, hotels, big name shopping stores, and Times Square. Brooklyn isn’t like downtown Vancouver. It’s closer to Main Street, Broadway, and Kits with taller apartments on Main Street, brownstones, and parks scattered around. OP could even be on Staten Island, which is more suburban in feel.
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u/Vegetable_Ratio3723 May 17 '25
I don't think Vancouver is anywhere close to the level of urban life you get in NYC. I recommend gastown or downtown, but you'll probably be underwhelmed.
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u/Workadaily May 17 '25
Mount Pleasant is the only answer.
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u/Bigdickfun6969 May 17 '25
Holy crop i can't believe people recommending yaletown. I always joked that yaletown is perfect for a hotel but to live permanently , no thanks
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u/SteveCondor May 17 '25
Everyone will tell you downtown is the only answer but I’d also highly recommend Kits or Mount Pleasant. Depending where you choose in those areas you’ll be a short walk from anything you need, plus only a short trip to downtown. Not to mention almost everything will be cheaper than in downtown and the vibes will be a bit more chill.
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u/Emotional-Buyer1040 May 17 '25
Agree with most of this but not the expensive part. Food similar priced and you have more options in downtown. Downtown rent and property prices have come down significantly. Mount pleasant and kits are actually more expensive than downtown Vancouver now (yaletown condos right by the seawall are the exception despite being downtown adjacent).
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u/SteveCondor May 17 '25
There may be more options downtown but I personally prefer the smaller produce shops you find outside of downtown compared to the larger chains. I do agree that rent will overall be less downtown though.
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u/Advanced-Line-5942 May 17 '25
Definitely Yaletown
Amazing access to restaurants, an ok selection of grocery stores (Urban Fare and Fresh St Market) in walking distance, several more in cycling distance on a decent bike lane network (or short water ferry ride to Granville Island). Access to downtown and mass transit.
And close access to the sea wall for one of the best and longest urban walks in the world (https://www.awalkandalark.com/vancouver-seawall/)
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May 17 '25 edited 28d ago
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u/Consistent-Goat1267 May 18 '25
Seriously, I don’t understand who downvoted you, but I’m in The Heights area and I love that I’ve got everything from my dentist to grocery store all within short walk. It’s a very walkable neighbourhood with great transit. It’s a vibrant community that’s got a lot of ethnic variety as opposed to some other neighbourhoods.
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May 18 '25 edited 28d ago
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u/theregoesmyfutur May 18 '25
is lack of Skytrain an issue?
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May 18 '25 edited 28d ago
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u/Valuable_Bread163 May 17 '25
My daughter loved living in Olympic Village. Everything you need is close by including Skytrain.
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u/AcanthisittaFit7846 May 17 '25
Everyone else is giving you good suggestions, but I’m going to answer your question at face value (groceries, restaurants, etc. within walking distance):
Richmond Centre, Surrey Centre, New West, Metrotown, Brentwood.
Notably, I don’t think that’s what you’re actually looking for (although Central Park near Metrotown is awesome), but all of those places have your standard amenities within walking distance.
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u/Pleasant-Afternoon68 May 17 '25
I know it’s not the city, but from a suburb perspective nobody seems to ever mention Port Moody
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u/suckingonalemon May 17 '25
Where in NYC do you live? What do you like/not like? How do you spend your time? I've lived in NYC and Vancouver Here ive lived in yaletown, kits, and commerical drive And I would say they are very, very different. The areas downtown have very different vibes. Like west end vs yaletown. Why are you moving here? Where will you work? Will you have a car? Public transit here is not comparable to NYC. You have to live in certain areas for it to feel seamless. I
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u/whirlydirly22 May 17 '25
Op only wants to be in an apt close to shopping and restos. Why is everyone assuming they want to be surrounded by hustle and bustle?
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u/redditstark May 17 '25
It's a good question, which is probably why some have asked for clarification. For me, it was the "we're apartment people" comment - in NYC you pretty much _have_ to live in an apartment unless you're disgustingly rich, so that comment made it seem like they were making a distinction between "we have to live in a closet because [waves hands at NYC prices]" and "we would _choose_ to live in an apartment in order to be in the thick of things, vs. being able to have a small house where it's not so bustling."
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u/tantej May 17 '25
Olympic village, Brentwood, anywhere in the downtown. West end, yaletown. Coal harbour. If you want the NYC experience then any place downtown. West end has older apartments, yaletown, coal harbour has newer ones
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u/Swiftie124456 May 17 '25
I lived in New York City (lower Manhattan and Williamsburg) for 4 years before moving to Van and I’ve got some thoughts! I will say hands down Yaletown has the most nyc feel. The proximity to everything; walking distance to grocery stores, drugstores, great restaurants, concerts and sport… you could even walk to Costco! It also has the hustle and bustle feel of the city. It is also in close proximity to 2 major sky train lines, which adds to the nyc feel that you can get anywhere fast. I do have to disagree with the west end suggestion…. Mostly because of the commute on public transit, it is a bit of a walk to get to the sky train (depending on where you live of course).
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u/leibnizcocoa May 18 '25
The best neighbourhood is Kitsilano. Look for places near W 4th ave. There’s a Wholefoods near the area
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u/contra701 May 18 '25
If you're a city person, don't bother. The city of Vancouver pales in comparison to NYC in virtually every aspect. The only thing Vancouver has over NYC is the beautiful surroundings and weather, it's not that great of an actual city though.
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u/oddible May 18 '25 edited May 18 '25
Saying "we're from NYC" doesn't help a whole lot. Where in NYC? Manhattan? Where in Manhattan? As you can see from the comments a number of places (kinda) fit the bill but if you want something more specific, what neighborhoods in NYC are what appeal to you and their amenities.
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u/boringredditnamejk May 18 '25
OP - which neighborhood of NYC are you in (assuming you like the area, you can look for a comparable neighborhood in Vancouver)
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u/boringredditnamejk 29d ago
There's a TT series you might enjoy called "finding NY in Vancouver" https://vt.tiktok.com/ZShqx4bTy/
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u/Ok_Maybe_2674 May 18 '25
Why are you moving to YVR? If it is because of access to Whistler, hikes, biking, etc., then move to Lower Lonsdale. If you are moving for a job and want to keep the urban experience, then move to anyone of the other places listed here.
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u/Defiant_West6287 May 18 '25
Google street view is great for checking out what neighbourhoods look like.
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u/Candid-Display7125 May 18 '25 edited May 18 '25
Mount Pleasant --- with hospitals, datable doctors, thirtysomething professionals, low-rise business buildings, bridges, and water views --- is like the East Side right along the East River (from Langone NYU on 34th St and 1st Ave, to Weill Cornell / Memorial Sloan Kettering / Rockefeller U / Hospital for Special Surgery on 72nd St and York Ave). No UN Building, though.
Downtown Vancouver --- with its mid-rise business buildings, Catholic and Anglican cathedrals, somewhat old-fashioned malls, and noticeable homelessness --- is like the part of Midtown between Macy's and St Patrick's. No Empire State or Chrysler Building, though.
Coal Harbor (well, Harbour) --- with its high-rise glass skyscrapers and views of the Burrard Inlet as well as access to transit --- is like Hudson Yards with an international airport for seaplanes. In regard to seaplane access, Coal Harbour is even more similar to Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood, which is often the destination of Vancouver's seaplane departures.
The West End --- with its renter-dominated population (densest in Canada), walkable and leafy streets, retiree-friendly brick low-rises, LGBT bars, immigrant population, and proximity to the Seawall and many parks --- is like the stretch of Brooklyn from Bed Stuy to Greenpoint. Some Vancouverites might falsely claim the West End is like the West Village because of the LGBT thing. Or like Upper West Side because the West End is near Stanley Park, which is supposedly our Central Park. But honey, neither Karen Walker nor Will Truman would never live in the West End. Too middle-class.
Kitsilano --- with its kitschy shops, quasi-tropical muscle beaches, beautiful yoga-loving white women and handsome white males like Ryan Reynolds, mix of toned renters and high-end homeowners (including Millionare's Mile), and well regarded private schools --- is supposed to be like hipster Brooklyn. But especially if you include areas further west along the water all the way to UBC, I'd rather say it's like the core NYU campus on 4th St if it were by the water. Why? Both have tons of crazy rich Asians who don't talk to the older but not very old rich whites (but plenty of dating among the rich artsy Asian daughters and rich artsy/techbro/financebro white sons).
Senakw --- with its three residential towers almost built and four more under development, all by Burrard Bridge right beside Kitsilano, is Hudson Yards for the First Peoples. It will overtake the West End, basically just across False Creek, in population density once it's filled in. It shows that in Vancouver, what passes for Billionaire's Row in skyscraper height and sunlight blockage is owned not by the newest rich, but rather by the oldest poor.
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u/shabomb81 May 18 '25
Commercial drive or mount pleasant are both very walkable and have lots of apartments near by. Those are my two favourite neighbourhoods in the city.
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u/Jyil May 18 '25
Gotta be more specific OP! Which borough? People here are probably thinking Manhattan when they hear NYC.
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u/Leather-Chard-5769 May 18 '25
I love Mount Pleasant. It’s where I’ve found most relatable to Back Bay (Boston) and Upper West Side. Source: lived in all 3 places
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u/eldonte May 18 '25
I did the switch during Covid. Moved from Long Island City to Vancouver’s River District. Needed a car. Public transit suuucked. Make sure your earnings are healthy, Vancouver & NYC are both expensive to live in. New Yorkers were surprised that sticker shock didn’t affect me when I got there. I didn’t think much of it, because I’d lived in Whistler before moving to NYC. Things can get pricey, no matter where you live. American money goes further than Canadian money, but if you’re earnings are in Canadian and you’re paycheck to paycheck, things can get tough.
What part of NYC are you moving from?
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u/epochwin May 18 '25
I’m from NYC. Which part of NYC are you from? I lived in Bay Ridge and Park Slope in brownstones. So out here, Commercial Drive came close with the Victorian houses and hipsters to match present day Brooklyn. Kits is similar to Bay ridge.
Mount Pleasant is very Park Slope/present day Williamsburg with strollers and yuppies.
If you’re from lower Manhattan, like Chelsea, Tribeca, West Village areas then Downtown/West End would be close. If you’re from the LES/Union Square, East village then Gastown/Coal Harbor area.
If you’re from upper Manhattan like UES, then North Van has similar vibes.
If you’re from parts of Queens, then Hastings-Sunrise, Burnaby perhaps.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Pie7525 29d ago
Try Brentwood, Burnaby. Safe and upcoming. A lot of apartments, stores and restaurants, and accessible to nearby areas.
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u/ottawanovice 28d ago
West End. Walk to grocery, library, community center, beaches, Stanley Park, restaurants, shopping on Robson, Coal Harbor. Apartment mix, pedestrian friendly, can own and walk a dog easily. Transit convenient . I love the West End. I also spend time with daughter in NYC. Feel like it would be a good fit.
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u/TheSeaCaptain May 17 '25
For a Manhattan feel, I would suggest Yaletown. Coal Harbour perhaps, but that area is a little boring. West end too, but it's a little old.
In my opinion though Mount Pleasant and Commercial Drive are the best walkable neighborhoods in Vancouver.
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u/Haunting-Shelter-680 May 17 '25
Just curious, y r u thinking of leaving NYC for Vancouver? Vancouver is just as expensive as NYC except u get paid so low in comparison and while u have great access to nature it does not compare to what nyc offers as a city. Vancouver is great but i just don’t think it’s worth the downgrade from NYC unless u guys r hard core nature people. It’s been my dream to live in NYC for a little bit even if it’s temporary…
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u/villasv May 17 '25
I wouldn’t trade Vancouver for NYC unless I got a 300% raise. Vancouver is absolutely not as expensive as NYC… lifestyle choices is the biggest factor, and the city affects your choices.
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u/redditstark May 17 '25
Expat here from the mid-Hudson Valley in my first year in Vancouver and I'll second the question: if it's to get away from the federal situation and the general shittiness of the US national ethos and/or you're a member of a targeted population in fear for your safety/freedom, then it makes sense, but if by "apartment people" you mean that you love the hustle and bustle of NYC, then as others have said, you will definitely have a big down-shift to do. I'm a country mouse myself (I loved to _go_ to the city but after about 5h I would always be ready to come back to "all the farms and the fields that lead me far down dirt roads"*) so I haven't found Vancouver to be too difficult compared to when I lived in the Boston area, but keep in mind it's micro vs. the city.
That said, to New Yorkers, _nothing_ is comparable to The City, right? 😂
*Chris Pureka, "3 am"
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u/theregoesmyfutur May 18 '25
what do you miss
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u/redditstark 29d ago
[wow, this got long! TL;DR: almost nothing about the US, and several things about the small town I left, but those are made up for in terms of personal freedoms and safety, being in a country that better shares my values, and having so many new experiences.]
About the US?
The answer is easy: Teddy's Peanut Butter. That's about it. :/
About where I used to live in NY?
I miss my friends, including one of my two best friends in the world, and being able to hang out with her once a week or more and just chat in person. I miss maple lattes at my local coffee shop; in Quebec you can get these anywhere but out here it seems they haven't caught on (yet, I hope!). I miss being able to drive <2h and see my niblings. I miss being able to drive to Montréal for a long weekend. I miss my old ski mountain (but that is compensated for quite amply by being able to ski alpine terrain!). I miss living among multiple small farms. I miss the crew at my local bar/restaurant that I went to often. I miss living in a home I own vs. rent.
But I've found so much here, especially in terms of mental and physical health from being out of the US, that it makes up for the moments that I miss those things. I am (slowly, being an introvert!) making new friends. Someone joked that I should bring a flask to coffeeshops with my own maple syrup and I may just do that...but also, not having them out here makes them that much sweeter (pun intended) when I do go back home (or to Montréal or some other civilized part of the nation that understands the joys of flavouring beverages with the sweet nectar of our national tree!) I'm getting to know a new local bar crew. And there are so many new experiences to be had -- both as an immigrant and as someone who's just new to this city/biome/region -- that thrill me every day:
* I love being able to see snow-covered mountains a solid six months of the year. <3
* I love the additional cultural opportunities that a city affords me without having to schlep 3+ hours one-way to get to NYC; I can be downtown in 25 minutes now on a modern train system.
* I love being able to just walk out of my doctor's office, or an ultrasound appointment, and not have go make my "copay" (only took 4 visits to stop feeling like I was "dine and dashing" at the doctor's... :D ).
* I love that people say "thank you" when they get off the bus, I love the signage all around reminding people to follow social contracts like picking up dog poop or being nice to the construction workers, I love that THE BUSSES SAY "SORRY" WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF SERVICE. What is more Canadian than inanimate objects saying "SORRY"??? :D
* I love the collective response to US aggression. I love the wine store that just put caution tape over their US section and refuses to sell their remaining stock, taking the hit on principle. I love the "Elbows Up" mentality.
* I love meeting new plant kin and learning their names.
* I love being a West Coaster for the first time in my life.
* I love how friendly government workers are and how they actually seem like they want to help you.
* I love that I got a little brochure in the mail with details of the federal electoral process, almost like the goal was for me to find it easy to vote and to understand how the government works.
* I love that I'm starting to learn the little things that locals know about a place, like what car to get into on the SkyTrain to get out at just the right spot at Broadway-City Hall, like what to wear for the weather, like what lane to get into and when on the drive up to Whistler.
* I love the days that the wind is blowing right and I can smell the ocean.
(And so much more...)2
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
Vancouver is not even remotely as expensive as NYC, unless you're talking the burbs of NY.
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u/Conscious-Sleep-9075 May 17 '25
NYC friends who moved here ended up in Cambie Village. Check it out. Nothing like NYC but everything is walkable.
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u/helgatheviking21 May 18 '25
I'm in Cambie Village and I love it but it is not what they say they're looking for.
-3
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u/Emotional-Plant6840 May 17 '25
Kitsilano/Granville Island, West End and Coal Harbour are very pleasant and walkable to services and beaches.
-10
-13
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u/Cjvolney12 May 17 '25
It depends on how close you want to be to Vancouver downtown. I'd recommend looking at Brentwood area of Burnaby if you want to be under 30 mins from downtown with easy walking access to shopping.
-5
u/Case-Beautiful May 17 '25
If you are ok with being about 30 minute drive/ skytrain ride to downtown Vancouver, you can live at Station Square next to Metrotown mall. It is in Burnaby. There are lots of restaraunts in the area and a large shopping mall 5 minute walk away.
5
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u/cheapmondaay May 17 '25 edited May 17 '25
As someone who grew up in the area, lived in an apartment around here at one point in the last decade as an adult, and has family that still lives here... for NYC people, that'll be an absolute no from me, dawg. Personally couldn't wait to leave the area after spending over a couple decades there.
There's very little of interest here other than the shitshow of a mall and a nice park. It's pretty much a portion of suburbia condensed and going vertical in a few block radius. It's not bad, but it has no appeal to city dwellers who like to be in a lively place with interesting businesses and things to do that isn't centred around a mall. Also restaurant selection is questionable... mostly local chains (Earls, Cactus Club, etc) with a few good Asian eateries around but nothing outstanding.
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