The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Vancouver is unique in many ways, and many people moving to the city find themselves surprised, or perhaps unprepared for the reality of the West Coast hub.
I’m a Vancouver native, one of those rare unicorns. Okay, in reality, I grew up in a suburb about 30 minutes outside of the city proper, but I moved to East Vancouver in my teens and have lived in several neighbourhoods in the metro area ever since.
Suffice it to say, I know this city very well, and I’ve seen it change in an astonishing fashion, seemingly almost overnight. What was once a fairly laid-back, affordable, rather bohemian place (I used to think of it as “the biggest small town you’ll ever visit”) has morphed into a wildly expensive metropolis characterized by glassy high-rises and a very infamous postal code.
It’s still my hometown, though, and I love it. I’ve travelled quite extensively and still find myself coming back here rather than setting up shop anywhere else.
If you’re itching to relocate to Vancouver — or you’ve already managed to make the move — I feel that, as a lifelong resident, it’s my duty to present to you some fundamentals about living here that will make your move here as smooth and worthwhile as possible. Let’s explore them, shall we?
DON’T: Bother trying to find an apartment in downtown Vancouver
Again in keeping with affordability and practicality, unless you basically have licence to print Canadian currency, you will not find a place in the city itself that’s anywhere close to decent and affordable.
Further to that, paying rent for a downtown apartment is a feat of diminishing returns: There isn’t really much here that makes the cost worthwhile. Events and restaurants and concerts and groceries are right up there in terms of draining your wallet, meaning you’ll be paying a premium for your lifestyle just because you’re living in the city proper.
It’s honestly not worth it. I would recommend looking for a place on the East Side, or even in one of the terrific surrounding areas such as Burnaby (huge), New Westminster (quaint) or even Port Moody (charming and historical).
DO: Hit up the Stanley Park Seawall as often as you can
This is one of the best ways to spend a few hours in the city, hands down. Whether you want an early-morning jog (and you’ll be in lots of great company!), a midday bike ride (on a rental or your own two-wheeler), or just a breezy stroll listening to your playlist, the Seawall is an invigorating, gorgeous experience for one and all.
Vancouver is internationally lauded for its mountains and proximity to the ocean, and this is the perfect means of experiencing both while you inhale the fresh, salty air.
Chances are you’ll also run into some geese enjoying the incoming tide, see many seagulls overhead, and hear the float planes running their course between Vancouver and Victoria… all the while taking in the North Shore mountains, passing beneath the Lion’s Gate Bridge and circling a massive forested park that is actually bigger than New York’s famed Central Park.
DO: Take advantage of pubic transit
Using our Translink public transportation service is actually a terrific way to get around the city and its surrounding boroughs. If you live close to a transit route — especially a Skytrain station — there’s honestly no reason why you shouldn’t be using it to get around the Lower Mainland.
Take advantage of its efficiency and frequency to save yourself many thousands of dollars in car insurance and gas, and many thousands of headaches caused by the horrendous traffic and complete lack of free parking everywhere.
All you need to do is grab a Compass Card for a $6 deposit and load up the card with however much money you wish. You can do this online, at any Skytrain station, or at some shops that have Compass Card machines. You’ll pay just a few dollars per day to get around, and your carbon footprint will be beautifully minimized to boot.
DO: Get your produce from local grocers and shops
Indeed, food prices have gouged everyone, everywhere, and this is certainly not limited to Vancouver.
While we all hope and pray that things will return to affordable levels at some point, unless we’re fortunate enough to have a garden and/or a farm (and if you’ve just moved here, this almost certainly won’t be the case), there are no options except to buy our food.
Going to Safeway or Save-On-Foods or even IGA can really take a chomp out of your budget, too, especially if you’re loading up on fresh vegetables and fruit; there’s simply no reason to do this if you eat them regularly. It’s well worth it to visit one of the many local independent shops here to buy your produce, where you’ll pay a fraction of the price that you do at the major grocery chains.
A few that spring to mind are Aria Market on Bidwell and Robson, Consumers Produce on Kingsway near Joyce, BK Market on East Hastings and Nanaimo, and Sunrise Market on Powell and Gore. All are extremely affordable and of great quality, and you’re putting money into the pockets of independent shop owners rather than Canadian millionaires (and billionaires).
DON’T: Go to the Downtown Eastside and take pictures
This is rude at best, and dangerous at worst. While the Main and Hastings area is indeed notorious for its very sadly downtrodden and disadvantaged residents, there’s no excuse for hauling out your camera phone and capturing it for social media, or even your own amusement.
I suppose you could ask for permission if you find it necessary to photo-document your excursion through the DTES, but the people there are human beings and shouldn’t be treated as zoo exhibitions or photo ops.
Having said that, I’ll add that in my experience, there’s actually very little risk walking through there during the daytime, despite the impressions you might have; most people are minding their own business and aren’t out to attack or harass pedestrians. It happens very seldom, and when it does, it makes the evening news.
DO: Walk around with a rolled-up yoga mat and/or wearing a Canucks jersey
This isn’t even an exaggeration: If you come to Vancouver, especially the West Side or downtown areas, you’ll see no shortage of this phenomenon. At any given time, (mostly) women are strolling around with those ubiquitous mats, going to or from yoga class — or just looking as though they are. It’s a Vancouver accessory that will instantly take you from “tourist” or “newcomer” to “unquestionably a local,” if that’s your aim.
Donning a blue Canucks jersey will successfully take you on that same trajectory; you’ll look as though you’re one of the diehards in the city who deep down, know our hockey team isn’t coming anywhere close to a Stanley Cup playoff, but the loyalty will always be intact.
Then again, maybe the Canucks being in the playoffs isn’t such a great idea after all.
DON’T: Complain about the city, even if everyone else is (and they will be)
It’s just the way it is here in Vancouver: We can’t stop complaining about it.
Whether it’s the climate (too hot, too cold, too rainy, not rainy enough), the cost of living (which has actually affected every major city imaginable), how boring it is (totally subjective), the horrible drivers (okay, that’s warranted) or our local politicians (a civic pastime), Vancouverites will rarely have a positive spin on anything about life in the big city.
However, just try to be a newcomer — or a visitor or tourist — and join in on the kvetching. I dare you.
Straight away, you’ll be met with defensiveness, anger, pride and an insistence that it’s actually a really great place and you have no idea what you’re talking about. Leave if you don’t like it! How dare you say anything bad about our city? It’s fabulous! Beautiful! In fact, we’re extremely lucky to live here! Why did you move here anyway? Go back to where you came from! We don’t want you!
DON’T: Smile or greet strangers, unless you like getting weird looks
This may apply to most major cities, I’m not sure, but Vancouver residents are not known for their evident warmth and outgoing personalities. That’s just the way it’s always been here, but it doesn’t mean we’re antisocial.
People mostly keep to themselves and don’t engage with strangers in public, whether it’s on public transit, waiting in line somewhere, or having a nice cup of coffee at one of our countless cafes. If you make eye contact with someone, just keep going, and don’t ever take it personally when you receive a sombre look in return. We simply don’t smile at one another or strike up conversations while out in public.
There’s a suspiciousness that comes over people here when a passerby greets us or flashes us a big smile, so save your friendliness for when you take a jaunt over to North Vancouver, where there seems to be a much bigger sense of community and a greater degree of contentment.
DO: Always be polite and respect your environment
A polite line, naturally.
None of that’s to say you should be rude, however. Quite the opposite. While not exactly a hub for gregariousness, in Vancouver it’s essential that you demonstrate common courtesy and respect for others. Thank someone if they hold a door open for you. Say “excuse me” if you need to get past them on the Skytrain. Don’t push your way through a lineup, and be respectful of those who were there first.
Most importantly, apologize like every good Canadian does a hundred times a day for doing nothing overtly offensive; that’s just part of our culture, and when in Rome…
Don’t make a scene in public, comport yourself with dignity and manners, be aware of other people around you, and you’ll fit in very nicely. As for shambling down the sidewalk with your face buried in your smartphone, oblivious to the pedestrians around you? That’s a universal epidemic, I’m afraid, and not exclusive to Vancouver… but try not to do it, regardless. Maybe you’ll start a new trend!
This article has been updated since it was originally published on May 23, 2024.
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