This Opinion article is part of a Narcity content series. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Moving to a new city, or perhaps a new province entirely, can be overwhelming, to say the least. Trust me, I’ve been through all the stress of moving when I packed up my life in New Brunswick and headed to Vancouver.
Every city has its own unique quirks and perks, and Vancouver is no different. Moving to Vancouver was one of the most exciting things I ever did, but came with its own set of struggles that I mostly learned the hard way.
While living out in Vancouver I found that I was one of many (and I mean many) who had transplanted into the West Coast city, usually drawn there by the promise of mountain views and the unique lifestyle. While the mountain views were just as promised, there are some pieces of sage advice that I picked up along the way, for anyone thinking about making the move themselves.
Research the neighbourhood you want to move to, and don’t just go for downtown
I feel like a lot of people go straight to looking for apartments downtown, assuming they’ll want to be in the thick of things once they move. Downtown Vancouver is incredibly expensive though, and in my opinion not the ideal spot to live always.
Vancouver has amazing surrounding neighbourhoods which each offer their own vibe, and it’s worth researching them to see where would be the best fit for you. I lived in Mount Pleasant for a while and the cool coffee shops, cute boutiques, and beautiful parks were highlights of my time there. It’s also super easy to get downtown, so I didn’t feel like I was missing out by being there.
Prepare for the weather
I will never forget one of my friends telling me to leave my winter jacket behind in New Brunswick before I moved. “You won’t need that out in Vancouver, it hardly snows!” they proclaimed.
They were right kind of, it doesn’t snow nearly as much as other spots in Canada — certainly less than New Brunswick— but don’t go stripping your layers just yet.
The kind of damp cold that comes to the city in the winter months is different than the bitter cold of snowier areas, but just as bone-chilling. I most definitely needed layers underneath my raincoat, and often did pull out my winter jacket if I was going for a weekend getaway outside of Vancouver.
The rain itself was something I wasn’t entirely prepared for either. The amount of it, how long it can last, and how miserable it is to wake up to clouds covering the sky so many days in a row. If you’re envisioning moving out to Vancouver and frolicking outside all winter thanks to the lack of snow, you’re mistaken.
The summer though, while often very hot, is when the city comes to life. As the rain dies down in spring and patios open you’ll likely get that picture-perfect West Coast weather you moved for.
Opt for biking over driving in the city
One of the first things I did when I moved was go out and buy a car, since I had sold mine back home. Living in New Brunswick it was hard to wrap my head around not having a car, but after being in the city for a while I realized how do-able it would be without one.
There are a ton of biking trails running throughout Vancouver, and a lot of people put them to good use. With the traffic, depending on where you’re headed, it might be even faster to hop on a bike. Public transit in the city is also pretty good too, so I would recommend feeling out the SkyTrain before getting a vehicle.
But have a car if you want to explore
While getting around the city is easy enough, if you’re out in B.C. to explore and go on adventures, you’ll want a car. If you’re a city-body and want to stay in Vancouver mostly then you don’t need it, but most of the hikes, camping spots, weekend getaways, and adventures are not super easily accessible by public transit.
It made my life way easier having a car in terms of getting to see the province outside of Vancouver, and is really what set my time there apart.
Get outdoors even in rainy season
Harking back to the weather — you can’t let the rain slow you down. When I first moved I was taken aback by how much the rainy season affected me, and I wish I had someone tell me to just get outside more and make the best of it. Part of the reason why many people move to Vancouver is the beautiful nature all around, and even in the rain it’s worth getting out into.
Actually, going for a walk in the lush forest of North Vancouver with the fresh smell of rain in the air came to be a favourite of mine.
Finding housing is tough, so be prepared to compromise
Housing in general is something anyone moving to Vancouver should prepare for. It’s hard to find something that checks all your boxes and that’s in a certain price range, so just be prepared to compromise.
I lived in a couple of spots in Vancouver and either had to pay a little more than I wanted or go with a place that was smaller than I would’ve liked or not in the area I wanted. Part of living in an expensive city like this is facing the housing and costs, so be ready to do just that.
Visit first
I moved to Vancouver without actually having spent time in the city, which was exciting, but was a big leap of faith looking back. I ended up liking my time in Vancouver a lot, but definitely wish I would have made some trips out there before actually moving, to get a feel for the city first.
Showing up and having to get my bearings was overwhelming, and knowing my way around a bit more, at the very least, would have made the transition easier.
Don’t just stay in the city
I ended up moving out to Whistler in my second year in B.C., after having fallen in love with it on a weekend trip there. Vancouver was the perfect base for my first year there and it was amazing to get all of the perks of the city, but some of my favourite memories were exploring the rest of the province.
If you can, I’d definitely recommend going out and seeing all of the places possible, because there is so much beauty around B.C. Go to Vancouver Island and explore the beaches and rainforest, head to the Rockies, or go out to the wineries.
It’s worth checking out as much as possible in and outside of the city limits, while also enjoying what’s within.
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