Welcome to Vancouver! There are a few things you’ll need to get used to before the city starts to feel like Home. Like joining a very polite, orderly queue any time you need to take a bus.
Coming from a continent where you simply pay the price displayed on the price tag, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way sales taxes are applied here in BC. It’s not complicated – it’s just a bit of a shock when the amount you’re charged at the cash register is more than you expected. This is especially true for larger purchases like electronics and home furnishings.
There are two main sales taxes in BC: Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST). There’s also a municipal tax on tourist accommodation (Municipal and Regional District Tax/MRDT) and a separate tax on tobacco products (simply called Tobacco Tax).
When it comes to everyday expenses, here’s what to expect:
If you’re
moving into a shared house, you’re not going to need a lot of furniture, and there’s
a good chance you’ll be able to buy the contents of the bedroom from the
previous occupant. If you’re moving into an apartment of your own, you should
be prepared to furnish it from scratch, as furnished apartments are very hard
to come by.
While it
might be tempting to dash to IKEA and get all your shopping done in one go
(also – meatballs), there are other options – and they could save you some
money.
The Essentials: Bed & Sofa
There are a couple of items you won’t want to live without for very long – a bed is definitely first on the list, and a sofa is a close second. IKEA and Structube are the most affordable places to shop for these items. Both have brick and mortar stores and also offer online shopping and delivery.
Structube items are high impact, low price – like the $349 Moss bed
I set myself an imaginary sofa budget of $500 and chose these as my favourites – there’s a lot more choice at Structube in this price range, which I was surprised at:
Ektorp from IKEALoretta from Structube
The Nice to Haves: Dining Sets, Coffee Tables, Entertainment Units, Bookcases
Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are great places to track down these items, especially if you’re not in a hurry. There are thousands of used goods for sale or free. Some sellers will offer delivery for a small fee, but most items are advertised as ‘collection only’. Items listed over the weekend are often gone by Sunday evening, so if you see something you like, act fast!
While these sites can definitely turn up gems, they can also be hard work – items may be gone by the time you reach out to the seller, and you may need to try searching using different keywords (including your neighbourhood) to narrow down your results.
The Bells & Whistles
Now that
you have the basics covered, you’re ready for all those little things that make
a house feel like a home. Lamps, cushions, throws and rugs are easy to pick up
around the city, and unless you go totally overboard, you’ll probably be able
to carry them home on public transit.
The two
best budget-friendly shops in the city for these sorts of things are:
HomeSense: Part of the Winners family (you might know it as TK Maxx/TJ Maxx if you’re from Europe/the US), this store has HEAPS of awesome homewares at ridiculous prices. If you ever need company on a trip to HomeSense, call me. Multiple locations downtown and in Burnaby, Richmond, and Coquitlam.
Structube:Two locations downtown, and stores in Burnaby and Langley. I’m not going to say anything else about this store that this $19 llama cushion doesn’t say better:
As these purchases are probably the most expensive things you’ve purchased since your arrival, it’s probably a good idea to get your head around sales taxes before you hit the shops. Check out this post to learn about sales taxes in BC.
We’ve all
heard of Very Important People who relocated to the city with the aid of their
new employers, basically swanning in to a furnished apartment with a fridge
pre-stocked with their favourite brand of cheese. I’m guessing that you, like
100% of the actual humans I’ve met in this city, will be navigating the crazy, stressful
world of Vancouver rentals alone.
The usual approach is to book into a hostel or an AirBnB for a few weeks, and start searching for a longer-term home as soon as you arrive in the city.
Time it right
Most leases in Vancouver start on the 1st or 15th of the month. Make sure your temporary accommodation is booked right up to one of these dates – for example, if you’re landing in Vancouver on March 27th, make sure you have accommodation arranged to April 15th (or May 1st if you can afford it, as those extra couple of weeks will really help take the pressure off).
A place of your own
If you’re looking for an apartment of your own, the best approach is to walk around your desired neighbourhood. Buildings with vacancies have signs outside, and you can often get a viewing straight away by calling the rental office. Cross your fingers for dry weather and get exploring the West End and Kitsilano, and be prepared to pay $1700+/mth for a one-bed apartment.
A room in a shared house
If you’re looking for a room in a shared house, most of your searching will be online – try Craigslist and Facebook groups. There are groups dedicated to accommodation, and lots of groups that cater to immigrants from different countries. While you may find someone in a two-bed apartment downtown looking for a housemate, most of the larger house shares are in the suburbs. You should budget at least $600/mth for a room in a shared house/apartment.
Things to budget for
Most landlords ask for a month’s rent in advance, plus a deposit of half a month’s rent. Some buildings also charge a one-off move in fee.
Finally, a word of warning about housing scams: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Never put down a deposit before seeing the property and signing a lease.
Moving to Vancouver 