Q: Hi, can someone tell me how good is Vancouver for an immigrant to live in with family. House expensive is an average house (not apartment) to rent or buy? How safe is the city generally? Thanks much
A: > How is life in Vancouver? Well, personally, I hate the city and prefer the country, forest, mountains. That said, the Vancouver area is a nice place to live. It's pretty safe. I don't know anyone that's afraid to walk around at night, male or female. Sure, there are some teen gangs, or drug gangs doing this or that in the news... but basically, it's mostly in the news. I did security for years downtown at night and the only thing you need worry about is having your car broken into by someone -- or getting a parking ticket. It rains a LOT. But not as much as a little further inland. > Hi, can someone tell me how good is > Vancouver for an immigrant to live in with family. Seems good to me. The major annoyances for me are: 1. cutting down all the trees and forests for development 2. traffic -- for such a small population, the traffic is really bad -- basically nearly everyone drives, and most people live 30km away from work or further. 3. prices of houses are the most expensive in the country. A $275,000 home in Ontario suburb (a really big new home), will go for $900,000 in Vancouver suburb (but the market is crashing just like in the USA now. 4. Taxes. Rent. Utilities. Food. Internet. Phone. Gas. Car payments. Car insurance. After you pay for these, the typical person has no money left over. 5. Would be a good idea to earn at least $40,000/year per working adult. 6. Medical care is great 7. Lots of close-by outdoors pass times: hiking, skiing, beaches, cycling, etc. 8. Mild weather, so you can ride your bicycle to work all year round, as long as you don't mind the rain. 9. Lots of government support for all sorts of things. Well, I live here... so it's easier to think of the negative annoying things than all the good things that I take for granted, right? I've got an American co-worker, he's been living here 3 months... I'll ask him...