Which city is the cheapest to live in within BC?

[sensualspirit]

I am thinking about moving out west from Ontario, but I know Vancouver is very expensive & has a lot of smog, which city is the cheapest & hopefully cleanest, yet close enough (30-45 drive to major city) to a big city for shopping, & has a smaller city for every week shopping?

Also local farm produce is a benefit : )

Thanks


Michelle
P.S. Do landlords in BC respect tenants more than over here in ON?

 

[AmberEyes]

I grew up in Nanaimo, which is just west of Vancouver, on Vancouver Island. It's a 2 hour ferry ride to Vancouver, and a 2 hour drive to Victoria, the provincial capital (where I currently live because of schooling). It's a beautiful town.. population is about 70,000... that might be a bit big though, I'm not too sure what you're looking for. The housing is definitely cheaper than Vancouver and Victoria.

 

[In Between Man]

Parksville and Qualicum beach are nice. However, there appears to be something in the water. You get a lot of people talking to themselves, and emo kids.:angry3:

 

[In Between Man]

I am thinking about moving out west from Ontario, but I know Vancouver is very expensive & has a lot of smog, which city is the cheapest & hopefully cleanest, yet close enough (30-45 drive to major city) to a big city for shopping, & has a smaller city for every week shopping?

Also local farm produce is a benefit : )

Thanks


Michelle
P.S. Do landlords in BC respect tenants more than over here in ON?

Stay away from BC. The people are very rude, and it is very expensive. It's not a nice place anymore. Too crowded. A lot of the surrounding suburbs smell like human waste cuz of the sewer problems... try living in that in the hot summer. Even though it actually rains here 350 days of the year. Also there is no welfare, or hospitals. We also have a bear problem. Plus they are thinking of coming up with a Ontario immigration tax.... probably best to stay where you are. If you must leave Onterrible you should try one of the eastern provinces. They have lots of room.:angry3:

 

[sensualspirit]

Hi guys,

Yeh, no kidding, I came across a thread about "I hate Vancouver" & didn't even get past page 5 & was totally shocked. Now you are saying ALL of BC is like that, not just Vancouver???

What do you mean there is no welfare?

What is the Ontario immigration tax?

Well while I want nature, I do want to be near a city with people who have brains & amenities, which province do you recommend?

Bloody Canada is just going down the drain IMO.

Thanks


Michelle

 

[Kreskin]

Vancouver itself doesn't have much smog because it's on the ocean. The farther inland you go the more smog there is because it blows out of Vancouver and settles in the Fraser Valley. Unfortunately a cheap place to live that's 45 minutes from a major shopping region doesn't exist in BC.

 

[Tonington]

BC stands for bring cash. It's very nice though.

 

[JLM]

I am thinking about moving out west from Ontario, but I know Vancouver is very expensive & has a lot of smog, which city is the cheapest & hopefully cleanest, yet close enough (30-45 drive to major city) to a big city for shopping, & has a smaller city for every week shopping?

Also local farm produce is a benefit : )

Thanks


Michelle
P.S. Do landlords in BC respect tenants more than over here in ON?

WE've lived in Grand Forks (pop. 4000, surrounding area 13,000) for nine years and and I think living costs are among the lowest. WE are right on the U.S. border, dry climate and is agriculturally oriented, lots of orchards, and vegetable farming. Within an hour we can drive to Trail or Colville Washington for major shopping and it's only a 21/2 hour drive to Kelowna (or Penticton) for really major shopping.

 

[JLM]

Stay away from BC. The people are very rude, and it is very expensive. It's not a nice place anymore. Too crowded. A lot of the surrounding suburbs smell like human waste cuz of the sewer problems... try living in that in the hot summer. Even though it actually rains here 350 days of the year. Also there is no welfare, or hospitals. We also have a bear problem. Plus they are thinking of coming up with a Ontario immigration tax.... probably best to stay where you are. If you must leave Onterrible you should try one of the eastern provinces. They have lots of room.:angry3:

"Stay away from BC. The people are very rude,"- Yeah, right-and your'e not????? The lower Fraser Valley, southern Vancouver Island and parts of the Okanagan are very crowded- otherwise B.C. is not crowded at all.

 

[Francis2004]

Living well is all a matter of how you view things..

Cost of housing will blow you away in BC.

Cost of gas as well..

The rest will even out I guess or so I found out when i moved here from Quebec..

All in perspective I guess.

 

[#juan]

I grew up in Nanaimo, which is just west of Vancouver, on Vancouver Island. It's a 2 hour ferry ride to Vancouver, and a 2 hour drive to Victoria, the provincial capital (where I currently live because of schooling). It's a beautiful town.. population is about 70,000... that might be a bit big though, I'm not too sure what you're looking for. The housing is definitely cheaper than Vancouver and Victoria.

I make the population of Nanaimo to be close to 150,000. My kids are grown up now but if I were to do it all again, I would pick Nanaimo. Nanaimo is a beautiful city and a great place to live.

 

[talloola]

I live about one hour north of nanaimo, in courtenay, a nice small city, with the
town of comox close by, and the tiny town of cumberland, just 10 min. west.
Yes, it is more reasonal to live here than vanc'r and victoria, but not too far, if
you wish to travel to a large city from time to time.
All of us are right on the ocean, lots to do, much boating, lots of mountain sports,
great fishing, good local grown produce, organic food, lots of crafting and artists,
mountain biking, hiking, skiing etc.

 

[sensualspirit]

Thanks

How much is rent for let's say a 3 bedroom modern house?


Michelle

 

[hermanntrude]

Hi guys,

Yeh, no kidding, I came across a thread about "I hate Vancouver" & didn't even get past page 5 & was totally shocked. Now you are saying ALL of BC is like that, not just Vancouver???

What do you mean there is no welfare?

What is the Ontario immigration tax?

Well while I want nature, I do want to be near a city with people who have brains & amenities, which province do you recommend?

Bloody Canada is just going down the drain IMO.

Thanks


Michelle

come to newfoundland. Even in st john's, people are nicer than anywhere else. I moved here from the UK. I love it.

 

[JLM]

I make the population of Nanaimo to be close to 150,000. My kids are grown up now but if I were to do it all again, I would pick Nanaimo. Nanaimo is a beautiful city and a great place to live.

We lived in and near Nanaimo for many years-population is in the 70000-80,000 range. It's not a bad city, if you can stand the wet climate, but it's a very spread out city half the shopping facilities are 6-7 miles north of town.

 

[sensualspirit]

Hi Herman,

Yeh, I'm thinking I wouldn't really resonate with people out there although I've heard before they are very nice

Nanaimo is probably not for me, I don't like constant rain.

Thanks


Michelle

 

[JLM]

Yep, we lived in Courtenay from '76-'84, not a bad place to live then, but has grown a lot since- lot better access now with new Island Hwy. Used to take 3 hours to go Victoria- probably 21/4 now.

 

[Trex]

I have no clue.

However once it is located it is important that we are all know where it is.

 

[JLM]

I just got to thinking- it would be the city with the fewest stores and businesses.

 

[Twila]

Nanaimo is probably not for me, I don't like constant rain.

Thanks

BC might not be for you then...unless you choose something away from the coast. The Rainforest Coast of British Columbia encompasses the largest remaining intact temperate rainforest in the world.

BC gets lots of rain. It's why we're green.