Quote:
Originally Posted by FARMER
^ Rent in Vancouver is relatively cheap imo.
There are many nice ground floor units in Vancouver in newer (>10 years) that one can rent for about $700 (1 bed) to $1000 (2 bed), utilities included. It should be cheaper (or you get a bigger unit) in the suburbs.
Just because buying a place right now is a ripp off doesn't make Vancouver expensive imo. In fact I think living in Vancouver atm is a really good value, you just have to spend your money wisely (ie. I would rent over buy and save the rest). Also food is pretty cheap in Vancouver because the competition is so fierce; just skip the fancy pants stuff.  |
I just did a search on Craisglist for 1 bedroom rentals in the city of Vancouver. There are plenty of rentals for under 1000/month, but almost all of them are basement suites or rentals in someone's house. These may be legal, but they are most likely illegal which entails some risks. There are some older units in dedicated rental buildings in Marpole that rent for under a grand, but that's about it. Basement suites serve a large market, but in most other cities in Canada, you can rent separate dwellings on a yeoman's salary.
I consider myself fairly frugal as I shop at Asian-run independent grocery stores and the odd supermarket such as Save-on or Superstore for non-perishables. I spend close to 600 a month on food and beverage and I'm not much of a drinker. I believe it was reported in the Vancouver Sun not too long ago that the average Vancouverite spends $373 to feed himself per month, which is above the national average. Dining out can add up quickly, but when you're young and trying to move up the corporate ladder or perhaps looking for a significant other, meals out with your bosses, colleagues, or dates are a necessary evil.