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Moving to Vancouver - advice?

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M

Mama Smurf

My penis is still intact.
Some of you might remember me making a thread about this quite a while ago on the old forum, but unfortunately I can (obviously) no longer see it and I was stupid and forgot to save the thing (incidentally, if anyone by any chance has the thread archived, I'd really appreciate it).

So I'll start over. I live in the UK and through an organisation called BUNAC, I'm going to be moving to Vancouver this October for up to a year. I'm really excited, but pretty nervous as I've never even lived away from home in my own country before (not that I don't want to, can't afford to), so any advice you guys can give me would be really great.

Accommodation/Location

This is pretty important of course. What are the nice areas to live in in Vancouver? I need somewhere either really close to jobs (see below for the type of work) or with good public transport to them nearby, as I can't drive and wouldn't be able to afford a car out there anyway. What places should I avoid? I'd prefer to sacrifice the size of my apartment slightly rather than live in a shit area. There's another thread around about Vancouver which said Surrey and East Hastings should be avoided, so I know those two. What sort of rent should I be expecting to pay if I lived on my own in a one room apartment given the conditions I've outlined? Are utility bills generally included in rent? Anything I need to watch out for?

Jobs/Wages

As I'm only able to stay for a year, I'm willing to do jobs I perhaps wouldn't be over here as I'm not looking to progress within the work. So anything like waiting, cleaning, retail, hotel work, etc. is fine. What areas are best for those (I know that sort of crosses over with the above section)? How much should I expect to be paid in that sort of work? Will those jobs actually be available October time? Any other suggestions about work in Vancouver?

Tipping/Tips

Is Canada like the US? Do I have to tip everywhere? Or is it like the UK where I hardly tip anywhere outside of nice restaurants? If it's in between, where should I definitely tip and where shouldn't I? Also if I was working in a hotel or as a waiter, will most of my wage be expected to come from tips?

Taxes

How are your wages taxed? When buying things, like food or whatever, is it like in the UK where the price on the label already includes tax, so that's the price you pay, or do you have to be aware that 14.5% (I think that's the right amount) is going to be put on?

Internet/TV

How much does it cost to get broadband in Vancouver? What are some good providers to choose that are still pretty cheap? Do some apartments already come with internet access? As for TV, how much will it cost to get a package that shows channels like ABC and TheWB etc? Just the normal channels, nothing like HBO (....do you even have these channels, or am I naming American things?).

Transport

Like I've said, no car, so what's the best way to get round? I know you guys have a skytrain, is that good? Buses maybe? Also, how do you use the skytain? Is it like the tube where you can buy a day pass and use it as many times as you want for the rest of that day? Or is it like a normal train, where you have to know your destination before you get a ticket?

I am going to get a few guidebooks out of the library before I go, but it'd be really useful if you guys can help answer any of my questions. Feel free to pass on any other information you think might be useful about the area too.
 
D

DarthMungKei

Member
Just because I am biased, a great place to work for a year, where you could make a ton of money in overtime, is for Electronic Arts as a game tester. If you are into that kind of thing of course.
 
D

Dyne

Member
Never tip outside restaurants. That's the only advice you need. Anywhere you have a server, the "expected" tip is 10%. But you can go lower if you want. They won't like you, though.
 
B

bishoptl

Banstick Emeritus
Accommodation/Location

You want to live somewhere nice? Move to Coal Harbour, right downtown. Of course, for a one room apartment you're looking at 800-1000 bucks a month, easily. Vancouver is a very expensive place to live, and that's including the outward areas as well. If you don't have a problem with roommates, it's easier to find nice accomodations that won't put as much of a beating on your wallet - Kitsilano is nice, the West End is nice...shop around. If you're not picky about commuting in to work, I'd recommend moving to New Westminster. There are tons of apartments to choose from, it's near one of the major colleges so retailers in the area are pretty cheap, and you can reach downtown Vancouver from the New West Skytrain in 30 minutes or less. Here are a few sites you'll want to look at.

http://www.places4rent.com/finder.asp?LOCID=259 <-- lots to choose from
http://apartmentguide.ca/ <-- these guys have tons of listings too, I got my last apartment in Burnaby through them
http://www.aptrentals.net/ <-- not as many

Jobs/Wages

We get a lot of tourists throughout the year, but there is an expected drop off around the time you're arriving. :D Still, if you're willing to work retail or wait tables, you'll always be able to find work. I'd start at the restaurants in Yaletown and work your way outwards - prior experience helps a lot. Many places (especially the bars) are willing to work with you under the table, ie. off the books, so no taxes...you're looking at around 9-10 bucks an hour on average, plus tips. If you're waiting tables, you'll have to tip out the bartenders as well, usually around 5% of your total. If you get a work permit, I'd suggest checking out EA Canada around February or so, that's when the summer hiring period gets going. They love having testers on a contract basis.

Tipping/Tips

Good grief. Don't tip unless you're in a bar, restaurant, or a taxi trip that's longer than 15 minutes, period. 15% is considered fair for good service, but if you don't feel like tipping, don't feel like you HAVE to. Use common sense.

Taxes

The government comes to your house in the night and reams you with a nail studded bat until you cough up the dough. At least that's how I feel. Store prices never include tax, so if you see something for 19.99, get ready to pay the extra provincial and federal sales tax.

Internet/TV

Hook up with Shaw Cable, and you can have high-speed internet delivered to your apartment for 23 bucks a month, not including tax. A lot of the newer apartment buildings come prewired for ADSL, but as I mentioned above you'll be paying out the nose to live in such swanky holdings. If you want basic cable plus internet, it's about 55 bucks a month, not including tax. I switched to this a couple of days ago when I moved into my new house - figured I was wasting 40 bucks a month on a bunch of higher channels I rarely watched anyways. You get the first 28 channels on basic, which includes several local stations, US channels (Fox, NBC, CBS, UPN and ABC) and Sportsnet. Oh yeah, you get the Women's network as well. I won't be able to see WWE Raw live anymore, but that's what torrents are for.

Transport

You can purchase a pass good for a couple of hours, a daily pass, or a monthly pass. The Skytrain/bus system is split into three zones, Zone 3 encompasses most of Vancouver and Burnaby, Zone 2 is Burnaby and New Westminster, and Zone 1 is Surrey. A 3-zone one month pass is 120 bucks, a 2-zone is 87...but that pass is good any time the system is running, to any station within the zones paid for. If you're planning on living and working in the area, you'll definitely need one of these...

If you have any more questions, post them here or PM me so I can help you.
 
M

Mama Smurf

My penis is still intact.
Thanks guys, bish in particular.

When I say I want somewhere nice, I don't mean posh or a really expensive area, I just mean a place with low crime levels, no overly noticeable drug use, buildings not falling down etc.

Having said that, I'm comparing the prices to British ones anyway. The very cheapest places to rent around here are the equivalent of $600 CAD, and I really, really wouldn't want to live in them. I'm not even in an expensive part of the country. It's just ridiculous over here.

I don't mind the idea of a roommate, I just hear horror stories from some of my friends. I'll look around places to share though, but unless I really think I'll get on with whoever's living there, I probably won't take it. That's the only reason I ask for single prices, it's sort of a last resort thing.
 
N

NetMapel

Guilty White Male Mods Gave Me This Tag
For a convinient location for transportation, I would suggest that you live in Burnaby or even Richmond. In Burnaby, you get the benefits of the skytrain, which takes you right to downtown within 20 minutes. Also, there is a giant mall there with plenty of retail job opportunities if you want it. For Richmond, it's close to the airport and lots and lots of jobs avaliable in Richmond. It's also easy to just take the bus to downtown from there. The big downside of Richmond is it is quite populated by Asians in certain areas. I suggest you live in East Richmond area though, because that's farther away from the airport and more thus more developed.

btw, there's nothing wrong with Surrey. I don't understand the hate of that place. Are people jealous that Surrey is the prettiest area in Lower Mainland, and also the fact that it's extremely close to White Rock, the best place in Lower Mainland !?

For the internet and TV, obviously the best is Telus' ADSL, but then you'll have to pay Shaw for TV. Therefore, if you want to cut your costs, just get Shaw Cable for the combo.

Vancouver, in winter, can get as cold as London IMO, so bring jackets and boots to prepare for winter ! Oh, and umbrella ^_^

Unfortunately, I do not know the rent prices for the apartment, so I can't help you out there, though obviously, the rent price in Burnaby and Richmond would be lower than in downtown Vancouver or West End. Seriously, West End is where the rich people live.
 
M

Mike Works

Member
It doesn't get THAT cold. Vancouver's weather is better than New York's, basically, and it doesn't snow nearly as much.
 
W

Warm Machine

Member
Rent downtown in vancouver starts at around $800 for a Bachelor suite. The same thing in Burnaby will be around $700.

You'll probably want to live... Downtown, Burnaby, Kitsilano, or North Vancouver. Do NOT go anywhere near Hastings or the Gastown area unless you love smack and freakshows dripping with HIV.

Lots of places to work. I do suggest EA for a testing job if you feel like you'd like to do that. Starbucks is ALWAYS hiring so you can serve latte's all day and god knows there is a Starbucks on EVERY corner!

Taxes are not too bad depending on your income bracket. You get jammed for about 35 - 40% at the top of the scale. Like has been said before there is a 14.5% provincial and federal tax on most things.

Coming from the UK you will be amazed at just how cheap everything in Canada is! Numerically what you see in pounds is in dollars here or cheaper. Vancouver has the cheapest Music CDs and DVDs in all or North America I believe. Your UK money is going to go really far here especially at the 1 pound to 2.25 dollar exchange.

Tipping is about 14 - 15%. Do not tip anywhere that doesn't provide a service like at Subway for example.

Our bus service is OK. I do suggest living and working somewhere near the Skytrain line. It is fast, reliable, and completely straight forward to use.

I suggest you get out and enjoy some of our outdoor action. Skiing and Snowboarding in the winter here is amazing. Van is an hour and a bit from Whistler which has some of the worlds finest action. The local mountains are really fun too.

Now this is VERY important....

If anyone approaches you asking for spare change DO NOT give it to them. All they will do is go buy crack or smack with it. There are LOTS of help associations in the city who are there to feed and cloath the poor. If they say they are hungry, they are lying. If they say they need bus money, they are lying. They say they need a few dollars to get their car out of a parking lot, they are lying and scamming. They say that they represent some organization, they are lying and scamming.

You give these fuckers change and they just keep asking. I've been here 8 years and the same asshole are on the street doing the same thing. If you see a guy without shoes and you feel sorry for him, don't! Shoes and clothes cost 1 dollar at the help houses and these people don't buy them because they want people to feel sorry for them.

Vancouver would be a near Utopia if it were not for the Degenerates.
 
P

Pochacco

asking dangerous questions
Alucard said:
Uhh...bring an umbrella?
Click to expand...
I've actually found Toronto to be MUCH worse in the precipation department than Vancouver.
Vancouver summers are relatively dry while their winters are predictably wet. Toronto is totally unpredictable: one minute it's gorgeous outside, the next, your clothes look as if you've soaked yourself.

Anyway, since you won't have a car in Vancouver, I'd definately suggest buying a mountain bike once you get there. I think you can bring them on the skytrain...hmm...
If you live near the skytrain route and have a bike, then you can pretty much get anywhere. Plus, you can use it for recreation around the North Vancouver moutains, Stanley Park, etc...sweeet.
 
S

Socreges

Banned
I'm going to assume that these excellent gentlemen have answered all your questions.

Anyway, since you won't have a car in Vancouver, I'd definately suggest buying a mountain bike once you get there. I think you can bring them on the skytrain...hmm...
Click to expand...
EXCEPT.. before 9am. I found out the hard way. Very embarrassing. :)

If you were to move to Richmond, though, and would rely on a bike, it wouldn't be so smooth. No skytrain goes through Richmond, so you'd have to take at least one bus to get where you wish.

Otherwise, very good transit system. I've gotten rid of my car, and bike everywhere now.
 
A

Azih

Member
It's good practice to tip delivery guys though. It's a pretty crap paying job and they appreciate it. So any restaurant that's not a fast food joint and delivery guys.
 
D

DarthMungKei

Member
$600 bucks for rent can get you a nice place. I live in new westminster and I pay $610 a month with heat and basica cable included. Big apartment as well.

You should send your resume into EA as soon as you can. We are going to be super busy this winter there most likely will be another hiring ramp up.
 
W

Warm Machine

Member
My brothers wife is chinese and she thinks Richmond is too asian. She describes it as though Hong Kong just moved from China to Canada...and cleaned itself up in the process. Really though it is strange walking through Yaohan mall and realizing you are the only caucasian in there.
 
M

Mike Works

Member
DarthMungKei said:
$600 bucks for rent can get you a nice place. I live in new westminster and I pay $610 a month with heat and basica cable included. Big apartment as well.
Click to expand...
$600 in New West, maybe.
 
N

Nikashi

Banned
Warm Machine said:
My brothers wife is chinese and she thinks Richmond is too asian. She describes it as though Hong Kong just moved from China to Canada...and cleaned itself up in the process. Really though it is strange walking through Yaohan mall and realizing you are the only caucasian in there.
Click to expand...

It's a bit different there lately, I see a LOT more white people around because of the Abderdeen center reopening, with word spreading about Daiso as well. Of course everyone checks out the other malls too. BTW, if you go to Parker Place, "Oodles" is a great place to get PC stuff. Got all my computer stuff from the dude, and I even got a GOOD amount of free repair service. (He'd install some new fans, and charge me only for parts).
 
Blackace

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Mike Works said:
It doesn't get THAT cold. Vancouver's weather is better than New York's, basically, and it doesn't snow nearly as much.
Click to expand...

Agreed! Vancouver and Seattle are so much the same it is scary! (expect my money is worth more when I go to BC) Don't believe the hype about it raining all the time and it being cold!!!! Very mild weather all year long
 
M

Mama Smurf

My penis is still intact.
Me again. Lots more questions to ask, but I can't think of them all right now, I'll do them later.

Just wondering if anyone can link me to sites for cheap Canadian products; specifically for TVs, laptops, game systems, furniture etc...just trying to get an idea of budget here.
 
B

bishoptl

Banstick Emeritus
He said "cheap"! Futureshop is good for three things: cheap blank CD/DVDs, movies and music, that's what they use as loss-leaders to get people into the store. Everything else is marked up to the hilt. Bleh.

If you're looking for cheap movies, games and systems, hit Willow Video in Langley. It's a massive warehouse by Willowbrook Mall, their used selection of games is the best in the Lower Mainland. Tons of people come from miles around to trade in their stuff there, and if there's a game you're looking for, chances are that somebody will trade in a copy within a month. I was looking for Disaster Report and Zone of the Enders 2, EB didn't have it and wouldn't order it, but someone traded them both in at Willow within 3 months of me searching. Their DVDs (even new) are super cheap compared to other stores, and they rent games, movies and consoles as well. The only real downside is that they have so much stuff, the personnel don't always know what they have in stock, so you might have to hunt around. Plus there are some huge lineups on the weekends. A great place to go.
 
M

Mama Smurf

My penis is still intact.
Sounds great.

I'm glad you told me Futureshop is expensive (though I suspected it might be if it's like Best Buy), it's hard to tell when everything seems cheap.
 
D

Dyne

Member
bishoptl said:
He said "cheap"! Futureshop is good for three things: cheap blank CD/DVDs, movies and music, that's what they use as loss-leaders to get people into the store. Everything else is marked up to the hilt. Bleh.

If you're looking for cheap movies, games and systems, hit Willow Video in Langley. It's a massive warehouse by Willowbrook Mall, their used selection of games is the best in the Lower Mainland. Tons of people come from miles around to trade in their stuff there, and if there's a game you're looking for, chances are that somebody will trade in a copy within a month. I was looking for Disaster Report and Zone of the Enders 2, EB didn't have it and wouldn't order it, but someone traded them both in at Willow within 3 months of me searching. Their DVDs (even new) are super cheap compared to other stores, and they rent games, movies and consoles as well. The only real downside is that they have so much stuff, the personnel don't always know what they have in stock, so you might have to hunt around. Plus there are some huge lineups on the weekends. A great place to go.
Click to expand...

Awesome. My cousins now have a huge garage full of stuff from Willow. I still need to go there some day. Argh!
 
B

BuddyC

Member
Litigation Manuel said:
I've got some advice for you: don't move to Vancouver! Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha.....hahahahaha!


Hahahahaha!

Oh, I'm adorable.
Click to expand...
One can only hope you receive a tag that reflects how adorable you truly are.
 
G

GG-Duo

Member
Burnaby rox. Coquitlam is getting better and better. New West is more accessible than ever before. Richmond is not really worth the hassle unless you're a new immigrant. UBC is a paradise.

Urr... yeah basically I love Vancouver. teehee.
 
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