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> A 1 bedroom or a studio will rarely go above 2K, even in Vancouver or Toronto. Average price of an unfurnished 1 bedroom in Vancouver is well over 2k now.[0]
by dleslie 3y ago
> A 1 bedroom or a studio will rarely go above 2K, even in Vancouver or Toronto.
Average price of an unfurnished 1 bedroom in Vancouver is well over 2k now.[0]
> If you're cooking, and not being frugal at all, you're spending 500 per month at most.
I said food, gas, utilities, electrical, and all the other sundries required of living in Vancouver. And 500 CAD on food was achievable pre-pandemic, but inflation hit grocery bills the hardest.
I paid for renter's insurance, and extended medical while living in Vancouver. It was worth it, because my storage locker was busted into several times by junkies and we had things stolen that we later replaced. And, if you bike you are potentially liable in accidents. Getting insurance if you commute by bicycle is sensible.
> Canadian cities are walkable and have public transit, you don't need a car.
Taking Translink will still run hundreds of dollars a month.[1]
0: https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-rent-prices-january-2023-6332639 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-rent...
1: https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/pricing-and-fare-zones https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/pricing-and-fare-zone...
- amrocha 3y agoAverage price includes luxury places. Spend a couple weeks searching and you won't pay the average. Inflation, sure, it's still not gonna be more than 700$. My 500$ figure is literally from 2022. Rent insurance is 30$ per month, anything else is optional and your choice and also not that expensive. That does not add up to 2500 per month. And yeah, I know transit costs money, just get a pass. Work pays for it, and if they don't you can deduct it from your taxes.
- dleslie 3y agoThere isn't enough luxury stock across the whole of Metro Vancouver to meaningfully inflate the mean above the median. Looking at New Westminster, the cheapest I see now are all private rooms in someone's suite. Most units are well above 2k.[0] Utilities includes heat and hot water, electrical, home internet, cellular, gym memberships, and so on. I suppose if you never turn on the heater, don't have home internet, never hit the gym, don't make any calls, don't own a car, and only shit at work then you could save a bundle, here. The transit tax credit was eliminated in 2017.[1] 0: https://rentals.ca/new-westminster?bbox=-123.08659,49.11473,-122.76077,49.29597 https://rentals.ca/new-westminster?bbox=-123.08659,49.11473,... 1: https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tips/deducting-the-cost-of-your-public-transit-passes-5483 https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tips/deducting-the-cost-of-your-p...
- amrocha 3y agoAre you actually from Vancouver? Nobody uses that site to look for a place, people use craigslist, and even then there's a bunch of sub 2K places. And heating is electric in 99% of Vancouver homes. I had almost all those things you mention, internet and cell phone and gym membership, left the heater on 24/7 during winter, did plenty of shitting at home, and still never spent more than $1000 per month. The only thing I didn't have is a car. A car is literally the worst financial decision you'll ever make. You're free to make it, but you can't come here and complain that cost of living is expensive. Sucks about the transit tax credit though :/ I used to use that when my commute was by transit
- dleslie 3y agoI lived in New Westminster for 20y, and left in 2021. Free heat and hot water is standard in older buildings with central boilers and radiated heating. Otherwise, you're taking on the utilities payment. If there's a separate service or dedicated service, then there's a bill. If you don't have a car you're still renting a ride share to go hiking or skiing. Transit isn't taking you to Golden Ears or Cypress.
- amrocha 3y agoMakes sense, you haven't had to look for a place in 20 years. Yes, you have to pay for it, it doesn't matter, electricity is cheap. And clearly you've never rented a car with your mates or taken one of the shuttle buses to the mountains.