Essentials
- Population
- Approximately 675,000 (City), 2.6 million (Metro)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-500 Mbps; Telus PureFibre offers up to 2.5 Gbps
- Currency & Banking
- Canadian Dollar (CAD); 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.35 CAD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality from North Shore mountain reservoirs
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Telus, Rogers, Bell (Premium); Public Mobile or Lucky Mobile for budget (approx. $40/mo for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- TD Canada Trust, RBC, Scotiabank, and Wise for multi-currency
- Accommodation
- High demand; platforms like RentFaster, Craigslist, and Zumper
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, tap-to-pay is ubiquitous; even small food trucks accept cards
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (requires business license), Sonder, and LEVEL Furnished Living
- Budget Accommodation
- Samesun Vancouver ($55/night bunk), HI Vancouver Central ($60/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Coal Harbour (near Stanley Park) and West End
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Mount Pleasant (Main St) for vibes, Kitsilano for beach proximity
- City
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (Bentall Centre) - $45/day; Werklab (East Van) - $400/mo desk
- Best Cafe for Work
- JJ Bean Coffee Roasters (Marine Building) or Breka Bakery (open 24/7)
- Networking Events
- Tech Vancouver (Tech.van), Startup Grind Vancouver events
- Social Events for Expats
- Vancouver Expats Meetup Group, InterNations Vancouver
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, and Vancouver-founded eCommuter
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Mobi by Shaw Go (Station-based bikes): $15/day or $150/year
- Best Beach Nearby
- English Bay Beach (Downtown) and Kitsilano Beach
- Top Regional Airline
- Harbour Air Seaplanes (to Victoria/Nanaimo) and WestJet
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada (Hub at YVR)
- Highway Access
- Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy) and Highway 99 (Sea-to-Sky)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Waterfront Station (SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Coast Express)
- Public Transport Passes
- Compass Card: Monthly pass from $105 (1 Zone) to $190 (3 Zones)
- Regional Travel
- BC Ferries (to Islands), Ebus or FlixBus to Seattle/Whistler
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and St. Paul's Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- YYOGA (multiple locations), Semperviva Yoga in Kitsilano
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Club16 Trevor Linden Fitness ($20-30/mo), Robert Lee YMCA
- Laundry Services
- Laundry Valet (Davie St), West End Cleaners
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- West Coast Salmon or Japadog (Kurobuta Terimayo $9.50)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Naam (Kitsilano), MeeT in Gastown/Main
- Best Dessert Spots
- Beta5 Chocolates, Thierry (Chocolates & Patisserie), Rain or Shine Ice Cream
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- No Frills, Sunrise Market (cheap produce), Costco
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca, BestBuy.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Walmart Delivery, Spud.ca (Organic/Local)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Granville Street (Clubs), Gastown (Cocktails), Main St (Craft Beer)
- Local Brewery
- 33 Acres Brewing Company, Parallel 49 Brewing
- Wine Bars
- Grapes & Soda, Stable House Bistro
- Street Food Stalls
- Richmond Night Market (Seasonal), Vancouver Street Food App locations
- Popular International Cuisine
- Maruhachi Ramen, Dinesty Dumpling House, Guu with Garlic
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Stanley Park Seawall, Capilano Suspension Bridge ($66)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Vancouver Art Gallery, Museum of Anthropology (MOA)
- Historical Sites
- Gastown Steam Clock, Roedde House Museum
- Religious Sites
- Christ Church Cathedral, ISKCON Vancouver
- Annual Events
- Celebration of Light (Fireworks), Vancouver Film Festival (VIFF)
- Cultural Districts
- Chinatown (Historic), Little Italy (Commercial Drive)
- Theater Venues
- Queen Elizabeth Theatre, The Orpheum
- Local Markets
- Granville Island Public Market
- Music Scene
- Commodore Ballroom, Rickshaw Theatre
- Street Art
- Vancouver Mural Festival (Mount Pleasant area)
- Cooking Classes
- The Dirty Apron Cooking School ($175+ per class)
- Art Galleries
- Equinox Gallery, Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Vancouver City Hall, Marine Building
- Local Heritage
- Indigenous Coast Salish heritage featured throughout YVR and parks
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Grouse Mountain, Pacific Spirit Regional Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (via Ferry)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- 28km Seawall, Arbutus Greenway
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Cypress Mountain Lookout, Vancouver Lookout ($18)
- Birdwatching Locations
- George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated pits at Spanish Banks (Summer only, strict rules)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx Canada
- Tech Repair Services
- Simply Computing, Apple Pacific Centre
- Table Tennis Spots
- Bridgeport Sports Club, Central Park (outdoor tables)
- Language Classes
- VCC (Vancouver Community College) ESL programs
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Vancouver Public Library (VPL) Central Branch
- Community Centers
- Roundhouse Community Centre, Hillcrest Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- The Hive Esports, ESPOT Richmond
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Parq Vancouver, River Rock Casino Resort
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $16,500 per m² ($650,000 for 40 m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $11,500 per m² ($460,000 for 40 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $15,000 per m² ($900,000 for 60 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,500 per m² ($570,000 for 60 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $14,000 per m² ($1,120,000 for 80 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² ($680,000 for 80 m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 27% (12% Federal + 15% Provincial)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via treaties)
- Tax System
- Residency-based; worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 53.5% (Federal + Provincial combined)
- VAT
- 12% Total (5% GST + 7% PST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, FAPI (Foreign Accrual Property Income) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual; approx. 0.25% - 0.30% of assessed value (low but values are high)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Property Transfer Tax: 1% on first $200k, 2% up to $2m, 3% thereafter + 20% Foreign Buyers Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa; high taxes unless utilizing tax treaties