Essentials
| 🏙️ City | Vancouver is a coastal city in western Canada, located in British Columbia. |
| 👥 Population | Approx. 631,486 |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average internet speed is around 120 Mbps. |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 CAD ≈ 0.77 USD (as of April 2025). |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Drinkable |
| 🔌 Power | 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets. |
| 📶 SIM Card | Major providers include Rogers, Bell, and Telus. |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Services from HSBC and Scotiabank are popular among expats. |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Options include Airbnb, furnished rentals, and long-term leases. |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, cards accepted widely, with both Visa and Mastercard prevalent. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and other vacation rental platforms are popular. |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hostel options like HI Vancouver Central are available. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Downtown Vancouver and Gastown are recommended for tourists. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Mount Pleasant and Commercial Drive are popular with digital nomads. |
Working and Networking
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | WeWork - multiple locations in the city. |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Café Artigiano - known for its good coffee and wifi. |
| 💼 Networking Events | Tech meetup events are frequently held at places like The Network Hub. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Expats in Vancouver Facebook group hosts regular meetups. |
Transportation
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Uber and Lyft are widely used in Vancouver. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Mobi by Shaw Go offers bike-sharing services. |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Kitsilano Beach is the closest popular beach. |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Air Canada and WestJet serve regional flights. |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Air Canada, British Airways, and Delta Airlines operate international flights. |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Access to Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) is easy. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Vancouver Central Station is the primary transit hub. |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | Monthly passes for TransLink cost around CAD 102. |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Via Rail and Greyhound connect Vancouver with nearby cities. |
Health and Wellness
| 🏥 Best Hospital | St. Paul's Hospital is one of the major healthcare facilities. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | YYoga has several locations across Vancouver. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Fitness World and Steve Nash Fitness World offer memberships. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Laundromat services like Spin Cycle are widely available. |
Food and Drink
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | UberEats and DoorDash are popular food delivery services. |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Try the Pacific salmon and local sushi. |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | The Acorn Restaurant offers fantastic plant-based meals. |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Beta5 Chocolates is well-known for its sweets. |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Granville Island Public Market is great for budget shopping. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Amazon.ca and Well.ca are leading online marketplaces. |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Instacart and Amazon Fresh offer grocery delivery services. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Granville Street is famous for its nightlife. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Steam Whistle Brewery is a well-known local brewery. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Hawkers Market features various wine tasting options. |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Food carts along Granville Street offer diverse street food. |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Explore Pho and Dim Sum in Richmond area. |
Culture and Attractions
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain are iconic landmarks. |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Vancouver Art Gallery showcases local and international art. |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Gastown features historic buildings and cobblestone streets. |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | The Christ Church Cathedral is a notable site. |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Vancouver International Film Festival is held annually. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Chinatown is rich in cultural heritage and history. |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | The Orpheum hosts numerous performances throughout the year. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Lonsdale Quay Market is a vibrant local market. |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Venues like The Commodore Ballroom feature live music. |
| 🎨 Street Art | Main Street has numerous street art venues. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Vancouver Community College offers various cooking classes. |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Art galleries in the South Granville area are popular among art lovers. |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | The Vancouver Art Gallery is housed in a heritage building. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | The totem poles in Stanley Park represent Indigenous heritage. |
Nature and Outdoor Activities
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Lynn Canyon Park offers stunning trails and waterfalls. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Garry Point Park and Pacific Rim National Park are scenic. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The seawall around Stanley Park is great for biking and walking. |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | The view from Grouse Mountain offers stunning vistas. |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Reifel Bird Sanctuary is a great spot for birdwatching. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Spanish Banks Beach has designated bonfire areas. |
Other Services and Amenities
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Canada Post and UPS offer parcel services. |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | iRepair offers reliable gadget repair services. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Check out The Vancouver Table Tennis Club. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | CultureWorks offers English language courses. |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Vancouver Public Library is a central study spot. |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Roundhouse Community Centre offers various events. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Gaming lounges like eSports Arena Vancouver are popular. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Parq Vancouver is a major gaming destination. |
Business
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. CAD 12,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CAD 480,000). |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. CAD 7,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CAD 300,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. CAD 11,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CAD 660,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. CAD 6,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CAD 390,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. CAD 10,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CAD 800,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. CAD 5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CAD 440,000). |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | The corporate tax rate is 27%. |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | The tax rate on dividends is 25%. |
| 🏦 Tax System | Residents are taxed on worldwide income. |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | The highest personal income tax rate is 53.5%. |
| 🧾 VAT | Standard VAT rate is 5% (GST) plus 7% (PST) in BC. |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, specific rules apply to foreign subsidiaries. |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Annual property taxation is based on assessed value. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | The standard rate is 1% for properties up to CAD 200,000 and 2% on the portion above. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | Generally, digital nomads are taxed based on residency, so there may be options for non-residency in certain cases. |