Is Vancouver a Good Place to Live? 2026 Honest Review (Seriously, Don’t Ask Me)

okay, so like, i’m pretty sure i haven’t slept more than six hours straight in six months. i’m fueled by lukewarm coffee and the vague terror of missing a gig. but i’ve been spending the last few weeks bouncing around Vancouver, trying to figure out if it’s actually worth the hype. and honestly? it’s… complicated. like, a really, really complicated, rain-soaked, overpriced kind of complicated.

first off, the weather. it’s not ‘rainy.’ it’s ‘atmospheric.’ it’s like the sky is perpetually judging you with a gentle, persistent drizzle. it’s the kind of rain that makes your shoes squelch and your hair frizz in a way that’s both deeply unsettling and strangely beautiful. it’s like living inside a watercolor painting, constantly shifting shades of grey and green. and don’t even get me started on the ‘ocean mist’ - it’s basically just dampness. you’re a short flight away from Seattle, which is… a whole other level of grey. and a surprisingly decent craft beer scene, if you’re into that.

my dude, Liam, a session drummer i met at a dive bar in Gastown (seriously, the smells), told me, "Look, it’s beautiful, yeah? but it’s like, aggressively beautiful. everyone’s trying to be cool, and it costs a fortune. you’ll spend more on avocado toast than rent, probably."

he wasn’t wrong. i’ve been tracking the cost of living - and it’s brutal. according to Numbeo, renting a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Vancouver will set you back around $2,800 a month. groceries? $600-800. and don’t think you can live off ramen and instant coffee - that’ll cost you another $200 a month. check out this breakdown: Numbeo Vancouver Cost of Living.


*Job Market: The tech sector is booming, which is good, but competition is insane. I’ve been hitting up r/VancouverJobs - it’s a chaotic mess of hopefuls and desperate souls. Reddit r/VancouverJobs. Creative gigs are… harder. You’ll need a portfolio that screams ‘I’m talented and slightly unhinged.’

Neighborhood Vibes: I’ve been bouncing between Kitsilano (pretentious but pretty) and Mount Pleasant (surprisingly gritty and full of cool cafes). I overheard a group of art students at a pop-up gallery in Main Street saying, “It’s like, the aesthetic is everything here. You have to curate your life to look effortlessly cool, even if you’re just eating takeout.” Deep, right?


> “Don’t even think about moving here without a trust fund,” a barista at a place called “The Daily Grind” (seriously, the name) warned me. “The rent alone will eat you alive. And the rain… the rain will eat your soul.”


Safety: Vancouver’s generally pretty safe, but there are pockets of… well, let’s just say ‘roughness.’ I got a weird vibe walking through certain parts of Downtown Eastside. I’m not saying it’s dangerous, but it’s definitely not the postcard-perfect paradise everyone talks about. Check out the Vancouver Police Department’s crime statistics: Vancouver Police Crime Stats.

What I Like: The scenery is genuinely breathtaking. Stanley Park is massive and amazing. There’s a thriving music scene (if you can find it). And the people are… mostly nice.

What I Don’t Like: The price. The rain. The pressure to be ‘cool.’ The fact that I’m pretty sure I’m developing a permanent dampness in my bones.


Pro-Tip (from a perpetually exhausted freelancer): Invest in a really good waterproof jacket. Seriously. Like, a really good one. And learn to love the smell of wet concrete. Also, don’t try to be someone you’re not. Vancouver will chew you up and spit you out if you do.


Gear List (because I’m a photographer, obviously):* Waterproof camera bag, lens wipes, extra batteries, a ridiculously oversized umbrella, and a healthy dose of cynicism. Tripadvisor Vancouver for things to do (assuming you can afford them).


honestly, it’s a tough call. it’s beautiful, it’s vibrant (in a grey, drizzly way), and it’s expensive. it’s a place where dreams go to get slightly soggy. i’m still figuring it out. probably going to move to Portland next month. wish me luck.

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