The other day I was walking the seawall with my family from out of town. It was a gorgeous day, the sun was shining, we had yummy (over priced) iced lattes in hand, and my cousins were saying just how much they wished they lived here and how Vancouver is so awesome, the best city in the world, and all that. And yes, while I agree I do love Vancouver, and growing up in such a beautiful city is a massive privilege that I am sooo grateful for I think there are definitely some pros and cons that come with living in Vancouver. 

To start off there is no doubt that Vancouver is breathtaking. I mean c’mon, what city can you go snowboarding in, hike in, and visit the beach all in one day, not that many. The city is between the Pacific Ocean and the West Coast Mountains, wherever you are in the city you can catch a gorgeous view. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast then it really is the dream. With so many trails to explore and beaches to visit you definitely will never run dry of things to do. Vancouver is literally surrounded by nature, and as someone who grew up spending my weekends in the mountains, I wouldn’t trade that for the world and cannot imagine not having that easy access to the mountains. Definitely something I would never take for granted. 

Canadian winters can be harsh, but Vancouver doesn’t really see those blizzards and crazy cold temperatures that the Eastern side of Canada sees. I mean yes, Vancouver gets an excessive amount of rain, (it’s not called Raincouver for no reason) but I’d rather take a rainy day over a day in the snow shovelling out my car and defrosting it just to get to work. The Fall is generally pretty warm and those nice crisp sunny days are always beautiful. Spring does see a lot of rain but as soon as mid May comes around it’s T-shirt weather. I think the Summers are unbeatable. It’s scorching out but warm enough to splash around in the ocean, Vancouver Summers are arguably the best in Canada. Another major plus is we don’t see a lot of mosquitoes in the Summer where as you head East, mosquito central in the Summer. 

The diversity in Vancouver is truly unmatched, from the food to the people, there is a little bit of everything. Vancouver is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada with a lot of the residents coming from all around the world. This diversity is reflected in Vancouver’s neighbourhoods, restaurants, festivals, and daily life. Whether you’re craving authentic Chinese dim sum, sushi, Indian curry, or delicious Italian pasta, there is seriously no shortage of good eats in and around the city!  Vancouver hosts numerous cultural festivals throughout the year, such as the Vancouver International Film Festival, Chinese New Year festivals, and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival there is always something going on for everyone! 

Vancouver is not short of sports teams! Vancouver is lucky to have a number of professional sports teams making it a great thing to do if you have the night off. Head down to Rogers Arena and catch a Warriors or Canucks game, or if you’re a soccer fan, BC Place has got you covered with the Whitecaps! 

But, as it is with every city, there are always some negatives that come along with it. 

Traffic, traffic, traffic, and more traffic. To be honest it’s gotten to the point where I just avoid the busy areas during rush hour. You will never catch me trying to cross the Lions Gate bridge around 5:00. Getting around can be really frustrating, but the public transit is super easy to figure out and super convenient (and affordable) so that’s just another positive. If you are driving, be prepared for outrageous parking prices and ruthless ticketers not afraid to tow your car. It is safe to say that I’ve had my fair share of parking tickets and take this from the pro, even just being a minute over with your parking can result in an astonishing $90 ticket. Be punctual. 

While I do feel like this is starting to become a problem everywhere, Vancouver’s cost of living is ridiculously insane. Necessities like gas and groceries are honestly outrageous, I don’t remember the last time I filled my gas tank to full! It also feels like I go into the grocery store and walk out with one bag of groceries that adds up to over $100! 

I mentioned that I’d take the rainy weather over the snow any day but some people just aren’t down with living under constant cloud coverage. If you enjoy clear skies, not having to lug an umbrella around everywhere, and ditching a raincoat, I hate to break it to you, but Vancouver is not your city then. 

I was born and raised in Vancouver so I’ve never really experienced this problem first hand, but a lot of people that make the move to Vancouver say that it is near impossible to make friends. But I can get it, if you don’t have a car the city and surrounding suburbs are pretty spread out and transit does stop around 1am, so if you’re planning a late night out, getting home can be hard. I do have to say I think it’s all about your day to day life and the whole friends thing can be super subjective. If you’re a student coming to school or starting a new job, that’s a great way to meet people, ultimately I think it’s all about just putting yourself out there. 

I do have to say, in my opinion, the positives outweigh the negatives by a lot. Living in Vancouver is a dream and it really does hit all the marks for me. Like any major city, Vancouver has its ups and downs, and what works for one person may not work for another. Ultimately, the decision to live in Vancouver comes down to your personal priorities. If you value nature, a vibrant cultural scene, and a mild climate, Vancouver may be the perfect place for you. But if you’re looking for affordable housing or a low cost of living, you may need to think twice before making the move. A lot of my friends are looking forward to the future and getting out of Vancouver, but for me, I’d happily live out my days here, enjoying my walks on the seawall, the gorgeous trails in the mountains, and of course, those cozy rainy days inside.