Which city do you love more, Vancouver or Victoria? And why? Don't forget to reach out if you'd like a copy of my Moving to Vancouver guide absolutely free!
Hi @@thehealedwoman! Sorry, but I didn't see your message until just now. There's no contact details in your youtube profile so feel free to reach out to me directly at sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca and I'll email you the guide!
I lived in Victoria when I was studying at the Universtiy of Victoria in 2010 and it was the best time of my life. There's beaches, hills, forest, wild animals and a beautiful nature. I loved it.
Victoria is pretty great. But a lot of people will say that it’s a harder community to break into…and it’s more left leaning than even Vancouver is. How you feel about that will be subjective but it’s definitely not for everyone.
@@LivingInVancouver-BCThe only people to have a problem with "left leaning" people are bigots who can't stand that their bigotry isn't tolerated lmao. Like, be for real.
@bagelized I prefer to let people make up their own mind about what's right for them. I'm not passing judgement, just pointing out the differences that I see.
Great video! Moving from Vancouver to Victoria was the best thing for me! The constant rain in Vancouver made me so depressed and I was worried that it wouldn’t be much better in Victoria. I was wrong! Very manageable winters here! Spot on with prices!! Groceries are insane expensive here. Real estate is not cheap in Victoria either!! But compared to Vancouver yes it’s cheaper. Nice video
I've been in Victoria for 2 years and it is super easy getting around without a car. It's a very walkable & bikeable city - just one of the many things I love about this city.
@anitavirginillo Victoria certainly CAN be walkable depending on how centrally you live...but in comparison to Vancouver, Victoria is generally more car dependent (I'm trying to contrast the two in this video and otherwise, I would say Victoria is much more walkable than most other North American cities). The transit options and cycling network in Vancouver are significantly more robust than Victoria. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!
@@LivingInVancouver-BCIs that your impression, or do you have metrics to back it up (eg. number of car trips per capita annually)? Victoria being only 20 square kilometres makes it incredibly easy for cycling around. Anecdotally, I know of a growing number of younger people in Greater Victoria who don’t even have drivers’s licenses.
really well laid out comparison! I've lived in both cities but Vic for last 23 years. Only thing I'd contest is the car dependency thing. I really think the two cities are overall similar for car dependency with Vancouver's area of large surburban populations (burnaby, Coq, Surrey, RIchmond Delta) making it about on par with Victoria for car dependency. One other thing is most of our trips away from Vic are through Seattle airport not Vancouver and we've weaned ourselves off BC Ferries, albeit since Covid our link flights to Seatac have fallen from 7 per day to 2 per day(!). And finally I feel we have easier quicker access to wilderness and perhaps more places to hike within or close to the city, just 1500ft mtns not 4,000ft mountains. When I lived in Pt Grey it was about an hour just to get to North Van to go hiking or biking or to our boat in Horseshoe bay, while in Vic I am on amazing hiking trails in 10 minutes. Umm when we moved to Vic we were early 30s and missed having lots of folks like us in Vancouver, Victoria is more afflicted with locals vs outsiders, standoffishness, and fairly radical leftiness too. Not a friendly city.
Thank you so much @planesandbikes7353. I really appreciate you checking out the channel and sharing your experience. I really do feel that Vancouver has much less reliance on needing to drive than Victoria. We have far more alternatives available and our population is much more dense so it makes sense that you wouldn't have to drive as much. The Vancouver suburbs have seen significant changes and it's become much less car reliant than it once was...better bus service, skytrain, west coast express and the development of better amenities that has come with increasing populations. I spend quite a bit of time in Victoria and I've found that friends and family (unless living in or extremely close to downtown) spend much more time driving than we do here in Vancouver...but I'll grant both of our experiences are a bit anecdotal and it's not based on actual statistics (was trying to find some but couldn't). Great addition about flying out of Seatac vs YVR! It does highlight one of the impacts of being on the island...where access is not entirely in your control (going from 7 flights a day down to 2). I know many people don't mind or don't care but others can find that an issue. And yes, you are right that Victoria probably has marginally faster access to wilderness than Vancouver. Again more a factor of lower population density and therefore less traffic...but it's important to compare apples to apples. Point Grey has plenty of trails within a 10 minute drive (UBC endowment lands) PLUS amazing beaches at your doorstep...as you point out, the tradeoff is that it's further from the mountains than most areas. But from downtown it's no more than 30 minutes. And from many suburbs it's significantly faster (eg North Van, Coquitlam, Mission, etc). Anyway, once again...thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us! :)
Victoria is the retirement capital of Canada and when those well off retries pass away their stuff often ends up at Value Village or Salvation Army so there is way higher quality used goods in these stores vs elsewhere.
I feel that there is better access to hiking in Victoria than I ever had when I lived in downtown Vancouver. There are so many trails and things to do, especially when travelling up from Sooke northwards, like China Beach, French Beach. It's also a faily quick 4 hour drive to Tofino from Victoria, something my wife and I do on the regular. Plus, you can drive all the way up island to Port Hardy and see some real wild things. You can do this in Vancouver, but it's basically schlep up to Squamish before there is anything good to hike, or drive past Hope, and probably up the Coquihalla before you get to any real good hikes.
@StevenNess Fair. I don't disagree with you. I think my final conclusion was that the outdoor appeal of both cities is pretty even...but that it is (generally) a bit easier to access wilderness from Victoria than Vancouver (other than mountains). But it's marginal and it depends on what kind of wilderness you prefer (eg ocean vs mountains).
@@LivingInVancouver-BCThere are also a tonne of urban lakes in Greater Victoria (Thetis Lake, Elk Lake, Langford Lake, Glen Lake, Prospect Lake, Florence Lake, and too many more to list). If you throw a rock in any direction in Greater Victoria, it seems like there’s a 50/50 chance it’ll land in a lake. That gives the outdoorsy edge to Greater Victoria for me.
I loved Vancouver in the fifties and sixties, mainly for the mountains, Stanley Park and all the beaches. Now I dislike the terrible traffic, finding a parking spot and too many unfriendly people. Victoria is on one of the top islands on earth, skiing is only 45 minutes away near Nanaimo, buses are on time, and we have the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Tofino for all water sports.
I will definitely come to your channel again and contact you in 3-4 years because I have a plan to immigrate and live in Canada (either Vancouver or Toronto) but I wanna try my luck first in the Down Under (Australia) since it’s closer to my homeland (Indonesia) next year. I’m aware that living wage in Canada now is impossible but I still wanna try my luck, hopefully I’ll get there and may God give me enough resources to make it in Canada so I could have a better life for my future family 😃 I have always wanted to live in a city where wilderness and natures are nearby 😂 I really hope things get better in Canada in the next years so these stories about the reality of Canada today will be history in the next few years! ❤
Sounds great! I wish you the best of luck and hope that you have much success in Australia before you venture to Canada. Thank you for watching my channel and for sharing your thoughts.
First there are direct flights from Victoria to Toronto... second.. in a 5 to 10 minute walk can hop on a seaplane to Vancouver, Seattle and other places.. oh and I can walk to the ferry that takes me to Seattle or the Port Angeles.. oh and plenty of uncrowded mountain adventures within a short distance from here as well. And I can go dancing every night here in Victoria.. Easy to get around.
@leeboyko9019 All that you say is true. ✌ The point of the video is to compare Vancouver to Victoria. At no point am I slamming Victoria. It's very nice...but these are obvious differences between the two cities that I'm frankly shocked you'd take issue with. Vancouver is better connected to the region and the rest of the world, has greater and more direct mountain access and more nightlife (although no one is claiming Vancouver's nightlife is anything to brag about).
You do say case dependent at the start... you mentioned that there were no direct flights to Toronto.. that is not factually correct.. I regularly visit Vancouver and sure I can go to the Roxy but as an older man, it is very hard to find another place to dance to live music in the core area of Vancouver.
When discussing the west coast with Canadians from the east, the number one issue that seems to be brought up is cloudy, rainy, gloomy weather. Victoria, being in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountain range has half the rainfall. Summers are traditionally very dry. However, the number one negative issue living in Victoria is the horribly unreliable and expensive BC Ferries system. Large ferries frequently out of service due to maintenance issues, and long waits in lineups. The rot starts, politically, at the top of BC Ferries. A wonderful, and reliable way to leave the island is the American Coho ferry which leaves, once again reliably, from downtown Victoria arriving at Port Angeles, Washington. However, my choice of Victoria over Vancouver comes down to the “speed” of traffic and life in general.
@camrodger8638 Thanks for sharing your experience...and I think you are spot on. Victoria is definitely much drier than Vancouver and the pace of life/traffic is much more sedate. This summer has been particularly bad for ferry reliability, so I'm sure that you are feeling it more than usual! Did you move to Victoria from Vancouver?
The hard part of Victoria is the lack of high paying jobs and expensive. I feel that there is the seniors, students, public servants and the stupid wealthy. There are other, but the number of working professionals isn’t the same as other large cities such a. Vancouver.
Yeah. That's true @scottolson5498...but makes sense I think, based on the size difference between the two places and their economies...plus Victoria being the capital (eg the government jobs).
Cycling is definitely a viable option for commuting in Victoria. The cycling network isn't quite as extensive as Vancouver, but they have it...with less rain, and less vehicle traffic than Vancouver, Victoria can definitely be a good place to rely on a bike.
as a tourist I felt like downtown victoria felt safer, but was really empty. near beacon hill park it was busier then downtown with so many dogs! topaz hill didn't look great in Victoria though. Vancouver felt like it was more vibrant, and it is easier to fly home. Oddly, I felt like Nanaimo had the worst of Vancouver and Victoria- lot of homeless people on the main street, spalling city so it was hard to get around until you got to the motorway. Groceries really were more expensive on the island. Goldstream and Ammonite Falls were really easy to get to, but I enjoyed being able to go to Lynn creek by bus in Vancouver. I also found that it was easier to get out and about in Vancouver- you could hop on a plane and there were more destinations, there was the sea to sky drive, or the bus/train to seattle.
Great observations @098saw! Victoria is certainly a little sleepier and relatively more isolated than Vancouver. And, Nanaimo definitely has a reputation for being a little bit rough. Where were you visiting from?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC we were visiting from Ireland, we were thinking of doing a working holiday and decided to visit before committing. In the end we decided not to move to Canada because of the high costs, the homeless population and we felt like it could be hard to find a community. Oddly the rent wasn't something that was a negative to us, as we felt Vancouver offered better quality places to rent for a similar price in Dublin, such as having a mail box or a gym in the building
@098saw So it wasn't the cost of rent...was it the cost of beer? ;) I'm kidding of course. But, I'm curious about one of your comments. Having a mail box isn't common when renting in Dublin? How do people get their mail?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC The beer price was a reason for sure, but maybe it wasn't fair to judge based on granville island brewery prices! When I was living in an apartment in dublin there were just a letterbox, but it had no locks on it. There wasn't a way to have big parcels to be left by the courrier safely.
@098saw Ah ok. I see what you are saying. The parcel delivery option for condos/apartments is a relatively new feature as online purchasing became more common over the last decade or so. And yeah, booze in general is expensive in BC. My parents always complained in comparison to Europe.
I lived in Victoria with my wife and 2 children 24 years ago and it was beautiful. Unfortunately, it was way too expensive and we had to move back to Ontario for work and housing
Such a useful video, thank you! I'm thinking about immigrating to Canada in two-three years, and I feel like BC is my dream place to live in, partly because the nature there is very similar to my birthplace. I like less populated places like Victoria, but I'm a traditional artist and starting to teach kids this year, and I feel like in Vancouver there are more career opportunities for art-related professionals🤔 I don't know for sure, of course, but I have this kind of impression😅
@jujune787 Amazing! Really happy to hear that this video came in handy. I think you'll find that the access to nature is a bit more direct in the Victoria area but that yes, opportunities to make money are likely easier in Vancouver...both differences resulting from Vancouver being a much bigger city.
I think Victoria is more comparable to Vancouver suburbs like New Westminster. I consider Victoria a small city, while Vancouver is a major metropolitan area in many ways. After living in Victoria for over three years, I'm considering moving to the mainland and am interested in the suburbs. What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear your comments
I currently live within 10 minutes walking distance of a grocery store, and a pharmacy that are available to me 24 hours a day. I don't live in downtown Victoria, but in one of the 12 adjacent municipalities. Actually, Victoria has some of the worst rush hour traffic in Canada. Vancouver drivers are not aggressive; Victorian drivers are far too polite and more often than not they cause danger to other road users.
@jasonarthurs3885 Yes, there are certainly walkable areas in Victoria. But on the whole, it's not nearly as walkable as Vancouver...nor are car alternatives as readily available as Vancouver. And while we are speaking of driving, in my experience I've found drivers in Victoria are just not in quite the same rush as they are in Vancouver. Perhaps it is politeness, but I find a similar pace of driving in most smaller towns. I appreciate you sharing your own observations, by the way...and for watching!
I lived in Victoria in the 70's and 80's during that time rare to ever see a homeless person also there are no back alleys like in Vancouver so it is much cleaner and all the homes are very well kept rare to see home in need of repair. Things have changed since especially the homeless situation also finding work may be difficult, it's a Government town so networking is necessary to find a good job as many will not be advertised, smaller city less jobs available. If you into dining out Victoria has approximately 266 restaurants vs 3000 + in Vancouver.
I have now been living in Vancouver B.C. for about 30 years, there is just more happening in Vancouver, restaurants, entertainment venues etc. Victoria is truly the more beautiful city, there is no equivalent in Vancouver the drive along the waterfront from Uplands along beach drive all the way to Victoria. It would be very difficult me to move back to Victoria now it has such a slow pace in comparison, I do have many wonderful memories growing up there in the 70's my parents owned a 1 acre of waterfront close to 10 mile point a very beautiful place to live.
@barrondeville1866 Victoria is certainly beautiful. That drive along the waterfront along Beach Drive reminds me of Marine Drive in West Vancouver. There's a lot of beauty here, too...but we can all have our preferences. ;)
Sorry, but Victoria has a handful of mountains at its doorstep; Finlayson, Douglas; Southern Vancouver Island offers many more. The Island at large hosts yet more mountains. Yes, the Island's mountains are dwarfed by those surrounding Vancouver, but they are mountains nonetheless. Also, Victoria receives about 50% of the rain that Vancouver does.
@jasonarthurs3885 Yes. I'm aware of the geography...but it's not the same and you and I both know that. I think my point stands...Victoria is more oriented to the ocean and forests. Vancouver to the ocean, forests and mountains. You have to go quite a bit further to get into the backcountry or ski-able mountains in Victoria than in Vancouver. ...and yes, you are right about the rain (pretty sure I made that point in the video?). Victoria gets about 600mm of rain annually where Vancouver gets about 1200mm....and NORTH Vancouver nearly double THAT!
@jasonarthurs3885 but Victoria’s “mountains” are more large hills than what surrounds Vancouver. There is a distinction and it’s important that people that don’t know the two cities understand that…rather than hear that there are mountains in both cities and expect that both places have equal access. That’s why i brought up skiing. It indicates how much bigger (skiing can only occur on higher and larger mountains of course) Vancouvers mountains are (and the greater diversity of activities available).
@LivingInVancouver-BC They are literally called mountains, despite your quotation marks. I appreciate that Vancouver's mountains are larger, but those around Victoria meet the criteria, and as such, mountains they be.
I reiterate that the point I was making was about the outdoor orientation of each city. Sure, a few "mountains" exist near Victoria. And yes, I do put that in quotations because even the more significant Finlayson barely gets over the 300m standard definition for a mountain. Mount Doug does not. NO ONE moves to Victoria for the mountains...but people do come and live in Vancouver for them. The types of activities that are available in Vancouver's mountains are completely different from what is available in Victoria...things like rock climbing, mountaineering, downhill mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and access to the backcountry. These aren't criticisms of Victoria...just a recognition of the differences between the two cities.
Our firsthand experience is that Victoria property taxes are much higher than Vancouver for almost the same 2 bdrm condo in very similar type locations.
@debbielockhart7762 Yes, less rain is a definite advantage to living in Victoria (although the amount of rain that falls in Metro Vancouver ranges pretty widely...some areas are much drier on this side...like Tsawwassen or White Rock vs some that get a lot more, like Deep Cove).
@@LivingInVancouver-BC You mentioned that if you live in Victoria you have to fly out of Vancouver. As the commenter mentions, this is not true. We flew from PEI through Calgary not Vancouver last time we travelled.
Ah. Now I get it @StevenNess. I guess my point is that you have to fly through another airport >90% of the time out of Victoria. Vancouver's airport is the busiest in Western Canada and the 2nd busiest in the country so that is MUCH less likely if you live in Vancouver (although I suspect if you are going to PEI you'd probably need to stop in Montreal/Toronto along the way even from Vancouver - this might be the exception where living in Victoria or Vancouver wouldn't make a difference).
Thanks for the insight @GrowingonVancouverIsland...my point is that no one moves to Victoria for the mountains, but many move to Vancouver for that reason. The accessibility is much greater in Vancouver vs Victoria...and while Nanaimo is closer (than Victoria) to more significant mountains it's 1.5 hrs from Victoria. :)
Hey, Joshua. Welcome to Vancouver! ...and thanks for watching! I hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay. :) There's definitely a darker side to the city...but you can skirt around it pretty easily. Hopefully, we can figure out a way to help the people that need it one day...
I’m a student hoping to come school at Victoria university January 2025. Please what’s your advice for an international students. I hear a lot about cost of living 😢
Vancouver is a solid 3rd for public transit in Canada. Victoria is tiny, and you can bike anywhere in 20 minutes, so there's literally no point to taking busses unless you are physically disabled.
@DreamsOfRyleh 1. Bicycles aren't public transit. 2. No one in Victoria claims they have a better public transit system than Vancouver...they were dying for Uber to arrive to make getting around without a car actually feasible. 3. Everyone should ride their bikes more.
Well I disagree about getting around in Victoria. There is a large network of bicycle paths around downtown and out of the downtown. Many people utilize ebikes as well as the other kind and in downtown bicycle paths are croweded. I live in an area that has multiple bus lines offering ride probably every 10 minutes. And the bus network offers access to all areas around Victoria including to the ferry, airport , westshore etc. There are fewer cars than there were 10 years ago.
@lowellbuschert8150 It's tough to compare...but I think if you did compare similar distances in Vancouver to similar distances in Victoria...Vancouver does offer more options to people looking to get around without a car. Not intended as a slight, but it does make sense as Vancouver is denser and more populated so more options can be provided at a lower cost.
Did you mean it would take you that long to get to Seattle? Or did you mean that's how long it would take you to fly to San Francisco? It definitely takes longer than that to drive from Vancouver to Sf...
Thanks for checking out the channel @seanlefevre1130! I meant you can fly to San Francisco in the about the same time that it takes to drive to Victoria.
It is so hard to get my head around living in BC given all the news about the skyrocketing housing prices and problems in Vancouver including homelessness. Which is why people are moving to Calgary. What am I missing??
@dovygoodguy1296 I'm not sure what you mean by "what am I missing"? Yes, real estate is expensive. And there is homelessness...but just about every desirable city in North America is dealing with these issues in recent years. Appreciate you watching the channel, by the way! Just want to understand better how to answer your question...
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Just being in Alberta I hear all about the extremely high rental and purchase costs in Vancouver, and the higher costs of living compared to Calgary. So the question is who would come to live in Vancouver under those circumstances?
@dovygoodguy1296 Not sure, but maybe you haven't been to Vancouver before? You are basically asking me to compare the pros and cons of Vancouver (check out my past videos for more about why people want to move to Vancouver)...but ultimately, this is an equation that everyone makes on their own. Generally, skilled and educated workers do very well in Vancouver. And people that want a good balance between life and work also tend to find Vancouver a more attractive option. Many end up sacrificing a bit on the financial side to gain more elsewhere when they decide to live in Vancouver...but not everyone. I'd also point out that Calgary is no longer as inexpensive as it was. Calgary was just ranked as the most expensive city in Canada (based on typical annual expenses for a family). Calgary WAS cheaper because of a recent downturn in the oil and gas industry. Now that migrants flooded into the city costs have soared (and keep in mind Alberta has no rent control as BC does so with more people coming rents quickly get ratcheted up). Vancouver's economy is also generally much more diverse and stable than Calgary's has been.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC If you go into all this in alot of detail it would stand against all the one sided views portraying Calgary as a paradise and Vancouver as one big homeless encampment!!
Vancouver has an international airport, Victoria does not. That is a big deciding factor if you are outwardly looking. Vancouver has mountains, Victoria does not. Vancouver is a city, Victoria has a town vibe.
Hey @fitguy303. I'm curious why you feel that's true? I would think that bigger cities (like Vancouver) can be good for introverts because you can get lost in the crowd if you want to.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC There's the purposely getting lost aspect with big cities, but the crowd and hustle and bustle can be overwhelming for introverts. I think Victoria generally suits introverts overall. For extroverts, it's a 3-4 day visit, then they need to go back to Seattle or Vancouver. :)
OK. I see what you mean. I didn't identify that as an introvert vs extrovert experience...but you are right, if you don't like crowds then a place like Victoria is probably more suitable to you.
@dragonslowroller1541 i hear you! Bike camping is a lot of work…totally worth it when you are out there! Sometimes you just got to take it easy though…
Not even close…..Victoria all the way baby! I’ve lived extensively in both cities and watched Vancouver completely lose its charm with endless ghastly condos and a worsening traffic situation. Other than Stanley Park there’s nowhere to connect with nature unless you head north over the snarled bridges. Victoria has better weather and wayyyyyy more access to beaches, parks, hiking and camping etc etc etc. No comparison at all.❤️
Victoria is better if you want to feel like you are still living in Canada. If you like mass immigration (mostly Asian), move to Vancouver. Victoria seems to have more independantly owned businesses vs big chains which is nice and is quieter. I prefer Victoria but I do like the rain. The high density in Vancouver & all the problems it contributes to is becoming quite unbearable. My only fear is if the big one hits, not sure it's safe on the Island.
@richardr3511 Lots to love about both places, but we'll all have a preference. Definitely if you prefer some smaller community vibes I can understand the draw of Victoria.
If you prefer something a bit quieter, less densely populated and housing that's a bit cheaper (although still well above the Canadian average) then yeah, Victoria is attractive. I don't think I'd agree that it's the future...as in, it will never surpass Vancouver...but there are plenty of people that love it and that it makes sense for. :) Thanks for watching @rishi505!
Haha. Fair enough, @gerardcosloy6946. In my opinion, it all comes down to your personal priorities...but there's no doubt that Victoria is a wonderful place. Thanks so much for checking out the the channel and sharing your experience!
@DreamsOfRyleh I was just in Toronto. They drive WAY more aggressively than Vancouver drivers...and Vancouver drivers drive way more aggressively than Victoria drivers...and Victoria drivers drive way more aggressively than Comox Valley drivers. You go somewhere with more people (and less space), and I guarantee there's an increase in aggression. It's an adjustment driving in Toronto, Montreal, LA or NYC for me...and actually in Victoria, too. I have to remind myself to chill out a bit. :)
The fact that Victoria gets about 1000 mm of rain LESS than Vancouver in a year is enough for me. I lived in both, entertainment is way better in Vancouver but Victoria is for actually living. 🤷🤷 2:57
100% Less rain would be pretty sweet....and no doubt Victoria is lovely in many ways. However, the difference in rain amount really depends on where you are measuring. There are areas of Metro Vancouver that get similar amounts of rain to Victoria...like White Rock and Tsawassen. While Victoria gets around 900mm a year in rain, Vancouver gets just over 1,100mm (albeit measured in Richmond, I believe). Meanwhile, North Vancouver is measured as high as 2500mm.
@davonegri4025 I'm stumped...unless @lattakia3812 is talking about the US. Although, he did say "town" and not "city". Could be a smaller community on southern Vancouver Island like Langford which has seen massive growth in recent years and where things are cheaper than Victoria but are far more suburban.
@Droobiee That's correct. The idea behind the thumbnail is that after you watch this video the choice between Vancouver and Victoria will be clear to you.
@dannil9878 People that choose to live in these cities find a way...or they end up moving elsewhere at the end of the day. But, that's part of the reason I make these videos so anyone moving here knows what they're getting into.
Victoria is starting to feel like a largeish Canadian city now. The traffic is bad, there is constant construction now, there is a massive new influx of immigrants, and the political vibe is left of extreme left. It is crazy expensive too for housing and groceries etc. There is no perfect place.
No mountains near Victoria, what are you talking about? There are literally multiple mountains IN Victoria, a ridge up the peninsula, and another along the coast. It is literally nothing but mountains! Also, wind is good. Rain is bad. Fight me.
Sorry, but you are completely wrong. Sure, there are mountains within driving distance of Victoria, but they are basically a day trip. The mountains in and around Victoria are not the equivalent of what Vancouver has at it's doorstep. Victoria has a number of "mountains" that are mountains in name only. Mount Doug = 225m. Mount Tolmie = 120m. Most geologists agree that a mountain is at least 300m high. Finlayson is technically a mountain but still only 419m. Mount Work is 449m. The highest mountain near Victoria is Empress Mountain which is 680m and it's nearly an hour away. Vancouver is literally surrounded by mountains 2-4 times these heights (Seymour is 1,449m, Brunswick Mountain is 1,788m) AND they are closer. Cypress, Seymour, Mount Fromme, Skiing in Victoria? You drive to Mount Washington which is 3 hours away. In Vancouver? You have a choice of three local mountains within a 30 minute drive. Not having high mountains is actually why Victoria doesn't get as much rain as Vancouver does. The clouds drift over you and get stuck against our mountains, unloading their weight on us before rising over the north shore mountains and moving into the interior. This isn't a fair fight....although a little less rain wouldn't hurt. ;)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Don't get me wrong, North Van has better mountains than what's available inside Victoria. But thats very different from what you said about there being NO mountains in or around Victoria. Biggest difference is the lack of snow, and this lack of access to skiing. But it's easier to get to Malahat, Bear, Worth or Gowland Todd from Victoria than it is to get to Grouse from Richmond, given traffic.
Do you mean living in Vancouver or Victoria can drain your bank account @howrider65? That's basically an urban experience these days...the same in Calgary or Toronto, too.
Culture??? Please explain what you mean by that ? First Nation Culture or Colonization Culture , If you use that word focus on the diversity of said culture .
@starboy32 LOL. Really? I mean...you watched it, right? The point of the video is to lay out the comparison and let you decide for yourself. With a balanced comparison, it's "no contest" for you to decide which is better suited to you. It's also "no contest' for me personally as I continue to choose Vancouver over Victoria. In any event, appreciate you watching the video and sharing your thoughts. And let's keep comments mature and civil. 👍
@am8573 I'm not sure that's entirely true. On the surface, you are probably right. But the difference would be due to the size difference between the two cities. In my opinion, it would appear to me that Victoria has it worse per capita (in terms of issues with homelessness and drug use). Also, based on recent stats Victoria actually has a much greater issue with crime than vancouver -> www.vicnews.com/news/victorias-2021-crime-severity-highest-among-b-c-s-municipally-policed-communities-103509 (although to be fair I suspect Victoria's crime rate jumps around a lot due to being so small). But yeah, I would agree that you could probably find quieter, sleepier neighborhoods (away from the downtown core) in Victoria that are untouched by these issues...like Oak Bay for instance.
Vancouver is not warm in the summer, it is extremely mild. It is also not a big city by any stretch of the imagination; it is a tiny city by world standard and a middle sized city by American standards. It’s hard to trust your judgement when it seems like you don’t know the rest of the world exists.
You realize mild is a synonym for warm, right? This is also a video that compares a smaller city to a bigger one. To call the bigger one, big (and follow that statement with the precise population number) is hardly misinformation. I find it hilarious that THIS is the hill you are making the stand on for truth on the internet. But you do you!
Ayyy mann funny thing is i pay no attention 2 BC but ONTARIO N ALBERTA im wondering how is living der from ONTARIO TORONTO moving to CALGARYY ALBERTA gotta do ma research on BC looking 2 relocate
Which city do you love more, Vancouver or Victoria? And why? Don't forget to reach out if you'd like a copy of my Moving to Vancouver guide absolutely free!
Please I would like a copy
Hi @@thehealedwoman! Sorry, but I didn't see your message until just now. There's no contact details in your youtube profile so feel free to reach out to me directly at sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca and I'll email you the guide!
I lived in Victoria when I was studying at the Universtiy of Victoria in 2010 and it was the best time of my life. There's beaches, hills, forest, wild animals and a beautiful nature. I loved it.
No doubt about it, Victoria is a beautiful little city and a wonderful place to call home!
How are the people there?
Victoria is pretty great. But a lot of people will say that it’s a harder community to break into…and it’s more left leaning than even Vancouver is. How you feel about that will be subjective but it’s definitely not for everyone.
@@LivingInVancouver-BCThe only people to have a problem with "left leaning" people are bigots who can't stand that their bigotry isn't tolerated lmao. Like, be for real.
@bagelized I prefer to let people make up their own mind about what's right for them. I'm not passing judgement, just pointing out the differences that I see.
Great video!
Moving from Vancouver to Victoria was the best thing for me! The constant rain in Vancouver made me so depressed and I was worried that it wouldn’t be much better in Victoria. I was wrong! Very manageable winters here! Spot on with prices!! Groceries are insane expensive here.
Real estate is not cheap in Victoria either!! But compared to Vancouver yes it’s cheaper.
Nice video
Thanks, @markusgumbmann188! Appreciate you taking the time to share your experience! :)
I am currently choosing between these two cities, and this video is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
I've been in Victoria for 2 years and it is super easy getting around without a car. It's a very walkable & bikeable city - just one of the many things I love about this city.
@anitavirginillo Victoria certainly CAN be walkable depending on how centrally you live...but in comparison to Vancouver, Victoria is generally more car dependent (I'm trying to contrast the two in this video and otherwise, I would say Victoria is much more walkable than most other North American cities). The transit options and cycling network in Vancouver are significantly more robust than Victoria. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!
@@LivingInVancouver-BCIs that your impression, or do you have metrics to back it up (eg. number of car trips per capita annually)? Victoria being only 20 square kilometres makes it incredibly easy for cycling around. Anecdotally, I know of a growing number of younger people in Greater Victoria who don’t even have drivers’s licenses.
really well laid out comparison! I've lived in both cities but Vic for last 23 years. Only thing I'd contest is the car dependency thing. I really think the two cities are overall similar for car dependency with Vancouver's area of large surburban populations (burnaby, Coq, Surrey, RIchmond Delta) making it about on par with Victoria for car dependency. One other thing is most of our trips away from Vic are through Seattle airport not Vancouver and we've weaned ourselves off BC Ferries, albeit since Covid our link flights to Seatac have fallen from 7 per day to 2 per day(!). And finally I feel we have easier quicker access to wilderness and perhaps more places to hike within or close to the city, just 1500ft mtns not 4,000ft mountains. When I lived in Pt Grey it was about an hour just to get to North Van to go hiking or biking or to our boat in Horseshoe bay, while in Vic I am on amazing hiking trails in 10 minutes. Umm when we moved to Vic we were early 30s and missed having lots of folks like us in Vancouver, Victoria is more afflicted with locals vs outsiders, standoffishness, and fairly radical leftiness too. Not a friendly city.
Thank you so much @planesandbikes7353. I really appreciate you checking out the channel and sharing your experience.
I really do feel that Vancouver has much less reliance on needing to drive than Victoria. We have far more alternatives available and our population is much more dense so it makes sense that you wouldn't have to drive as much. The Vancouver suburbs have seen significant changes and it's become much less car reliant than it once was...better bus service, skytrain, west coast express and the development of better amenities that has come with increasing populations.
I spend quite a bit of time in Victoria and I've found that friends and family (unless living in or extremely close to downtown) spend much more time driving than we do here in Vancouver...but I'll grant both of our experiences are a bit anecdotal and it's not based on actual statistics (was trying to find some but couldn't).
Great addition about flying out of Seatac vs YVR! It does highlight one of the impacts of being on the island...where access is not entirely in your control (going from 7 flights a day down to 2). I know many people don't mind or don't care but others can find that an issue.
And yes, you are right that Victoria probably has marginally faster access to wilderness than Vancouver. Again more a factor of lower population density and therefore less traffic...but it's important to compare apples to apples. Point Grey has plenty of trails within a 10 minute drive (UBC endowment lands) PLUS amazing beaches at your doorstep...as you point out, the tradeoff is that it's further from the mountains than most areas. But from downtown it's no more than 30 minutes. And from many suburbs it's significantly faster (eg North Van, Coquitlam, Mission, etc).
Anyway, once again...thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us! :)
I've lived in both for 8 years respectively. Since moving to Victoria from Vancouver, I'm no longer homicidal. Nuff said.
Hahaha fair enough @jblum72! Thanks for checking out the channel and making me laugh. ;)
Victoria is the retirement capital of Canada and when those well off retries pass away their stuff often ends up at Value Village or Salvation Army so there is way higher quality used goods in these stores vs elsewhere.
@danieltaylor3396 Good point! Great thrifting in Victoria!
Wow, now I want to go thrift show in Victoria
Nice video,a very objective comparison,thank you for your work!
Thank you, @wenxingchen-mc1nj! Glad you enjoyed it…and appreciate you checking out my channel!
I feel that there is better access to hiking in Victoria than I ever had when I lived in downtown Vancouver. There are so many trails and things to do, especially when travelling up from Sooke northwards, like China Beach, French Beach. It's also a faily quick 4 hour drive to Tofino from Victoria, something my wife and I do on the regular. Plus, you can drive all the way up island to Port Hardy and see some real wild things. You can do this in Vancouver, but it's basically schlep up to Squamish before there is anything good to hike, or drive past Hope, and probably up the Coquihalla before you get to any real good hikes.
@StevenNess Fair. I don't disagree with you. I think my final conclusion was that the outdoor appeal of both cities is pretty even...but that it is (generally) a bit easier to access wilderness from Victoria than Vancouver (other than mountains). But it's marginal and it depends on what kind of wilderness you prefer (eg ocean vs mountains).
@@LivingInVancouver-BCThere are also a tonne of urban lakes in Greater Victoria (Thetis Lake, Elk Lake, Langford Lake, Glen Lake, Prospect Lake, Florence Lake, and too many more to list). If you throw a rock in any direction in Greater Victoria, it seems like there’s a 50/50 chance it’ll land in a lake. That gives the outdoorsy edge to Greater Victoria for me.
@ScrapKing73 Yes, for sure. A good point about the lakes...and I failed to mention that. :)
I loved Vancouver in the fifties and sixties, mainly for the mountains, Stanley Park and all the beaches. Now I dislike the terrible traffic, finding a parking spot and too many unfriendly people. Victoria is on one of the top islands on earth, skiing is only 45 minutes away near Nanaimo, buses are on time, and we have the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Tofino for all water sports.
I will definitely come to your channel again and contact you in 3-4 years because I have a plan to immigrate and live in Canada (either Vancouver or Toronto) but I wanna try my luck first in the Down Under (Australia) since it’s closer to my homeland (Indonesia) next year. I’m aware that living wage in Canada now is impossible but I still wanna try my luck, hopefully I’ll get there and may God give me enough resources to make it in Canada so I could have a better life for my future family 😃 I have always wanted to live in a city where wilderness and natures are nearby 😂 I really hope things get better in Canada in the next years so these stories about the reality of Canada today will be history in the next few years! ❤
Sounds great! I wish you the best of luck and hope that you have much success in Australia before you venture to Canada. Thank you for watching my channel and for sharing your thoughts.
First there are direct flights from Victoria to Toronto... second.. in a 5 to 10 minute walk can hop on a seaplane to Vancouver, Seattle and other places.. oh and I can walk to the ferry that takes me to Seattle or the Port Angeles.. oh and plenty of uncrowded mountain adventures within a short distance from here as well. And I can go dancing every night here in Victoria..
Easy to get around.
@leeboyko9019 All that you say is true. ✌
The point of the video is to compare Vancouver to Victoria. At no point am I slamming Victoria. It's very nice...but these are obvious differences between the two cities that I'm frankly shocked you'd take issue with.
Vancouver is better connected to the region and the rest of the world, has greater and more direct mountain access and more nightlife (although no one is claiming Vancouver's nightlife is anything to brag about).
You do say case dependent at the start... you mentioned that there were no direct flights to Toronto.. that is not factually correct.. I regularly visit Vancouver and sure I can go to the Roxy but as an older man, it is very hard to find another place to dance to live music in the core area of Vancouver.
👍
When discussing the west coast with Canadians from the east, the number one issue that seems to be brought up is cloudy, rainy, gloomy weather. Victoria, being in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountain range has half the rainfall. Summers are traditionally very dry. However, the number one negative issue living in Victoria is the horribly unreliable and expensive BC Ferries system. Large ferries frequently out of service due to maintenance issues, and long waits in lineups. The rot starts, politically, at the top of BC Ferries. A wonderful, and reliable way to leave the island is the American Coho ferry which leaves, once again reliably, from downtown Victoria arriving at Port Angeles, Washington.
However, my choice of Victoria over Vancouver comes down to the “speed” of traffic and life in general.
@camrodger8638 Thanks for sharing your experience...and I think you are spot on. Victoria is definitely much drier than Vancouver and the pace of life/traffic is much more sedate. This summer has been particularly bad for ferry reliability, so I'm sure that you are feeling it more than usual! Did you move to Victoria from Vancouver?
The hard part of Victoria is the lack of high paying jobs and expensive. I feel that there is the seniors, students, public servants and the stupid wealthy. There are other, but the number of working professionals isn’t the same as other large cities such a. Vancouver.
Yeah. That's true @scottolson5498...but makes sense I think, based on the size difference between the two places and their economies...plus Victoria being the capital (eg the government jobs).
How about cycling in Victoria? Is that a viable means to go around the city?
Cycling is definitely a viable option for commuting in Victoria. The cycling network isn't quite as extensive as Vancouver, but they have it...with less rain, and less vehicle traffic than Vancouver, Victoria can definitely be a good place to rely on a bike.
The heavy rain days are not fun to ride in but summer you bike everywhere,the trails are actually getting some heavy bike traffic nowadays
Appreciate you sharing your experience of biking in Victoria @mattdobbs-dr2rt!
as a tourist I felt like downtown victoria felt safer, but was really empty. near beacon hill park it was busier then downtown with so many dogs! topaz hill didn't look great in Victoria though. Vancouver felt like it was more vibrant, and it is easier to fly home. Oddly, I felt like Nanaimo had the worst of Vancouver and Victoria- lot of homeless people on the main street, spalling city so it was hard to get around until you got to the motorway. Groceries really were more expensive on the island. Goldstream and Ammonite Falls were really easy to get to, but I enjoyed being able to go to Lynn creek by bus in Vancouver. I also found that it was easier to get out and about in Vancouver- you could hop on a plane and there were more destinations, there was the sea to sky drive, or the bus/train to seattle.
Great observations @098saw! Victoria is certainly a little sleepier and relatively more isolated than Vancouver. And, Nanaimo definitely has a reputation for being a little bit rough. Where were you visiting from?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC we were visiting from Ireland, we were thinking of doing a working holiday and decided to visit before committing. In the end we decided not to move to Canada because of the high costs, the homeless population and we felt like it could be hard to find a community. Oddly the rent wasn't something that was a negative to us, as we felt Vancouver offered better quality places to rent for a similar price in Dublin, such as having a mail box or a gym in the building
@098saw So it wasn't the cost of rent...was it the cost of beer? ;) I'm kidding of course. But, I'm curious about one of your comments. Having a mail box isn't common when renting in Dublin? How do people get their mail?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC The beer price was a reason for sure, but maybe it wasn't fair to judge based on granville island brewery prices! When I was living in an apartment in dublin there were just a letterbox, but it had no locks on it. There wasn't a way to have big parcels to be left by the courrier safely.
@098saw Ah ok. I see what you are saying. The parcel delivery option for condos/apartments is a relatively new feature as online purchasing became more common over the last decade or so. And yeah, booze in general is expensive in BC. My parents always complained in comparison to Europe.
Ever since having moved from Vancouver to Victoria, im no longer depressed :) only downside of living Victoria is farther from YVR that’s all!
Victoria definitely has a more relaxed vibe, so I can imagine that would be a very positive change @writteninthestarz!
I lived in Victoria with my wife and 2 children 24 years ago and it was beautiful. Unfortunately, it was way too expensive and we had to move back to Ontario for work and housing
Thanks for sharing @stevewaller175. Appreciate you watching! Hopefully, when you can move back to the Victoria area one day!
Such a useful video, thank you! I'm thinking about immigrating to Canada in two-three years, and I feel like BC is my dream place to live in, partly because the nature there is very similar to my birthplace. I like less populated places like Victoria, but I'm a traditional artist and starting to teach kids this year, and I feel like in Vancouver there are more career opportunities for art-related professionals🤔 I don't know for sure, of course, but I have this kind of impression😅
@jujune787 Amazing! Really happy to hear that this video came in handy. I think you'll find that the access to nature is a bit more direct in the Victoria area but that yes, opportunities to make money are likely easier in Vancouver...both differences resulting from Vancouver being a much bigger city.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Sounds reasonable, thank you!:))
:)
I think Victoria is more comparable to Vancouver suburbs like New Westminster. I consider Victoria a small city, while Vancouver is a major metropolitan area in many ways. After living in Victoria for over three years, I'm considering moving to the mainland and am interested in the suburbs. What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear your comments
I currently live within 10 minutes walking distance of a grocery store, and a pharmacy that are available to me 24 hours a day. I don't live in downtown Victoria, but in one of the 12 adjacent municipalities.
Actually, Victoria has some of the worst rush hour traffic in Canada.
Vancouver drivers are not aggressive; Victorian drivers are far too polite and more often than not they cause danger to other road users.
@jasonarthurs3885 Yes, there are certainly walkable areas in Victoria. But on the whole, it's not nearly as walkable as Vancouver...nor are car alternatives as readily available as Vancouver. And while we are speaking of driving, in my experience I've found drivers in Victoria are just not in quite the same rush as they are in Vancouver. Perhaps it is politeness, but I find a similar pace of driving in most smaller towns.
I appreciate you sharing your own observations, by the way...and for watching!
I lived in Victoria in the 70's and 80's during that time rare to ever see a homeless person also there are no back alleys like in Vancouver so it is much cleaner and all the homes are very well kept rare to see home in need of repair. Things have changed since especially the homeless situation also finding work may be difficult, it's a Government town so networking is necessary to find a good job as many will not be advertised, smaller city less jobs available. If you into dining out Victoria has approximately 266 restaurants vs 3000 + in Vancouver.
@barrondeville1866 Thanks for watching and sharing your observations. Where did you move after living in Victoria?
I have now been living in Vancouver B.C. for about 30 years, there is just more happening in Vancouver, restaurants, entertainment venues etc. Victoria is truly the more beautiful city, there is no equivalent in Vancouver the drive along the waterfront from Uplands along beach drive all the way to Victoria. It would be very difficult me to move back to Victoria now it has such a slow pace in comparison, I do have many wonderful memories growing up there in the 70's my parents owned a 1 acre of waterfront close to 10 mile point a very beautiful place to live.
@barrondeville1866 Victoria is certainly beautiful. That drive along the waterfront along Beach Drive reminds me of Marine Drive in West Vancouver. There's a lot of beauty here, too...but we can all have our preferences. ;)
I’m hoping to come school at Victoria in winter. Since you schooled there what’s your advice for an international student from Nigeria
Sorry, but Victoria has a handful of mountains at its doorstep; Finlayson, Douglas; Southern Vancouver Island offers many more. The Island at large hosts yet more mountains. Yes, the Island's mountains are dwarfed by those surrounding Vancouver, but they are mountains nonetheless.
Also, Victoria receives about 50% of the rain that Vancouver does.
@jasonarthurs3885 Yes. I'm aware of the geography...but it's not the same and you and I both know that. I think my point stands...Victoria is more oriented to the ocean and forests. Vancouver to the ocean, forests and mountains. You have to go quite a bit further to get into the backcountry or ski-able mountains in Victoria than in Vancouver.
...and yes, you are right about the rain (pretty sure I made that point in the video?). Victoria gets about 600mm of rain annually where Vancouver gets about 1200mm....and NORTH Vancouver nearly double THAT!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I was merely making the distinction that mountains are accessible from Victoria. The sudden "skiing" criteria is strange.
@jasonarthurs3885 but Victoria’s “mountains” are more large hills than what surrounds Vancouver. There is a distinction and it’s important that people that don’t know the two cities understand that…rather than hear that there are mountains in both cities and expect that both places have equal access. That’s why i brought up skiing. It indicates how much bigger (skiing can only occur on higher and larger mountains of course) Vancouvers mountains are (and the greater diversity of activities available).
@LivingInVancouver-BC They are literally called mountains, despite your quotation marks.
I appreciate that Vancouver's mountains are larger, but those around Victoria meet the criteria, and as such, mountains they be.
I reiterate that the point I was making was about the outdoor orientation of each city. Sure, a few "mountains" exist near Victoria. And yes, I do put that in quotations because even the more significant Finlayson barely gets over the 300m standard definition for a mountain. Mount Doug does not. NO ONE moves to Victoria for the mountains...but people do come and live in Vancouver for them.
The types of activities that are available in Vancouver's mountains are completely different from what is available in Victoria...things like rock climbing, mountaineering, downhill mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and access to the backcountry. These aren't criticisms of Victoria...just a recognition of the differences between the two cities.
Our firsthand experience is that Victoria property taxes are much higher than Vancouver for almost the same 2 bdrm condo in very similar type locations.
Yeah. That's very true. The mill rate in Victoria is about 2X what it is in Vancouver.
Victoria by miles. We get 1/2 the dismal rain, and we have incredible beauty.
@debbielockhart7762 Yes, less rain is a definite advantage to living in Victoria (although the amount of rain that falls in Metro Vancouver ranges pretty widely...some areas are much drier on this side...like Tsawwassen or White Rock vs some that get a lot more, like Deep Cove).
Actually, the majority of flights leaving VI are destined for Calgary.
I feel this comment was in response to something that I said in the video...but I'm not sure what it might be?
@@LivingInVancouver-BC You mentioned that if you live in Victoria you have to fly out of Vancouver. As the commenter mentions, this is not true. We flew from PEI through Calgary not Vancouver last time we travelled.
Ah. Now I get it @StevenNess. I guess my point is that you have to fly through another airport >90% of the time out of Victoria. Vancouver's airport is the busiest in Western Canada and the 2nd busiest in the country so that is MUCH less likely if you live in Vancouver (although I suspect if you are going to PEI you'd probably need to stop in Montreal/Toronto along the way even from Vancouver - this might be the exception where living in Victoria or Vancouver wouldn't make a difference).
Nanaimo has great mountain access snd its pretty close to Victoria
Thanks for the insight @GrowingonVancouverIsland...my point is that no one moves to Victoria for the mountains, but many move to Vancouver for that reason. The accessibility is much greater in Vancouver vs Victoria...and while Nanaimo is closer (than Victoria) to more significant mountains it's 1.5 hrs from Victoria. :)
In Vancouver now...really enjoying the city with the exception of the couple of zombie filled neighborhoods😂
Hey, Joshua. Welcome to Vancouver! ...and thanks for watching! I hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay. :)
There's definitely a darker side to the city...but you can skirt around it pretty easily. Hopefully, we can figure out a way to help the people that need it one day...
Vancouver Island in general gets alot of wind
@GrowingonVancouverIsland For sure. You give us a nice wind block from the Pacific Ocean here in Vancouver. ;)
Depends where you live in Victoria. We get very little wind in View Royal.
@maryloulauren8108 Fair enough. I'm sure that there are areas that are better protected than others.
I’m a student hoping to come school at Victoria university January 2025. Please what’s your advice for an international students. I hear a lot about cost of living 😢
Vancouver is a solid 3rd for public transit in Canada. Victoria is tiny, and you can bike anywhere in 20 minutes, so there's literally no point to taking busses unless you are physically disabled.
@DreamsOfRyleh 1. Bicycles aren't public transit. 2. No one in Victoria claims they have a better public transit system than Vancouver...they were dying for Uber to arrive to make getting around without a car actually feasible. 3. Everyone should ride their bikes more.
Well I disagree about getting around in Victoria. There is a large network of bicycle paths around downtown and out of the downtown. Many people utilize ebikes as well as the other kind and in downtown bicycle paths are croweded. I live in an area that has multiple bus lines offering ride probably every 10 minutes. And the bus network offers access to all areas around Victoria including to the ferry, airport , westshore etc. There are fewer cars than there were 10 years ago.
@lowellbuschert8150 It's tough to compare...but I think if you did compare similar distances in Vancouver to similar distances in Victoria...Vancouver does offer more options to people looking to get around without a car. Not intended as a slight, but it does make sense as Vancouver is denser and more populated so more options can be provided at a lower cost.
Did you mean it would take you that long to get to Seattle? Or did you mean that's how long it would take you to fly to San Francisco? It definitely takes longer than that to drive from Vancouver to Sf...
Thanks for checking out the channel @seanlefevre1130! I meant you can fly to San Francisco in the about the same time that it takes to drive to Victoria.
It is so hard to get my head around living in BC given all the news about the skyrocketing housing prices and problems in Vancouver including homelessness. Which is why people are moving to Calgary. What am I missing??
@dovygoodguy1296 I'm not sure what you mean by "what am I missing"? Yes, real estate is expensive. And there is homelessness...but just about every desirable city in North America is dealing with these issues in recent years. Appreciate you watching the channel, by the way! Just want to understand better how to answer your question...
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Just being in Alberta I hear all about the extremely high rental and purchase costs in Vancouver, and the higher costs of living compared to Calgary. So the question is who would come to live in Vancouver under those circumstances?
@dovygoodguy1296 Not sure, but maybe you haven't been to Vancouver before? You are basically asking me to compare the pros and cons of Vancouver (check out my past videos for more about why people want to move to Vancouver)...but ultimately, this is an equation that everyone makes on their own. Generally, skilled and educated workers do very well in Vancouver. And people that want a good balance between life and work also tend to find Vancouver a more attractive option. Many end up sacrificing a bit on the financial side to gain more elsewhere when they decide to live in Vancouver...but not everyone. I'd also point out that Calgary is no longer as inexpensive as it was. Calgary was just ranked as the most expensive city in Canada (based on typical annual expenses for a family). Calgary WAS cheaper because of a recent downturn in the oil and gas industry. Now that migrants flooded into the city costs have soared (and keep in mind Alberta has no rent control as BC does so with more people coming rents quickly get ratcheted up). Vancouver's economy is also generally much more diverse and stable than Calgary's has been.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC If you go into all this in alot of detail it would stand against all the one sided views portraying Calgary as a paradise and Vancouver as one big homeless encampment!!
@dovygoodguy1296 It all depends on what you are looking for and what's important to you, I think. Both can be great for the right kind of person.
Vancouver has an international airport, Victoria does not. That is a big deciding factor if you are outwardly looking.
Vancouver has mountains, Victoria does not.
Vancouver is a city, Victoria has a town vibe.
Let me see.....Vancouver or Victoria....having been born in the first, and lived in the other over twenty years....I would choose....Kamloops.
@TheWolfsnack Hahaha. Fair enough! We aren't for everyone. ;) Glad to hear that you found a place that you feel at home in.
If you identify as an introvert, it's Victoria hands down. Your extrovert friends can visit, but they wouldn't like living there.
Hey @fitguy303. I'm curious why you feel that's true? I would think that bigger cities (like Vancouver) can be good for introverts because you can get lost in the crowd if you want to.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC There's the purposely getting lost aspect with big cities, but the crowd and hustle and bustle can be overwhelming for introverts. I think Victoria generally suits introverts overall. For extroverts, it's a 3-4 day visit, then they need to go back to Seattle or Vancouver. :)
OK. I see what you mean. I didn't identify that as an introvert vs extrovert experience...but you are right, if you don't like crowds then a place like Victoria is probably more suitable to you.
I been inside unable to go bike camping for over a week , i kinda feel lazy .
@dragonslowroller1541 i hear you! Bike camping is a lot of work…totally worth it when you are out there! Sometimes you just got to take it easy though…
Not even close…..Victoria all the way baby! I’ve lived extensively in both cities and watched Vancouver completely lose its charm with endless ghastly condos and a worsening traffic situation. Other than Stanley Park there’s nowhere to connect with nature unless you head north over the snarled bridges. Victoria has better weather and wayyyyyy more access to beaches, parks, hiking and camping etc etc etc. No comparison at all.❤️
@Dan-nt2yb Glad to hear that you are happy with where you live. Appreciate you watching the channel and sharing your opinion!
Victoria is better if you want to feel like you are still living in Canada. If you like mass immigration (mostly Asian), move to Vancouver. Victoria seems to have more independantly owned businesses vs big chains which is nice and is quieter. I prefer Victoria but I do like the rain. The high density in Vancouver & all the problems it contributes to is becoming quite unbearable. My only fear is if the big one hits, not sure it's safe on the Island.
@richardr3511 Lots to love about both places, but we'll all have a preference. Definitely if you prefer some smaller community vibes I can understand the draw of Victoria.
I LIVE IN Vancouver but it is way too expensive and crowdy .Victoria is good and future is there
If you prefer something a bit quieter, less densely populated and housing that's a bit cheaper (although still well above the Canadian average) then yeah, Victoria is attractive. I don't think I'd agree that it's the future...as in, it will never surpass Vancouver...but there are plenty of people that love it and that it makes sense for. :) Thanks for watching @rishi505!
Victoria is better. Duh.. A Victoria native.
Haha. Fair enough, @gerardcosloy6946. In my opinion, it all comes down to your personal priorities...but there's no doubt that Victoria is a wonderful place. Thanks so much for checking out the the channel and sharing your experience!
Also, I grew up in Toronto, and Vancouver drivers scare me.
@DreamsOfRyleh I was just in Toronto. They drive WAY more aggressively than Vancouver drivers...and Vancouver drivers drive way more aggressively than Victoria drivers...and Victoria drivers drive way more aggressively than Comox Valley drivers. You go somewhere with more people (and less space), and I guarantee there's an increase in aggression. It's an adjustment driving in Toronto, Montreal, LA or NYC for me...and actually in Victoria, too. I have to remind myself to chill out a bit. :)
VICTORIA IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Victoria has a lot going for it, that's for sure! Is that where you live @mikepaul1216?
yes@@LivingInVancouver-BC
Cool…did i miss anything in the video do you think?
Victoria is * fine *
LOL There's always the other side of the coin @spottedowl23! ;)
The fact that Victoria gets about 1000 mm of rain LESS than Vancouver in a year is enough for me. I lived in both, entertainment is way better in Vancouver but Victoria is for actually living. 🤷🤷 2:57
100% Less rain would be pretty sweet....and no doubt Victoria is lovely in many ways.
However, the difference in rain amount really depends on where you are measuring. There are areas of Metro Vancouver that get similar amounts of rain to Victoria...like White Rock and Tsawassen. While Victoria gets around 900mm a year in rain, Vancouver gets just over 1,100mm (albeit measured in Richmond, I believe). Meanwhile, North Vancouver is measured as high as 2500mm.
Victoria has better seaside & beaches. Vancouver is better for skiing, hiking & access to rain & wet weather
Agreed. That’s pretty accurate! :)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I found a great town has the same weather as Victoria but cheaper apartments. Looking to move there from Vancouver
Oh, interesting. Where is that?
@@lattakia3812interesting, which city?
@davonegri4025 I'm stumped...unless @lattakia3812 is talking about the US. Although, he did say "town" and not "city". Could be a smaller community on southern Vancouver Island like Langford which has seen massive growth in recent years and where things are cheaper than Victoria but are far more suburban.
Title photo listed as "no contest" - proceeds to describe a contest.
@Droobiee That's correct. The idea behind the thumbnail is that after you watch this video the choice between Vancouver and Victoria will be clear to you.
Thank u
@jenniferquinones3031 You are most welcome! :) Thanks for watching.
How do you afford to live in these cities?
@dannil9878 People that choose to live in these cities find a way...or they end up moving elsewhere at the end of the day. But, that's part of the reason I make these videos so anyone moving here knows what they're getting into.
Victoria is starting to feel like a largeish Canadian city now. The traffic is bad, there is constant construction now, there is a massive new influx of immigrants, and the political vibe is left of extreme left. It is crazy expensive too for housing and groceries etc. There is no perfect place.
No mountains near Victoria, what are you talking about? There are literally multiple mountains IN Victoria, a ridge up the peninsula, and another along the coast. It is literally nothing but mountains!
Also, wind is good. Rain is bad. Fight me.
Sorry, but you are completely wrong. Sure, there are mountains within driving distance of Victoria, but they are basically a day trip. The mountains in and around Victoria are not the equivalent of what Vancouver has at it's doorstep.
Victoria has a number of "mountains" that are mountains in name only. Mount Doug = 225m. Mount Tolmie = 120m. Most geologists agree that a mountain is at least 300m high. Finlayson is technically a mountain but still only 419m. Mount Work is 449m. The highest mountain near Victoria is Empress Mountain which is 680m and it's nearly an hour away.
Vancouver is literally surrounded by mountains 2-4 times these heights (Seymour is 1,449m, Brunswick Mountain is 1,788m) AND they are closer. Cypress, Seymour, Mount Fromme,
Skiing in Victoria? You drive to Mount Washington which is 3 hours away. In Vancouver? You have a choice of three local mountains within a 30 minute drive.
Not having high mountains is actually why Victoria doesn't get as much rain as Vancouver does. The clouds drift over you and get stuck against our mountains, unloading their weight on us before rising over the north shore mountains and moving into the interior.
This isn't a fair fight....although a little less rain wouldn't hurt. ;)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Don't get me wrong, North Van has better mountains than what's available inside Victoria. But thats very different from what you said about there being NO mountains in or around Victoria.
Biggest difference is the lack of snow, and this lack of access to skiing. But it's easier to get to Malahat, Bear, Worth or Gowland Todd from Victoria than it is to get to Grouse from Richmond, given traffic.
They have a lot to offer yeah, they can drain your bank account in one year.
Do you mean living in Vancouver or Victoria can drain your bank account @howrider65? That's basically an urban experience these days...the same in Calgary or Toronto, too.
Culture??? Please explain what you mean by that ? First Nation Culture or Colonization Culture , If you use that word focus on the diversity of said culture .
@smarmitch This isn't a political manifesto or a doctoral dissertation, it's a youtube video. Relax.
you can't put "no brainer" on the thumbnail and then not have a solid stance on which is better numnuts
@starboy32 LOL. Really? I mean...you watched it, right? The point of the video is to lay out the comparison and let you decide for yourself. With a balanced comparison, it's "no contest" for you to decide which is better suited to you. It's also "no contest' for me personally as I continue to choose Vancouver over Victoria.
In any event, appreciate you watching the video and sharing your thoughts. And let's keep comments mature and civil. 👍
Crime, homeless in the streets, and visible drug use is muchhhhh lower in Victoria.
@am8573 I'm not sure that's entirely true. On the surface, you are probably right. But the difference would be due to the size difference between the two cities. In my opinion, it would appear to me that Victoria has it worse per capita (in terms of issues with homelessness and drug use). Also, based on recent stats Victoria actually has a much greater issue with crime than vancouver -> www.vicnews.com/news/victorias-2021-crime-severity-highest-among-b-c-s-municipally-policed-communities-103509 (although to be fair I suspect Victoria's crime rate jumps around a lot due to being so small). But yeah, I would agree that you could probably find quieter, sleepier neighborhoods (away from the downtown core) in Victoria that are untouched by these issues...like Oak Bay for instance.
The potable water supply in Victoria really smells bad though
@suekuan1540 Hmm. That's not something that I've ever noticed...perhaps you were in an area that had a separate water supply?
You may have been in an area with well water. City water is clean
@13odman That's what I was thinking. :)
Vancouver is not warm in the summer, it is extremely mild. It is also not a big city by any stretch of the imagination; it is a tiny city by world standard and a middle sized city by American standards. It’s hard to trust your judgement when it seems like you don’t know the rest of the world exists.
LOL. I do love the internet.
Thanks for watching @pairofkingsup....and I hope that the rest of your day gets a lot better for you.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC thanks, you too. Maybe next time you’ll do more research on a topic before spreading misinformation on the internet ;)
You realize mild is a synonym for warm, right? This is also a video that compares a smaller city to a bigger one. To call the bigger one, big (and follow that statement with the precise population number) is hardly misinformation.
I find it hilarious that THIS is the hill you are making the stand on for truth on the internet. But you do you!
Both have a junkie problem
@jamiehill9137 Unfortunately, it's an epidemic in nearly every town and city these days...
Vancouver is better. Victoria is full of entitlement
@SpottedOwl23 Hmm. Interesting. How did you experience that entitlement?
Do you want drugs and addicts . . . or drugs and addicts?
Which one is which?
Neither are good. Both cities have turned into congested crime-ridden dumps.
@bcdave91 I'm guessing you aren't a fan of city life? :)
Ayyy mann funny thing is i pay no attention 2 BC but ONTARIO N ALBERTA im wondering how is living der from ONTARIO TORONTO moving to CALGARYY ALBERTA gotta do ma research on BC looking 2 relocate
@LOU-bg2wu This channel is a great place to start your research in moving to Vancouver. Best of luck!