Vancouver, North America’s most expensive city
Also, Vancouver housing market is 2nd least affordable in the world.
One of my future posts is a list of 10 cities that I have traveled to and I would like to live in. Vancouver is so far at the top of the list, but ‘unfortunately’ many people seem to think the same.
“The idea is that, ‘I want to be here so badly that I’m willing to pay higher rent and make lower salary,’ ” said Tsur Somerville, a real-estate expert and professor at the University of B.C.’s Sauder School of Business, in a Vancouver Province newspaper report.
Vancouver’s average house price was $621,300 and average household income $65,200.
Hong Kong is the most unaffordable and Detroit is the most affordable major market.
And going back to the list of expensive cities to live in, New York and Los Angeles tied for being most expensive in the U.S. Globally, the two cities ranked 27th. Internationally, Tokyo was ranked the most expensive. This is a familiar position for the Japanese capital which has been the world’s most expensive city for all but a handful of the last 20 years. In fact, since 1992 Tokyo has been the ranking city in every year bar six. Only Zurich, Paris and Oslo were dubbed the world’s most expensive city during this time.
View from the Park Inn Hotel, Vancouver Mission Accomplished and Best Hotel View 
I visited Vancouver for a Conference last year. From a tourist’s, I wasn’t impressed. It seemed like a great base for outdoor activities, but the city itself seemed generic. That said, it looked like a really liveable city: clean, decent public transportation, nice homes, close to the mountains. Still, I don’t see a reason to go back to vacation.
Vancouver is a beautiful city. I was there this summer and just found that there was an incredible amount to do, the weather was just perfect (though others will tell you it’s sometimes a bit too rainy), a perfect launchpad for outdoor activities, touts some really good food and has a nice cozy feel for a big city. Views are absolutely stunning from the city.
I’m from Toronto and there’s simply way more to see and do I find in Vancouver and would totally live there one day.
Wow, I’ve heard Vancouver called many things, but “generic” sure isn’t one of them! You missed out my friend. One less person to worry about next time I’m there…:-)
Keeps the riff raff out! Somehow I still got in.
Really depends if you like skiing. YVR is the gateway to Whistler/Blackcomb, only 2 hours away. The city is a model of good urban planning. Definitely anything but “generic”.
@ Stephan – What did I miss?
Being a Vancouverite, I’d say that it’s definitely not a tourist destination, although I’d say it’s one of the most liveable city in the world, and surveys/studies agree with that. Expensive…? Maybe. But then I’d also say it’s almost North America Lite.
I think they have very nice weed laws, am I wrong?
Lovely city but dreadful wet weather, over-priced for the locals trying to make a living and homeless/drug addicts are a common site.
For a month in the summer at most…otherwise, no thanks.
As with any expensive city the suburbs are not as expensive as the main city itself and they are close enough for daily commute. It is a beautiful city and has more sunshine and less rain than Seattle. Skiing in winter, hiking and water sports in summer, tons of parks and in general a good place to live. Housing is expensive but the rest of the amenities are generally comparable to other cities.
Love the place any time of year. Weather – beats the Hell outta Seattle. The mountains on Vancouver Island scrape off a lot of water.
been living here in Vancouver for a while
it’s meh
I look at it as a place to retire but not live unless you’re living downtown. I’m outside of downtown and I find it just ok
and I hate when I can’t use my credit card to get points =\
can’t wait for HST to go down. ugh
so poor here =p