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Summary

The 'cheapest places to live' around Vancouver with the 'best quality of life' were ranked

Time to save some money. 💸

Person on a street. Right: A town.

The cheapest areas to live in Vancouver with the best quality of life.

@rebeccadlfuente | Instagram, Oleksandr Lyubar | Dreamstime
Editor

Striking that balance of quality of life and spending an amount on rent that doesn't feel incredibly painful is tough, to say the least. In Vancouver, some would say it feels impossible.

Good news, though — a ranking revealed the top five cheapest places to live in the Greater Vancouver area for 2025, offering the best quality of life. These areas around Metro Vancouver can offer more affordable living options for those willing to move outside the downtown core.

Moving Waldo craftied the 2025 ranking, accounting for "the average cost of buying a property, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment, and the quality of life."

The result was five spots around Vancouver that stood out among the rest.

Surrey

This is a popular spot in Greater Vancouver for a reason. The city had more affordable housing compared to Vancouver, according to the ranking, while still maintaining a city lifestyle.

There are also beautiful parks and trails, as well as easy access to the legendary, breathtaking British Columbia nature. Take one look at the stunning wisteria in the Fleetwood Gardens here, and you'll be packing up to move.

Langley

If you want cute small-town vibes with city amenities, move to Langley. The city is just outside of Vancouver and has places like Fort Langley tucked away alongside it. That means your weekend afternoons can be spent wandering the idyllic streets of he historic village, pretending like you're in a Hallmark movie.

New Westminster

If you want to be close to Downtown Vancouver but pay less, this is a great option. This is a lively area with lots to do and a vibrant atmosphere, so you may even feel the need to venture into Vancouver less than you thought.

Coquitlam

The ranking said that this city has over 80 parks and a 134-kilometre trail system, so if you like to stay active, look to Coquitlam. It's suburban living at its finest here.

Port Moody

This is another great one for nature enthusiasts, with scenic trails and calm waters sitting alongside the vibrant city. Port Moody strikes that perfect balance of access to peaceful nature, lively community vibes, lots to do and thriving local businesses all around.

If you want to make the move away from downtown, look to one of these smaller cities that give you all the perks of West Coast living, with less of the cost.

  • Editor

    Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. After working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, she joined Narcity with a move to B.C., drawn to the beauty of Western Canada. Since then, she's documented her experience moving to Vancouver, covering everything from local events to bucket-list travel destinations across Canada's West Coast.

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