6 things to know before moving to Vancouver from Toronto, as someone who has lived in both
The real west coast tea!
Sunset at Kits Beach. Right: Concert at Scotiabank Arena downtown Toronto.
So, you're thinking of leaving Toronto for Vancouver. Maybe you're craving a more peaceful life in the mountains. Maybe you've had one too many near-death experiences on the TTC.
Maybe you just want to see what life's like in January without blizzards, driveway shovelling, permanent wind tears, tights under your jeans, and ice storms.
No matter what your reason for leaving is, I'm here to advise you to take a beat before you up and move your entire life. (You don't live in a rom-com — making rash life decisions without thinking them through is not romantic, it's misguided at best, regrettable at worst).
I've lived in both cities, and let me tell you: they're not the same. Sure, they both have overpriced rent, aggressive seagulls, and people who've grown up in each that swear their city is "the best in Canada." But if you're planning a cross-country move, here are seven things you should probably know before you pack up and move to beautiful British Columbia.
The cliques are a thing
This one's hard for me. I grew up in Vancouver, and by way of high school, dance class, and 4-year-old playdates, I never had to go through the "can't make friends" experience.
But TikTok and Reddit would have you believe Vancouverites are incapable of speaking to strangers. My take: community isn't going to be waiting for you at YVR with a cardboard sign. It might not even be sitting in a semi-circle at a local bar waiting for you to join in, beckoning you over with a cocktail. And it definitely won't be on Bumble BFF (actually, that's not fair, it could be, I've never tried it).
My recommendation is to join an urban rec league, take an improv class, or (I hate to say it) sign up for a weekly run club (there are a million of them in Vancouver). Making friends here is not impossible. You just have to accept, like most good things, it'll take some time.
The rent is tough, but worth it?
Sigh. Complain. Look at the property you could buy in Calgary. Decide you don't want to live in Calgary because... that means you'd have to live in Calgary.
Rent sucks in Toronto. Rent sucks in Vancouver. It's all bad, and it's the price we pay to live in beautiful places. Next.
The job market is also tough
This depends on your industry, of course, but I'm talking in general here.
Toronto is larger, busier, and as such, offers significantly more job opportunities. I've been told Vancouver has a decent number of small tech startups, but if your main reason for moving is career growth, you should probably stay in Ontario.
Unless, of course, you're a nepo baby and dream job of creating a company that sells overpriced athleisure to people on their way to hot yoga. Then, welcome to your kingdom.
The vibes are totally different
Toronto is fast, abrasive, and potentially detrimental to anyone who experiences choice paralysis. There are a million things to see, a million restaurants to eat at, and a million pop-ups to pop in to.
You'll never be at a loss for choice, no matter the weather. Vancouver, on the other hand, is gorgeous, outdoorsy, and entirely sleepy. Throw a rock and you'll be more likely to find someone training for a half-marathon tomorrow morning than bar-hopping tonight. It's less of a "grind 'til you die" culture and more of a "grind your coffee beans before your 5 a.m. trail run" type of city.
The driving is different, too
Toronto drivers are aggressive, terrifying, and often dangerous, but at the very least (unless you're on the 401 during rush hour), you can get somewhere quickly.
Vancouver has no highways in the actual city and swaps the concept of getting somewhere with haste for a thousand slow-moving bike lanes. Basically, you have to decide what's the lesser of two evils: too fast or too slow.
The hours of socializing will be an adjustment
In Toronto, it's more than normal to head out at 11 p.m. and stay out until last call at 4 a.m.
In Vancouver? Dinner at 6 p.m., home by 9:30 p.m., lights out by 11 p.m. (and that's a wild night). Nightlife in Vancouver is— when standing next to other big cities — non-existent. If you're moving to Vancouver with the intention to live out your "party girl era", you're in the wrong time zone.
If you're moving from Toronto to Vancouver, I'm going to level with you. You should prepare for fewer job opportunities and earlier bedtimes. But, in return, you'll get breathtaking views, milder winters, and the smug knowledge that you live in one of the prettiest places in Canada.
In my entirely unbiased opinion, making the move from Toronto to Vancouver is worth it, every single time.
The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.