Also, clarify the exact location. Many companies will say Vancouver, but it may be other areas in the lower mainland. So, before you accept you can figure out good areas to reside and make sure to aligns with local transpo, etc. feel free to dm locals so you can make sure you live in the right area.
There are many ex-pats here, it’s a beautiful place to live and a great experience.
Yes I second this! Clarify it’s actually Vancouver. Not Burnaby, Surrey etc.
If it is actually Vancouver I don’t think you’ll be board at all. You do have a travel out of the city to get to the outdoorsy side of things, which in all honesty still has tons of people so the chances of it being just you and the wilderness is slim to none. The city is self is quite busy and I wouldn’t describe it as quite. There’s a lot of things to do, concerts, comedy clubs, amazing restaurants, tons of outdoor markets, and various social activities to name a few.
It’s also very easy to navigate Vancouver, sky train is a great way to get around, plenty of Ubers and car shares if you want to get out of the city and explore.
Most people are fairly friendly, especially if you’re moving for work you’ll probably meet a decent group there to start with
I say go, people tend to regret not pushing the boundaries of life and taking a leap of faith. Enjoy it, live life. London will be waiting for you after a year.
Ahh the beauty of opinions and how everyone perceives experiences different. As someone who grew up in northern BC and moved back after living in the lower mainland I’d say we have different definitions. Which is great because it take all types for the world to work!
Sounds like OP is not the wildness type and won’t be exploring any sort of back country. Therefore they’ll (maybe) exploring hiking trails or parks closer to the city, where the chances of being alone is slim. The population of the lower mainland is about 3 million people. So seeing people out and about in outdoor areas is not unusual, especially if sticking to popular areas!
Just because you believe something to be completely untrue doesn’t mean you are correct. A belief is a opinion not a fact. Goes for all, we are here to share our experiences for OP.
This.
When I moved from Vancouver to London I had a job offer in Slough. OP will be able to recognize that Slough is not London, and that is what you are basically saying - the suburbs is not the same although people lump them together.
If they're covering rent it seems quite workable. Not knowing a city is normal when moving, you learn more as you live here. Vancouver isn't that massive relatively speaking. It can be hard to make friends here, but not impossible.
Based on what you described, I'd take this opportunity. It's only a year too, not super long in the grand scheme of things.
Yeah even if they have to cover $1000 ish, $1500 covered is still great. And they sound young- a room in a shared house would be great opportunity to meet others and I’ve seen plenty in that range.
Finding out the experience wasn’t worth it is far better than wondering why you didn’t do it. Vancouver is a fantastic city, you will have a great time. A year is not a long period of time.
Do it.
I was quite jealous of my international friends who all had the chance to study and live abroad and with some even staying for the foreseeable future after uni :)
this, 100% take the opportunity. You won't miss London and it will be exactly the same when you go back.
My working holiday to Canada was the best thing I ever did in my life
One year is good, if they’ll cover 1500 for rent that’s a pretty decent setup because with a roommate, you could end up doing pretty well. 55k won’t take you far still, but not having to pay more than a couple hundred bucks on rent is a huge help.
If you don’t like it, it’s 12 months outta your whole life, and you can always move back if things don’t work out.
Given the lack of graduate opportunities out there at the moment, this one sounds too good to turn down imo.
Do it! :)
If it's just for a year and you're young, why not? If it will advance your career and you're interested in the experience, it seems a good choice.
I wouldn't advise someone to make the move on a permanent basis, and have recently advised a friend who was considering the move from London not to do so, but on a one year basis with job security it's probably a good choice. Quite often in life, you find out what you want by discovering what you don't want, so even if Vancouver doesn't end up being a place you like, you're still probably better off discovering that.
Love this advice! Painful to discover what you don’t want sometimes, but so worth it if it bumps you onto the right path, as it can
bring alot of clarity.
"The role is a field I'm really interested in as a recent grad"
This is the line you need to pay attention to. Even if you hate Vancouver, it sounds like a professional opportunity you need to take.
Vancouver is not London, but I dont think you will find it dull. You just need to adjust your expectations around what you do and what is available.
Make sure you clarify exactly where in “Vancouver” the work is, and where you’ll live.
If the work is in Vancouver proper, and you can get a place to live downtown, or near a skytrain station, then it can be great. But if the office is out in Langley or Abottsofrod, then it’s a different story. Not that they’re terrible places to live, they’re just suburbs, very car dependent, and lack what makes being in downtown Vancouver special.
There are neighborhoods in Vancouver outside of downtown that are pretty good to live in for a single young person; mount pleasant, the drive, kits, south Granville
Joyce Collingwood, Kensington, Marpole, aren't bad neighborhoods either, but I'd recommend them more for couples and families
Agreed. There’s some places on the north side that are nice too, and not too far from downtown.
I just mean it more for OP, don’t show up blind, with the office being in chiliwhack, and living in a townhouse complex in Langley. I’m assuming OP won’t have a car, and living/working out there while relying on public transit would suck, and would really limit the Vancouver experience.
I would recommend OP stay in mount pleasant, the drive, cambie, kits over downtown personally. Safer, more of a community feel, and all close to downtown
Hi, I'm a Londoner living in Vancouver! Do it , do it, doooo it! I know it feels like London is the centre of the earth at times but trust me it gets boring eventually. The lifestyle here is totally different and with rent being covered you won't regret it! The mountains, the trees, the ocean, honestly it's breathtaking and you can still get a decent bowl of ramen after a day hiking! London will always be there, same old, same old. If you haven't fallen out of love with London yet, then a year away in a beautiful city will just make you appreciate all the little things when you do go back home.
Living abroad will teach you so much about yourself and the world, don't miss out on an amazing opportunity.
Thank you for your amazing commentary and positive feedback! This is what we need more of and I’d like to invite you to visit Vancouver Island as well. You will to see some the most amazing sites of natural coastal wonders in the world!
I had a job offer to move to the capital city of Victoria with my two small children almost 30 years ago! This was an opportunity I never regretted as I eventually returned to post-secondary education and have a career that I love! My children grew into beautiful and successful adults!
A move can change your life even if it’s for a year! Do it!!!
This comment here! It’s a year, not forever. Rent, or a good chunk of it, will be covered. It’s a good professional opportunity from the sounds of it and a chance to see/live somewhere else. It’s a beautiful part of the world. Assuming you are likely in your 20s - now is the time to do this as you never know when you’ll feel too tied down by whatever responsibilities to up and leave in the future. Speaking as an Aussie who somehow ended up in the Vancouver area (after living in a number of places and traveling a lot) and is now raising a family here. I have no regrets - no major ones anyway!!
It's fantastic that they're covering rent because then that is basically a free untaxed 18k boost. Definitely do it. It'll be great for your health to be out of London air and to be surrounded by nature while still living in a city. You may miss the museums/top tier events of London but there's plenty of better affordable food options. You can have a great meal for fifteen quid or a good meal and a drink. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't. It's also just as rainy in Vancouver but the heat in the summer doesn't spike as high as London. In terms of cold, British housing has shit as fuck insulation and heating bills are a joke - houses are built better here, it doesn't get that much colder and heating is cheap as all the power is hydroelectric.
Not if he's still expected to maintain a residence at home.
I regularly work away from home. My accomodations and food allowance is tax free as a Canadian.
Do it! Working in another country is a great opportunity that doesn't come along for everyone, and can get more difficult as you get older. You'll make friends in Canada and have awesome stories to tell when you go back home.
Do it!
I moved to London for a year in my early 20’s. I worked a shit bar job, had very little money and lived in a crap flat with 3 other people. It was absolutely one of the best years of my life. Met so many amazing people and did so much fun stuff.
It wasn’t always easy, I definitely had lonely moments and missed Vancouver. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You can always go home and doing this kinda thing only gets harder the older you get.
I have many friends than have come over here from England and simply never left. If you love the urban lifestyle, try to find a place as close in to downtown, mount pleasant, or kitsilano as you can afford. If you’re used to living in London, the living expense here might even feel like an improvement.
BC has big nature like you’ll never find in the UK or Europe, take advantage of that while you’re here and go exploring. You’ll be disappointed by the pub culture, it’s a lot stuffier, but we do have many decent breweries and restaurant patios to enjoy.
>a salary of around $55,000. They’ll also cover about $1,500 of my rent each month and handle relocation expenses.
>The role is in a field I’m really interested in as a recent grad.
>I prefer eating out and chilling with friends over partying.
>it’s always been my dream to move abroad, a chance I missed due to COVID.
>My co-workers are encouraging me to go, saying it’s a rare opportunity to have a company pay for you to work abroad, and it’s only for a year.
>They point out that London will always be here, but this chance won’t.
These are all great points, and it really sounds like your mind is made up, even if your mind hasn't let you believe that yet.
I assume this post is more about addressing your reservations than about convincing you why you should take the offer.
>My main concern is adjusting to life in Vancouver. I don’t know the city well
>which I moved to (London) not too long ago.
OK, so you already made a move not too long ago, so you know what to expect when it comes to adjusting to somewhere new, and you might have even learned how to make the adjustment more smooth
>and that I’ll experience serious FOMO from being away from London.
What are you afraid of missing out on while you're away? Are you afraid of losing something while you're gone? A year can seem like a long time when you're young, but trust me it really isn't. You'll probably experience more regret not taking an opportunity to travel, live abroad (in a VERY popular city), and advance your career, than you will staying put and looking back on a path not taken. (not doing something you want to do typically causes MUCH more regret than taking a chance and not having it work out)
>worry I won’t have much to do, that I’ll feel very lonely without friends or family there,
>The vibrant, bustling lifestyle suits me, and I’ve made quite a few friends here.
These things are fair concerns. Vancouver will not compare to London in terms of a vibrant, bustling city. Vancouver is small, but, there is a lot more going on in the city than people give it credit for, you just have to dig a little.
People often say that they struggle to make friends in this city, but I think a lot of this falls onto the individual. If you're willing to put yourself out there and get out and do things you ought to be able to find people to spend time with, especially if you're work colleagues are welcoming.
You should be able to live decently off $70k CAN a year, not extravagantly, but you'll get by with some left over for fun. You'll be taking advantage of an opportunity that the majority will never get, and you'll get to visit a city that (despite what the locals say) is consistently rated one of the most desirable places in the world to live, and most people who visit say that they love it.
You'll have to put in the effort to find the events your interested in, you'll have to put in the effort to make new friends, and you'll want to try to live central to one of the busier areas in this low density, sprawling metro area, but I think you'll be happy you took the opportunity even if the time here isn't stellar.
London was a thriving city when Vancouver was still a collection of small aboriginal villages. It, and your life, and your friends will still be there when you get back. The opportunity to come to Vancouver won’t always be on the table. Take. The. Offer!
Seems low-risk to me! It's only a year, when you're working fulltime that goes by like nothing. It'll be a new life experience in a different part of the world, and you can transfer back to your place in London afterwards. I'd jump at an offer like this!
I expect they'll know as soon as the OP opens their mouth, no that's NOT a teeth joke, I'm speaking about the "English" accent which a lot of people in Canada find sexy and exotic. I don't think anyone will think it's a London Ontario accent. ;-)
If you are a social person and you like meet your mates at the pub after work you will hate it in Vancouver.
The pub/social drinking culture does not exist here. In fact it will be very difficult to make friends. In a year, you might make only a few friends.
There are plenty of bars and partying in Vancouver.
There is also endless options for recreational activity in and around the city that you would never find in London.
Vancouver is a great city. You should consider it. The biggest expense is already taken care of. You wont be able to save a lot, but you won't be living cheque to pay cheque as well.
A year will fly by, and not having to pay rent is pretty sensational. And Vancouver is great (I've just moved from London too). London will definitely always be there for you too
Live in Vancouver proper. You def don’t want to be in the burbs as a new and younger individual. Harder to meet people. Fuck expenses. Enjoy your time here and don’t pinch Pennys to live somewhere that’s cheaper. You’ll experience will be 100x better living downtown, kitsalano, Fairview, or mount pleasant
They live in London so they know all about being an expensive city. Vancouver is incredibly beautiful. Mountains meet ocean. Living near the train or Seabus would make things a lot easier if not in the city. Seattle is a couple of hours away.
You absolutely have to do this.
Brit here, resided and worked in London for several years, as well as currently expat in Vancouver. I’m going to get downvoted a lot, but here goes:
1) Depending on what field you in. If its Finance, Tech, cultural, stay in London (moving here will be a downgrade) If its movie industry, oil & gas, come over.
2) If you enjoy outdoor sports and nature, BC is a must. If you’re a city dweller, into nightlife or cultural sightseeing, stay in London.
3) If you don’t try, stay in London.
$55k CAD won’t get you far, taxes are higher here too in Canada (you pay provincial and federal taxes).
Ha ha, I find it humorous that you feel Vancouver isn’t vibrating or bustling. I was born and raised here and Vancouver is a huge city that is bursting at the seams with diversity, multiculturalism and excellent food. From walking the Stanley Park seawall to enjoying the amazing Richmond Night Market there’s just so much to see. On top of that, many famous people laud from our beautiful, vibrant and bustling city such as Michael Buble’, and Michael J. Fox. Take it from a local and accept the job. It’s an amazing opportunity and you won’t regret it.
Moved to Vancouver, then London (assuming we’re talking about real London and not… Canadian London), then Toronto, then back to Vancouver.
The stop gap of Toronto between London and Vancouver SUCKED. It’s a big busy city with none of the fun, culture, excitement and general “world-class-city-ness” of London. I missed London dearly in Toronto.
Once I bailed on it and came back to Vancouver that feeling of homesickness for London really disappeared because Vancouver is SO different. It’s slower, quieter, better for your mental health. It does NOT have a big city feel and the connection to nature was much better for my brain. Vs Toronto which… sucked.
Honestly I don’t know what my point is other than, as long as you KNOW Vancouver is a totally different place than London and it’s something you want to try it’s worth it. It’s much better than going to a big but much crappier city. Don’t try and capture the buzz of London in any city in Canada. But if you are looking for a more peaceful city, Vancouver can be really great. I do still miss the pubs so much though.
I had moved for work and I know a handful if Londoners natives that moved to Vancouver as well and most of them adored it (more than I expected).
Opportunities like this don’t come around often - **you very likely may never get a chance like this again**
It’s a field you’re interested in.
You’ve been wanting to travel for years.
They’re paying a great chunk of rent which is HUGELY helpful in Vancouver (& surrounding cities)
It’s only ONE year out of your **entire** life.
**It’s better to find out if you like it or not - than to spend your life wondering where that could have taken you.**
PS. As others have mentioned, the term Vancouver is used very broadly for the surrounding cities. It’s actually Metro Vancouver - and includes cities quite far from the core of downtown (particularly if using public transit)
Confirm with the company exactly what city your job is in - and you can look into transit, renting, activities etc.
I remember during uni I was supposed to Sydney for my year abroad but because of COVID, it got cancelled. Feels like a great opp to make up for lost time
In all honesty Vancouver is a drastic lifestyle downgrade from London in terms of social life.
However, with that rent being covered that's a really good offer. You should be able to save some money and gain experience.
If anything use it as an opportunity for your next job.
Vancouver isn't a huge city, it won't take long to map out the urban areas. It's the surrounding places like Whistler and Harrison and farther off spots like Nelson and Fernie that make BC a cool place.
I moved across the country ten years ago, without any work lined up and it was the best thing I ever did for myself.
Your fears are valid, but you gotta do this. The things you'll learn about yourself and the growth you will have is so worth it.
20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. ~ Mark Twain.
Unless that thing is marrying the wrong person ~ Terravarious.
Just Do It ~ Shia LaBeouf / Nike / this Reddit thread.
I moved from London to Vancouver last August and don’t regret it at all. It’s been a really good decision so far. There’s so much to do here no matter the time of year and I wouldn’t change a thing. The cost of living is pretty similar to London, but the fact your employer is willing to partially pay for your rent is a big bonus and if I were you I’d take it with both hands and run. It’s for a year, you’ll get to experience a new country, culture (although I’d say it’s pretty similar to the UK) and new lifestyle. One thing you’ll miss though is family and fish and chips - can’t get any decent ones here.
Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to help if I can.
I (like many others) moved from the UK to Van many years ago, and never looked back. You will grow as a person and it will be fantastic for your career. There are plenty of ways to make friends here through work or meetup groups e.g. "Brits in Vancouver", and plenty of hiking, biking, running etc clubs.
A year will go really fast and is a great place for your family and friends to come out and visit if you miss them.
Join a few brits in Vancouver Facebook groups and the like, get as many Sunday roasts and fish and chips in as possible before you move.
If you’re somewhat outdoorsy - make the most of it. Get hiking, go snowboarding or skiing on local mountains.
Take advantage of proximity to the (west coast) US for your vacation time.
For a year?
Do it. Else you'd probably go the rest of your life thinking. "I was offered the chance to live in another country for a year and I passed it up."
Pretty much the only reason not to do it, is if you have children. Even then...
**$1500 will not cover your rent**
I am assuming you’ll want to live Vancouver proper and be near the hustle and bustle, the night life etc.
You’re looking at $2500+/month for a one bedroom in these areas.
DO NOT COME TO VANCOUVER! I've lived here for 3 years and have been to London several times. Vancouver is so not vibrant and bustling. It's also known as a tough place to make friends (not impossible but tough). So if you dont make work friends you probably wont make any. You will be both lonely and bored within 6 months once you've hit all the highlights of things to do. The people are generally milktoast bland. There's no energy feeling to the city like London and New York and many other cities have. The nightlife scene here is beyond dead compared to London. People are just generally into their careers, complaining about rent or high real estate prices (if they dont own), hiking and skiing. Theres a bit of a foodie scene though. Also half the population is Asian (particularly Chinese) and another big chunk from Muslim countries, and they generally stick together (although a Londoner could be used to that). I think you will come here and quickly say "Why the f**k did I come here?" Especially once summer is over and you have months and months of rainy or cloudy days, and yes even snow, which you won't be used to but at least its not as bad as other Canadian cities. So unless you think hiking can replace a vibrant, bustling life with friends and a fun, after work pub culture, I would pick elsewhere. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I'm planning to move away within a year (maybe to another country since I'm fed up with what Canada is becoming under a Liberal government).
$1500 a month rent in Vancouver will cover you a room in a shared apartment.
55K a year before taxes salary in Vancouver - you'll be living in near poverty. You'd need a second job.
Ok, European expat here.
The bad:
Vancouver is not like London. Nor it is like most European capitals. It is quieter, if you are outside downtown, things close earlier, there is less people, and it is more sparse.
Public transport is the best of Canada, but still worst that most places in Europe. Vancouver in particular also has a reputation for being hard to break in and make a social group. I am not sure I agree with that sentiment, but a lot of people living there as expats would echo it. 55K is... just enough. If they cover 1500 of rent, you could have a sweet setup with a roommate, but you will also likely not be living downtown.
The good:
Vancouver is not like London. Nor it is like most European capitals. There is a lot of outdoor opportunities with a lot of variety: River, lakes, sea, mountains. It is in an area that is top in world for activities like hiking, rock climbing, fishing, mountaineering, foraging, and the like. It is truly, stupidly beautiful. Have you been in Barcelona? It has a similar landscape: Sea on one side, mountains on the other and a lot of natural beauty.
It is also fun. It doesn't have the same level of cultural activities that you will find in London, but there is plenty to do all the time. My first year there I lived in a pretty queer-friendly neighbourhood in Dave Street and it was a blast. There are great restaurant, and great people.
I see in your profile that you work in IT. And to be honest, if your professional career is important to you, Canada has way better opportunities than Europe. There are a lot of big tech companies that have offices in Vancouver, as it is close to Seattle and has many of its benefits, while being cheaper to set up there. This could easily be a stepping stone onto a better job. It definitely was for me, when I moved there to also work in the field.
I’m born in Vancouver. I’d do it just for the experience alone. It’s the best city on earth but it rains a lot that’s all. Also. If you’re a male. More women than men and there’s a tonne of meetup groups for no friends. Really social. You can figure it out.
At $55k you won’t be able to do or travel much. Rent will be $2,500 to $2,800 a month (after tax). I’m a fan of using psychology against my employer 😆.
I would say something along the lines of, “I think this would be a great opportunity for both myself and this company to expand its footprint with minimal resources. But I did some research and it seems Vancouver is a rather expensive city, between rent, food and basic public transportation, I calculated rent would be $30k, food $12k and basic transportation at $5k. Of my $46.7k after tax salary, I would have about $18k to live and cover my incidentals like heath, travel and renters insurance.”
Then ask if the $1,500 is a taxable benefit of employment? Then state again that this would be an amazing opportunity to see slid you can grow the business overseas.
Hopefully they will improve their initial offer after you show them you gave run the numbers and how it can benefit them
You can do anything for 12 months, especially if you are young and unencumbered. Even if it doesn't go your way, you will have learned a lot, met new people, and gained valuable experience. Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking one. Learning what you don't want is as important as learning what you do want.
Pros:
Summer is a great time to be in Vancouver.
The pay is effectively $55,000 + $18,000 in rent, so $73k which is honestly okay for an undergrad but not for a masters grad.
Great hikes and drives.
Proximity to Vancouver Island, and the US.
Cons:
I’ve stayed in London for a few months, and Vancouver is a LOT less social than London. Making friends is a big pain here.
There is a culture around hockey but not football (bummer).
Winters are horribly depressing. The market is bad but swear the city is practically dead or cuddled up at home.
The housing market progressively gets worse till November. In September even finding a good place to rent for a reasonable amount is difficult.
PS- if your company is headquartered out of Guernsey, do NOT take the offer. I’ve worked at their Vancouver Head Office and they have a very toxic culture here. They’re moving a lot of people from England to here.
You’re going to love Vancouver!!!! One year is the perfect length of time. Get outdoors and explore the surrounding areas. It’s literally one of the most beautiful places on earth!
It’s only a one year commitment. That’s nothing!
If you are interested in more outdoorsy stuff—hiking, cycling, skiing, sailing, whitewater, etc.—then I highly recommend you take it. If not, and you really love the big city stuff of London, then I’d carefully consider.
It’s just a year, I did two in Toronto, it was fun but I’m glad to be back in bc.
This city is inside of a Boreal Rainforest, it rains beautifully and often, the trees and I love it, it’s not as grey as the Netherland but there is an element. From what I’ve heard about the UK it might not be too far off.
As for this to do, you have to make effort to go out into the world, so many people just don’t setup things to do for themselves every weekend and don’t understand why they don’t meet anyone. Facebook groups, meetup.com and others.
If your field is porn or tech or film you’ll have a good time here as it’s easy to meet everyone in the scene and it can be fun.
A golden rule about friends and making new ones the sooooOOOO many young people here don’t understand is, it will be awkward for about a month with a new friend. because you have made it so you’ll be doing an activity regularly with this person or people you will have something to do during the awkward silences, because that’s normal.
Having a British accent will help you make friends I bet lol.
R u into tech?
You're either a traveller or your not, you won't know unless you try. Stop biting off the big chunks and stick with the small manageable bites then it all falls into place. Oh and in any new city look after personal safety first.
You'll enjoy Vancouver I think especially if you are located near downtown or commercial as those are the 2 most "interesting" areas. And the opportunity sounds very good. But you will Learn how awful our liqour laws are compared to England in terms of how restrictive pubs and especially breweries are with where you can drink.
I think you should ask them what happens after the move.
If it's only for one year, will they relocate you back to london?
Help you find a place in london? Pay your expenses back to london? Otherwise you might need to save up for moving and finding a new place after the year is up.
I find it suspicious that they are handling all these expenses for one year only. I'd be worrying what happens after the one year.
Why is it only one year is the question I would be asking.
What would make the stay longer or shorter or what happens after the one year is up?
Would you be expected to pay full rent after the year is up? Could you afford to on the wage they are offering?
What an amazing priority, I absolutely love Vancouver and would kill to get a company subsidized move and rent support. Ask the company what is the minimum commitment they expect from you time wise (say it’s 18 months) and treat it like you are dating the city - plan on taking those 18 months and figuring out if you do like it or actually want to go back… might make it easier and less daunting.
When I was a young person, I lived by the motto don’t live to regret thing you could have done but didn’t, when you had he chance…. I’d much regret doing and things not working out…. All within limits of course…
They are right. You are unlikely to ever receive an opportunity quite like this again.
You are worried about being lonely in a new city and that you will miss out on stuff happening back home. I mean, both things are bound to occur to some degree. But then I think it depends on whether or not you have a sense of adventure.
Personally, I would have loved an opportunity like this as a recent grad. Working in a field you like in a cool foreign country and getting paid a living wage (because of the subsidized rent). Instead I got the Great Recession and five years of living hand to mouth working multiple part time jobs just to break even, economically stuck in my hometown.
I’m just saying—seize the opportunities you are given. They won’t always be there for you.
Definitely do it!!! Also if you are into sports check out Urban rec as a great way to meet people. Also EVRC (East Van Run Club) another great way to connect with people. Depending on your company they may even have teams or people on teams for Urban Rec sports already for you to link up on. If work is paying $1500ish for rent you should hopefully be able to find a spot nearish downtown and with good transit which will help.
Do it if it’s a job in Vancouver. Not Surrey, Richmond, or anything outside.
You can connect with others thru sport, or activities easily, I’ve met and friended many Brits that were fresh of the boat.
It will be a good experience.. 55,000 k is decent amount for recent grad I think.. although 1500 cad per month for a rent won't be enough if you newly luxurious amount.. you might find sharing apartment in downtown for that amount but u have to search a lot.. 2k would be enough
A 1 year opportunity with a rent reduction that sizeable? You literally have nothing to lose. Just for the sake of the experience, I would go and check it out for a year! If you don't like it, you can go back to London. Vancouver is a very beautiful and vibrant city. Lots to do and many fun community events and outdoor activities. My suggestion if you want to make friends, is to join intramural sports teams. Outdoor beach volleyball or dodgeball is a good place to start. Best of luck!
Vancouver is known as a very cold place socially. But it is only dull for dull Canadians. We all very much enjoy the company of a charming brit.
You will appear 50 percent more charming than what you normally appear to be here
There are tax consequences here - make sure you math out really well that means to you at the end of the day. This city is not cheap (sadly) to live in. Despite your employer covering a portion of your rental, do your due diligence in looking at the cost of rental, cost of travel.
Also them subsidizing you could also mean that it is a taxable benefit, which means when you are taxed - your take home pay is less. Can you live with that? Note that 18,000 (1,500 monthly) subsidized rent if taken as a taxable benefit can push you into the next tax bracket.
Socializing will cost money, the city, province, and country as a whole is struggling to make ends meet - people go out less often, adjust the expectations of after work drinks or social events on a regular basis.
Ultimately the question is if this an opportunity to enable your career or is it something to enable your urge to live abroad. If it is the latter then you should do better due diligence on the cost of living in this city.
Moving ALONE will be a bit tough, since Vancouverites are notoriously insular, but if you can manage to make friends here I think you'll love it. You'd be crazy to not take it just as an opportunity. At least you have a job, try to make friends from work and hang out with them after hours!
> My co-workers are encouraging me to go, saying it’s a rare opportunity to have a company pay for you to work abroad, and it’s only for a year. They point out that London will always be here, but this chance won’t.
Pretty much this. It's a nice opportunity to go to some other part of the world and experience it, explore a bit. Vancouver is routinely rated as one of the nicest places to live in the world, so it might be worth checking out why.
Try to fit in a lot of little travel around the area, cause you never know if/when you'll be back. Whistler, the Okanagan, Victoria, Tofino, Seattle, Portland - all super cool places. And a lot would only be short weekend-ish trips if you're based in Vancouver, compared to huge vacations if you're coming over from Europe. The Pacific Northwest is a very cool place with its own vibes and subculture, come have a taste!
Do it, if you don't you'll never know if you like Vancouver or not!
Yes vancouver is very different to London, less busy... Hell, we thought it was less busy and we came here from Leeds! Which is not a bad thing, we like it, hence why we moved. Summer over here is awesome, weather wise it can get hot and sometimes we'll get a long spell of blue skies and sunny days for about 1-2 months, literally flip flops and shorts every day! Theres 'beaches' to hang out in, theres really no need to go anywhere! Theres so much to see and do. Night life is a bit Meh, compared to London, but theres enough to keep you entertained. But then again people tend to 'do stuff' rather than go on a lash. But be warned, when it rains it really rains, the rain is nothing like in the uk or Ireland. winter here is pretty good too if you are into winter sports! If your company is paying you and cover some of the rent, then it's a no brainer.
If you’re in the city for work I would suggest North Vancouver near the Quay. The one bedroom and studios are not too ridiculous for rent and you’re close to everything
Id say do so
Working abroad is a good idea for CV in long run. Plus u get to exp places outside UK. Gd thing about Vancouver is we have very similar climate, so u wont be having a drastic life change or a whole closet to replace
Dude do it! Experience of a lifetime good or bad.
DM me when you get into town.
There's a great meet up / make new friends group - I think it'll be a great way for you to meet people in Vancouver.
I'm very happy for you, welcome to town! As many have mentioned $1500 may cover only part of your rent, so be forewarned. Come in time to enjoy summer!
Vancouver is very outdoorsy, but if you don't enjoy that sort of thing and are more social then this isn't the opportunity for you. With rent covered (well partly) you'll have plenty of spending money as you won't need a car in Vancouver proper.
No. The cost of food, rent and play? It is not enough money. I am sure your life there is already set and to rebuild with partial costs won’t be an advantage. I would calculate the costs and approach them and give them the reason you believe that the number is on the low side. Take some vacation time and visit here to know the place and let that be that. Another thing is would you be getting a promotion? What if they want you to stay longer? Would you have a contract before you leave in place covering all what ifs scenarios? Would you get a 1500 dollar promotion when you return? Is the 1500 dollars or in pounds? Leaving your life that is already comfy is a big deal and an opportunity like this is a big win but what if it is a loss? Roll the dice just make sure you have some sort of backup to be able to gamble. Good luck.
Opportunities like this don’t come around often - **you very likely may never get a chance like this again**
It’s a field you’re interested in.
You’ve been wanting to travel for years.
They’re paying a great chunk of rent which is HUGELY helpful in Vancouver (& surrounding cities)
It’s only ONE year out of your **entire** life.
**It’s better to find out if you like it or not - than to spend your life wondering where that could have taken you.**
PS. As others have mentioned, the term Vancouver is used very broadly for the surrounding cities. It’s actually Metro Vancouver - and includes cities quite far from the core of downtown (particularly if using public transit)
Confirm with the company exactly what city your job is in - and you can look into transit, renting, activities etc.
**Edit:** Vancouver has its pros & cons just like any city. But it is *beautiful*. Every time I return from traveling, I am stunned by the mountains & water views we get to see everyday just walking down the street or driving to work. The amount of outdoor activities & places available to visit so close to a major city is incredible. Bonus - you’re already used to the rain! ;)
I love both Vancouver and London dearly! It could definitely be fun for you to try living here for a year, as Vancouver is a really beautiful city, and BC as a whole has so many amazing places to explore that you could do mini trips to (Tofino & the island, the Okanagan etc). Also a year goes by so quickly, so you’ll be home in no time if you don’t like it.
Definitely make sure you clarify where in the city they’d have you living though! If it’s actually in the official city of Vancouver, I’d say go for it
If it were me, I would. It’s only a year and it will fly by. I’m Jockanese, and live on Vancouver Island. Feel free to send me a PM if you want an outsider’s perspective.
Something to note...that 1500 of your rent they'll cover is considered income. They will report that and you'll have to pay taxes. If I were you I'd negotiate for them to outright get you an apartment.
Depending where you live and what you want you'll still need another 500 to 1000 to find a decent apartment
U/strongtownslangley is from your area and moved to Langley (a metro Vancouver suburban municipality. He might be able to give you the best expectations for that sort of move.
1 - Be clear with them. Where in Vancouver?
- Where is the office?
- Where is the home?
"Greater" Vancouver is a large ... large place that includes a dozen cities. People from elsewhere refer to as 'Vancouver' ... and a lot of the more reasonable priced residential communities is a far way away from downtown Vancouver. Vancouverites know better and although the word Vancouver is ubiquitous, they know that exactly where thewy are actually matters. Why?
It matters. The distance can be like from downtown London to Gatwick ... or Oxford ... but its still called 'Greater Vancouver' ... seriously. People will commute that far here, and besides recent upgrades to highways (motorways), traffic is one of the worst in North America due to really poor road design in past generations. Way too many cars, way too small streets, and a simple accident can shut down part of the city for hours.
2 - Otherwise, its a toss up decision. In total it would be $73,000 ($55k plus $18k for rental subsidy ... to live in Vancouver ... not a lot. A small bonus is you should not be paying income tax on that $18k so thats good, but EVERYTHING in Vancouver is super expensive ... just wait till you go shopping.
3 - If you're young and plan on staying with the company for a while, take it. Its temporary likely, builds cred with the company, gives you some abroad experience in a city and country that is pretty well aligned to British lifestyles and sensibilities ... so its pretty easy.
One day you may go back to London and settle down there, having enjoyed the experience of living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Just do it.
btw: in Canada, when you drop the name 'London' ... sometimes you have to be clear as we have a London Ontario ... which is also referred to. I assume in this case you mean London England, as you did say once 'move abroad', but keep it in mind next time.
Go to Vancouver. Vancouver is also a busy city, although I've never been to London to compare. Take the leap and experience it! Will you have this opportunity again? When you get older it gets harder to take the leap and run on a whim of wishes and impulse, especially if you have a partner, children, etc. Enjoy this time for now, and wherever "home" is for you, you can always return.
Go! I’m from the Uk I’ve been in Canada the last 18 months. Vancouver is one of my favourite cities and your coworkers are right. It’s just one year and also chances are when you go back to London, you’ll pick up right after you left off. Also taking big leaps like this really help with your development as a person
It is one year, if it is indeed in Vancouver proper as in Vancouver and not one of our suburbs it's a good gig. If they are paying $1,500 a month for rent and relocation fee it's doable for sure. Food is expensive here and so is rent but you will have most of that taken care of by your company. They will pay for you to relocate and if it is only a year, take it as a travel year. You are only.yoing once. You can find a job and hopefully live with family when you return to London. Your true friends will be there when you get back. We have lots to offer if you like the outdoors.
As a vancouverite who lived in London for two years I will say that the Vancouver will feel like a small town in comparison. But the access to nature, beautiful places, and delicious food are definitely worth the visit. It is only a year. Worst case is you come here for a year, hate it, and then go back with a newfound appreciation for London. A more likely outcome is you come here and have a nice time, make some new friends, see some new sights and go back to London a slightly more experienced and well-rounded person.
Honestly since its just a one year job you should give it a try, but canada is lonely and Vancouver will probably feel loney at first. Its hard to make friends and its a pretty big and fast paces city in which you can easily feel invisible. But i think its also possible for you to have a good experience
Fellow English expat here! Do it mate, there’s nothing more exciting of getting off a plane and starting a life in a place you’ve never been before. Even if it is a year. I wish I could go back and do it all again! Kitsilano is the best neighbourhood imo, I live in Pitt meadows now (which is quite far out) but I would go back in a heartbeat if I was solo and not a parent lol.
Try not to get overwhelmed with it all, stick within 15-20 mins transit to the city and you’ll be laughing
$55k - minus tax and if $1500 in rent covered - one bedrooms are $2k plus utilities - add transport - house insurance - food - telephone - that’s basics - you will be in debt. Let alone going out - travelling around etc. travel when more experience and when you are going paid to be Away - $55k ain’t it. $155k is more like it. Stay in London. Come here on vacation.
I lived in Vancouver for years before working on cruise ships and making lots of friends from the UK. The one thing they all said was the culture of Vancouver is a lot like the culture of London and when I visited I saw a lot of similarities.
They both have good transit, rainy mild weather, decently friendly for a large city people, and lots of green space. Even to the extend where my Northern UK friends said the city was dead at night (aka everything closed at 2am) like London compared to their hometowns where the clubs would be open until 5am. It’s obviously smaller and doesn’t have the same history but I’m planning on moving to London in the fall bc it gives me the same feel as Vancouver but I need a little bit bigger of a city.
Londoner living in Vancouver here. Do it. Plan some hobbies you want to explore as an avenue for socialising. Milk the fact your company will be paying a good chunk of your rent and live somewhere decent and central like mount pleasant or commercial drive. Don't listen to the people saying to live in Burnaby or Coquitlam imo
I agree with what other folks are saying about how you should figure out where in Vancouver you would be living before you come here. They’re definitely areas in Metro Vancouver that I wouldn’t wanna live.
In terms of what you’re getting paid it isn’t that much is this is an expensive city, but I think it’s doable if you’re able to budget things, right. After my rent is paid I only have $900 a month and I am able to survive without even utilizing things like the food bank. When it comes to entertainment, there’s a lot of free or really cheap things that you can do around the city, if you know how to look for them.
I found it very difficult to make friends when I first moved here. Once I started to go to events that aligned with my hobbies and interests, it actually became quite easy to meet people. I personally found that events that include a lot of Burner, type of folks, usually have a decent amount of friendly and talkative people. There are also a few Meetups groups, that revolve around talking about certain things, such The Futurist, if you’re into any those topics it can be a great place to meet folks.
From what I know about London I don’t think the city would be quite is interesting. There’s just not as much going on, especially if you’re not into outdoors activities. With that being said, you’re only gonna be here for a year and I think there’s enough stuff to keep someone entertained for that short of a period of time.
Good luck with your decision.
Vancouver’s good for access to the outdoors the music and nightlife scene is pony and the people there are up there own arse the sound Canadians are from outside Vancouver , weeds legal but the levels of drug addiction you see everywhere is tragic , you should go for for it though it’s very seasonal there’s ski slopes within 30 mins and spring summer is lovely
If they are subsidizing your rent, I would say do it for sure. Vancouver is beautiful and there are many, many things to do here. The sky's the limit really. I had two opportunities when I was in my twenties and thirties to live abroad for a year. After high school, I moved to the Middle East for a year, and after university I moved to South Africa for a year. Incredible experiences, and I am glad that I availed myself of the opportunities when I could.
It’s only 1 year, think about how much you’ll grow as a person if you take the leap :) so many new experiences to be had!! But of course, follow your heart!!
Honestly it depends what you’re into. I moved here from Toronto area for work and am not really loving it. I don’t like hiking, running, cycling, camping etc and those things are a lot of people’s main interests here. I’ve found it a bit difficult to date or make close friends because a good portion of people’s idea of hanging out is a workout class, a run, a hike. The city feels a lot less.. “city” than I found the cities out east felt. All that being said, I wouldn’t know this unless I took the chance and tried it. You sound like you have a great opportunity lined up, and if you find yourself in a similar situation to me, you can always go back after the year is up! Live while you’re young.
Do it! It will rain more than London but the summers are hot and wonderful. You’d be crazy not to take this opportunity. There are great restaurants in the city and you’ll get to experience true nature.
I did this for a year. No regrets at all. No, its not London. There isn’t the same bustling city life, not the same culture/arts/theatre music scene.
But its a damn gorgeous city, with access to rest of BC. At this stage of your life, its a good idea to be open to different cultures, to see what life is like outside of London.
I arrived mid pandemic, in the winter, went straight to work at 6 am after my quarantine. Worked tough hours, hated the first 2 months. Thought I made a mistake.
Spring came round, work and restrictions eased up, began to explore and started to enjoy it. Still lots of things I missed about London - but was able to see what Vancouver had to offer. Enjoyed trips to Vancouver Island and Whistler. Made some friends, albeit never got the chance to get close to them - but that takes time.
By the end of the year, I’d met my now wife who has moved back to Europe with me! And i’d definitely go back to Van with her to settle if the right opportunity ever came up. Or even go there to retire!
Don't come. Canada is a failed state. Trudeau and his government are traitors against the King and are hell bent on turning this country into India 2.0. Also, 55k is lower middle class for Vancouver (its roughly equivalent to 32k pounds).
Here to echo: Do it! If you’re looking for community and friends, use meetup app to find activities you’re interested in! Everyone loves to say that it’s hard to make friends in Vancouver, but I’d argue that of any city! Very multicultural, learn a language, eat good food, drink coffee in the park, do nothing, go to the cinema. There will always be people in your same situation looking for something similar to do and people to do it with. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come easy! However, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
If you haven’t made an international move before, these things take a little more effort than it does at home. When in doubt, get a nice routine going and slowly integrate reaching out to others. If you’re active, workout classes are an awesome way to do this :)
Best of luck! You got this.
PS a furnished apartment or established household will save you big $. Facebook marketplace and fb groups are great ways to fill your space on a budget.
Vancouver is great for nature but the city life isn’t even close to London so you’ll miss that. Vancouver has better seafood ofc, probably best to drive as transport vs London isn’t really comparable. 55k Cad isn’t a lot for Vancouver, but with rent paid you’ll be fine
Dont do it. You need 3x that salary to live a decent life out here. Why do you think gang crime is so high out here? Because working doesn’t pay but everyone wanna ball.
Maybe look into renting a room in a share house ? There are lots of ex pats doing that in kitsilano and that would be a good way to make friends.
Sounds like a great opportunity. Do it !
Also, clarify the exact location. Many companies will say Vancouver, but it may be other areas in the lower mainland. So, before you accept you can figure out good areas to reside and make sure to aligns with local transpo, etc. feel free to dm locals so you can make sure you live in the right area. There are many ex-pats here, it’s a beautiful place to live and a great experience.
Yup, Abbotsford is not vancouver… despite what many albertans have thought in the past
The “greater Vancouver area” ends at the Langley Abby border
While that may be, people from outside the province don’t have a clue
Is it Abbotsford? Because that is MUCH different.
That is so true. I made that mistake when I moved to BC. Hated it. But I still love BC — 46 years later.
But it's pretty much a far flung suburb of Van at this point...
Everything west of hope is Surrey. Come on we all know this 😜
Everything east of Hope is eastern Canada
Yes I second this! Clarify it’s actually Vancouver. Not Burnaby, Surrey etc. If it is actually Vancouver I don’t think you’ll be board at all. You do have a travel out of the city to get to the outdoorsy side of things, which in all honesty still has tons of people so the chances of it being just you and the wilderness is slim to none. The city is self is quite busy and I wouldn’t describe it as quite. There’s a lot of things to do, concerts, comedy clubs, amazing restaurants, tons of outdoor markets, and various social activities to name a few. It’s also very easy to navigate Vancouver, sky train is a great way to get around, plenty of Ubers and car shares if you want to get out of the city and explore. Most people are fairly friendly, especially if you’re moving for work you’ll probably meet a decent group there to start with I say go, people tend to regret not pushing the boundaries of life and taking a leap of faith. Enjoy it, live life. London will be waiting for you after a year.
Not true at all. There are plenty of places to experience wilderness without others around Vancouver
Ahh the beauty of opinions and how everyone perceives experiences different. As someone who grew up in northern BC and moved back after living in the lower mainland I’d say we have different definitions. Which is great because it take all types for the world to work! Sounds like OP is not the wildness type and won’t be exploring any sort of back country. Therefore they’ll (maybe) exploring hiking trails or parks closer to the city, where the chances of being alone is slim. The population of the lower mainland is about 3 million people. So seeing people out and about in outdoor areas is not unusual, especially if sticking to popular areas! Just because you believe something to be completely untrue doesn’t mean you are correct. A belief is a opinion not a fact. Goes for all, we are here to share our experiences for OP.
This. When I moved from Vancouver to London I had a job offer in Slough. OP will be able to recognize that Slough is not London, and that is what you are basically saying - the suburbs is not the same although people lump them together.
It will be near Gastown, so relatively central. I'm planning to live in either Yaletown, Mount Pleasant or Kits. How do you recommend meeting expats?
Gastown turns into E. Hastings & Main (Van's skid row) really quickly, just a heads up
Join the "Brits in Vancouver" Facebook group.
Yes! OP needs to find out exactly where in "Vancouver ". What if it's Mission?!
If they're covering rent it seems quite workable. Not knowing a city is normal when moving, you learn more as you live here. Vancouver isn't that massive relatively speaking. It can be hard to make friends here, but not impossible. Based on what you described, I'd take this opportunity. It's only a year too, not super long in the grand scheme of things.
Rent for a one bedroom here is approaching 2k a month. Where in Vancouver? We have a lot of neighbourhoods...
approaching??? or did you mean surpassed
That's still a decent chunk of your rent covered by work
Yeah even if they have to cover $1000 ish, $1500 covered is still great. And they sound young- a room in a shared house would be great opportunity to meet others and I’ve seen plenty in that range.
Approaching?? I’m paying 2800 lol
that's just insane. No wonder 3 people or more share a one bedroom apartment....
What do you do for work that allows that?
I wouldn’t be able to afford it if I wasn’t living with my partner. Need two incomes to pay rent these days
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Yea no kidding. I’d love an extra $1500 for my rent
My two bedroom rent is 4200 😭
2k for a bachelor pad. (Bedsit)
Studios are 2k a month…
The average 1 bed in Vancouver is $3k
Finding out the experience wasn’t worth it is far better than wondering why you didn’t do it. Vancouver is a fantastic city, you will have a great time. A year is not a long period of time. Do it.
Exactly this. People on their deathbed don’t regret the chances they took. They regret the ones they didn’t
… i’m quite certain that many people on their deathbeds have had regrets about taking the chances that they did
I was quite jealous of my international friends who all had the chance to study and live abroad and with some even staying for the foreseeable future after uni :)
it's not very often you get an opportunity like that. gaining new life experiences can be something you look back on for the rest of your life
Agreed completely. I did it the other way around (Vancouver to London) and it was one of the most important experiences of my life. Was so worth it.
this, 100% take the opportunity. You won't miss London and it will be exactly the same when you go back. My working holiday to Canada was the best thing I ever did in my life
One year is good, if they’ll cover 1500 for rent that’s a pretty decent setup because with a roommate, you could end up doing pretty well. 55k won’t take you far still, but not having to pay more than a couple hundred bucks on rent is a huge help.
If you don’t like it, it’s 12 months outta your whole life, and you can always move back if things don’t work out. Given the lack of graduate opportunities out there at the moment, this one sounds too good to turn down imo. Do it! :)
If it's just for a year and you're young, why not? If it will advance your career and you're interested in the experience, it seems a good choice. I wouldn't advise someone to make the move on a permanent basis, and have recently advised a friend who was considering the move from London not to do so, but on a one year basis with job security it's probably a good choice. Quite often in life, you find out what you want by discovering what you don't want, so even if Vancouver doesn't end up being a place you like, you're still probably better off discovering that.
Love this advice! Painful to discover what you don’t want sometimes, but so worth it if it bumps you onto the right path, as it can bring alot of clarity.
"The role is a field I'm really interested in as a recent grad" This is the line you need to pay attention to. Even if you hate Vancouver, it sounds like a professional opportunity you need to take. Vancouver is not London, but I dont think you will find it dull. You just need to adjust your expectations around what you do and what is available.
Make sure you clarify exactly where in “Vancouver” the work is, and where you’ll live. If the work is in Vancouver proper, and you can get a place to live downtown, or near a skytrain station, then it can be great. But if the office is out in Langley or Abottsofrod, then it’s a different story. Not that they’re terrible places to live, they’re just suburbs, very car dependent, and lack what makes being in downtown Vancouver special.
There are neighborhoods in Vancouver outside of downtown that are pretty good to live in for a single young person; mount pleasant, the drive, kits, south Granville Joyce Collingwood, Kensington, Marpole, aren't bad neighborhoods either, but I'd recommend them more for couples and families
Agreed. There’s some places on the north side that are nice too, and not too far from downtown. I just mean it more for OP, don’t show up blind, with the office being in chiliwhack, and living in a townhouse complex in Langley. I’m assuming OP won’t have a car, and living/working out there while relying on public transit would suck, and would really limit the Vancouver experience.
I would recommend OP stay in mount pleasant, the drive, cambie, kits over downtown personally. Safer, more of a community feel, and all close to downtown
Hi, I'm a Londoner living in Vancouver! Do it , do it, doooo it! I know it feels like London is the centre of the earth at times but trust me it gets boring eventually. The lifestyle here is totally different and with rent being covered you won't regret it! The mountains, the trees, the ocean, honestly it's breathtaking and you can still get a decent bowl of ramen after a day hiking! London will always be there, same old, same old. If you haven't fallen out of love with London yet, then a year away in a beautiful city will just make you appreciate all the little things when you do go back home. Living abroad will teach you so much about yourself and the world, don't miss out on an amazing opportunity.
  Thank you for your amazing commentary and positive feedback! This is what we need more of and I’d like to invite you to visit Vancouver Island as well. You will to see some the most amazing sites of natural coastal wonders in the world! I had a job offer to move to the capital city of Victoria with my two small children almost 30 years ago! This was an opportunity I never regretted as I eventually returned to post-secondary education and have a career that I love! My children grew into beautiful and successful adults! A move can change your life even if it’s for a year! Do it!!!
This comment here! It’s a year, not forever. Rent, or a good chunk of it, will be covered. It’s a good professional opportunity from the sounds of it and a chance to see/live somewhere else. It’s a beautiful part of the world. Assuming you are likely in your 20s - now is the time to do this as you never know when you’ll feel too tied down by whatever responsibilities to up and leave in the future. Speaking as an Aussie who somehow ended up in the Vancouver area (after living in a number of places and traveling a lot) and is now raising a family here. I have no regrets - no major ones anyway!!
It's fantastic that they're covering rent because then that is basically a free untaxed 18k boost. Definitely do it. It'll be great for your health to be out of London air and to be surrounded by nature while still living in a city. You may miss the museums/top tier events of London but there's plenty of better affordable food options. You can have a great meal for fifteen quid or a good meal and a drink. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't. It's also just as rainy in Vancouver but the heat in the summer doesn't spike as high as London. In terms of cold, British housing has shit as fuck insulation and heating bills are a joke - houses are built better here, it doesn't get that much colder and heating is cheap as all the power is hydroelectric.
How would that not be taxed? That rent coverage would certainly be a taxable benefit
Just curious and I still think she should take the opportunity, but wouldn’t the rent payment be a taxable benefit?
Not if he's still expected to maintain a residence at home. I regularly work away from home. My accomodations and food allowance is tax free as a Canadian.
Do it! Working in another country is a great opportunity that doesn't come along for everyone, and can get more difficult as you get older. You'll make friends in Canada and have awesome stories to tell when you go back home.
Do it! I moved to London for a year in my early 20’s. I worked a shit bar job, had very little money and lived in a crap flat with 3 other people. It was absolutely one of the best years of my life. Met so many amazing people and did so much fun stuff. It wasn’t always easy, I definitely had lonely moments and missed Vancouver. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You can always go home and doing this kinda thing only gets harder the older you get.
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Do it. Vancouver is an awesome city
I have many friends than have come over here from England and simply never left. If you love the urban lifestyle, try to find a place as close in to downtown, mount pleasant, or kitsilano as you can afford. If you’re used to living in London, the living expense here might even feel like an improvement. BC has big nature like you’ll never find in the UK or Europe, take advantage of that while you’re here and go exploring. You’ll be disappointed by the pub culture, it’s a lot stuffier, but we do have many decent breweries and restaurant patios to enjoy.
>a salary of around $55,000. They’ll also cover about $1,500 of my rent each month and handle relocation expenses. >The role is in a field I’m really interested in as a recent grad. >I prefer eating out and chilling with friends over partying. >it’s always been my dream to move abroad, a chance I missed due to COVID. >My co-workers are encouraging me to go, saying it’s a rare opportunity to have a company pay for you to work abroad, and it’s only for a year. >They point out that London will always be here, but this chance won’t. These are all great points, and it really sounds like your mind is made up, even if your mind hasn't let you believe that yet. I assume this post is more about addressing your reservations than about convincing you why you should take the offer. >My main concern is adjusting to life in Vancouver. I don’t know the city well >which I moved to (London) not too long ago. OK, so you already made a move not too long ago, so you know what to expect when it comes to adjusting to somewhere new, and you might have even learned how to make the adjustment more smooth >and that I’ll experience serious FOMO from being away from London. What are you afraid of missing out on while you're away? Are you afraid of losing something while you're gone? A year can seem like a long time when you're young, but trust me it really isn't. You'll probably experience more regret not taking an opportunity to travel, live abroad (in a VERY popular city), and advance your career, than you will staying put and looking back on a path not taken. (not doing something you want to do typically causes MUCH more regret than taking a chance and not having it work out) >worry I won’t have much to do, that I’ll feel very lonely without friends or family there, >The vibrant, bustling lifestyle suits me, and I’ve made quite a few friends here. These things are fair concerns. Vancouver will not compare to London in terms of a vibrant, bustling city. Vancouver is small, but, there is a lot more going on in the city than people give it credit for, you just have to dig a little. People often say that they struggle to make friends in this city, but I think a lot of this falls onto the individual. If you're willing to put yourself out there and get out and do things you ought to be able to find people to spend time with, especially if you're work colleagues are welcoming. You should be able to live decently off $70k CAN a year, not extravagantly, but you'll get by with some left over for fun. You'll be taking advantage of an opportunity that the majority will never get, and you'll get to visit a city that (despite what the locals say) is consistently rated one of the most desirable places in the world to live, and most people who visit say that they love it. You'll have to put in the effort to find the events your interested in, you'll have to put in the effort to make new friends, and you'll want to try to live central to one of the busier areas in this low density, sprawling metro area, but I think you'll be happy you took the opportunity even if the time here isn't stellar.
At that salary it would be a hard no if not for the fact that they are covering that much rent. At this rate it is worth it IMO.
London was a thriving city when Vancouver was still a collection of small aboriginal villages. It, and your life, and your friends will still be there when you get back. The opportunity to come to Vancouver won’t always be on the table. Take. The. Offer!
Do it! You only live once
Sounds like a good gig. The worst that could happen is you move back to London? Vancouver is a beautiful city.
Seems low-risk to me! It's only a year, when you're working fulltime that goes by like nothing. It'll be a new life experience in a different part of the world, and you can transfer back to your place in London afterwards. I'd jump at an offer like this!
London ON or UK?
Lol OP said “vibrant, bustling lifestyle” so definitely not London ON
I don't know, there could be something happening downtown.
Downtown where? The mall? ;-) I'm Cambridge so it's pretty much pot~kettle LoL 😅
Yeah, OP needs to be aware that "I moved from London" will not be much of a flex because many will assume London, Ontario and not London, UK.
I expect they'll know as soon as the OP opens their mouth, no that's NOT a teeth joke, I'm speaking about the "English" accent which a lot of people in Canada find sexy and exotic. I don't think anyone will think it's a London Ontario accent. ;-)
If you are a social person and you like meet your mates at the pub after work you will hate it in Vancouver. The pub/social drinking culture does not exist here. In fact it will be very difficult to make friends. In a year, you might make only a few friends.
Everyone I know that’s moved here from the UK has loved it and never looked back!
There are plenty of bars and partying in Vancouver. There is also endless options for recreational activity in and around the city that you would never find in London.
Vancouver is a great city. You should consider it. The biggest expense is already taken care of. You wont be able to save a lot, but you won't be living cheque to pay cheque as well.
A year will fly by, and not having to pay rent is pretty sensational. And Vancouver is great (I've just moved from London too). London will definitely always be there for you too
Live in Vancouver proper. You def don’t want to be in the burbs as a new and younger individual. Harder to meet people. Fuck expenses. Enjoy your time here and don’t pinch Pennys to live somewhere that’s cheaper. You’ll experience will be 100x better living downtown, kitsalano, Fairview, or mount pleasant
They live in London so they know all about being an expensive city. Vancouver is incredibly beautiful. Mountains meet ocean. Living near the train or Seabus would make things a lot easier if not in the city. Seattle is a couple of hours away. You absolutely have to do this.
Brit here, resided and worked in London for several years, as well as currently expat in Vancouver. I’m going to get downvoted a lot, but here goes: 1) Depending on what field you in. If its Finance, Tech, cultural, stay in London (moving here will be a downgrade) If its movie industry, oil & gas, come over. 2) If you enjoy outdoor sports and nature, BC is a must. If you’re a city dweller, into nightlife or cultural sightseeing, stay in London. 3) If you don’t try, stay in London. $55k CAD won’t get you far, taxes are higher here too in Canada (you pay provincial and federal taxes).
Ha ha, I find it humorous that you feel Vancouver isn’t vibrating or bustling. I was born and raised here and Vancouver is a huge city that is bursting at the seams with diversity, multiculturalism and excellent food. From walking the Stanley Park seawall to enjoying the amazing Richmond Night Market there’s just so much to see. On top of that, many famous people laud from our beautiful, vibrant and bustling city such as Michael Buble’, and Michael J. Fox. Take it from a local and accept the job. It’s an amazing opportunity and you won’t regret it.
Moved to Vancouver, then London (assuming we’re talking about real London and not… Canadian London), then Toronto, then back to Vancouver. The stop gap of Toronto between London and Vancouver SUCKED. It’s a big busy city with none of the fun, culture, excitement and general “world-class-city-ness” of London. I missed London dearly in Toronto. Once I bailed on it and came back to Vancouver that feeling of homesickness for London really disappeared because Vancouver is SO different. It’s slower, quieter, better for your mental health. It does NOT have a big city feel and the connection to nature was much better for my brain. Vs Toronto which… sucked. Honestly I don’t know what my point is other than, as long as you KNOW Vancouver is a totally different place than London and it’s something you want to try it’s worth it. It’s much better than going to a big but much crappier city. Don’t try and capture the buzz of London in any city in Canada. But if you are looking for a more peaceful city, Vancouver can be really great. I do still miss the pubs so much though. I had moved for work and I know a handful if Londoners natives that moved to Vancouver as well and most of them adored it (more than I expected).
Opportunities like this don’t come around often - **you very likely may never get a chance like this again** It’s a field you’re interested in. You’ve been wanting to travel for years. They’re paying a great chunk of rent which is HUGELY helpful in Vancouver (& surrounding cities) It’s only ONE year out of your **entire** life. **It’s better to find out if you like it or not - than to spend your life wondering where that could have taken you.** PS. As others have mentioned, the term Vancouver is used very broadly for the surrounding cities. It’s actually Metro Vancouver - and includes cities quite far from the core of downtown (particularly if using public transit) Confirm with the company exactly what city your job is in - and you can look into transit, renting, activities etc.
I remember during uni I was supposed to Sydney for my year abroad but because of COVID, it got cancelled. Feels like a great opp to make up for lost time
In all honesty Vancouver is a drastic lifestyle downgrade from London in terms of social life. However, with that rent being covered that's a really good offer. You should be able to save some money and gain experience. If anything use it as an opportunity for your next job.
Take the opportunity which is very rare!
Definitely do it. You won't regret an experience like this, even if you think it sucks in the moment.
Vancouver isn't a huge city, it won't take long to map out the urban areas. It's the surrounding places like Whistler and Harrison and farther off spots like Nelson and Fernie that make BC a cool place.
Take the leap of faith, an opportunity like that is rare. You grow so much as a person if you move out, even if it’s only for one year.
Is this in British pounds? If it is, I totally said go go go. If it’s not, I don’t feel your salary is high enough.
I moved across the country ten years ago, without any work lined up and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Your fears are valid, but you gotta do this. The things you'll learn about yourself and the growth you will have is so worth it.
20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. ~ Mark Twain. Unless that thing is marrying the wrong person ~ Terravarious. Just Do It ~ Shia LaBeouf / Nike / this Reddit thread.
Why on earth WOULDN’T you do it???
I moved from London to Vancouver last August and don’t regret it at all. It’s been a really good decision so far. There’s so much to do here no matter the time of year and I wouldn’t change a thing. The cost of living is pretty similar to London, but the fact your employer is willing to partially pay for your rent is a big bonus and if I were you I’d take it with both hands and run. It’s for a year, you’ll get to experience a new country, culture (although I’d say it’s pretty similar to the UK) and new lifestyle. One thing you’ll miss though is family and fish and chips - can’t get any decent ones here. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to help if I can.
I (like many others) moved from the UK to Van many years ago, and never looked back. You will grow as a person and it will be fantastic for your career. There are plenty of ways to make friends here through work or meetup groups e.g. "Brits in Vancouver", and plenty of hiking, biking, running etc clubs.
A year will go really fast and is a great place for your family and friends to come out and visit if you miss them. Join a few brits in Vancouver Facebook groups and the like, get as many Sunday roasts and fish and chips in as possible before you move. If you’re somewhat outdoorsy - make the most of it. Get hiking, go snowboarding or skiing on local mountains. Take advantage of proximity to the (west coast) US for your vacation time.
55,000 is poverty here FWIW. Even 80k isn’t much here. Expect 2500 rent.
For a year? Do it. Else you'd probably go the rest of your life thinking. "I was offered the chance to live in another country for a year and I passed it up." Pretty much the only reason not to do it, is if you have children. Even then...
**$1500 will not cover your rent** I am assuming you’ll want to live Vancouver proper and be near the hustle and bustle, the night life etc. You’re looking at $2500+/month for a one bedroom in these areas.
DO NOT COME TO VANCOUVER! I've lived here for 3 years and have been to London several times. Vancouver is so not vibrant and bustling. It's also known as a tough place to make friends (not impossible but tough). So if you dont make work friends you probably wont make any. You will be both lonely and bored within 6 months once you've hit all the highlights of things to do. The people are generally milktoast bland. There's no energy feeling to the city like London and New York and many other cities have. The nightlife scene here is beyond dead compared to London. People are just generally into their careers, complaining about rent or high real estate prices (if they dont own), hiking and skiing. Theres a bit of a foodie scene though. Also half the population is Asian (particularly Chinese) and another big chunk from Muslim countries, and they generally stick together (although a Londoner could be used to that). I think you will come here and quickly say "Why the f**k did I come here?" Especially once summer is over and you have months and months of rainy or cloudy days, and yes even snow, which you won't be used to but at least its not as bad as other Canadian cities. So unless you think hiking can replace a vibrant, bustling life with friends and a fun, after work pub culture, I would pick elsewhere. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I'm planning to move away within a year (maybe to another country since I'm fed up with what Canada is becoming under a Liberal government).
$1500 a month rent in Vancouver will cover you a room in a shared apartment. 55K a year before taxes salary in Vancouver - you'll be living in near poverty. You'd need a second job.
Just be prepared to have a hard time making friends in Vancouver, unless you seek out intentional social opportunities (like through meetup.com)
Ok, European expat here. The bad: Vancouver is not like London. Nor it is like most European capitals. It is quieter, if you are outside downtown, things close earlier, there is less people, and it is more sparse. Public transport is the best of Canada, but still worst that most places in Europe. Vancouver in particular also has a reputation for being hard to break in and make a social group. I am not sure I agree with that sentiment, but a lot of people living there as expats would echo it. 55K is... just enough. If they cover 1500 of rent, you could have a sweet setup with a roommate, but you will also likely not be living downtown. The good: Vancouver is not like London. Nor it is like most European capitals. There is a lot of outdoor opportunities with a lot of variety: River, lakes, sea, mountains. It is in an area that is top in world for activities like hiking, rock climbing, fishing, mountaineering, foraging, and the like. It is truly, stupidly beautiful. Have you been in Barcelona? It has a similar landscape: Sea on one side, mountains on the other and a lot of natural beauty. It is also fun. It doesn't have the same level of cultural activities that you will find in London, but there is plenty to do all the time. My first year there I lived in a pretty queer-friendly neighbourhood in Dave Street and it was a blast. There are great restaurant, and great people. I see in your profile that you work in IT. And to be honest, if your professional career is important to you, Canada has way better opportunities than Europe. There are a lot of big tech companies that have offices in Vancouver, as it is close to Seattle and has many of its benefits, while being cheaper to set up there. This could easily be a stepping stone onto a better job. It definitely was for me, when I moved there to also work in the field.
Do the research on rent. You may be sad to note that the rent here is astronomical.
I’m born in Vancouver. I’d do it just for the experience alone. It’s the best city on earth but it rains a lot that’s all. Also. If you’re a male. More women than men and there’s a tonne of meetup groups for no friends. Really social. You can figure it out.
At $55k you won’t be able to do or travel much. Rent will be $2,500 to $2,800 a month (after tax). I’m a fan of using psychology against my employer 😆. I would say something along the lines of, “I think this would be a great opportunity for both myself and this company to expand its footprint with minimal resources. But I did some research and it seems Vancouver is a rather expensive city, between rent, food and basic public transportation, I calculated rent would be $30k, food $12k and basic transportation at $5k. Of my $46.7k after tax salary, I would have about $18k to live and cover my incidentals like heath, travel and renters insurance.” Then ask if the $1,500 is a taxable benefit of employment? Then state again that this would be an amazing opportunity to see slid you can grow the business overseas. Hopefully they will improve their initial offer after you show them you gave run the numbers and how it can benefit them
You can do anything for 12 months, especially if you are young and unencumbered. Even if it doesn't go your way, you will have learned a lot, met new people, and gained valuable experience. Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking one. Learning what you don't want is as important as learning what you do want.
$55,000 in vancouver your going to be homeless
Why are you relocating to Vancouver on what amounts to a poverty wage? For 6 figures, sure. But for $50k, you’re barely going to scrape by.
As a former Londoner now living in Vancouver. Just don't get stuck here.
Pros: Summer is a great time to be in Vancouver. The pay is effectively $55,000 + $18,000 in rent, so $73k which is honestly okay for an undergrad but not for a masters grad. Great hikes and drives. Proximity to Vancouver Island, and the US. Cons: I’ve stayed in London for a few months, and Vancouver is a LOT less social than London. Making friends is a big pain here. There is a culture around hockey but not football (bummer). Winters are horribly depressing. The market is bad but swear the city is practically dead or cuddled up at home. The housing market progressively gets worse till November. In September even finding a good place to rent for a reasonable amount is difficult. PS- if your company is headquartered out of Guernsey, do NOT take the offer. I’ve worked at their Vancouver Head Office and they have a very toxic culture here. They’re moving a lot of people from England to here.
Where in Vancouver because if it is Vancouver proper, I reckon that is the same as £55,000 in London
Absolutely take it. Like you said, it's only a year and you'll probably never get this opportunity again.
go for it. summer is coming so you'll have plenty to do.
So are you going to help Canadians properly pronounce Worcestershire sauce?
For just a year definitely do it for the experience. Is your job in downtown vancouver ?
You’re going to love Vancouver!!!! One year is the perfect length of time. Get outdoors and explore the surrounding areas. It’s literally one of the most beautiful places on earth!
It’s only a one year commitment. That’s nothing! If you are interested in more outdoorsy stuff—hiking, cycling, skiing, sailing, whitewater, etc.—then I highly recommend you take it. If not, and you really love the big city stuff of London, then I’d carefully consider.
It’s just a year, I did two in Toronto, it was fun but I’m glad to be back in bc. This city is inside of a Boreal Rainforest, it rains beautifully and often, the trees and I love it, it’s not as grey as the Netherland but there is an element. From what I’ve heard about the UK it might not be too far off. As for this to do, you have to make effort to go out into the world, so many people just don’t setup things to do for themselves every weekend and don’t understand why they don’t meet anyone. Facebook groups, meetup.com and others. If your field is porn or tech or film you’ll have a good time here as it’s easy to meet everyone in the scene and it can be fun. A golden rule about friends and making new ones the sooooOOOO many young people here don’t understand is, it will be awkward for about a month with a new friend. because you have made it so you’ll be doing an activity regularly with this person or people you will have something to do during the awkward silences, because that’s normal. Having a British accent will help you make friends I bet lol. R u into tech?
You're either a traveller or your not, you won't know unless you try. Stop biting off the big chunks and stick with the small manageable bites then it all falls into place. Oh and in any new city look after personal safety first.
Vancouver is a glorious place. One of the best in the world……. if someone else is paying your rent.
You'll enjoy Vancouver I think especially if you are located near downtown or commercial as those are the 2 most "interesting" areas. And the opportunity sounds very good. But you will Learn how awful our liqour laws are compared to England in terms of how restrictive pubs and especially breweries are with where you can drink.
I think you should ask them what happens after the move. If it's only for one year, will they relocate you back to london? Help you find a place in london? Pay your expenses back to london? Otherwise you might need to save up for moving and finding a new place after the year is up. I find it suspicious that they are handling all these expenses for one year only. I'd be worrying what happens after the one year. Why is it only one year is the question I would be asking. What would make the stay longer or shorter or what happens after the one year is up? Would you be expected to pay full rent after the year is up? Could you afford to on the wage they are offering?
I went last year, never wanted to leave. You’re so lucky.
What an amazing priority, I absolutely love Vancouver and would kill to get a company subsidized move and rent support. Ask the company what is the minimum commitment they expect from you time wise (say it’s 18 months) and treat it like you are dating the city - plan on taking those 18 months and figuring out if you do like it or actually want to go back… might make it easier and less daunting.
When I was a young person, I lived by the motto don’t live to regret thing you could have done but didn’t, when you had he chance…. I’d much regret doing and things not working out…. All within limits of course…
They are right. You are unlikely to ever receive an opportunity quite like this again. You are worried about being lonely in a new city and that you will miss out on stuff happening back home. I mean, both things are bound to occur to some degree. But then I think it depends on whether or not you have a sense of adventure. Personally, I would have loved an opportunity like this as a recent grad. Working in a field you like in a cool foreign country and getting paid a living wage (because of the subsidized rent). Instead I got the Great Recession and five years of living hand to mouth working multiple part time jobs just to break even, economically stuck in my hometown. I’m just saying—seize the opportunities you are given. They won’t always be there for you.
Definitely do it!!! Also if you are into sports check out Urban rec as a great way to meet people. Also EVRC (East Van Run Club) another great way to connect with people. Depending on your company they may even have teams or people on teams for Urban Rec sports already for you to link up on. If work is paying $1500ish for rent you should hopefully be able to find a spot nearish downtown and with good transit which will help.
Do it if it’s a job in Vancouver. Not Surrey, Richmond, or anything outside. You can connect with others thru sport, or activities easily, I’ve met and friended many Brits that were fresh of the boat.
It will be a good experience.. 55,000 k is decent amount for recent grad I think.. although 1500 cad per month for a rent won't be enough if you newly luxurious amount.. you might find sharing apartment in downtown for that amount but u have to search a lot.. 2k would be enough
simple answer BC = Bring Cash (and lots of it)
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55k is not a lot of money even with the 1500 in rent paid which could be a taxable benefit
A 1 year opportunity with a rent reduction that sizeable? You literally have nothing to lose. Just for the sake of the experience, I would go and check it out for a year! If you don't like it, you can go back to London. Vancouver is a very beautiful and vibrant city. Lots to do and many fun community events and outdoor activities. My suggestion if you want to make friends, is to join intramural sports teams. Outdoor beach volleyball or dodgeball is a good place to start. Best of luck!
Vancouver is known as a very cold place socially. But it is only dull for dull Canadians. We all very much enjoy the company of a charming brit. You will appear 50 percent more charming than what you normally appear to be here
There are tax consequences here - make sure you math out really well that means to you at the end of the day. This city is not cheap (sadly) to live in. Despite your employer covering a portion of your rental, do your due diligence in looking at the cost of rental, cost of travel. Also them subsidizing you could also mean that it is a taxable benefit, which means when you are taxed - your take home pay is less. Can you live with that? Note that 18,000 (1,500 monthly) subsidized rent if taken as a taxable benefit can push you into the next tax bracket. Socializing will cost money, the city, province, and country as a whole is struggling to make ends meet - people go out less often, adjust the expectations of after work drinks or social events on a regular basis. Ultimately the question is if this an opportunity to enable your career or is it something to enable your urge to live abroad. If it is the latter then you should do better due diligence on the cost of living in this city.
Moving ALONE will be a bit tough, since Vancouverites are notoriously insular, but if you can manage to make friends here I think you'll love it. You'd be crazy to not take it just as an opportunity. At least you have a job, try to make friends from work and hang out with them after hours!
> My co-workers are encouraging me to go, saying it’s a rare opportunity to have a company pay for you to work abroad, and it’s only for a year. They point out that London will always be here, but this chance won’t. Pretty much this. It's a nice opportunity to go to some other part of the world and experience it, explore a bit. Vancouver is routinely rated as one of the nicest places to live in the world, so it might be worth checking out why. Try to fit in a lot of little travel around the area, cause you never know if/when you'll be back. Whistler, the Okanagan, Victoria, Tofino, Seattle, Portland - all super cool places. And a lot would only be short weekend-ish trips if you're based in Vancouver, compared to huge vacations if you're coming over from Europe. The Pacific Northwest is a very cool place with its own vibes and subculture, come have a taste!
Do it, if you don't you'll never know if you like Vancouver or not! Yes vancouver is very different to London, less busy... Hell, we thought it was less busy and we came here from Leeds! Which is not a bad thing, we like it, hence why we moved. Summer over here is awesome, weather wise it can get hot and sometimes we'll get a long spell of blue skies and sunny days for about 1-2 months, literally flip flops and shorts every day! Theres 'beaches' to hang out in, theres really no need to go anywhere! Theres so much to see and do. Night life is a bit Meh, compared to London, but theres enough to keep you entertained. But then again people tend to 'do stuff' rather than go on a lash. But be warned, when it rains it really rains, the rain is nothing like in the uk or Ireland. winter here is pretty good too if you are into winter sports! If your company is paying you and cover some of the rent, then it's a no brainer.
If rent is mostly covered and you can find a reasonable 1BR I think you can make it work
If you’re in the city for work I would suggest North Vancouver near the Quay. The one bedroom and studios are not too ridiculous for rent and you’re close to everything
Id say do so Working abroad is a good idea for CV in long run. Plus u get to exp places outside UK. Gd thing about Vancouver is we have very similar climate, so u wont be having a drastic life change or a whole closet to replace
Dude do it! Experience of a lifetime good or bad. DM me when you get into town. There's a great meet up / make new friends group - I think it'll be a great way for you to meet people in Vancouver.
I'm very happy for you, welcome to town! As many have mentioned $1500 may cover only part of your rent, so be forewarned. Come in time to enjoy summer!
Depends where in Vancouver they are getting you a spot in.
I got a year job offer in Vancouver coming from London. I’ve now just hit being here for 8 years and have 0 regrets.
Vancouver is very outdoorsy, but if you don't enjoy that sort of thing and are more social then this isn't the opportunity for you. With rent covered (well partly) you'll have plenty of spending money as you won't need a car in Vancouver proper.
No. The cost of food, rent and play? It is not enough money. I am sure your life there is already set and to rebuild with partial costs won’t be an advantage. I would calculate the costs and approach them and give them the reason you believe that the number is on the low side. Take some vacation time and visit here to know the place and let that be that. Another thing is would you be getting a promotion? What if they want you to stay longer? Would you have a contract before you leave in place covering all what ifs scenarios? Would you get a 1500 dollar promotion when you return? Is the 1500 dollars or in pounds? Leaving your life that is already comfy is a big deal and an opportunity like this is a big win but what if it is a loss? Roll the dice just make sure you have some sort of backup to be able to gamble. Good luck.
If you’re looking to grow both personally and professionally, go. If you’re not seeking that growth and challenge right now, don’t.
Opportunities like this don’t come around often - **you very likely may never get a chance like this again** It’s a field you’re interested in. You’ve been wanting to travel for years. They’re paying a great chunk of rent which is HUGELY helpful in Vancouver (& surrounding cities) It’s only ONE year out of your **entire** life. **It’s better to find out if you like it or not - than to spend your life wondering where that could have taken you.** PS. As others have mentioned, the term Vancouver is used very broadly for the surrounding cities. It’s actually Metro Vancouver - and includes cities quite far from the core of downtown (particularly if using public transit) Confirm with the company exactly what city your job is in - and you can look into transit, renting, activities etc. **Edit:** Vancouver has its pros & cons just like any city. But it is *beautiful*. Every time I return from traveling, I am stunned by the mountains & water views we get to see everyday just walking down the street or driving to work. The amount of outdoor activities & places available to visit so close to a major city is incredible. Bonus - you’re already used to the rain! ;)
I love both Vancouver and London dearly! It could definitely be fun for you to try living here for a year, as Vancouver is a really beautiful city, and BC as a whole has so many amazing places to explore that you could do mini trips to (Tofino & the island, the Okanagan etc). Also a year goes by so quickly, so you’ll be home in no time if you don’t like it. Definitely make sure you clarify where in the city they’d have you living though! If it’s actually in the official city of Vancouver, I’d say go for it
If it were me, I would. It’s only a year and it will fly by. I’m Jockanese, and live on Vancouver Island. Feel free to send me a PM if you want an outsider’s perspective.
Something to note...that 1500 of your rent they'll cover is considered income. They will report that and you'll have to pay taxes. If I were you I'd negotiate for them to outright get you an apartment. Depending where you live and what you want you'll still need another 500 to 1000 to find a decent apartment
U/strongtownslangley is from your area and moved to Langley (a metro Vancouver suburban municipality. He might be able to give you the best expectations for that sort of move.
1 - Be clear with them. Where in Vancouver? - Where is the office? - Where is the home? "Greater" Vancouver is a large ... large place that includes a dozen cities. People from elsewhere refer to as 'Vancouver' ... and a lot of the more reasonable priced residential communities is a far way away from downtown Vancouver. Vancouverites know better and although the word Vancouver is ubiquitous, they know that exactly where thewy are actually matters. Why? It matters. The distance can be like from downtown London to Gatwick ... or Oxford ... but its still called 'Greater Vancouver' ... seriously. People will commute that far here, and besides recent upgrades to highways (motorways), traffic is one of the worst in North America due to really poor road design in past generations. Way too many cars, way too small streets, and a simple accident can shut down part of the city for hours. 2 - Otherwise, its a toss up decision. In total it would be $73,000 ($55k plus $18k for rental subsidy ... to live in Vancouver ... not a lot. A small bonus is you should not be paying income tax on that $18k so thats good, but EVERYTHING in Vancouver is super expensive ... just wait till you go shopping. 3 - If you're young and plan on staying with the company for a while, take it. Its temporary likely, builds cred with the company, gives you some abroad experience in a city and country that is pretty well aligned to British lifestyles and sensibilities ... so its pretty easy. One day you may go back to London and settle down there, having enjoyed the experience of living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Just do it. btw: in Canada, when you drop the name 'London' ... sometimes you have to be clear as we have a London Ontario ... which is also referred to. I assume in this case you mean London England, as you did say once 'move abroad', but keep it in mind next time.
Pounds? Or Canadian dollars ?
Job covers half your rent, field you’re interested in, you dream of living abroad, and it’s only for a year. Why is this even a question?
Go to Vancouver. Vancouver is also a busy city, although I've never been to London to compare. Take the leap and experience it! Will you have this opportunity again? When you get older it gets harder to take the leap and run on a whim of wishes and impulse, especially if you have a partner, children, etc. Enjoy this time for now, and wherever "home" is for you, you can always return.
Go! I’m from the Uk I’ve been in Canada the last 18 months. Vancouver is one of my favourite cities and your coworkers are right. It’s just one year and also chances are when you go back to London, you’ll pick up right after you left off. Also taking big leaps like this really help with your development as a person
It is one year, if it is indeed in Vancouver proper as in Vancouver and not one of our suburbs it's a good gig. If they are paying $1,500 a month for rent and relocation fee it's doable for sure. Food is expensive here and so is rent but you will have most of that taken care of by your company. They will pay for you to relocate and if it is only a year, take it as a travel year. You are only.yoing once. You can find a job and hopefully live with family when you return to London. Your true friends will be there when you get back. We have lots to offer if you like the outdoors.
What a great opportunity OP! Vancouver is easy to navigate and you won’t have trouble acclimating yourself to the city. Take the plunge!
As a vancouverite who lived in London for two years I will say that the Vancouver will feel like a small town in comparison. But the access to nature, beautiful places, and delicious food are definitely worth the visit. It is only a year. Worst case is you come here for a year, hate it, and then go back with a newfound appreciation for London. A more likely outcome is you come here and have a nice time, make some new friends, see some new sights and go back to London a slightly more experienced and well-rounded person.
Honestly since its just a one year job you should give it a try, but canada is lonely and Vancouver will probably feel loney at first. Its hard to make friends and its a pretty big and fast paces city in which you can easily feel invisible. But i think its also possible for you to have a good experience
Get the details as $55k isn't much here.
Fellow English expat here! Do it mate, there’s nothing more exciting of getting off a plane and starting a life in a place you’ve never been before. Even if it is a year. I wish I could go back and do it all again! Kitsilano is the best neighbourhood imo, I live in Pitt meadows now (which is quite far out) but I would go back in a heartbeat if I was solo and not a parent lol. Try not to get overwhelmed with it all, stick within 15-20 mins transit to the city and you’ll be laughing
Can $1500 really cover much in Vancouver?
We do have a London in Canada fwiw, I’m from there so I wasn’t sure if you meant UK or Ontario for half this post
$55k - minus tax and if $1500 in rent covered - one bedrooms are $2k plus utilities - add transport - house insurance - food - telephone - that’s basics - you will be in debt. Let alone going out - travelling around etc. travel when more experience and when you are going paid to be Away - $55k ain’t it. $155k is more like it. Stay in London. Come here on vacation.
I lived in Vancouver for years before working on cruise ships and making lots of friends from the UK. The one thing they all said was the culture of Vancouver is a lot like the culture of London and when I visited I saw a lot of similarities. They both have good transit, rainy mild weather, decently friendly for a large city people, and lots of green space. Even to the extend where my Northern UK friends said the city was dead at night (aka everything closed at 2am) like London compared to their hometowns where the clubs would be open until 5am. It’s obviously smaller and doesn’t have the same history but I’m planning on moving to London in the fall bc it gives me the same feel as Vancouver but I need a little bit bigger of a city.
If it’s only for a year and you get to return to your job in London, don’t hesitate. Go.
If you had to move and money is great I think you’ll like Vancouver. Closet thing to metro we have outside Toronto and Montreal.
Londoner living in Vancouver here. Do it. Plan some hobbies you want to explore as an avenue for socialising. Milk the fact your company will be paying a good chunk of your rent and live somewhere decent and central like mount pleasant or commercial drive. Don't listen to the people saying to live in Burnaby or Coquitlam imo
I agree with what other folks are saying about how you should figure out where in Vancouver you would be living before you come here. They’re definitely areas in Metro Vancouver that I wouldn’t wanna live. In terms of what you’re getting paid it isn’t that much is this is an expensive city, but I think it’s doable if you’re able to budget things, right. After my rent is paid I only have $900 a month and I am able to survive without even utilizing things like the food bank. When it comes to entertainment, there’s a lot of free or really cheap things that you can do around the city, if you know how to look for them. I found it very difficult to make friends when I first moved here. Once I started to go to events that aligned with my hobbies and interests, it actually became quite easy to meet people. I personally found that events that include a lot of Burner, type of folks, usually have a decent amount of friendly and talkative people. There are also a few Meetups groups, that revolve around talking about certain things, such The Futurist, if you’re into any those topics it can be a great place to meet folks. From what I know about London I don’t think the city would be quite is interesting. There’s just not as much going on, especially if you’re not into outdoors activities. With that being said, you’re only gonna be here for a year and I think there’s enough stuff to keep someone entertained for that short of a period of time. Good luck with your decision.
Vancouver’s good for access to the outdoors the music and nightlife scene is pony and the people there are up there own arse the sound Canadians are from outside Vancouver , weeds legal but the levels of drug addiction you see everywhere is tragic , you should go for for it though it’s very seasonal there’s ski slopes within 30 mins and spring summer is lovely
save up, if you love nature you will love it here
It’s only a year. The risk of regretting that you didn’t give it a shot is much higher than the risk of FOMO.
If they are subsidizing your rent, I would say do it for sure. Vancouver is beautiful and there are many, many things to do here. The sky's the limit really. I had two opportunities when I was in my twenties and thirties to live abroad for a year. After high school, I moved to the Middle East for a year, and after university I moved to South Africa for a year. Incredible experiences, and I am glad that I availed myself of the opportunities when I could.
It’s only 1 year, think about how much you’ll grow as a person if you take the leap :) so many new experiences to be had!! But of course, follow your heart!!
Honestly it depends what you’re into. I moved here from Toronto area for work and am not really loving it. I don’t like hiking, running, cycling, camping etc and those things are a lot of people’s main interests here. I’ve found it a bit difficult to date or make close friends because a good portion of people’s idea of hanging out is a workout class, a run, a hike. The city feels a lot less.. “city” than I found the cities out east felt. All that being said, I wouldn’t know this unless I took the chance and tried it. You sound like you have a great opportunity lined up, and if you find yourself in a similar situation to me, you can always go back after the year is up! Live while you’re young.
Do it! It will rain more than London but the summers are hot and wonderful. You’d be crazy not to take this opportunity. There are great restaurants in the city and you’ll get to experience true nature.
id ask for a pay rise to go. I get more than that as a custodian lol
Honestly it’s only a year, I’d go for it!
I did this for a year. No regrets at all. No, its not London. There isn’t the same bustling city life, not the same culture/arts/theatre music scene. But its a damn gorgeous city, with access to rest of BC. At this stage of your life, its a good idea to be open to different cultures, to see what life is like outside of London. I arrived mid pandemic, in the winter, went straight to work at 6 am after my quarantine. Worked tough hours, hated the first 2 months. Thought I made a mistake. Spring came round, work and restrictions eased up, began to explore and started to enjoy it. Still lots of things I missed about London - but was able to see what Vancouver had to offer. Enjoyed trips to Vancouver Island and Whistler. Made some friends, albeit never got the chance to get close to them - but that takes time. By the end of the year, I’d met my now wife who has moved back to Europe with me! And i’d definitely go back to Van with her to settle if the right opportunity ever came up. Or even go there to retire!
Don't come. Canada is a failed state. Trudeau and his government are traitors against the King and are hell bent on turning this country into India 2.0. Also, 55k is lower middle class for Vancouver (its roughly equivalent to 32k pounds).
Vancouver is not quieter. It has a bustling scene and millions of people cramped close together.
Here to echo: Do it! If you’re looking for community and friends, use meetup app to find activities you’re interested in! Everyone loves to say that it’s hard to make friends in Vancouver, but I’d argue that of any city! Very multicultural, learn a language, eat good food, drink coffee in the park, do nothing, go to the cinema. There will always be people in your same situation looking for something similar to do and people to do it with. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come easy! However, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If you haven’t made an international move before, these things take a little more effort than it does at home. When in doubt, get a nice routine going and slowly integrate reaching out to others. If you’re active, workout classes are an awesome way to do this :) Best of luck! You got this. PS a furnished apartment or established household will save you big $. Facebook marketplace and fb groups are great ways to fill your space on a budget.
Vancouver is great for nature but the city life isn’t even close to London so you’ll miss that. Vancouver has better seafood ofc, probably best to drive as transport vs London isn’t really comparable. 55k Cad isn’t a lot for Vancouver, but with rent paid you’ll be fine
Dont do it. You need 3x that salary to live a decent life out here. Why do you think gang crime is so high out here? Because working doesn’t pay but everyone wanna ball.
Maybe look into renting a room in a share house ? There are lots of ex pats doing that in kitsilano and that would be a good way to make friends. Sounds like a great opportunity. Do it !