Moving to North Vancouver

[Inferno]

I'll be moving to North Vancouver next February to go back to school and I'm looking for advice from anyone who lives or has lived there on how much I should expect to spend on living expenses for the year, areas I should or shouldn't look for an apartment, .etc.

I'm single, no kids, no car, and until I have to start paying back my student loan no outstanding bills. I realize rent won't be cheap but since I've been advised by my school to not look for part-time work I'm looking for a place as cheap as possible but not in a rough area. The school is on West Esplanade so I'd prefer a place as close as possible.

Thanks in advance

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I'll be moving to North Vancouver

Does it just totally suck being you?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

Does it just totally suck being you?

I'm not too thrilled about living in Canucks country but you have to make sacrifices to reach your goals I guess.

[Galakanokis]

What's cheap, $500 or $1500? a 1 bedroom 600 sqft place could run you in the $1500 range in the North Van, Van West/downtown area. If you are willing to commute you could look farther out and prices can drop a fair bit.

Isn't West Esplanade right near the water bus station?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

What's cheap, $500 or $1500? a 1 bedroom 600 sqft place could run you in the $1500 range in the North Van, Van West/downtown area. If you are willing to commute you could look farther out and prices can drop a fair bit.

Under a grand. A bachelor's suite is even good enough for the year.

Isn't West Esplanade right near the water bus station?

Yeah, googlemaps says it's a six minute walk from my school to the SeaBus.

[Jiggy]

When I went to UBC, living expenses were unreal. I had a place about 5 minutes off campus that cost $950/month, which was about 500 sqft. Groceries every month were about $80-$100, that's if I didn't splurge. Try to budget $1200 a month for rent, groceries, student drink nights .

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I'm not too thrilled about living in Canucks country but you have to make sacrifices to reach your goals I guess.

Yeah, I'm just kidding anyway.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

Yeah, I'm just kidding anyway.

My family and friends are already bugging me about finding a woman out there and having her convert me to a Canucks fan. Not going to happen. lol

[Jedi Ninja]

Middle Lonsdale has the best selection of affordable apartments. You are probably looking at $800+ for a 1BR, but that will include heat. Often these buildings do not advertise, they will just post signs outside the building noting vacancies. In the old days, the North Shore News used to be the best list of advertisements, but I'm guessing the rental websites are used more often now. There are also tons of basement suites in houses, but they tend to be further from the Londsdale Ave core.

[Galakanokis]

I had a few buddies rent basement suites in north burnaby that were quite cheap, $500 a month kinda thing. Easy commute downtown with buses right to the water front station. Or a drive to second narrows and over to Lonsdale.

There are quite a few basement suites available as damn near everyone around here is trying to get help with the asinine mortgages.

[Locke]

North Van is pretty well one of the worst places you could move to if affordability is one of your priorities.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Yeah, I'm with Jedi, if you wanna live in North Vancouver, I would suggest central Lonsdale apartments. Some of the buildings are a little bit older, but it will be in your price range and it's a good area. It will be a nice 15-20 minutes downhill walk to your school or a short bus ride to the Quay and a 6 minute walk to your school.

Central Lonsdale pretty much has everything you need. Grocery stores, fast food, close to transit, banks etc. Would definitely reccomend finding a 1BDR in that area.

But if money is a huge issue, I would totally reccomend finding something off the North shore. If you don't mind a half hour commute, there's more options in Burnaby and new west for cheaper. Try to find something close to a skytrain station and you'll be fine. The transit system in Vancouver is pretty damn good.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

North Van is pretty well one of the worst places you could move to if affordability is one of your priorities.

100 percent agree.

[Blaster86]

I'mma find ya, and I'mma getcha! Ooooooh yeeeeah!

Gonna hop on the middle of lonsdale bandwagon, although there are a few cheaper basement suites in Lynn Valley right now.

[604flames]

Long-time NV resident..

Agree completely with Lonsdale, say between Keith and 20th/21st would be your best bets.. When I was looking ~3 yrs ago seemed to be plenty within the $800/$900 range (though many are older buildings).

If you don't have a car, buses to the SeaBus run all the time, but it's just as easy to walk.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Locke

North Van is pretty well one of the worst places you could move to if affordability is one of your priorities.

Affordability is only a concern for me right now because I'm probably going to have enough trouble getting funding to cover the whole cost for school so until I graduate and hopefully get a job at a game studio I may have to try and live as cheap as possible. That all depends though on how much I can save before I leave.

[Jedi Ninja]

I know those new develoments by the Quay are spendy, but the older buildings in central Lonsdale used to be reasonably affordable. Really, I don't think saving $100 a month by moving to Burnaby would be worth it. It would be a minimum 45 minute commute by transit, if you include connection delays. Lonsdale is an awesome and underrated community. Lots of great affordable eats along there plus all the recreation opportunities that the North Shore offers. Damn, I want to move back there now!

There's also always the "shared accomodation" option.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

I know those new develoments by the Quay are spendy, but the older buildings in central Lonsdale used to be reasonably affordable. Really, I don't think saving $100 a month by moving to Burnaby would be worth it. It would be a minimum 45 minute commute by transit, if you include connection delays. Lonsdale is an awesome and underrated community. Lots of great affordable eats along there plus all the recreation opportunities that the North Shore offers. Damn, I want to move back there now!

Your monthly rent savings would be shot to #### by the $120 bus pass

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Affordability is only a concern for me right now because I'm probably going to have enough trouble getting funding to cover the whole cost for school so until I graduate and hopefully get a job at a game studio I may have to try and live as cheap as possible. That all depends though on how much I can save before I leave.

I understand that, I'm just saying that North Van isnt exactly cheap, you'd likely be better served in one of the adjoining suburbs or something.

People tend to pay a premium to live in North Van.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Your monthly rent savings would be shot to #### by the $120 bus pass

Well, yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense to move off the shore for a savings of only 100 bucks. But you can find better places for cheaper outside of North Van and more than just 100 bucks cheaper. North Van is expensive.