Vancouver

Navigate Vancouver as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transit, costs, immigration, and local insights.

When to Use

User asks about Vancouver for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	visitor-attractions.md
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	visitor-itineraries.md
Where to stay	visitor-lodging.md
Tips & day trips	visitor-tips.md
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	neighborhoods-index.md
Downtown, Yaletown, Coal Harbour	neighborhoods-downtown.md
Kitsilano, Point Grey, West Side	neighborhoods-westside.md
East Van, Commercial Drive, Main St	neighborhoods-eastside.md
North Shore, West Van, Deep Cove	neighborhoods-northshore.md
Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey suburbs	neighborhoods-suburbs.md
Choosing guide	neighborhoods-choosing.md
Food
Overview & dining scene	food-overview.md
Asian cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)	food-asian.md
Local & farm-to-table	food-local.md
International & fine dining	food-international.md
Best areas for dining	food-areas.md
Dietary, craft beer, cannabis	food-practical.md
Practical
Moving & settling	resident.md
Transit (SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus)	transport.md
Cost of living	cost.md
Safety & neighborhoods	safety.md
Weather & rain survival	climate.md
Local services (banking, SIM, MSP)	local.md
Career
Tech industry & salaries	tech.md
Business setup & incorporation	business.md
Immigration (Express Entry, PNP, work permits)	immigration.md
Startups & funding	startup.md
Lifestyle
Culture & customs	culture.md
Healthcare (MSP, clinics)	healthcare.md
Schools & education	education.md
Outdoor lifestyle & activities	lifestyle.md
Driving & car ownership	driving.md

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Immigration-Centric Planning

Canada has complex but transparent immigration. Key pathways:

• Express Entry: Points-based skilled worker immigration
• BC PNP: Provincial nomination (tech pilot is fast-tracked)
• Work permits: LMIA-based or LMIA-exempt (IEC, intra-company)
• Study permits: Pathway to PR through PGWP See immigration.md for current requirements and processing times.

3. Weather Reality

Vancouver has Canada's mildest climate but earns its "Raincouver" nickname:

• Winter (Nov-Mar): 5-10°C, grey and rainy. ~170 rainy days/year.
• Summer (Jun-Sep): 20-25°C, sunny and spectacular. Best months.
• Microlimates: North Shore wetter, Richmond drier. See climate.md for monthly breakdown and survival strategies.

4. Housing Crisis Context

Vancouver has the least affordable housing in North America:

• Average home price: ~$1.2M CAD (condos ~$750K)
• 1BR rent Downtown: $2,200-3,000/month
• Vacancy rate: ~1% — units go fast
• Foreign buyer tax: 20% for non-residents See cost.md for current market data and strategies.

5. Current Data (Feb 2026)

Item	Range
1BR rent (Downtown)	$2,200-3,000/month
1BR rent (East Van)	$1,800-2,400/month
Senior SWE salary	$150,000-220,000 CAD/year
Monthly transit pass	$102.55-177.75 (zones)
Craft beer pint	$8-12
Childcare (infant)	$1,500-2,200/month

6. Cost Reality

Vancouver is expensive but wages are lower than US:

• Housing: 40-50% of budget common (crisis level)
• Childcare: Among Canada's highest until BC $10/day rollout completes
• Healthcare: Free basic coverage (MSP), dental/vision extra
• Car ownership: Optional if you live near SkyTrain
• Hidden costs: 12% PST+GST on goods, 15% tip expected

7. Transit Excellence (For Canada)

Vancouver has strong public transit by Canadian standards:

• SkyTrain: Automated metro, 3 lines, clean and frequent
• Buses: Extensive network, real-time tracking
• SeaBus: Ferry to North Vancouver (12 min)
• Cycling: Excellent infrastructure, bike-share available Most Downtown/inner city residents don't need cars. See transport.md.

8. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Yaletown, Mount Pleasant, Gastown
Families	North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam
Beach lifestyle	Kitsilano, English Bay, West End
Budget-conscious	East Van, New Westminster, Surrey
Tech workers	Downtown, Mount Pleasant, Burnaby (near Metrotown)
Students	UBC area, Commercial Drive, Burnaby near SFU
Outdoors focus	North Vancouver, Squamish (commutable)

Tech Industry Context

Vancouver is Canada's third-largest tech hub after Toronto and Montreal:

• Major employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, EA, SAP, Slack, Hootsuite
• Strengths: Gaming, VFX/film, AI/ML, clean tech
• US proximity: Same timezone as Seattle/SF, easy cross-border work
• BC Tech Pilot: Expedited PR pathway for tech workers

Salaries are lower than Seattle/SF but:

• Healthcare included
• No state income tax (BC rates apply)
• Better work-life balance culture
• PR pathway for long-term stability

See tech.md for detailed industry analysis and salary bands.

Vancouver-Specific Traps

• Rain depression — 6 months of grey skies is real. Get a SAD lamp and rainwear.
• Housing speed — Good units rent within hours. Have documents ready, apply immediately.
• Reference requirements — Landlords want employment letter, credit check, references. Prepare these.
• Tipping culture — 18-20% expected everywhere. Budget for it.
• BC income tax — Higher than other provinces. Alberta/Ontario may be cheaper net.
• Car insurance (ICBC) — Government monopoly, expensive. $2,000-4,000/year typical.
• Strata restrictions — Many condos restrict pets, rentals, or Airbnb. Check bylaws.
• Summer accommodation — July-August prices spike 2-3x. Book early or visit shoulder season.
• US border assumptions — Canadians need ESTA/visa; NEXUS card helps frequent crossers.
• Ski traffic — Sea-to-Sky Highway gridlocks winter weekends. Leave early or stay over.

Legal/Practical Awareness

Key things newcomers should know:

• Cannabis: Legal (19+). Dispensaries everywhere. No public smoking near schools.
• Alcohol: BC Liquor Stores or licensed private stores only. No corner store beer.
• Healthcare wait times: Walk-in clinics have hours-long waits. Register with family doctor ASAP.
• SIN requirement: Apply immediately on arrival. Needed for work/banking.
• Banking: Big 5 banks (TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC) plus credit unions.
• Phone plans: Expensive by global standards. $50-80/month for decent data.
• Earthquake zone: Vancouver is seismically active. Know emergency procedures.
• Wildlife: Bears in North Shore suburbs. Coyotes everywhere. Secure garbage.

See safety.md and local.md for detailed guidance.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• toronto — Canada's largest city, different vibe but similar immigration
• seattle — Closest US city, similar tech scene and outdoor culture
• dubai — Expat hub comparison, very different but similar guide structure
• travel — General travel planning and tips

Feedback

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