Moving from Calgary to Vancouver has some moving pieces. But with the tips and tricks in this guide, you’ll be there in no time.
The Moving Process from Calgary to Vancouver
How Far Is Vancouver from Calgary?
Vancouver is 972.7 kilometres away from Calgary. It should take over 10 and a half hours of driving via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1.
What is the Average Cost to Move From Calgary to Vancouver?
On average, the cost of moving from Calgary to Vancouver is between $5,500-$9,500+ or more. When it comes to moving, one of the biggest things affecting the cost is getting a reliable moving company to help.
There are several factors that can affect the moving cost – such as requiring help to pack your stuff and anything that could hinder or complicate the moving process, like elevators and narrow passageways, for example.
Please do take these factors into consideration when you evaluate your current home in Calgary and your new home in Vancouver so you can get a more accurate quote.
Average Cost to Move a Studio
The average cost of moving a studio unit will be about $5,500.
Average Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom
Moving a 2-bedroom home from Calgary to Vancouver should cost between $7,200-8,000.
Average Cost to Move a 4 Bedroom
And lastly, a 4-bedroom move should typically cost about $9,500, but it could be even more.
What About That $3k Quote From I Got One Of The Movers I Called?
If you’ve been shopping around for an affordable mover to help you, chances are, that you’ve already came across some rather interestingly low quotes for, let’s say $3,000. Quite a deal, isn’t it?
Not so fast.
You see, ever wondered why they are the cheapest and plenty others are quoting at significantly higher rates? Sure, they might tell you they’re running a promotion and that you’re getting a discounted rate, or whatever. Then you get to commit to them.
When moving day comes along, guess what? They’re going to surprise you that “you might have misunderstood” them, and reveal to you that the $3,000 rate was actually just for the first 1,000 pounds of cargo.
If you don’t have that much stuff, like if you live in a very tiny studio apartment, you likely wouldn’t mind. However, what if you live in a bigger home?
On average, one room in a house typically has 1,000 pounds worth of stuff. You can imagine how much more it will be with “additional fees” if you have multiple rooms. It’s probably not going to look good for your budget.
But then you remember that it’s moving day. Try as you may, but good luck trying to switch to a new mover on the last minute. You already have everything lined up for the big day and there you are stuck with no other option but to give in to the moving fee that started with a $3,000 quote, but ended up becoming a $12,000+.
This kind of scheme is one of the most popular scams in the industry. You can just google out stories of people who totally regret working with these “movers”.
When we give you our quote, we do our best to account for everything that could affect the cost of the move, including taxes. No surprise fees. Just plain, simple, easily explainable.
Should I Move from Calgary?
Living Costs Compared
In Calgary, the average cost of living for a single person stands at $1933. Rent and utilities generally take $772, or 52 percent, out of that. The median after-tax salary is around $4018.
Living in Vancouver isn’t particularly affordable. In fact, it stands in top 5 percent of the most expensive cities in the world, having an average cost of living for a single person at around $2518. The median after-tax salary isn’t really that much of a difference in comparison, which is $4006.
Crime Rates
As of 2018, the police-reported violent crime rate in Vancouver is 972 per 100,000 population. It’s not really that much different to Calgary’s, which as of the same period, had 999 police-reported violent crimes per 100,000 population.
Please do remember that these figures are for the respective cities as a whole, and may or may not differ from the neighbourhood you are moving into, so it pays well to do your further research on the neighbourhood you are moving into so you can get more accurate figures.
The Daily Commute
When it comes to commuting, you might miss Calgary’s almost non-existent traffic congestion problem. According to Driving.ca, Calgary ranks as the number one city in Canada with the least traffic congestion with a score of 20 out of 100, compared to Vancouver’s 48 out of 100, which can be described as “worse than London, England”.
However, that doesn’t mean that Vancouver is all that bad. Vancouver’s SkyTrain and bus service allows for a quick and convenient way of getting around the city. What’s really good about Vancouver’s buses is that all of them are wheelchair-accessible and carry cycle racks.
Climate Comparisons
Calgary’s climate may be a bit erratic – sometimes it may be freezing cold in the morning then gets really hot by noon, or perhaps even having that surprise snowfall in the middle of summer.
That’s not generally the case for Vancouver, which has a relatively milder climate, thanks to being located next to the Pacific Ocean. The only drawback is that it rains a lot, so investing on good rainy day gear is a must. On average, Vancouver gets around 161 rainy days per year, making it the third most rainy city in Canada.
If you really like the snow, your best options are the higher-lying areas of greater Vancouver, as well as North or West Vancouver, where you can expect some amount of snowfall during winters.
Where To Find Your New Home
We recommend working with a realtor to find the perfect home for you in Vancouver.
For a great realtor, we recommend reaching out to Josh Kepkay of Vancouver Real Estate Today. He is well-connected within the real estate industry and can refer you to the best realtors he know. You call him at (604) 313-9805.
Vancouver has many neighbourhoods that could be perfect for you. Here are some of VanMag’s recommended neighbourhoods:
The West End
If you’re a young working professional, you may consider The West End in one of your top choices. It offers a great selection of housing options – from heritage homes to condos, to apartments. The West End is also located near a beach the locals refer to as “Sunset Beach”.
On average, the rent here runs at $1,287. The West End’s proximity to downtown and to public transport connections makes it an attractive choice as it allows for easy commutes to and from work.
South Granville
Are you a foodie? If you are, South Granville should be part of your top list of considerations. It’s home to a lot of unique restaurants.
The neighbourhood also features a lot of heritage low-rises, and is also located a few minutes away from Downtown Vancouver. The average monthly rent here is about $1,363.
Kitsilano
If South Granville is a haven for foodies, then Kitsilano is the one for health buffs as it is home to yoga studios, gyms, dance studios, and health food stores.
The neighbourhood also has no shortage of bars and restaurants that gives it a pretty lively nightlife.
Considered a prime location for being close to Downtown Vancouver, housing prices here are relatively higher, having an average of about $1,512.
Downtown
Finally, if getting “just close” to Downtown isn’t enough for you, why not consider going for Downtown itself? It is lively with its big-city bustle, with a wide selection of shops and attractions.
Housing prices here are relatively expensive compared to the neighbourhoods previously mentioned, and it gets even more expensive the closer you get to Downtown’s core. Downtown Vancouver’s average rent runs at around $1,692.
Selling Your Home In Calgary
Now that you’ve finally decided to move to Vancouver, you want to get as much money out of selling your home in Calgary. To do that, you’ll need the help of a credible realtor you can depend on.
Finding A New Job In Vancouver
One of the reasons why people move to Vancouver is employment. If you’re one of those who got a job first and then decided to move to the city, good for you. You can skip this section of the article. If you don’t, however, now is a good idea to explore the available jobs in Vancouver.
City of Vancouver Jobs
Vancouver is always looking for a number of variety of professionals – such as those specialising in Administration, Engineering, City Planning, and many others. You can visit this page to see the latest available positions they are offering.
Indeed
Indeed has become Canada’s top job listing site as of November 2020, with no less than 15,000 jobs posted in Vancouver alone. It is one of the favourite job posting sites of many companies in Canada, so going to this site may give you a high chance of finding the job that suits you best.
Word of Mouth
Never discount what your personal and professional network can do for you. Talk to the people within your circles to let them know that you’re in the market for a new job in Vancouver. You may be surprised to find out that they are connected to somebody who is in need of someone with your skills and background.
If you haven’t signed up for LinkedIn or have mothballed your account, now is a good time to build up your profile with your updated skills and experiences. Some people use LinkedIn as their primary method of getting new jobs, so it might be worth the try.
Moving from Calgary to Vancouver Checklist
1. Preparing a moving budget should be your number one task. How much can you reasonably afford for the move? Think of what things can affect the cost of your move to Vancouver.
Keep it as realistic as possible and reach out to as many moving companies as you possibly can. The purpose of the moving budget is to allow you to narrow down your options and lets you stick to your plans.
Remember, failure to plan is a plan for failure—and this kind of failure can be really expensive.
2. Call around to a few moving companies, don’t just get a quote and take it as the only option.
Use our pricing section to determine roughly what moving should cost. Will there be any additional or extra charges outside of what they generally state in their quotes?
Again, don’t fall for committing to super-cheap, untrustworthy movers. Press for details. Consider what things can affect the amount you will need to pay.
If it happens that hiring movers goes what your budget allows, are you willing to consider alternatives like using a portable moving container or U-Haul. Weigh the pros and cons of your options and see which one works best for you.
3. Securing a place to stay is one of your top priorities when you move to Vancouver. Ensure that your new home is all sorted out before moving day.
This is especially important if you have children. You don’t want to be stuck without a home in the middle of a cold Vancouver rain.
Get a reliable realtor who can help you with your house-hunting. Josh Kepkay is one of the top realtors in Vancouver who has lots of experience buying and selling homes, and should be able to help you find the home that suits you. You can reach Josh at (604) 313-9805.
4. Sort out all paperwork relating to your children’s schooling. Everything must be taken care of for their school transfer.
For more information about public schools in Vancouver, we recommend visiting this page. Alternatively, if you prefer sending your children to private schools, you can visit this page instead.
5. Use this Government of Canada website as your basic guide to changing your address. Note that this does not cover all the services you may be using.
For all other specialised services you are currently subscribed to, such as financial services, you may have to manually reach out to each one of them.
6. Finally, let those who are important in your life know about your move. Put yourself in their shoes. You wouldn’t want to be the last person to know that your good friend or family member has moved to a different city.
Don’t burn your bridges. You never know when they’ll be back in your life again.
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