From the beautiful tree-lined streets of Edmonton to the breath-taking beach sunsets of Vancouver, this article touches on what you need to keep in mind during your move.
The Moving Process from Edmonton to Vancouver
How Far is Edmonton from Vancouver?
Traveled via AB-16 and BC-5 S, the 1,160 kilometer trip from Edmonton to Vancouver is estimated to take about 12 hours and 15 minutes.
If you prefer traveling via train and wouldn’t have too much luggage, VIA Rail is one option. It is the only train line connecting Edmonton to Vancouver and only runs one train per day. The estimated travel time, however, is nearly 27 hours. Careful planning is very important if you decide on using this as your mode of transportation.
What is the Average Cost to Move From Edmonton to Vancouver?
Moving from Edmonton to Vancouver typically costs $5,750-$9,750+, from start to finish. One of the biggest factors affecting this is finding a credible moving company to help with your move.
The moving cost depends on a variety of factors: Do you need help packing up your stuff? Is there anything that could complicate or slow down the moving process (such as elevators and narrow passageways)?
Take note of these factors and evaluate your current home in Edmonton together with your new home in Vancouver to get a quote that is as accurate as possible.
Average Cost to Move a Studio
If you live in a studio, the move costs generally runs somewhere between $5,750-$6,250.
Average Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom
If you live in a 2-bedroom home, you can expect the move cost to go around $7,250-$8,250.
Average Cost to Move a 4 Bedroom
Lastly, if you live in a 4-bedroom home, the cost to move your stuff could range from $9,000 to as much as $9,750+ on average.
Hold it! I Just Got a Quote for $2k!
If you’ve been shopping around for a moving company to help you with your move, you’ll surely come across some rather interestingly low rates – such as a quote of only $2,000, for example.
Be careful! This is one of the most common scams in the industry – and there have been many horror stories that have resulted from it. It may sound like a very good deal at first – like they may be running some sort of promotion and that you happen to be the lucky one to get that insanely huge discount.
Those who got blinded by the very low price and committed to book with such movers are in for an unpleasant surprise once moving day comes along. After they realise that the $2,000 quote only covers a maximum of 1,000 pounds of cargo.
The problem is that an average room in a house typically has 1,000 pounds worth of items in it. As you can expect, going beyond that 1,000 pound limit comes with some additional charges that can easily turn that quote for $2,000 into $12,000, perhaps even more, destroying your budget. Ouch.
When we provide our quotes, we do our best to account for all the costs associated with moving your stuff to Vancouver so there wouldn’t be any unwelcome surprises when the big day comes.
Is Moving to Vancouver from Edmonton Worth It?
We have many reasons why we should move to another place – has your company relocated and that you have to follow along? Is it your dream to live in Vancouver? Whatever the reason may be, it is always wise to consider factors that could affect your quality of life.
Living Costs Compared
According to livingcost.org, the average living cost for a single person in Vancouver runs at $2,527, which puts the city within the top 5% most expensive cities in the world. Around 61 percent of it, or $1,1180, goes to rent and utilities alone. However, the median after-tax salary of $4,021 does make up for it.
Edmonton, on the other hand, has an average single person cost of living at $1,997, with $833 going to rent and utilities. The median after-tax salary of $3,214 should be enough to cover living expenses for over a month and a half.
Crime Rates
According to these statistics, Vancouver has a relatively lower violent crime rate of 972 per 100,000 population as of 2018. During the same period, Edmonton has registered about 1,189 police-reported violent crimes per 100,000 population.
While these numbers may sound moving to Vancouver a good choice, it will be smarter to look into the latest crime rate statistic of the specific neighbourhood you are moving into as it could differ significantly from the city-wide average.
Public Transportation
Edmonton’s two LRT lines are effective ways to go downtown. However, it has too many level crossings that can cause traffic delays. The Edmonton Transit System operates 960 buses in their 180 regular routes within the city. You may say that it isn’t really too good, but at the same time, it really isn’t that bad either.
Vancouver, on the other hand, boasts its SkyTrain advanced rapid metro system, which runs fully automated trains on three lines. All of Vancouver’s buses are wheelchair-accessible and carry cycle racks, making it easy to move around in the city.
Climate Comparisons
Depending on one’s preference, you may or may not like Vancouver’s relatively milder, but rainy climate over Edmonton’s colder, snowy winters.
Being one of the warmest places in Canada, the average annual temperature in Vancouver is 11.0 °C (51.8 °F) downtown and 10.4 °C (50.7 °F), measured from Vancouver airport. Vancouver also ranks as the third most rainy city in Canada, with over 161 rainy days annually.
It will be a good idea to invest in rainy weather clothing and a reliable umbrella.
Summers in Vancouver, however, can be quite dry, and may have no rain for five weeks or more, though it can still rain for a few days in a row.
If your new home is located in higher-lying areas of Greater Vancouver, and the North or West Vancouver, you can expect some snowfall, though it may not as much as what you’re used to get in Edmonton.
Where to Move In Vancouver
Vancouver has plenty of neighbourhoods that can be perfect for you. You will have plenty of options to choose from. Here are the some of the best neighbourhoods according to VanMag.
The West End
Considered to be one of the most ideal neighbourhoods for young professionals, The West End features a variety of housing—from heritage homes to condos, to apartments. It is also found near a beach the locals call “sunset”.
The average rent here is at around $1,287. What people liked about this place is its proximity to downtown and to public transport connections, allowing for easy commute to and from work.
South Granville
If you enjoy the view of heritage homes, South Granville should be in the list of your considerations as this neighbourhood features many beautiful heritage low-rises.
This place is also known as a foodie paradise as it is host to various restaurants.
It is located only a few minutes south of Downtown Vancouver and has good transportation links. The average monthly rent here runs at about $1,363.
Kitsilano
If you’re into a lifestyle focused heavily on health and wellness, Kitsilano is one great place to consider. It is host to yoga studios, gyms, dance studios, and health food stores.
It also home to plenty of bars and restaurants, giving it a lively nightlife.
Because it is considered a prime location due to its proximity to Downtown Vancouver, it’s no surprise that housing prices here are relatively higher. The monthly rent here runs at an average of about $1,512.
Downtown
If you’re the type that enjoys the big-city bustle and don’t mind relatively higher rental rates, Downtown Vancouver may be the place for you. Downtown features a wide selection of shops and attractions.
Home prices here get higher as you get closer to the downtown core. The average monthly rent in Downtown Vancouver is around $1,692.
Selling Your Home In Edmonton For The Best Value
Working with the right realtor to help you sell your home will not only increase your chances of selling it at a great price, it can also save you a lot of headaches.
We highly recommend getting in touch with Norm Cholak. He is well-versed in selling homes, and if you’re moving to somewhere outside of Edmonton he has lots of connections to help you get your home sold all over Alberta. You can reach him at (780) 991-1313.
Finding a Job in Vancouver Before You Move There
If you’re not moving to Vancouver because of your job, then getting a job there will be one of your top priorities.
There are a lot of available job websites out there that can point you to jobs that suit you best. Here are some of the best ones we knew:
City of Vancouver Jobs
The City of Vancouver often looking for people who specialize in administration, engineering, city planning professionals, and many other industries. Head over to their job listing page by clicking here.
Indeed
Indeed is the top job listing website in Canada for a good reason. As of November 29, 2020, Indeed lists at least 15,000 jobs in Vancouver alone. It has become the favourite of many companies for posting their available positions.
Word of Mouth
Of course, you can never discount the power of your personal network. Talk to the people in your personal and professional circles, and let them know that you are in the market for a new job in Vancouver. You’ll never know if they happen to have good connections that can lead your dream job.
Using LinkedIn is also not a bad idea, as it is becoming more and more popular in the professional world. It might be time to polish your profile and showcase those new skills you’ve acquired over the years.
Moving from Edmonton to Vancouver Checklist
1. Prepare your moving budget. Figure out how much it would cost to move to your new home. How much can you afford? Keep it realistic. Consider everything that could affect the cost of your move. Have a budget first before calling movers so you can narrow down your options to those who can work within it.
2. Reach out to as many moving companies as possible and get quotes from all of them. This will give you an idea on what is the average rate and what are the things they consider when it comes to pricing. What things can increase or even decrease the amount you will need to pay? Will there be any additional or extra charges outside of what they generally state in their quotes? It’s never unwise to ask for further details.
If it happens that hiring movers goes way beyond your budget, you might even consider cheaper alternatives, such as a portable moving container or U-Haul. It may be a lot of work, but sometimes it may be worth the effort. Just do your best not to hurt yourself.
3. Vancouver may not be known for being snowy, but you would want to get your new home sorted out first before you finally move to Vancouver. It’s not fun to be in the middle of nowhere getting soaked in the cold Vancouver rain, especially when you have kids and it’s winter.
It is very important to have a realtor you can rely on. We highly recommend working with Josh KepKay. He has a lot of experience buying and selling homes in Vancouver and we are confident that he/she will be able to help you get your dream home.
4. Sort out everything relating to your children’s school matters. Complete all the necessary paperwork for their transfer and find a good school for them.
You can use this link to get more information on public schools in Vancouver. If you prefer sending your children to private schools, you can visit this resource instead.
5. Use this Government of Canada website for your guide to changing your moving address for most of your required address changes. Please consider this just as a basic guide. For all other specialised services you are currently signed up with, such as financial services, you may have to manually reach out to each one of them. Sorting out your address change as early as possible can save you from the potential extra work and trouble from doing it at a later time.
6. Lastly, let important in your life know about your move. You don’t want to leave them in the dark only to find out from somebody else that you’ve already moved to some other place. Besides, they might prove valuable to your career sometime in the future so it’s never a bad idea to notify everyone you care about.
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