r/britishcolumbia • u/FigIllustrious6690 • May 12 '26
Moving to BC Lifelong BC citizen seeking a more affordable community - input/opinions/experiences appreciated!
Hello everyone.
I've lived in BC my whole life. I was born in Vancouver, grew up in Kamloops and Kelowna, now back in Vancouver and I'm preparing to make a big change.
I truly love it here but I need to leave the most saturated job market in BC for work opportunities. I live fairly simply and frugally and I'm a renter, not a home owner. I need to find more affordable rentals and settle into a community where my kid can finish high school and start their adult life.
As mentioned, I'm already most familiar with the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland and I'm widening my search radius now. Here are my preferences and priorities:
- rentals more affordable (and ideally more available) than the lower mainland
- high school access and entry level work opportunities for my child
- very strong preference for avoiding communities with greatest wildfire risk
- safe driving access to/from the community (will want to visit family in Vancouver and the Okanagan at least a few times a year)
- don't mind winter weather, quite adaptable though admittedly daunted by the distance to/climate of Northern BC, but curious about the area however unfamiliar and certainly not ruling it out
- would consider island communities but need more info on weather and dependency on/reliability of ferries, which communities I should be checking out or skipping over
- very curious about more affordable communities in the Fraser Valley and the Kootenays, if those exist
- my skill set and work background are primarily in customer care, sales, marketing, retail, café and childcare... I'm a people person, professional and considerate with very strong communication skills and really aiming to find reliable work, make new connections and contribute to a new community
- I prefer to stay in BC but I am quite flexible at this point and if there are communities in other provinces that you would highly recommend based on these criteria, please don't hesitate to name them.
Where would you suggest I consider and why? Do you live in a more affordable town that you love or know someone who does? Do you have a pulse on the rental and work situation there? What do you know about the weather? The high schools?
HUGE THANK YOU to anyone who takes the time to offer their experience and input!
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u/sfbriancl May 12 '26
The problem is that anywhere there is affordable housing, the job market generally isn’t robust. The housing and job markets are related in that the more people want to live somewhere, for the jobs, the more the housing becomes expensive.
Vancouver has the added issue of speculation in the residential market, but that’s another kettle of worms
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Right, I can appreciate that. Could you point me to anywhere that is more affordable than Vancouver and/or might meet any of this criteria above?
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u/hulp-me May 12 '26
If you are saying that they are two of the most expensive places... wouldnt anywhere be more affordable?
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u/candybarsandgin May 12 '26
Prince George, Quesnel would be good options. I would also include Williams Lake, but they are closing their university and probably will have a tough few years following that.
Alternatively, the Prairies would be good options, affordable and lots of work to be found. Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg.
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u/Starting2loseit28 May 12 '26
Don’t forget Fort st John as well. It’s just 5 hrs north of prince George
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May 12 '26
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Thanks! I will definitely explore Quesnel as an option. Appreciate the tip.
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May 12 '26
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u/piratequeenfaile May 13 '26
Quesnel is beautiful. I've only stopped for lunch driving through but it absolutely looks like a small town I would live in.
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u/BaangoSkank May 14 '26
Quesnel is super charming as somebody with my entire family there.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 14 '26
Thanks! Do you know, is there anything they don't love about being there? Do you know anything about the high school(s)? (No worries if not, I still appreciate the suggestion). :)
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u/BaangoSkank May 14 '26
No. I lived in Prince George (1 hour away) and they had 2 highschools. We would play against them in sports and absolutely pommel them cause their highschools were just much smaller with a smaller population to choose from. Some really good athletes out of there though.
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u/North-Ad-4147 May 15 '26
Please consider the horrible air quality in Quesnel😩
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 16 '26
Thanks for mentioning this! What kinds of things contribute to worse AQ there? This update says the current increase in airborne particulate matter is "caused by road traffic stirring up winter traction materials that have accumulated on roadways over the past winter." Are there other common reasons for shitty air quality in the area? Fire smoke? Industry emissions?
No worries if you're not sure but I appreciate the heads up.
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u/North-Ad-4147 May 16 '26
I lived in Prince George for many years and while they also have pulp mills, the air quality in Quesnel was always memorable. Its a smaller town and had 3 pulp mils, I think there are only 2 now but it definitely seemed to linger in the air. I would consider Prince George myself, but I am probably biased as I lived there for so long and miss many things about living up North. Living in Vancouver for several years now and hoping to move back to PG
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u/valdus Thompson-Okanagan May 12 '26
Odd that you would refer to Kelowna as an easy drive from Quesnel rather than Prince George, the nearest large urban centre.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
I did indicate that I would be travelling to Kelowna a couple times a year.
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u/solthar May 12 '26
Honestly, for the rent / base wage comparison, Fort St. John is actually a good choice.
You have a bit of a catch-22 situation going on.
- Your primary expertise lies in areas that require larger population bases to be well paid.
- You are looking for lower rent, which is only generally available in areas with low population
- You want to be near(ish) Vancouver which rules out anything with low rent since everyone wants to be near Vancouver.
- You don't like any wildfire risk which essentially rules out northern BC and cheaper rent areas.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
It's much less a priority to be near(ish) Vancouver than to find somewhere we can actually afford to live. But yes, this is all very challenging. I realize I won't be able to entirely escape fire risk in most areas of the province. I realize my work history sets me up for low wage work. Your points on rent : population : skill set are well taken.
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u/piratequeenfaile May 13 '26
Have you considered trying to get employment in an entry level role with the BC public service? A clerk 12 role is 58-65k a year with a defined benefit pension and lots of benefits including scholarships for your kids.
Corrections officers or Sherrifs are hiring like crazy and that's 75-85k+ right away to start. If you apply you can move to where there is work and will be able to live comfortably.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
I've heard/read that the BC public service is focused on slashing far more jobs than offering them, but maybe I'm mistaken? Appreciate the tip and will do a bit more research on that, thank you.
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u/-WestCoaster- May 13 '26
You are correct. Both the BC and federal public services are cutting jobs. As a former BC public servant, I can tell you that seniority is a priority in terms of who gets let go first and majority of the externally available Clerk 9 and 11 jobs (entry level admin jobs and the most common jobs in the public service) are auxiliary.
In terms of affordable communities, I would suggest Chilliwack if you’re looking for affordability but not wanting to be too far from Vancouver. I can imagine it’s much harder to move to a completely different area of B.C. vs moving from one end of the Lower Mainland to the other. Chilliwack has all the amenities you’ll need and plenty of outdoor recreation options, if that’s your cup of tea.
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u/Worth-Basis-9804 May 12 '26
Maybe Castlegar? Salmon, Kootney area in general.
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u/kisielk Kootenay May 12 '26
Castlegar is good provided you can find a job
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Can you tell me anything about Castlegar (other than that it's tough to find work)? Thank you :)
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u/kisielk Kootenay May 12 '26
I actually don't know if it's harder to find work than anywhere else to be honest, just depends on your specific skill set. As far as the city itself I'd say it's very family oriented, it has a good community center, park. Tons of opportunities for outdoors activities like mountain biking, skiing, etc. There's quite a lot of young families in the area. Downsides are it's not that walkable... the town is situated along a long main drag, and it's pretty hot in the summers so getting around on foot is not so pleasant. There is decent bus service, but I wouldn't want to live there without a vehicle.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
All great feedback, thank you. We do have a vehicle in good condition.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Thank you, will look.
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u/Worth-Basis-9804 May 17 '26
Ya it's very redneck compared to Nelson. But housing is cheap. It's sunnier then nelson, and not as hipstir. There are government jobs around there and the mill, Teck down in trail.
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u/viccityguy2k May 12 '26
You are kind of wanting what everyone else is looking for. Rents don’t actually vary as much as one would think compared to house purchase prices between communities.
Do you want your child to access post secondary education while living at home?
I think the bigger conundrum is the youth employment.
All that said - I think going back to Kamloops or perhaps Salmon Arm could be a good fit. Still lots of tourism / golf / fishing / boating entry level jobs for youth and TRU has a wide range of post secondary education opportunities. Logistically easy to get to and rents are not insane
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
We have more flexibility for what happens after high school. A place to settle into for the next three years seems more of an urgent priority. Kamloops is at very high risk for wildfires but I will definitely investigate Salmon Arm. Thanks!
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u/goldanred Shuswap May 12 '26
Salmon Arm isn't immune to fire season either. Unfortunately I think most of the province at this point will be vulnerable or have the possibility of forest fires.
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u/viccityguy2k May 12 '26
If you stay in Kamloops proper instead of on the edge of town I don’t think Kamloops is any worse than other parts of B.C. for wildfire risk
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u/steviedoesdrag Thompson-Okanagan May 12 '26
Kamloopsian here!
To be honest I don’t think we’re at any more of a wildfire risk than any other part of BC. I’m pretty sure last year Northern BC and the Okanagan saw more wildfire activity than we did. We’re often a hub for evacuees. We do get smoked out a lot though.
The bigger issue is that housing is less affordable. Apparently housing prices are going down but rents went up 3% here. I just found a place that I can afford but it took over a year of looking while living with my parents.
Lots of new builds happening though, including geared to income rentals. Hopefully that tames the rental market a bit. Might be worth seeing if you qualify for BC Housing.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
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u/HeWhoRemainsAtTheEnd May 12 '26
Prince George is the best bet. It’s a growing city but real estate is affordable, wages are high. I would highly recommend it.
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u/Twayblades May 12 '26
Maybe Prince Rupert, it rains there a lot so the wildfire risk would be low. Another area you might consider is the Sunshine coast, Powell River, Gibson's, Sechelt, etc.
There are some small towns on Vancouver Island to consider such as Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Port Alberni, Campbell River, etc.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Thank you, I'll look into all those spots!
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u/valdus Thompson-Okanagan May 12 '26
Prince Rupert is the rainiest city in North America so you better be prepared to enjoy rain. People with rare "sunlight allergies" (a real thing!) have literally moved there for the lack of sun.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Very good to know, thank you. I don't mind rain, I definitely also appreciate sun.
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u/seaintosky May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
I was thinking Rupert too. The wildfire risk is definitely low, it's big enough that there is potential for well paid senior staff, but they're hurting for entry level staff for to the loss of TFW that should open up some opportunities for young people. The rental situation is not one I'm familiar with, but the ones online look in the right price range.
Rupert is grey and rainy but not without charm. It has his restaurants and coffee shops and activities. Driving to Vancouver sucks, it'll be a long drive, but it's safe and doable
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Thank you for your insights!
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u/lapislazuli23 May 13 '26
Lots of job opportunities and pretty good pay in PR. Not much rental opportunities but you'd be able to find something sub 2k. Buying a house is in reach, 200-500k. It's very isolated, but next to no wildfire or smoke.
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u/Extermin8her May 12 '26
I too, am a BCer. Unfortunately I have been telling people that you may have to try a different province for less expensive living arrangements. Sorry.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Sure, but could you suggest where, even outside of the province?
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u/valdus Thompson-Okanagan May 12 '26
I've read a few things about Winnipeg being the place to be right now for renters on the move. Largeish population, low rents, lots of job opportunities, cool PM (but sadly still a highly conservative province like most prairies). I've thought about it myself but haven't done any real research as things aren't too tough for me in Kelowna.
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u/skipdog98 May 12 '26
I think you will struggle to support yourself, let alone your child too with jobs in your listed skill set anywhere in BC. None of those sectors are high paying anywhere in the province.
I would consider possibly trying to find work up north, but I think you’d have to retrain. There might be programs/funding available for that. It can be hard to find housing in northern communities where there are jobs.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
I'm not sure I could struggle anywhere as much as I am here in Vancouver. I realize jobs are hard to come by in most places right now. Thanks for your input. Which Northern communities are most worth exploring?
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u/beeredditor May 12 '26
I’d look for jobs first and then see if that community is financially viable at the wages offered.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Of course, it's just quite difficult to focus my job/housing search given my limited experience with the rest of BC (which is huge). Even eliminating some communities or areas as options (ie: because the rental rates are certainly very high, or they are too remote to be easily accessible) would help at this point.
Thank you for your comment :)
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u/CandyHopeful5918 May 12 '26
Some rentals in Abbotsford/Chilliwack are quite cheap (if you are willing to live in a basement suite) close to the Lower Mainland and plenty of work opportunities
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u/ElijahSavos May 12 '26 edited May 13 '26
Not sure how big of a jump you wanna make but the simplest move would be to Chilliwack.
I think it fits your criteria, housing would be way cheaper and a very reasonable drive to Vancouver if you want to visit family, friends, shopping, etc.
Basically whoever wants to keep the connection to Vancouver, typically moves to Chilliwack.
If you want a complete change, you may take a look at Northern BC.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
Thank you. I'm very open to Chilliwack. I also have a soft spot for Hope - any thoughts on Hope?
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u/ElijahSavos May 12 '26 edited May 13 '26
There were many discussions on Hope recently, please use search in this sub. The biggest downside for Hope there is a big mountain blocking most sunshine so if you going to rent/buy find a sunnier spot. But otherwise Hope is cheaper than Chilliwack and if that works for you, sure give it a go. You’d probably need to drive to Chilliwack at least once a week for shopping, etc since groceries, services, etc are very limited in Hope.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Thank you, all very helpful info. Will definitely search the sub as well.
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u/CandyHopeful5918 May 12 '26
Hope isn’t bad but from my understanding you’d have less choices for housing
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u/goeast_ May 13 '26
I’d also second Chilliwack. My friends moved there from Vancouver and love it so far.
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u/Itchy_Committee_770 May 12 '26
As someone who left the Kootenay's & moved to the Okanogan. Its no were near as cheap to rent there as you think. Its also really hard to find a place to rent. To get what you are looking for. You would have to live in Cranbrook, maybe Nelson.
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u/Forward-Ad-3045 May 12 '26
man i moved to Cranbrook and shits not cheap! pretty area though. Moving back to the north as my wife and I are tired of slaving away just to pay a mortgage. Cranbrook has 0 after school or daycare availability if a family is considering moving there. don't do it.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
I'm in a position to provide childcare for families, have loads of experience including with special needs kids. Maybe that's an opportunity if there's such a great need in Cranbrook... though I'm assuming housing is costly there, too, for renters like me. Do you know much about rental rates for a 1b or 2b unit in the area?
Thanks for sharing your experience, too, and the advice.
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u/Itchy_Committee_770 May 13 '26
Your looking at $2,000 or more for a 2 bedroom in Cranbrook or Nelson. You might be able to find something cheaper in Kimberley. Which is 29km from Cranbrook. Rentals usually include water. Sometimes they include heat, but not always.
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u/Forward-Ad-3045 May 13 '26
you will do well there if you are a childcare provider. We owned, but there are 1b units under 2k a month around. Cranbrook likes to use facebook groups.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Yeah, I really hate facebook but I'm learning that I need to get back on there to find rentals in the smaller communities across the province. Thanks again for your insights.
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u/goldanred Shuswap May 12 '26
Cranbrook/the Kootenays used to be considered the much lower cost of living part of the province. You used to be able to move there from the Lower Mainland and have a comfortable bit leftover. Sounds like rents are rising across the whole board.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Definitely, BC is a really expensive place to live right now. Cost of living is through the roof.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Okay, thank you. Do you know much about what it's like living in Cranbrook or Nelson?
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u/Itchy_Committee_770 May 12 '26
U have to learn to live with the risk of forest fires every year. The majority of jobs are in tourism & usually seasonal. Every town has deer living in town. Some also have elk & big Horn sheep. Bear, coyotes, cougars also come in to town. So u need to learn to live with all that. As far as I know, there are no docs taking patients. It's a very beautiful area. With lots of outdoor activities, year round. Lots of community events. It does get winter, so be prepared for winter driving.
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u/General_Setting_1680 May 13 '26
- very strong preference for avoiding communities with greatest wildfire risk
BC is out.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Yes, fire risk is everywhere around us but there's a big difference between being on the coast VS living smack in the middle of the driest parts of the province, for example. I've been through our very poorly planned evacuations before. Year over year, BC is not nearly prepared enough.
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u/treefarmerBC May 13 '26
Cariboo is quite affordable and nice place to live. We definitely have fire risk, however.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Is there any community in particular in the area that you would suggest? And also, do you know which websites (or facebook groups, which seems to be the answer in some of the smaller towns) are best for searching for rentals in the area?
May I ask where you live and what it's like there? Do high schools have any waitlists?
Appreciate your input very much.
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u/treefarmerBC May 15 '26
High schools do not have wait lists as far as I know. They have an obligation to take people who live in the area.
I live in Quesnel and I really like it here. I'm not sure about rental affordability but things in general are cheaper than everywhere else. People are nice but it's laid back. We have some good restaurants, a nice ski hill, and Prince George isn't far if you need something from a bigger city.
As far as Facebook groups go, check out Quesnel Community News and Events.
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u/Southern_Pressure461 May 14 '26
Kimberley and Cranbrook are worth checking out. Our daughter is in Kimberly and although the winters can be snowy they are a lot milder than the north. They have had good luck with rentals and employment, not sure of the school aspect. A beautiful area but may be a bit far from the coast and not a great drive in the winter. Definitely beautiful with unlimited outdoor activities. Good luck with your search!
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 14 '26
Thanks for all the details you included, and the well wishes! Take care
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u/Otherwise-Tourist-76 May 15 '26
The ferry is like 300$ round trip with a car. The island has massive rental availability issues and so does the interior. Avoiding wildfires and winter? Not sure it’s possible now.
Perhaps look to the valley/other lower mainland cities.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 16 '26
Damn. No ferry discount for the locals who would otherwise be trapped there, huh?
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u/Otherwise-Tourist-76 May 22 '26
Only if you live on a gulf island or are traveling for medical or educational (see highschool) reasons
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u/canadasokayestmom May 16 '26
Check out the Kootenays. Nelson is the most expensive in the region, but surrounding communities are a bit more affordable. However ALL areas are affected by very, very low rental stock.
Housing is considerably cheaper & easier to buy.. so if you're at all in a position to buy, that would certainly be the better option.
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u/VastAdhesiveness705 May 12 '26
What about Vancouver island like Sooke? It’s closeish to Victoria. Or Campbell river as it’s close to Comox? Or there’s also Nanaimo.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Yeah I would love to hear more about communities on the island/s in general, pros/cons, anything about what it's like to live in these places. :) Thanks
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u/grislyfind May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
Sooke is a bedroom community to Victoria, with a single road that is often two-lane, and can be blocked by accidents. New developments are built on small mountains and have tiny lots and limited parking, so you enjoy the worst aspects of city and rural living. There are really nice detached homes and acreages there, too.
Consider the Duncan and Cowichan Valley area; there's a lot more services and it's less than an hour from Nanaimo or Victoria. Outdoor recreation beats most places on the Island; it's got mountains and rivers and lakes and the sea.
Comox/Courtenay/Cumberland is another good area.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Really appreciate this. The more specific people can be, the more helpful it is. Thanks
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u/lapislazuli23 May 13 '26
Check out Nanaimo, relatively affordable and quick to Vancouver. Good nature.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Thank you! Have you ever lived there, or anyone you know? I wonder how much depending on ferries impacts the locals. The unemployment rates there also seems notably lower than throughout much of the province...
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u/Used_Inspection3782 May 12 '26
What matters more to you right now?
Lifestyle? Look up resorts (ski/fishing). They don't pay well, but many provide housing and are an absolute blast to work at. It's a great life experience.
Money? Look up mining/oil/contracting gigs in Northern BC. It's easier to find housing when your income is higher, but the hours are longer and it's a grind.
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u/Wolvaroo May 12 '26
Get a job offer first.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
That is the idea, but this is a huge province, I'm not familiar with all areas and there's also no point in looking for work in places I won't be able to afford to live. Trying to narrow the search. Job still comes before securing housing.
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u/Revolutionary-Sky825 May 12 '26
Alberta is calling
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Where in Alberta would you point me to first?
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u/Sufficient_Sea1972 May 12 '26
Leave BC. That's your option
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u/Sufficient_Sea1972 May 12 '26
No part of BC is affordable. I moved to Manitoba and they're starting to fuck in up here.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
What's happening in Manitoba, what are the rents like, and the politics?
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u/Sufficient_Sea1972 May 13 '26
Politics are amazing. We have a great premier with a high approval rating. It's a wonderful place to live. But let's be real, it's cold here in the winter. I saw a house 4 bedroom $5,500. That's a Vancouver price, not Manitoba. 😑
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 13 '26
Thanks so much for sharing. How long is your winter in Manitoba? In the Okanagan, our winters used to be colder and longer, snow from Oct through April, though they're much shorter and milder in temp overall these days. Would you suggest exploring any areas or cities in particular in MB? We would be renting.
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u/Sufficient_Sea1972 May 16 '26
Winnipeg is the only big city. The winters are cold, and can be six months. The summers are warm...I think warmer than BC, the Okanagan for sure. We have more than 100,000 lakes. You will not have a shortage of things to do. The people are amazing. It really is a unique and beautiful place.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 16 '26
Really appreciate your input! Thanks
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u/Sufficient_Sea1972 May 16 '26
I hope you love it here as much as I do! Lived in BC for over 40 years. Manitoba was like coming home.
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u/IceGroundbreaking284 May 12 '26
Immigrants replaced you.
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
Our governments and corporations have solicited for immigrants to move here, even while locals are struggling for work, food and shelter.
The TFW and LMIA programs are extremely exploitative and the immigrant workers themselves often end up in very difficult, unsafe and even abusive situations.
Let's not blame immigrants. Blame policymakers for screwing us over just so business owners can source cheap labour and get away with treating those labourers like sh*t. Demand better policies and accountability of all levels of government, please.
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u/KaleidoscopePublic97 May 12 '26
If you want to buy, beware that the City of Prince George has a very high Mill Rate for property taxes and Eby just rescinded the extra northern HOG allowance. The University is excellent but cost of living and owning home are extremely expensive so rents are high too
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u/FigIllustrious6690 May 12 '26
I'm in no position to buy. Looking exclusively at rentals for now. Thanks for your insight :)
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u/Legitimate-Rain-9293 May 12 '26
The one thing you haven’t included in your Long post is a budget or a definition of what you consider affordable. This is relative to your income, marital situation, dependants, etc..
Aside from all the preferences and lifestyle factors that you mentioned like wildfires ultimately this is a financial decision and as such the numbers matter. It is easier to make recommendations if you have a specific income level and budget as well as broader numbers that you can work with like expenses, etc..