Best Places to Live on Vancouver Island

inner harbour victoria bc at sunset - best places to live on vancouver island

There are lots of reasons to move to Vancouver Island, British Columbia – we have the mildest climate in Canada, breathtaking natural beauty, year-round outdoor activities, low crime rates, robust healthcare, quaint small towns, a thriving artistic community and incredible food and drink. But when you’re thinking about where to live on Vancouver Island, that can get tricky. No matter where you choose to live, each city and town has pros and cons so to help narrow it down, we’ve made a list of the very best places to live on Vancouver Island! And remember, you can always find a nearby EMR rental to stay in so you can experience what living in each area would be like–whether you want to try out the wild west coast of Sooke, immerse yourself in the city vibe of Victoria or Nanaimo, go full country in the Cowichan Valley, live in laid-back Sidney or be beachfront in Parksville, EMR has all this and so much more!

Greater Victoria

Greater Victoria on the southernmost coast of Vancouver Island is a large area that includes the neighbourhoods of Oak Bay, Sidney, Langford and Sooke on the far west coast. Greater Victoria as a whole is one of the best places on the Island to live but there are certain areas that really stand! 

Victoria

Victoria is the largest city on Vancouver Island and offers incredible shopping, dining and nightlife, art galleries and cultural centres and easy access to spectacular outdoor recreation–it’s no wonder that it is consistently at the top of the list! To live here, however, you’ll have to make sure you can afford it – the cost of living and rising real estate prices have created issues with current and potential residents so be sure to do your research and see if Victoria is a good fit! 

Pros:

Stunning city with everything you’d want from an urban centre (culture, dining etc.)

Easy access to beaches, hiking trails and outdoor recreation

Cons: 

Cost of living is very high

Langford

Langford (currently being rebranded as Westshore) is one of the fastest growing areas in Greater Victoria. With new neighbourhoods and commercial centres being built at a rapid pace, Langford offers residents more affordable housing options and a real sense of community making it by far, one of the best options for newcomers to Greater Victoria. The downside of living in Langford is the commute into Victoria. It can be slow-going and the transit system to link Langford to Victoria isn’t yet at pace with the growth of the southern Island.

Pros: 

Lots of quiet neighbourhoods to choose from 

Easy access to amenities (grocery stores, pharmacies etc.)

Easy access to outdoor recreation 

Cons:

Commute to Victoria is very congested

Lacks some of the cultural conveniences (dining, art, heritage buildings etc.)

Sidney

Sidney is one of the most charming places on Vancouver Island. This laid-back, west coast, walkable little town centre is a popular place for retirees to relocate because it has everything you could need from grocery stores to bookshops, boutiques, pharmacies, cafes all within a few blocks! Not only is it charming, but Sidney boasts some of the most stunning waterfront walkways and is a hub for artists and nautical enthusiasts. 

Pros:

Charming and walkable town centre

Lively retirement community

Gorgeous ocean views and fresh breezes year-round

Easy access to ferries via the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal 

Cons:

Can be challenging for younger families 

A long commute to Victoria 

Oak Bay

If you’re looking for a truly authentic Victorian neighbourhood, look no further than Oak Bay. Located to the east of Victoria, Oak Bay is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Greater Victoria and is where you can find stunning heritage homes, carefully designed new buildings and a charming village centre. With easy access to sandy beaches, lovely cafes and one of the best authentic British pubs in the city, it’s no wonder people from all over the world fall in love with Oak Bay.

Pros:

Charming village

Easy access to sandy beaches and Victoria’s city centre

Numerous public transit options and easy cycling routes throughout

Cons:

Cost of living is highest in this neighbourhood

Real estate is expensive, and rentals are hard to find

Sooke

If you’re looking for a true Canadian small town, you’ll want to explore the little town of Sooke on the far west coast of Greater Victoria. This stunning, remote town on the Pacific Ocean is a hub for outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, whale watching and more! Sooke is also a relatively affordable place in comparison to Victoria proper. The downside to living in Sooke is that it is quite a small town and lacks some of the amenities that can be found in Victoria or Langford. Also, the commute to Victoria, approximately an hour each way, is a long one making Sooke a difficult place for people who have to commute every day. 

Pros:

Lots of natural beauty to enjoy and explore

Hub for outdoor activities

Small, friendly community

Cons:

Lacking some modern infrastructure & amenities

Long commute to Victoria 

Cowichan Valley 

The Cowichan Valley is Vancouver Island’s agricultural area with swaths of farms, beautiful country roads, pristine freshwater lakes, rivers, beaches, hiking trails and stunning vineyards. In fact, the Cowichan Valley is Vancouver Island’s winemaking area and has its own, unique, marine Mediterranean microclimate. The Cowichan Valley encompasses the area from the Malahat north to Ladysmith and east to west from Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park to the east coast of Vancouver Island.

Duncan

Known as The City of Totems, Duncan is an important cultural centre for Coast Salish art and is the smallest city by area in Canada. While it might be a small city, Duncan offers residents a beautiful little city centre with lovely boutiques, breweries, cafes and restaurants. It is also a hotspot for forward-thinking farm-to-table cuisine, abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, amenities and is known as a safe place to live. While sometimes you might need to go into Victoria for certain items or experiences, for the most part, Duncan offers everything you need for daily life.

Pros:

Cost of living is significantly lower than Victoria 

Friendly small-town atmosphere 

Many amenities & attractions 

Not too far from Victoria 

Plenty of outdoor recreation 

Cons:

Travelling to Victoria is a must for some activities and events

Heavy reliance on personal transportation (car or bike)

Lack of public transportation 

Cowichan Bay 

The little village of Cowichan Bay is a tiny gem on the water with a small houseboat community, general store, boutiques, cafes and seafood-centric restaurants. This area is perfect for peaceful country and oceanside living with lots of natural beauty and a slower pace of life to enjoy. However, as picturesque as this area is, there is almost no public transportation, and most amenities are in Duncan or Victoria so living in Cowichan Bay requires access to a car for daily life.

Pros:

Picturesque country living

Less populated beaches, trails etc. 

Quaint village 

Stunning natural beauty

Cons:

Relatively remote

Requires a car to do most things

Lack of nearby amenities

Chemainus

This little artisan village nestled on the edge of the west coast of Vancouver Island has a fascinating history. When the recession of the 1980’s hit, Chemainus began to quickly decline but a tenacious, young mayor revitalized the entire town with an ambitious mural project. What was a risky project was so successful that today, Chemainus has over 50 incredible murals! Additionally, the Chemainus Theater is a renowned playhouse where locals and visitors can go and see incredible live performances! Whether you love the theatre or not, Chemainus is a lovely little town that offers a low-key west coast lifestyle. 

Pros:

Local ferry terminal to Salt Spring Island

Easy commute to Vancouver Island’s second largest city, Nanaimo

Great lifestyle for families, couples and retirees

Lower cost of living than major cities on the Island 

Cons:

Heavy reliance on vehicles

Nanaimo is the closest large city and is 30 mins away

Fewer local career opportunities than major cities

Ladysmith

Perched on the edge of the ocean, just north of Chemainus on the 49th parallel, there is the little town of Ladysmith BC. Here, you can find incredible Edwardian-era heritage buildings, stunning natural beauty, outdoor recreation, incredible dining, boutique shopping and friendly people! If you are craving small-town living, Ladysmith might be the perfect fit! 

Pros:

Easy commute to Vancouver Island’s second largest city, Nanaimo

Great lifestyle for families, couples and retirees

Lower cost of living than major cities on the Island 

Cons:

Heavy reliance on vehicles

Nanaimo is the closest large city and is 30 mins away

Fewer local career opportunities than major cities 

Nanaimo

Known as The Harbour City, Nanaimo has an extensive stretch of harbour walkway that is a popular place for locals and visitors to walk and enjoy the view. Nanaimo is surrounded by rich, diverse ecosystems and offers spectacular land and seascapes, endless outdoor activities, a growing shopping district, great dining and thriving arts community. There’s no doubt that Nanaimo is a perfect mix of city and wilderness! While it might be less expensive than Victoria, as the second largest city on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo is still a relatively expensive city to relocate to unless you’re comparing it to cities with very high cost of living metrics like Victoria, Metro Vancouver or Toronto. 

Pros: 

Second largest city with everything you’d want from an urban centre (culture, dining etc.)

Easy access to beaches, hiking trails and outdoor recreation

Ferries to Gulf Islands and Metro Vancouver within short driving distance

Cons: 

Cost of living is high especially real estate

Parksville

Just a short drive north of Nanaimo is the little town of Parksville that offers resort-style living right on the water. With spectacular beaches, year-round golfing, endless outdoor activities and some of the best spas on the Island, Parksville is a great place to settle down. Parksville is also a great home base to explore more of the mid-Island! From here you can visit the little town of Qualicum Beach with white sand beaches and a little town centre, head to Coombs and wander through the market, or explore one of the many Provincial and Regional parks in the area! 

Pros:

Incredible beaches

Popular place for families and retirees

Close to a major city

Cons:

Town is very small and lacks some amenities 

Fewer local career opportunities than major cities 

Port Alberni

Nestled at the end of the Alberni Inlet just west of Parksville and Qualicum beach is the little town of Port Alberni. With a small but friendly population and lots of interesting cultural and natural attractions, Port Alberni has quickly become a popular place for small families and retirees to settle down away from the hustle and bustle of major cities. Life in Port Alberni moves a little more slowly and because of that, it is an ideal place for anyone looking for a laid-back, small town to relocate to. Like most small towns on Vancouver Island, there are fewer local career opportunities making Port Alberni a great place if remote work is possible. 

Pros:

Lots of interesting attractions

Close to Parksville and Qualicum beaches 

Surrounded by natural beauty – especially lakes

Cons:

Heavy reliance on vehicles

Nanaimo is the closest large city and is over an hour away

Fewer local career opportunities than major cities 

Comox Valley

On the north east coast of Central Vancouver Island is the Comox Valley which includes the little village of Cumberland, the city of Courtenay and town of Comox. With dazzling views of the Comox Glacier to the west and Salish Sea to the east, the Comox Valley is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and offers world-class, year-round recreation. While the Comox Valley may provide an idyllic recreational lifestyle, it can be difficult to find local career employment unless it is in one of the area’s main industries: healthcare, education, Mount Washington (seasonal) or Canadian Forces. 

Comox

With beautiful parks, lots of outdoor recreation, and a little downtown area filled with boutiques and restaurants just a short walk from the marina, Comox is a quaint seaside town perfect for anyone who wants to go out on the water whenever you want! 

Courtenay

As the Comox Valley’s largest urban centre, in Courtenay you’ll find a charming, small town with both urban amenities and character. You can find one-of-a-kind boutiques, great dining, gorgeous green spaces, a vibrant arts and cultural scene with local festivals and special events taking place year-round and so much more! 

Pros:

Idyllic outdoor recreation opportunities

Laid-back west coast lifestyle

Friendly communities

Thriving artistic community 

Cons:

Limited career opportunities

Housing costs are rising & market is saturated

Campbell River

If you’re an avid angler or an outdoor enthusiast, Campbell River is made for you! Known as one of the best sport fishing locations in the world and the gateway to the gorgeous, remote Discovery Islands, Campbell River is an adventurer’s paradise! While Campbell River is beautiful, it is remote and can be difficult if you’re hoping to find a balance between urban amenities and natural beauty. 

Pros:

Lots of pristine wilderness to explore

Gateway to Discovery Islands

Best sport fishing in Canada

Cons:

Lack of amenities

Long way to travel to get to major cities

Tofino 

Located on the far west coast of Vancouver Island on the Clayoquot Sound, Tofino and nearby Ucluelet offers visitors and residents the opportunity to live in and explore some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Tofino, where the forest meets the ocean, is where you can find world-class surfing at the famous Long Beach, embark on breathtaking adventures on land and sea, and immerse yourself in a friendly, vibrant artistic community. However, there has been a concerning housing shortage in both Tofino and Ucluelet and with rising housing prices the cost of living in these towns can be a barrier for relocating here. 

Pros:

Pristine wilderness to explore and enjoy

Friendly, thriving community

Best surfing on Vancouver Island

Cons:

Very remote and lacks some amenities 

Housing shortage & high cost of living

Relocations are easy with EMR! Book Today!

Cost of Living in Victoria BC

cyclists downtown victoria bc

Any move is tough. Whether it’s down the street or across the globe, there are things that need to be planned and one of the biggest questions is always: what is the cost of living there? When it comes to thinking about a move to Canada, one of the top destinations for expats is Victoria, British Columbia. This little Canadian city on the south tip of Vancouver Island, is filled with European charm, stunning streets and epic natural beauty – it’s no wonder it’s one of the top destinations in the world to live and visit! While the city is stunning, it can be expensive and the average cost of living in Victoria depends on many factors: whether you’re relocating as a single person or a family, where in Greater Victoria you’re planning to settle and what kind of employment you might be able to find in the capital city. For more information about moving to Victoria have a look at the Welcome BC website.

How to Determine the Cost of Living?

While the cost of living is undeniably important, so is quality of life. In Toronto, Ontario and Metro Vancouver, British Columbia housing prices have skyrocketed making both cities difficult for newcomers to be able to afford. However, these cities offer world-class culture, unparalleled public transit, high paying employment opportunities and so much more.

Cities like Winnipeg, Manitoba and Levis, Quebec are both affordable Canadian cities with rich history and dynamic communities but if you choose to live there, you’ll have to contend with the long, freezing winters and sticky, hot summers.

Calgary, Alberta right near the British Columbia border, is a vibrant city with many employment opportunities, a vibrant arts scene and comparatively affordable housing. However, Calgary also contends with long, freezing winters that can be difficult to endure depending on what you’re used to. 

If you’re thinking about relocating from Seattle in the USA to Victoria BC, you’ll be familiar with the climate but the heavy tariffs and taxes that Canadians pay can be shocking – on the other hand, Canadian public health care is a real advantage to moving to Canada as a whole.

With so many factors at play, one of the best tools to see the cost of living breakdown is a cost of living index like the one offered by Numbeo.

Employment Opportunities

With some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and many growing sectors looking for employees, whether you’re a student looking for casual employment or a professional interested in transferring your skills, Victoria has many job opportunities.

One of the biggest challenges that people face who live and work in Victoria is the wage to cost of living ratio. Given the rising housing and living costs in the city in recent years, employers have struggled to keep wages rising at the same rate. This can be a hurdle for many newcomers who are looking for employment in Victoria. 

The sectors with the most opportunities are with the Provincial Government, tourism, hospitality, healthcare, construction and retail. In the last few years, Victoria has also had a growing tech sector that offers incredible opportunities for those looking for jobs in this field. 

Additionally, there is a thriving community of retirees in Victoria who have escaped the cold weather of eastern provinces to retire on the west coast. If you’re retired and thinking about a relocation, Victoria affords a high quality of life for active retirees. 

Housing Market

There has been lots of talk about the rising prices in the Canadian housing market and Victoria house prices are no exception. With record breaking highs year after year, the rent prices and real estate costs in Victoria are prohibitive to many prospective residents. 

On average, a 1 bedroom apartment rental in Victoria is around $2,000 per month which can be a daunting price to carry on your own. For a family of four relocating to Victoria, you’ll want to budget anywhere from $3,500 to $4,000 per month for a three bedroom rental. For larger homes with more rooms you can expect to pay much more. 

If you’re looking into real estate, you’ll need approximately $1 million to buy a home in central Victoria.

One of the ways that many residents have offset these costs is to live outside of the centre of Victoria, places like the Saanich Peninsula and Langford. While the house prices in these areas are less than in Victoria, the prices are still high and the inconvenience of commuting can be a burden and certainly something to consider when researching.

Ultimately, if you’re hoping to relocate to Victoria, be sure to have a healthy budget for housing whether you’re renting or buying and staying in an EMR long-term rental can help you get a clearer picture of living in Greater Victoria!

Food Costs

The cost of food in the capitol region is high, especially if you’re dining out often. While there are some fast food places and inexpensive restaurants that can cut down on the cost of food in Victoria, by far the best way to stay within budget is grocery shopping and preparing food at home. 

Groceries can also be a high expense in Victoria but depending on where you shop and whether you’re a savvy shopper you can make your money go a long way. There are a wide variety of grocery stores from specialty stores that carry high-end organic products to budget grocery stores so it can be prudent to peruse them all while you’re staying in Victoria if you’re planning on relocating. 

Alcohol is also quite expensive in BC where tariffs and taxes bump the prices of wine, beer and spirits up. Domestic beer and wine can be some of the best priced in the stores, followed by those from countries where Canada has free trade agreements with. Still though, the cost of your favourite libation is guaranteed to be higher than expected in Victoria.

And while we all love a decadent coffee shop cappuccino, this habit can cost quite a bit over time. However, in Victoria you have access to excellent locally roasted coffee, dairy-free alternatives and high quality local milk to make the perfect café every morning!

Transportation

There are lots of ways to get around Victoria! If you prefer not to drive, Victoria has many dedicated bike paths and extensive public transit system that services all of Greater Victoria. For many residents, commuting via public transit or cycling are preferred as the traffic in the city can quickly become congested, especially during rush hour on the weekdays. 

You can purchase a monthly pass to commute quickly and easily around the city on public transport and there are many cycling maps where you can plan your trips through the city.  

Utilities

Monthly utilities can vary widely depending on your needs, the number of devices you have and the size of your home. On average, basic utilities such as electricity, heating and cooling, water, and garbage are ~ $150, cell phones cost ~ $100/line with adequate data, unlimited local calling and text and home internet is typically also ~ $100 for 60 Mbps or more. Basic cable packages vary by provider and with streaming services, monthly entertainment bills can add up.

Sports and Leisure

Maintaining an active lifestyle in Victoria is very easy to do with incredible outdoor recreation that you can enjoy for free, many private gyms and community centres that offer weight rooms, pools, courts and fields depending on the facility. Private gym memberships are typically more expensive than community centre memberships but with such mild weather, many Victorians choose to take advantage and exercise outdoors by jogging, hiking, cycling, bouldering, kayaking and much more. 

Childcare

For many years, childcare costs in Victoria have been astronomical but recently many daycares have adopted the $10 a Day childcare model that helps families alleviate the costs of necessary childcare. While this government program has helped offset the monthly costs, it hasn’t addressed the other problem with childcare in BC: availability. It can be a daunting task to find a daycare that has space available to accommodate your child that is in a convenient area. 

Similarly, many parents looking for before and after school care for their school-aged children face long waitlists and high costs for these programs. It can be a disheartening juggling act for many families and an overwhelming burden for new families to the area.  

Quality of Life

While there are many costs and considerations to moving to Victoria, this capital city offers a very high quality of life. There are excellent hospitals that provide free healthcare, safe public schools, a clean and efficient transit system, stunning urban planning that enhances the natural beauty of the area, incredible community centres, low pollution, top-quality food grown locally, government stability and so much more. In fact, when you look at the quality of life index for Victoria, the only area that lowered the score for quality of life was cost of living meaning, if you can afford to live in Victoria, it is one of the best places in Canada to live   

Conclusion 

If you’re seriously thinking about relocating to Victoria, one of the best first steps is to book a long term rental in your area of interest and see how it fits! The bottom line though is that there is a lot that this city can offer…if you can afford it.

Book a long term EMR rental and give living in Victoria a try!