I'm not new to Canada I've lived there 6 years. I've been offered an interview for a Job in Victoria, Vancouver Island. I've done the usual searches with property etc. I'm a keen cyclist and it seems like a great place to live because of that. But property seems very expensive and the salary isn't great at...65K?

I just want to know what the day to day cost of living is like from someone who is living there? Is it unrealistic living there on 65K and being able to buy a house etc? I think I already know the answer but I'm just curious.

I think it really depends on what kind of life you want.

Can you live in Victoria (or rather, in a suburb) on $65k? Of course, a large percentage of the population do. Can you buy a fancy house and nice car(s) on that salary in Victoria? No.

Yes I know. I was just curious. Being able to afford to buy a house would be on the top of the list. It's just out of reach on that salary in that area.

If you're prepared to drive 15-20km or so, you can get a nice house on that salary. Out west, past Langford, there's plenty of decent housing.

Thanks for that. I will look into that area.

If you want to buy a mansion on your salary, come to New Brunswick

Yes I know. I was working in New Brunswick property was a lot cheaper.

Lots of nice houses to the west of Victoria - Colwood, Esquimalt, towards Sooke. As already said, it means you have the commute. You could do worse though. Or, you could live to the north of Victoria - up around Goldstream - some nice affordable bits up there.

Bear in mind the commute, Hwy 17 is no fun at rush hour, I'd try doing it before you make a decision. There are several junctions that are crying out for an overpass, if you look at Google Maps they are fairly easy to pick out.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to think about it over the weekend.

Point taken on the busy traffic for the commute, but that still hasn't stopped an increasing number of commuters from moving into Sooke and doing the daily Colwood crawl. Not much beyond Sooke, as far as regular housing goes, plus I feel you'd be stretching the commute from Victoria beyond sensible limits then. However, due to increasing property prices in other areas closer to Vic, more and more people are looking at Sooke as an option whilst continuing to work in Victoria.

If I were the OP I'd take a drive from Victoria out through Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and on to Sooke. Have a look around all the areas.
Check the commute drive (in commuter hours) as a test from Sooke and see what you think. Normal drive is about 30-40 minutes.
New housing is being built in Sooke and the place is set to double in numbers over the next 10-15 years. Current population is around 11,500. A good Realtor is Allan Poole, at Royal Le-Page in Sooke.

Sooke is also very poplar for cyclists (we have two mountain bikes ourselves) plus the Galloping Goose Trail runs from Victoria to Sooke and pretty much passes through all the other places mentioned above.

If it were me I'd look at East Sooke, but I would say that wouldn't I.
I live there