Cost of Living Vancouver (2018)
Nov 22nd 2018, 8:29 pm
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Cost of Living Vancouver (2018)
I was factoring in the minimum tip that should be left - not what is usual to leave. Where I live too, 18-22% is the norm. 
There are the 'all you can eat' Japanese restaurants - where everything is cooked/prepared fresh to order - where you can pay a flat rate of $29-$32 per person for dinner - or for lunch $19-$22. However, you pay per piece if you don't eat everything you order on top and there's a maximum time permitted to order and eat; plus taxes, plus tip... plus any drinks you might have. Pretty much you are looking at a minimum of $40pp for dinner and $28.50 for lunch, even if you just drink water.
For A La Carte I think the cheapest I have seen maki is $4; $4.50 for California Roll and $8 for 'special' - at a run of the mill place, eating in, so yes Vancouver appears to be more reasonable, for that at least - based on what you had, it would cost $19 plus your drink, plus tip, here. We don't do 'tourists or touristy' in the Hammer, lol.
There are the 'all you can eat' Japanese restaurants - where everything is cooked/prepared fresh to order - where you can pay a flat rate of $29-$32 per person for dinner - or for lunch $19-$22. However, you pay per piece if you don't eat everything you order on top and there's a maximum time permitted to order and eat; plus taxes, plus tip... plus any drinks you might have. Pretty much you are looking at a minimum of $40pp for dinner and $28.50 for lunch, even if you just drink water.
For A La Carte I think the cheapest I have seen maki is $4; $4.50 for California Roll and $8 for 'special' - at a run of the mill place, eating in, so yes Vancouver appears to be more reasonable, for that at least - based on what you had, it would cost $19 plus your drink, plus tip, here. We don't do 'tourists or touristy' in the Hammer, lol.
Vancouver (and possibly BC) is the cheapest place in Canada to eat Japanese food, and most places are good, even the little hole-in-the-wall. I just keep away from the fancy touristy written up places!
Green Tea and water are almost always free. with your meal.
I've never eaten "all you can eat"Japanese, always go for a la carte. I don't think I've even seen an "all you can eat" place here.
I'm horrified at how much Japanese food costs in Halifax ............. an ordinary roll such as cucumber, tuna, salmon (atlantic not wild sockeye), etc etc were up to 3 times as expensive there as here. We don't eat Atlantic salmon, and most of the Japanese places anyway sell only wild sockeye, for $2.50-2.75 for 6 pieces. Cucumber is usually about $1.75 for 6. I think the last time we had Japanese in Halifax (about 6 years ago now), cucumber was close to $3.00
My daughter eats as many meals in our local place as she can when she comes back for a short visit! She even arranges to meet friends there for lunch!
The other cheap place to eat, especially for lunch, is at one of the many Korean Noodle Houses.
I go for either Japanese or Chinese stir fry if I have to eat at a Food Fair in a mall ............... both usually good, and around $5-10
Nov 22nd 2018, 8:48 pm
#32
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2018
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Posts: 17
Re: Cost of Living Vancouver (2018)
OK ................ first you have to be aware that some of the takeaways that are now so common in the UK, such as kebabs, curries, Indian* foods, etc are not generally found in many areas of BC.
Takeaways are Chinese, Japanese, pizza, Korean, etc
I live in a part of Vancouver where the most places to eat are Japanese sushi .............. I think we have about 10 in one 5 block area, with one more opening soon ............. Japanese Bubble Tea (at least 3), Chinese/Japanese combo, Filipino/Canadian combo. We once had a kebab place and a Donair but I think only the Donair has survived.
We happen to like Japanese, and the one we go to has a full range of sushi and various hot meals. We went to the Filipino/Canadian one last weekend, OH had fish and chips and was not impressed. I had baby pork back ribs and fries, which were good. But the prices were quite high for twice a week dining out.
If you want south-east Asian foods, better look at Surrey which has a very large population of South-East Asians. But it is going to cost you much more than what you seem to be expecting
Battered sausages and fries are basically unheard of here ........ there was a thread on the Maple Leaf a few weeks ago by someone who was desperate. I must say they sound awful!
You may not even like fish and chips ............ good ones are VERY hard to find!
Indians* ............. get used to NOT using this term here.
Here it has always referred to the First Nations, but is now considered to be a derogatory term and not to be used.
People for the subcontinent of India are usually referred to as South-East Asians
Takeaways are Chinese, Japanese, pizza, Korean, etc
I live in a part of Vancouver where the most places to eat are Japanese sushi .............. I think we have about 10 in one 5 block area, with one more opening soon ............. Japanese Bubble Tea (at least 3), Chinese/Japanese combo, Filipino/Canadian combo. We once had a kebab place and a Donair but I think only the Donair has survived.
We happen to like Japanese, and the one we go to has a full range of sushi and various hot meals. We went to the Filipino/Canadian one last weekend, OH had fish and chips and was not impressed. I had baby pork back ribs and fries, which were good. But the prices were quite high for twice a week dining out.
If you want south-east Asian foods, better look at Surrey which has a very large population of South-East Asians. But it is going to cost you much more than what you seem to be expecting
Battered sausages and fries are basically unheard of here ........ there was a thread on the Maple Leaf a few weeks ago by someone who was desperate. I must say they sound awful!
You may not even like fish and chips ............ good ones are VERY hard to find!
Indians* ............. get used to NOT using this term here.
Here it has always referred to the First Nations, but is now considered to be a derogatory term and not to be used.
People for the subcontinent of India are usually referred to as South-East Asians
Are you basing your prices on UK prices converted, or actual cost in Vancouver?
I live in a mid sized City in Ontario - which is generally known to be far cheaper to live in than Vancouver - and while (where I live) there are multitudes of take out places that will deliver (try 'skipthedishes' for prices), it's not cheap! Don't forget to add on the delivery charge as well, unless ordering over the minimum.
Lunch for $15? what's that for, coffee and a sub or a burger? If you're talking going to a restaurant I think you could pretty much double that - and don't forget to add on 15% for taxes and another minimum of 15% for the tip (gratuity) at any establishment where you have been served (not McD's etc., lol).
My son had sushi last night - very basic amount, sashimi 6 pieces in total, 8 maki slices, seaweed salad - with taxes and delivery $58! For enough food for 1.
I went out to dinner on Saturday with 2 female friends. They shared 2 small dishes, I had my own (arctic char fillet and a side salad - $27 plus 15% tax), I had 1 drink, they had 2 and we all had coffee, they had dessert - the bill? $189 without a tip (thank goodness I wasn't paying)!
We can get a decent Indian, Thai, Mexican, Lebanese (kebabs), Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Pizza, Wings and even fish n chips takeout here though
I live in a mid sized City in Ontario - which is generally known to be far cheaper to live in than Vancouver - and while (where I live) there are multitudes of take out places that will deliver (try 'skipthedishes' for prices), it's not cheap! Don't forget to add on the delivery charge as well, unless ordering over the minimum.
Lunch for $15? what's that for, coffee and a sub or a burger? If you're talking going to a restaurant I think you could pretty much double that - and don't forget to add on 15% for taxes and another minimum of 15% for the tip (gratuity) at any establishment where you have been served (not McD's etc., lol).
My son had sushi last night - very basic amount, sashimi 6 pieces in total, 8 maki slices, seaweed salad - with taxes and delivery $58! For enough food for 1.
I went out to dinner on Saturday with 2 female friends. They shared 2 small dishes, I had my own (arctic char fillet and a side salad - $27 plus 15% tax), I had 1 drink, they had 2 and we all had coffee, they had dessert - the bill? $189 without a tip (thank goodness I wasn't paying)!
We can get a decent Indian, Thai, Mexican, Lebanese (kebabs), Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Pizza, Wings and even fish n chips takeout here though
anyway, I’ve received some good news yesterday! I’ve now a date to fly out to Vancouver in a couple of weeks time to “audition” for the role and trial it out. So I’ll try and head out as much as I can in the evenings to gauge how accurate my budget is and try out as many different zones/neighbourhoods as possible. It’ll be good to ask a few of the colleagues in some suggestions to live and eat. Maybe even bump into other expats
Nov 22nd 2018, 9:29 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Cost of Living Vancouver (2018)
Note that a lot of places in Vancouver might not be prepared to have 2 people share 1 main ..... make it fairly obvious that they don't like it!
I haven't heard of it being a regular thing here.
I haven't heard of it being a regular thing here.
Nov 22nd 2018, 10:17 pm
#34
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,862
Dec 10th 2018, 1:30 am
#36
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2018
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Posts: 17
Re: Cost of Living Vancouver (2018)
Evening all, I’ve landed in Vancouver earlier today, brought the crappy weather with me it seems. I’m staying near Gilmore station for the next 7 days in case anyone is in the area or could recommend some cool places to go. Thanks!
