Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
#1
Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
Hi Y'all,
So we are on the move, we just came back from a 2 week recce trip around Alberta and BC and we have decided that Kelowna is the place we want to settle after the Winter next year.
We are currently in Newfoundland and been here for 8 years and it's time to move on.
I am now looking at the logistics of living in Kelowna.
Amazingly, house prices are similar to NL, so that's cool, but I need to look at my utilities and bills in Kelowna etc... So I can see what things cost and put that in an approx monthly budget, so I know where we are with things.
Do you know how much (approx) the following things cost, per month, for a 3 bed house:
Electric
Gas
Town tax
TV/Internet/home phone
Are there any additional (unforeseen) costs you can think of, that I won't have budgeted in my current NL spreadsheet?
I assume things like car and house insurance will be similar to here in NL, as it's just insuring a $$$ value.
Last thing, in NL, we have MCP (Provincial healthcare plan), so you can go the Dr and hospital without cost etc... Does BC have it's own healthcare plan and is there a cost associated with that?
We have private plans which we pay too, it's just specifically the provincial plan I'm asking about.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and helping, if you can help.
Thanks
So we are on the move, we just came back from a 2 week recce trip around Alberta and BC and we have decided that Kelowna is the place we want to settle after the Winter next year.
We are currently in Newfoundland and been here for 8 years and it's time to move on.
I am now looking at the logistics of living in Kelowna.
Amazingly, house prices are similar to NL, so that's cool, but I need to look at my utilities and bills in Kelowna etc... So I can see what things cost and put that in an approx monthly budget, so I know where we are with things.
Do you know how much (approx) the following things cost, per month, for a 3 bed house:
Electric
Gas
Town tax
TV/Internet/home phone
Are there any additional (unforeseen) costs you can think of, that I won't have budgeted in my current NL spreadsheet?
I assume things like car and house insurance will be similar to here in NL, as it's just insuring a $$$ value.
Last thing, in NL, we have MCP (Provincial healthcare plan), so you can go the Dr and hospital without cost etc... Does BC have it's own healthcare plan and is there a cost associated with that?
We have private plans which we pay too, it's just specifically the provincial plan I'm asking about.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and helping, if you can help.
Thanks
#2
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
I can't speak much about Kelowna as I don't live there. For BC I can say that Hydro is considered cheaper than most of the rest of North America.
Basic auto insurance is run by a Crown Corporation (ICBC) and is not cheap. It is something like $1,500 a year but you can get a discount up to 40% if you can prove 8 years of at-fault accident free driving. You can buy comprehensive insurance from ICBC or private providers. Kelowna will likely be a little cheaper than the Lower Mainland but if you have a good driving record you should budget $120 - $150 a month.
The provincial health plan is MSP which I imagine will be like MCP. There are monthly premiums: Premiums - Province of British Columbia
Basic auto insurance is run by a Crown Corporation (ICBC) and is not cheap. It is something like $1,500 a year but you can get a discount up to 40% if you can prove 8 years of at-fault accident free driving. You can buy comprehensive insurance from ICBC or private providers. Kelowna will likely be a little cheaper than the Lower Mainland but if you have a good driving record you should budget $120 - $150 a month.
The provincial health plan is MSP which I imagine will be like MCP. There are monthly premiums: Premiums - Province of British Columbia
#3
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
This is really useful, thank you, so the MSP, will that cover everything (Dr's/Dentist/prescriptions/eye care), so I won't need additional medical insurance (I fear it does not)? MCP is completely free in NL.
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, Super Natural British Columbia
Posts: 2,071
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
Bring Cash...
As for these:
$150/month average over the year for Electric (cold winter/hot summer)
$100/month average over the year for Gas
Not sure of typical Property Tax in Kelowna but probably $3000/year
$200/month for typical TV/Internet/home phone package
would be good estimates I think. Depends if it's a 1970s BC Box or a 2010s new build in terms of gas and electricity and if its a 3 bedroom 1200sq ft or 2500sq ft etc....could vary wildly!
Car insurance: fully comp in BC for family sized car is typically $3000+ before discounts, which max out at about 40%/8 years.
House insurance: depends on what cover you want or need, but maybe $1500/year
House prices: They might appear similar, but it depends on where in town. Rutland wouldn't be a first choice...also some people don't like being 'over the bridge' in West Kelowna either.
As for these:
$150/month average over the year for Electric (cold winter/hot summer)
$100/month average over the year for Gas
Not sure of typical Property Tax in Kelowna but probably $3000/year
$200/month for typical TV/Internet/home phone package
would be good estimates I think. Depends if it's a 1970s BC Box or a 2010s new build in terms of gas and electricity and if its a 3 bedroom 1200sq ft or 2500sq ft etc....could vary wildly!
Car insurance: fully comp in BC for family sized car is typically $3000+ before discounts, which max out at about 40%/8 years.
House insurance: depends on what cover you want or need, but maybe $1500/year
House prices: They might appear similar, but it depends on where in town. Rutland wouldn't be a first choice...also some people don't like being 'over the bridge' in West Kelowna either.
Last edited by withabix; Sep 1st 2015 at 8:30 pm.
#5
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
MSP covers doctors visits, specialist referrals and in hospital treatment. It does not cover prescriptions, eyecare or dentistry. Many larger employers offer extended health care as a benefit, but not all. If your employer does not you can buy private cover or self-insure. IMO private cover is expensive so I self-insure.
#6
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
checked some listings with local agents that put the property tax amounts in with the listing. Seems anything in the 1% of selling price would ballpark the property tax, some higher, some lower
FYI
Kelowna and area homes for sale
FYI
Kelowna and area homes for sale
#7
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
Register with Pharmacare as well as MSP, this will cover prescriptions (most) when after your reach the deductible.
Auto insurance - ICBC is the only show in town for basic. Although I prefer ICBC for the add ons for a car or truck, I use the add ons from another insurer for a bike (ICBC is double). Max discount from ICBC is 43%. They also do loading if you have points or accidents. 10 years plu driving experience yields the lowest insurance rates.
Basic liability is $200k, add ons for $1m, 2, 3 or 5m
http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/costs/Documents/crs.pdf
Auto insurance - ICBC is the only show in town for basic. Although I prefer ICBC for the add ons for a car or truck, I use the add ons from another insurer for a bike (ICBC is double). Max discount from ICBC is 43%. They also do loading if you have points or accidents. 10 years plu driving experience yields the lowest insurance rates.
Basic liability is $200k, add ons for $1m, 2, 3 or 5m
http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/costs/Documents/crs.pdf
#8
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
MSP covers doctors visits, specialist referrals and in hospital treatment. It does not cover prescriptions, eyecare or dentistry. Many larger employers offer extended health care as a benefit, but not all. If your employer does not you can buy private cover or self-insure. IMO private cover is expensive so I self-insure.
#9
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
Register with Pharmacare as well as MSP, this will cover prescriptions (most) when after your reach the deductible.
Auto insurance - ICBC is the only show in town for basic. Although I prefer ICBC for the add ons for a car or truck, I use the add ons from another insurer for a bike (ICBC is double). Max discount from ICBC is 43%. They also do loading if you have points or accidents. 10 years plu driving experience yields the lowest insurance rates.
Basic liability is $200k, add ons for $1m, 2, 3 or 5m
http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/costs/Documents/crs.pdf
Auto insurance - ICBC is the only show in town for basic. Although I prefer ICBC for the add ons for a car or truck, I use the add ons from another insurer for a bike (ICBC is double). Max discount from ICBC is 43%. They also do loading if you have points or accidents. 10 years plu driving experience yields the lowest insurance rates.
Basic liability is $200k, add ons for $1m, 2, 3 or 5m
http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/costs/Documents/crs.pdf
Right now in Ontario the two of us on one policy basic- basic insurance, third party liability only on a 13 yr old vehicle (pleasure use only) is approx $600/yr with one million liability (no fire & theft)
#10
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
moving from another province to BC with say 8 years no claims, accidents or tickets, what rate or rate reduction would someone pay - could you give an example of the lowest possible down & dirty cost?... thanks
Right now in Ontario the two of us on one policy basic- basic insurance, third party liability only on a 13 yr old vehicle (pleasure use only) is approx $600/yr with one million liability (no fire & theft)
Right now in Ontario the two of us on one policy basic- basic insurance, third party liability only on a 13 yr old vehicle (pleasure use only) is approx $600/yr with one million liability (no fire & theft)
Basic is $200k liability. I would not drive with less than $5m, my kids have the same.
If you come to BC, expect a lot more than you presently pay.
My bike is $1500 for 6 months with 43% discount.
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 317
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
Will you be working in Kelowna?
It can be difficult to find employment and wages are low. Just something to consider too
It can be difficult to find employment and wages are low. Just something to consider too
#13
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
Not intending to hijack the thread. This might aid the discussion.
There appear to be a few mobile/manufactured homes for under $100k with decent "walk scores" and several condo/strata types for $120k to $160k with bloody brilliant walk scores (supposedly better than even we have here) and monthly fees around the $250.
The city of Kelowna website suggests property taxes of $1100 on assessed value of $170k. That's way less than here.
It's not hard to see monthly housing costs - taking into account (not much) heating as well - being less than we pay in snow central. Our equalised payments for power are $282 and property taxes are $200.
Initially I found a place and thought what's the catch. Then it dawned. You had a four week block. Time share. Nothing in the listing gave any indication of that until the reference to swapping your 4 weeks.
There appear to be a few mobile/manufactured homes for under $100k with decent "walk scores" and several condo/strata types for $120k to $160k with bloody brilliant walk scores (supposedly better than even we have here) and monthly fees around the $250.
The city of Kelowna website suggests property taxes of $1100 on assessed value of $170k. That's way less than here.
It's not hard to see monthly housing costs - taking into account (not much) heating as well - being less than we pay in snow central. Our equalised payments for power are $282 and property taxes are $200.
Initially I found a place and thought what's the catch. Then it dawned. You had a four week block. Time share. Nothing in the listing gave any indication of that until the reference to swapping your 4 weeks.
Last edited by BristolUK; Sep 1st 2015 at 11:30 pm.
#14
Re: Moving to Kelowna in mid 2016 info needed pls.
This is all really excellent and answers a lot of my questions, really thank you for getting involved.