Bearlover

Hi, new to the site & thought i would ask for opinions.

I am waiting for my PR visa to come through, should be within next 5 months or so, not looking to move for about 18 months until i have enough funds behind me though.
I am undecided between moving to Vancouver & Ottawa, I have been to Vancouver a few times but not visited Ottawa yet. I intend to visit there next summer. Everything i have read & seen about Ottawa makes me believe that it would be somewhere i would love so i want to investigate before making a final decision.
I am single woman, work as a personal trainer, looking to make life more interesting but not really into partying (almost 40 yrs old). Want to feel safe & don't really have the means for an expensive lifestyle.
I would like your thoughts as to where you think i would be better moving to. I understand that opinions may be biased to one area but would like to hear them nontheless.

Thanks very much x

BristolUK

Look here


Ah....I see you have.

Bearlover

Thanks, yes i've been looking through the threads for the past few hours

caretaker

Has to be a big city then?

geedee

I've just got back in from a BBQ, and was chatting to a bloke that's moved here from Vancouver. He told me that not only are accommodation costs sky high, the cost of living in general is also through the roof. I asked for an example, and of course, being blokes, beer is always a good comparison.... he said he can buy a case (24) of beer here for about $25, but the same would cost him $50 in Vancouver.

You have to balance that with their lower taxes etc. but there are plenty here from Vancouver who can give you real examples, not second hand stories!

el_richo

Vancouver is bloody expensive. The beer comment is about right.

If money is tight, stay away unless your dream is to live in somebody's basement in a shitty area. Although it depends on your available budget I guess.

I hear it's cheap as chips in Nova Scotia, although there's probably a reason for that. I also hear Calgary is brilliant so maybe check that out. It's on a boom cycle right now so pop over and enjoy it while it lasts

caretaker

I'm buying 18 can packs of Pilsner for the price of 15 (supposedly) @ $28.30 or thereabouts at the liquor store. I think a dozen is 23 something. I've only been to Montreal once but I remember beer in the depanneur (on Easter Sunday!) was cheaper than the LB in Sask.

Bearlover

No not necessarily, i'd like access to the cities but to be honest i will look to live on the outskirts or in smaller towns/cities

Bearlover

Guys thank you so much for your comments - seem to have confirmed my thoughts. I plan to check out Ottawa & the surrounding areas next year when i land to register my PR. I have already checked Calgary but for many personal reasons that isn't going to work for me but thank you for that thought too.

Greenhill

The local IPA (which the westerners make their shandies with), Keiths, is currently on a promotion discount here at about $41 for a box of 24 cans at NSLC. I think $40-$45 is probably the typical cost for a two-four of most beers on sale here.

dbd33

Pride yo-yos between $2.25 and $2.75 a can here so typically $60 for 24.

Souvy

You will probably like it.

The beer is much cheaper if you cross the river to the Dark Side.

geedee

And you can buy it in a supermarket, or a petrol station or better still, if you don't mind the lack of choice, Costco. That is cheap.... but of course, this isn't a beer thread.

Souvy

I don't think Costco is any cheaper than the supermarkets or deps. From what I can see, they all sell swill at the minimum legal price. 24s, anyway. Inmy experience, smaller packs are much more expensive on a unit basis.

geedee

I suppose it depends what you buy. The thing about Costco is the cans are usually sold in cases of 36, and the cans are 500ml...! I haven't been for a couple of months (it's getting too busy) but I think last time there you could buy 36 x 500ml cans of Heineken / Grolsch / Biltberger for about $35 plus tax.... I'll need to ask my wife! The only trouble with Costco is they generally only sell lager, or the North American version of it....