Quantcast
Relocation from Calgary to Victoria - Beyond.ca - Car Forums
Page 1 of 7 1 2 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 122

Thread: Relocation from Calgary to Victoria

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Left Coast
    My Ride
    Audi
    Posts
    1,348
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Relocation from Calgary to Victoria

    I'm currently contemplating a relocation for my career to Victoria. No decision made yet but just looking for some feedback from those who may have done it...

    For folks who live in Victoria who have moved there from Calgary (especially for career purposes), are there any considerations / lessons learned I should be aware of before making such a decision? For reference, I'm a family of 5 (3 kids, ages 10 and younger)

    Things i've taken into consideration:
    - housing / utilities costs
    - insurance costs
    - transportation costs
    - healthcare
    - income taxes
    - being trapped on the island because of the cost of taking BC ferries

    thx!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Calgary, AB
    Posts
    1,636
    Rep Power
    85

    Default

    Your utility bill should be way, way less than here. Also you will probably never need to buy another winter clothing item again.
    Food is way cheaper out there.
    Also your toiletry bill will be way less as you transition into becoming a dirty hairy hippie.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Only 15min from Aspen!
    My Ride
    Nothing interesting anymore
    Posts
    8,403
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    - Psychiatrist bills for having anger management issues after having to drive around with all the retired people who do 10 under the limit.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Calgary Alberta
    My Ride
    ...BNT0B0X...
    Posts
    8,728
    Rep Power
    29

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by suntan View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Your utility bill should be way, way less than here. Also you will probably never need to buy another winter clothing item again.
    Uhmm....Have you watched the weather reports this week at all??.....


    I am curious as well....as I am seriously considering relocating to BC...I wanna end up in Kelowna, but I am sure some of the information can apply haha...
    ...@therealarifjina...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    The Big Char.
    My Ride
    *The First*
    Posts
    4,134
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    I can help.
    - housing / utilities costs
    Housing is much higher for much less but it's not Vancouver. Consider Langford if you want to save money. Utilities are not way different. Most heat is electric and electricity is cheap.

    - insurance costs
    No matter how many decades you've been driving without any accidents, car insurance will not be less than about $1,000/year. If you're a shit driver, it doesn't get as high as it does in AB. It's a more socialist system and they also don't penalize young drivers as badly. They've recently declared war on exotic cars though. They can easily be over $1k/month. My friend's older Ferrari was about $1600/month and his new i8 is some completely fucked number. This is partially a response to the trust fund Asian Street Racers that got so much press in Vancouver (I think).

    - transportation costs
    Fuel costs more but that's not the real cost of transportation, it just stings you every week so it makes you angry. Typically gasoline is 25% more.
    Is that what you meant or did you mean shipping/trucking goods?

    - healthcare
    No significant differences I can recall. Easier to get a Family Doctor than a booming city.

    - income taxes
    More but not much more.

    - being trapped on the island because of the cost of taking BC ferries
    Irritating but only intolerable if you do driving tips during long weekends. If you are a flying vacation family, this won't be a big concern.

    Other...
    There is a lot of rain and A LOT of grey non-weather days. Some people deal with that better than others. Stats show they get a lot more sunlight than here or Edmonton. That is a blatant lie. It's not even close. I don't understand how something like that can be fraudulent but it is.
    You may/will likely make less money there. That's what stings more than the slightly higher taxes. In many fields, this is significant.

    Food.
    Produce is a bit cheaper & better and dry goods a bit more. There is not a significant difference overall.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Pt Cruiser
    Posts
    1,423
    Rep Power
    46

    Default

    Just keep in mind you'll be surrounded by a bunch of socialists. I spend about 4 weeks a year in Victoria and that's the only thing that really gets to me.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Calgary, AB
    Posts
    1,636
    Rep Power
    85

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by EK 2.0 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Uhmm....Have you watched the weather reports this week at all??.....
    Yeah that happens about once every 20 years. Usually the tulips are out by now.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Strathmore
    My Ride
    2005 Dirtymax
    Posts
    2,222
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Newlywed and nearly dead.

    More nearly dead.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Left Coast
    My Ride
    Audi
    Posts
    1,348
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by firebane View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Newlywed and nearly dead.

    More nearly dead.
    Considering my wife is in school for funeral services - this is like gold for her!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Strathmore
    My Ride
    2005 Dirtymax
    Posts
    2,222
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hampstor View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Considering my wife is in school for funeral services - this is like gold for her!
    hahah awesome!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Calgary AB
    My Ride
    V8s
    Posts
    4,570
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    I went to school in Victoria. Great place to visit, less great to live there. Couldn't stand the clouds and dampness by the time I left (first couple years were ok, but by the end it was awful). Also, fuckin hippies. They're like a plague out there.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Calgary/Victoria
    My Ride
    Fat Boy riding a Fat Boy
    Posts
    89
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    I moved from Calgary to Victoria and am still here ... feel free to pm any specific questions you may have my way ...

    One of the biggest shocks I had is that there is a lot less rain here in the summer. It is normal to have next to no rain at all from June to end of August. Because there are no thunderstorms, its just dry ... That and Christmas sneaks up on you ... typically, no snow and then BAM! Christmas.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    calgary, alberta, canada
    My Ride
    Faux X 4 Mall Crawler
    Posts
    5,678
    Rep Power
    42

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tik-Tok View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    - Psychiatrist bills for having anger management issues after having to drive around with all the retired people who do 10 under the limit.
    THIS!

    When I bought my forester, I could not get over 50km/h on 98% of the trip.
    sig deleted by moderator, because they are useless

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta
    My Ride
    '14 Taco
    Posts
    808
    Rep Power
    34

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ThePenIsMightier View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    There is a lot of rain and A LOT of grey non-weather days. Some people deal with that better than others. Stats show they get a lot more sunlight than here or Edmonton. That is a blatant lie. It's not even close. I don't understand how something like that can be fraudulent but it is.
    You may/will likely make less money there. That's what stings more than the slightly higher taxes. In many fields, this is significant.
    Victoria doesnt get that much rain when compared to vancouver or the west part of the island, and has a lot more sun then pretty well anywhere on the island as it's in a rainshadow. I dont think the stats show they get more sunlight then Calgary or Edmonton, but they are not that far off. They get about double the precip that Calgary does in the winter, but its pretty bone dry there in the summer..

    If both the wife and i could get a job out there and keep our quality of life..i'd be on the island in a minute. When -10 is the worst thing theyve had in 10+ years...

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    The Big Char.
    My Ride
    *The First*
    Posts
    4,134
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Brent.ff View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Victoria doesnt get that much rain when compared to vancouver or the west part of the island, and has a lot more sun then pretty well anywhere on the island as it's in a rainshadow. I dont think the stats show they get more sunlight then Calgary or Edmonton, but they are not that far off. They get about double the precip that Calgary does in the winter, but its pretty bone dry there in the summer..

    If both the wife and i could get a job out there and keep our quality of life..i'd be on the island in a minute. When -10 is the worst thing theyve had in 10+ years...
    You're correct about the rain volume being less than Van, etc but it still rains a fucking lot. There are stretches of 5+ days with multiple daily rain showers there and many many 10 day stretches with nothing but grey.
    Also "-10" there is intolerable. I equate -4 there to about -20 here for the actual feel.
    Some other weather things to consider is fog. It's literally foggy there on more than half the mornings all year. (I want to say 90% actually but some "expert" will chime in with a keyboard warrior opinion to counter me.) I don't care but about fog but for someone who's never really seen much fog it would be a big change.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Red Deer, Alberta
    My Ride
    1995 WRX STi
    Posts
    1,560
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by EK 2.0 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    ..I wanna end up in Kelowna, but I am sure some of the information can apply haha...
    Be prepared for everyone to hate you there (Albertans are considered an invasive species).

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Axis powers
    Posts
    2,486
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by HiTempguy1 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Be prepared for everyone to hate you there (Albertans are considered an invasive species).
    Pretty sure that's most of BC
    Sig nuked by mod.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Nowhere
    Posts
    6,852
    Rep Power
    26

    Default

    ....
    Last edited by Sugarphreak; 08-18-2019 at 03:47 PM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Silverado
    Posts
    3,090
    Rep Power
    47

    Default

    Good luck with the move. Seems like every city has its pros and cons. Can't be too bad to have more different experiences in life
    Last edited by dirtsniffer; 02-16-2019 at 12:02 PM.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Axis powers
    Posts
    2,486
    Rep Power
    24

    Default

    I’m regards to sugars post

    Just hired a guy that’s moving out of Vancouver as he hates the lifestyle and not being able to afford anything
    Sig nuked by mod.

Page 1 of 7 1 2 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Relocation from Calgary to Victoria

    By hampstor in forum Careers
    Replies: 43
    Latest Threads: 03-09-2019, 08:47 AM
  2. FS Aluminum Battery Box (relocation) NHRA legal

    By Primer_Drift in forum Automotive Parts [Mechanical Parts]
    Replies: 6
    Latest Threads: 06-22-2005, 10:48 AM
  3. RCMP battery relocation

    By calgarys13 in forum Mechanical
    Replies: 7
    Latest Threads: 11-18-2004, 02:28 PM
  4. BIG RELOCATION SALE! Racing Seats from $100 each!

    By Johnny@CustomAuto in forum Automotive Parts
    Replies: 5
    Latest Threads: 11-03-2004, 02:46 PM
  5. Battery relocation

    By buh_buh in forum General Car/Bike Talk
    Replies: 23
    Latest Threads: 11-05-2002, 06:38 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •