I'm not expecting to get a lot of responses as blind is mostly based in the US. I would like a candid comparison between Vancouver and Calgary for people in high tech. In terms of job prospects and cost of living. This can include metro Vancouver area of Burnaby, Richmond, Langley, Abbotsford, etc. I tried posting on Vancouver reddit, but the cross section of people there is too diverse, and I get too many conflicting views about jobs and CoL. I'm hoping to get more meaningful results here as we are supposedly in the same job group. Thx!
I moved from Vancouver, TC was ~80. Was in tech, but smaller company so base salary only. Burnaby was doable, taxes were high and needed a roommate. Richmond has is not very culturally diverse and anyone I know who has lived there did not enjoy it. That and distance to everything was too far. Langley and Abbotsford, never lived there but it's not very metro. It's a far commute to anywhere. COL in Vancouver, I'm my opinion is that unless you are making six figures, it's not going to be great long term. Calgary, never been. But their hockey team is garbage.
Vancouver! And in case you are bored in Vancouver, you can explore Seattle within hours.
Are you in Vancouver?
No but I like the city
In tech? Vancouver
Are you in Microsoft Vancouver?
I heard vancouver impossible to buy a house without winnint a lottery
Seattle
Well, yeah. I'll eventually work my way down the west coast lol
Vancouver is pretty nice but you need good TC because housing is crazy
Read this if you're viewing Vancouver through rose-tinted glasses: https://palladiummag.com/2019/09/19/how-not-to-build-a-country-canadas-late-soviet-pessimism/
OP I’m contemplating the same but for future date. Calgary is starting to establish itself as a tech hub but Vancouver is already there. You might have more job prospects in Vancouver. Cost of living? Calgary is much less expensive to live in compared to Vancouver.
Vancouver any day! The tougher choice would be between Vancouver & Toronto..
Are you currently in Vancouver at Microsoft?