Vancouver Neighbourhoods with Street Names
VANCOUVER WEST SIDE
False Creek: is the living area stretching around False Creek Harbour; Emily Carr University is on the south side. Many of the apartment buildings here are co-op operated with several-year waiting lists. It is expensive to live here: one bedrooms average upwards of $900 and two bedrooms $1400+. Sometimes families and individuals open up rooms in their homes for students to rent for $600 and under. Anywhere in False Creek is within walking distance of Emily Carr Institute.
Kitsilano: is just west of Granville Island. It is a trendy area close to the beach. There is a stretch of coffee shops and small eateries along Cornwall Avenue, and 4t5h Avenue hosts a wide slelection of boutiques, sport shops and restaurants. This can be an expensive neighborhood to live in. Bachelor suites are upwards of $800 and one bedroom apartments are usually more than $900. Two bedroom apartments are around $1100-$1400. There are small basement suites available here for $750 for one person. Rooms in a shared house will be less, approximately $500+. If money is not a problem, there is a wide selection of luxury suites and condos available. Parts of Kitsilano are within walking distance of the Institute (15-30 minute bus commute).
Kerrisdale, Shaughnessy, Dunbar, Point Grey, UBC: are the areas south of Kitsilano that stretch west across to the University of British Columbia. These are residential neighborhoods with many expensive homes. One is usually able to find small basement suites here. This area is popular with the university students and places for September are often hard to come by. Average prices here range from $700 for a bachelor suite, $900+ for one bedroom and $1400+ for two bedrooms.
Marpole: west of Main Street and south of 41st Avenue to Marine Drive. Houses, apartments and basement suites are all available here. Rental rates in this area are quite reasonable, ranging from $550 for bachelor suite, $650 for one bedroom and $900 for two bedrooms.
West End: this area is downtown between Granville Street and Stanley Park. It consists mainly of high and low-rise apartment buildings. There are many students who share one bedroom apartments (you really have to like the other person!) and two bedroom apartments here. The one bedrooms average about $1200+. If rates advertised are very low, the apartment in question is probably very small. If you live here, Robson and Denman Streets are nearby trendy shopping/eating areas. Stanley Park is also nearby and the beach can be reached from almost any street (20-30 minute bus commute or 10 min across the water to Granville Island via Aquabus).
Yaletown: in the heart of downtown. Peoiple with two bedroom apartments are often looking for a roommate. These places can get expensive and you may pay $750+ to share a place.
Fairview Slopes: stretches between Granville and Main Streets south of False Creek to King Edward Avenue. It is a very popular living area with many apartment buildings, basement suites and some shared houses. One is usually able to find a bachelor suite around Vancouver General Hospital and City Hall for $700+, one bedroom apartments for $850+ and two bedrooms for $1100+. One bedroom basement suites run for $700+ and two bedroom basement suites about $1000.
VANCOUVER EAST SIDE (anything east of Main Street is referred to as East Vancouver or East Van)
Mount Pleasant: is east of Cambie Street, stretching out to Commercial Drive. This is a lower cost living area. Some areas of Mount Pleasant, especially around Main Street, Fraser and Kingsway can be a little less secure, but generally this area is just fune. Main Street, between Broadway and 30th Avenue, is an up-and-coming artists' community, with many artist-run galleries and centres in the area. As well, there are excellent thrift shops in this strip, plus a wide variety or restaurants and cafes. There are many shared houses, apartments and basement suites. Prices get lower the farther east you go, but they typically average $600+ for a basement bachelor suite to $700+ for one bedroom and $900+ for two bedrooms. A room in a shared home can run you $500-$700.
Commercial Drive: runs down the centre of the Grandview Woodlands area. It is a funky and hip area that is very popular with the alternative and student crowd. Commonly referred to as "the Drive", it hosts a stretch of coffee shops, cheap produce stores, organic markets, boutiques and an odd assortment of alternative stores. There are many affordable areas here for students. Housing comes in the form of shared houses and apartments, as well as basement suites. Places can be found for $600-$750, if you want to live by yourself in an apartment. Rooms in shared hosues can be $500-$700.
Strathcona: is located just east of Chinatown. It is bordered by Wall Street, Prior Street, Terminal Avenue, Clark Drive and Main Street and is the home to several local artists. Many ECU students live in this neighborhood in shared houses with very low rent. The preferred living area is south of Hastings Street, not north towards Powell Street. Theft is a problem in this area, so it is recommended to find secure accommmodation above ground. The area between East Hastings and Powell Street is an unsafe area and is generally not a recommended living area for students.