vancouver bc, where to live/info??? on mech salary

[aviator_mech]

heya, i'm an m2 a.m.e out in MtL and i've always wanted to make the move outwest, vancouver or suburbs in particular, but always heard that its ridiculous to buy anything out there for a house. My gf's brother recently moved out there and said that rent isn't that bad, but yes if you want to buy, you need a good salary... Now i'm not sure what an a.m.e gets paid out there, if the pay and salary cap is higher relative to everything else being more expensive.

So how do you guys do it out there?

[PanEuropean]

Sure, the houses are more expensive, but the heating costs in the winter are less. It all works out in the end.

[kilpicki]

I think BCIT is churning out 4 classes of 30 guys a year so if you'r looking for a job in aviation !!!!

[North Shore]

Why not move that little bit further and come to the island? Housing is about 1/2 of Vancouver for starters, and you probably wouldn't need to commute as far..
Can't remember what M2 is, but Viking is looking for people..http://www.vikingair.com/content.aspx?id=80

[SeptRepair]

Housing in Sidney, for a good home with an inlaw suite, go for about 460k. ( I have one for sale if anyone is looking) Cheaper condos are around if the apartment lifestyle is your thing. You can always commute from Victoria or the outer communities( Colwood/Langford). Viking pays pretty good from what I hear. I think the mature guys with a couple licenses ( M1,S or M1 M2)are making about 35/hr with a pretty good benefits package.

[SeptRepair]

Double post

[tyndall]

OK, I'm a little late...

Housing in Vancouver and area is stupidly overpriced. Most of the people I know with well paying jobs have had to rent out their basement to be able to make the payments on their first house. Rent actually isn't bad, if you can get your head around throwing away all your money. Utilities are about average, food is a little higher and car insurance and gas is much higher. Unless you are working at a rural airport, count on a one to two hour commute each way. Further east is cheaper housing, further west is more jobs. Don't count on higher wages because with so many people there is no problem finding someone desperate who will work cheaper than you. If you can speak french it won't help you, start learning mandarin and punjabi. Everything seems to be fast-paced but nothing seems to get done. Don't let the lack of snow fool you, January feels colder than Winnipeg due to the rain and humidity. Generally there are three types of people in Vancouver. People born there that haven't lived anywhere else, people that have seen pictures and thought it would be a good place to live but are now struggling to survive, and immigrants that came with a boatload of money. Even my wife who lived there most of her life wouldn't go back even if we won the lottery.

The island is... different. Housing costs are lower but living costs are about the same. Very laid back. I found it to be like Saskatchewan, with lots of small towns and having to drive hours to get to a small city. Unlike Saskatchewan, if you want to drive to a large city you have to bend over and pay to get off the island. A ferry trip to Vancouver and back is about $150 with your car. If you like the small town lifestyle its perfect. If you have a need to be close to a big city you'll find it hell. I hate big cities but couldn't shake the feeling of isolation. Weather is similar to Vancouver but even more rain.

Don't move out there without an exit plan if things don't work out. Trust me, the reality of living out there is completely different than seeing pictures or taking a vacation.

[ringworm]

good post tyndall, i think your first paragraph is spot on (maybe with exception of commute time) ... while working YVR, i was able to share rented accommodation corner Fir and W12th .... a gr8 location and just a short commute down Granville into work.

I'm not qualified to comment about living on the island.

rw

[frosti]

I think BCIT is churning out 4 classes of 30 guys a year