Is Vancouver really the most livable city in the world?
For the fifth year in a row, the Economic Intelligence Unit has ranked Vancouver as the most livable city in the world. With a top notch score of 98 out of 100, the city was ranked highly for its livability according to several factors, such as stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
But looking beyond this report are factors that make this city unlivable. While Vancouver is considered the most livable by some, it is also ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world. With the lowest minimum wage in the country, sky rocketing real estate prices and the social problems in the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver is considered as one of the most unlivable cities by some Vancouverites.
With the minimum wage set at $8.00 and no increase to this wage since 2001, it is difficult for many Vancouverites to afford living in this city. According to a study conducted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Vancouverites need to make at least $18.17 an hour in order to cover the basic necessities, such as food, rent, childcare and transportation. This has left many living paycheck to paycheck or having to juggle several minimum wage jobs to survive in Vancouver.
In addition to having the lowest minimum wage in the country, Vancouver has been recognized as the most unaffordable city in the country with rising real estate prices. According to the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation, the average price of single detached home in Vancouver is $890,000, which has made it difficult if not impossible for many to afford a home in the city.
Rental prices in the city aren’t cheap either. The average price for a one-bedroom apartment is $940 and a two-bedroom apartment is $1,195. Not surprisingly, Vancouver is at the top of the list for the most expensive city to rent in Canada, with Toronto and Calgary trailing behind.
The lack of affordable housing in Vancouver has also contributed to the homelessness problem in the Downtown Eastside. While there have been initiatives to bring awareness to this problem, the city struggles to provide social housing for those in need.
With these factors considered, Vancouver is often coined as a rich man’s playground and the most livable city for the wealthy. While Vancouver is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the inability to afford to live in this expensive city will have locals flocking to cities that are considerably more affordable. Evidently, this city is considered a luxury for those belonging to a particular social class and a burden for those who struggle to make ends meet.
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Grew up there, too. Been away for decades, except for frequent visits. Though I like many of the changes, it's certainly gotten too expensive. Expo 86 is what got that ball rolling. When I was a teen there in the 60s, it seemed like nearly everyone had a middle class or better income. In rented a one-bedrrom apartment (not a studio) on Fraser St. in '79 for 250 a month! - And skid row was about a block wide and two blocks long, centered on Main and Hastings. Now it seems at least ten times that size, stretching clear to the old Woodward's building and beyond. I still think the nicest people live east of the Great Divide, a.k.a. Ontario Street, and many of the folks on the west side turn up their noses at them. When I was 14 we moved from Fraser Hilll to Oakridge, and I couldn't stand the kids there. Snobby, vicious and calculating. My best friend graduated from Britannia, supposed to be the worst high school in town. We continued to be best friends after my move to Uppitytown. I could never connect with the kids in the new hood, too many demands centered around fashion etc. My aging parents still complain about all the Chinese and their big houses fulll of rellies. That's what big houses are supposed to be for, dangit!
Nevertheless I'm moving back there in a week or two and believe it or not, I'm looking forward to it! It's a beautiful place, money is not going to be a problem (wouldn't be moving there if it was), and because it's my hometown I know all the great free and cheap stuff there is to do there. And I'll be near people I love, rellies and old friends, and that's what counts the most.