5 Pros and 5 Cons of Living in Victoria British Columbia
If you are thinking about looking to buy a home in Victoria BC for the 1st time, you might want to know the pros and cons of living here. Whether you are jumping over to Vancouver Island from Vancouver, Toronto, or Calgary, and want to escape to the great weather in Victoria, or just want to get to know Victoria BC a little better, this is the video for you! In this video, I unpack the 5 pros and cons of Living in Victoria, BC.
Although I’m an expert in the Victoria BC Real Estate market, Victoria is also my hometown. I’m passionate about the things that make Victoria great but I also want to be transparent about the things that aren’t as great. Here’s a recap of my pros and cons list:
Pros:
1) Victoria BC Weather
Victoria has a very low humidity ratio and almost constant offshore breezes which keep summer days from becoming too hot. Winters are mild and rarely include snow. Historically temperatures peak in the low 30’s in the summer, and 3-5 degrees in the winter.
2) Neighbourhood Villages and Communities in Victoria
You can live in your own little neighbourhood and have everything you need within walking distance. Some of my favourite communities are Cook Street Village, Cadboro Bay Village, Oak Bay Village, Estevan Village, Fernwood, and Esquimalt. Stay tuned for our video on the best villages in Victoria and more in the Capital Map Series.
3) The Great Outdoors in Victoria
This is one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world. Vistas to the south across the Juan De Fuca Strait to the Olympic Mountains in Washington State, beaches and coves dotted along the coastline, ancient rainforests with trees that have been here longer than we have. It’s a beautiful city and most Victoria BC neighbourhoods are close enough that you can walk to and from some amazing outdoor recreation.
4) The People of Victoria
Speaking from my own experience, we are pretty laid back here. Most Victorians avoid the pace of busier cities like Vancouver and Toronto and are just happy to be living here. I’m not sure if it’s the coast that does it or the size of the city… But we stay pretty calm. You usually don’t see tons of beeping horns or people in arguments here.
5) The Variety of Lifestyle Options in Victoria
Our downtown core can feel like a bustling metropolis and has an incredible dining and bar scene if you enjoy the nightlife. Parts of North Saanich, the Highlands, and Metchosin boast untouched natural forests and pastoral farms. Wherever you reside in Greater Victoria, you are never too far away from some of the best restaurants and entertainment on the west coast of British Columbia
Cons:
1) Lots of Rain; It’s a Rainforest After All
Victoria receives between 600-900mm of average annual precipitation. Bear in mind neighbouring cities in British Columbia like Vancouver average 1500-2000mm of rainfall and other parts of Vancouver Island like the coastal surf town of Tofino on Vancouver Island average over 3200mm of rainfall/per year.
2) Stuck on the Rock – Travel To and From Victoria
The only way to get off Vancouver Island is on a ferry, boat, or plane. Most international flights from Victoria have to go through Vancouver
3) Expensive Cost of Living in Victoria
The average detached home in Greater Victoria BC was $1,230,436 in 2021. Victoria homes in the more coveted neighbourhoods have stretched well beyond that figure. In 2021 in Oak Bay BC the average sale price of a detached home was $1,960,072. Rentals in Victoria are also pricey: https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/…
4) Growing Crime Rate in Downtown Victoria
The municipality of Victoria’s crime severity index (CSI) score was the highest out of all municipal police agencies in B.C. https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/vi…
5) Need a Map to get around Victoria
Many of the roads and communities in Victoria BC are built across hillsides and don’t run N/S/E/W in straight lines.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about living in Victoria BC, moving to Victoria, or Victoria Real Estate. Feel free to reach out to me directly as well, I would be happy to answer your questions about Vancouver Island and the Victoria Housing Market.
