Life in Vancouver
Ranked the #3 best student city in Canada (QS Best Student Cities 2027), Vancouver is a vibrant, multicultural city on Canada’s west coast, where urban life meets spectacular nature. Surrounded by ocean, forests and mountains, it’s home to people from 150+ nationalities and thousands of international students.
Top 5 Vancouver attractions
Welcoming over 11 million visitors each year, Vancouver offers a wide range of attractions that combine big-city energy with spectacular natural surroundings.
You can study in Vancouver at:
Vancouver: things to know
Getting around Vancouver is straightforward thanks to its extensive public transport network.
TransLink operates buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus services across Metro Vancouver, so you can travel around the city and reach destinations on the other side of the harbour without needing a car.
Eligible students at participating public universities and colleges can access the U-Pass BC, which provides discounted travel across the TransLink network. For the 2026–27 academic year, the U-Pass BC fee is CAD$47.85 per month.
Vancouver International Airport connects the city with destinations across Canada and around the world, making it convenient for international students travelling home or exploring more of North America.
In Vancouver, a single person’s estimated monthly costs are CAD$1,428 without rent.
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: CAD$30
- Cappuccino: CAD$5.87
- One-way ticket on public transport: CAD$3.50
Vancouver has one of the mildest climates of Canada’s major cities.
Summers are generally warm and comfortable, with average daytime highs of around 23°C in July and August. Winters are cooler and wetter, but temperatures are much milder than in many other parts of Canada, with average daytime highs of around 7°C in January.
And when winter arrives in the city, there can already be snow in the nearby mountains — meaning you could be studying one day and skiing the next!
Vancouver culture
Vancouver combines the excitement of a diverse, international city with an outdoor lifestyle that’s hard to find anywhere else
Feel at home in a diverse, globally connected city!
A multicultural city
Vancouver is one of Canada’s most culturally and linguistically diverse cities. More than half of its residents speak a first language other than English, with 42% of its residents coming from abroad.
That diversity is part of everyday life here, from neighbourhoods and festivals to food, arts, and culture. For an international student, there are countless opportunities to discover new cultures while also finding familiar communities, flavours and traditions.
Food from around the world
If you’re a foodie, Vancouver gives you plenty to explore.
The city’s multicultural population has created an exciting culinary scene, with everything from Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian cuisine to Italian, Middle Eastern and Latin American food.
Its coastal location also means seafood is a big part of local dining culture — and Vancouver is particularly famous for its sushi and Asian-influenced cuisine.
City and nature — side by side
Vancouver is a modern urban centre surrounded by ocean, forest and mountains. You can explore shops, cafés and galleries downtown, walk through a 400-hectare rainforest in Stanley Park, cycle beside the Pacific Ocean and look up at mountain peaks — all without travelling far.
The city has more than 250 parks, while its waterfront paths and beaches make outdoor activity part of everyday life. Whether you enjoy walking, cycling, hiking, kayaking, skiing or simply relaxing outside with friends, there’s always a way to get closer to nature.
Vancouver city guide
Popular things to do
Watch the Celebration of Light
Every summer, thousands of people gather around English Bay for Vancouver’s spectacular Celebration of Light, with huge fireworks displays lighting up the waterfront.
Go whale watching
Head out onto the Pacific for the chance to spot orcas, humpback whales and other marine wildlife. The main whale-watching season runs from around April to October.
Explore Vancouver’s night markets
Sample international street food, browse local crafts and enjoy live entertainment at seasonal night markets around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Visit a museum or gallery
Discover local and Indigenous culture at institutions such as the Museum of Anthropology, or explore exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery and Beaty Biodiversity Museum.
Catch a live event
There’s always something happening in Vancouver, from the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and Pride celebrations to major concerts and Vancouver Whitecaps FC matches at BC Place.
See False Creek by ferry
Hop on a small passenger ferry and travel across False Creek, with great views of Vancouver’s waterfront, skyline and neighbourhoods along the way.
9 things you must know before moving to Vancouver
