GEC Viva, Vancouver

Scenic Views, mild climate, and friendly people - this is Vancouver for you. Vancouver is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities. Vancouver neighbourhoods are adorned with colourful sidewalks, spectacular settings, and a wide range of urban vibes with roots in different cultures. Every year, thousands of students come to Vancouver to pursue their higher education.

Vancouver features a variety of safe, spacious, and convenient apartments, flats, private and shared rooms, and studios equipped with top-class amenities and facilities. Several cafes and restaurants, shopping malls, grocery stores, parks, clinics, transportation systems, and other tourist attractions surround the student housing. Students can find good housing near major universities such as The University of British Columbia, the University of Canada West, and Simon Fraser University.

Planning to move to Vancouver? Amber has got you covered with its range of student housing options. With amber, you get to choose your ideal living space from over 5000 housing alternatives. You can check out Amber’s website to browse through the student housing or get in touch with us.

Located in the lower mainland region of British Columbia, the city of Vancouver is surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains and is known for its thriving art, theatre, and music scenes. The history of Vancouver is a captivating tale of growth, diversity, and cultural exchange.

Several Native Americans have been inhabiting the region for a very long time. Attracted by the gold rush in the Cariboo mountains to the northeast, thousands of miners, especially from California, flooded the region in the 1860s. Vancouver was incorporated as a city in April 1886, and it was renamed after an English navigator, George Vancouver, of the Royal Navy, who had explored and surveyed the coast in 1792. It is a well-known fact that the city has been a popular destination for immigrants from other parts of Canada and overseas.

The city has a deep respect for nature and its cultural diversity. Nature lovers must explore Stanley Park, with its old-grown cedar forest surrounded by serene water views and sandy beaches. The VanDusen Botanical Garden, Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver Aquarium, English Bay, Jericho Beach, and Nitobe Memorial Garden are also some of the famous natural attractions in Vancouver. The other top spots that students can check out include the Museum of Anthropology, Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver Public Library, False Creek, and Science World. The city is also home to universities like the University of British Columbia, the University of Canada West, and Simon Fraser University. With so much to explore, Vancouver serves as a wonderful place for both local and international students.

Good student housing is not just a place to stay. It shapes the entire student experience by affecting a student’s overall well-being, academic success, and personal growth. If you’re looking for the best student housing in Vancouver, then be assured that the city offers a good and extensive selection of amazing student housing. Whether you’re looking for shared apartments, flats, studios, or en-suites, you will easily find an ideal stay with access to a variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, shopping stores, and transportation systems.

Look out for these safe, spacious, and beautiful student housing in Vancouver:

1. Harrington Housing West End

2. Norquay II

3. GEC Viva

4. APT Living

5. Cypress Crescent

6. GEC King Edward

7. Nanaimo 2

8. Norquay I

9. GEC Pearson

University fees, housing rent, locality, personal expenses, and lifestyle choices - all these factors together influence the cost of living for students. Vancouver’s average cost of living is higher than Toronto’s by 10%. For students living in Vancouver, the overall cost of living ranges between $1,673 to $2,673 per month. With amber, you can eliminate any extra bills and charges on rent. Here is a breakdown of the expenses you may incur when living in Vancouver:

1. housing: CAD $500 per month

2. Transportation: CAD $124 per month

3. Food: CAD$754 per month

4. Utility: CAD $96

5. Entertainment: CAD $99

6. Groceries: CAD $9

Whether you want to travel by bus, bike, or train, Vancouver offers you a great public transit system. It’s bike-friendly, and you also get many car-sharing and ride-hailing services to benefit from. Below are the modes of travel students can use to get in and around the city.

1. Bus: Vancouver offers different types of bus services, including regular and express buses within the Translink network. With public transit buses, you can travel a great deal within the city. The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a 20-minute bus ride from downtown Vancouver. There are several bus stops near UBC that students can take, including EB Thunderbird Blvd @ Eagles Dr, NB East Mall @ Eagles Dr, and WB Thunderbird Blvd @ Larkin Dr.

2. Train: The SkyTrain connects the outer cities of Greater Vancouver, including Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster, and Burnaby, with downtown Vancouver. Students travelling by train can take these train stations depending on their route and destination: Pacific Central Station, Waterfront Station, Vancouver City Centre Subway Station, Broadway-City Hall Station, and 29th Avenue Station.

3. Cycling: Cycling is the most convenient, affordable, and sustainable mode of travel for students. Vancouver features many great bike trails and designated bike routes throughout the city. Make sure to wear a helmet (as mandated by the British government), put lights on your bicycle (front and back), and obey the traffic rules.

With the U-Pass BC, students can access bus, SeaBus, and SkyTrain services within Metro Vancouver. They can also avail of discounts on West Coast Express. Students pay for their U-Pass BC as part of their student fees.