Tim Chen, a final-year arts student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), found a creative way to deal with Vancouver’s high rental prices. Originally from Calgary, Chen decided to stay with his parents in Calgary and fly to Vancouver for classes instead of renting a place in the city.
Chen gave up his rental unit in Vancouver while he went on vacation during the fall. When he returned, he was surprised by the high rental prices. Instead of paying around $2,500 for rent in Vancouver, Chen realized that flying from Calgary to Vancouver for about $150 round trip was much cheaper.
Chen takes two classes per week at UBC, and the total cost of flights per month is about $1,200, which is significantly less than the average price of a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver ($2,100).
Chen’s routine involves attending classes at UBC and then heading back to the airport to catch his flight home to Calgary. Despite the inconvenience, Chen finds this arrangement more affordable and practical given the high rental prices in Vancouver.
Vancouver remains Canada’s most expensive city for renters, with a vacancy rate of only 0.9 percent. Chen plans to continue flying to UBC for classes until he graduates at the end of the academic year.
Source CTV News
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