In Vancouver, where rental prices soar, Tim Chen, a final year arts student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), found an unconventional solution to avoid the city’s exorbitant rent: commuting from Calgary.
Originally from Calgary, Chen had previously lived in Vancouver but gave up his rental unit during a vacation. Upon his return, he was shocked by the surge in rental prices, prompting him to explore alternatives.
Realizing that round-trip flights from Calgary to Vancouver cost about $150, Chen opted to fly to Vancouver for his two weekly classes at UBC. Despite the commute, which totals about $1,200 per month, it remains significantly cheaper than renting a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver, where prices average around $2,100.
Chen’s decision underscores the challenges faced by Vancouver residents in navigating the city’s tight and expensive rental market, with a vacancy rate of just 0.9 percent.
While unconventional, Chen plans to continue commuting until he graduates at the end of the academic year, illustrating the lengths some are willing to go to escape Vancouver’s sky-high rent prices.