[Timpo]

I know Vancouver was ranked the best place to live in North America a while ago.
Beat it New York: Vancouver the best place to live in North America according to Mercer ranking | National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/beat-it-new-york-vancouver-the-best-place-to-live-in-north-america-according-to-mercer-ranking)

But what do you think?
I'm talking about overall livability. Medical, job security, environment, safety, everything...
I also noticed that it's so rare that Asian cities come first(or even be included in the ranking), like Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, etc..

Is Vancouver that much better than anywhere else? What about England, Australia, Hawaii, San Francisco, etc?

[MG1]

I'm biassed, but yeah, this is a pretty good place to live. Just go to Little Mountain and have a good look around. Natural beauty, relatively clean air and water, decent health care, safe, mild climate (yes rain, but you need that to be green), etc. For the most part, people here are pretty tolerant, caring, and inclusive.

It's changing, but our core values are still intact. I stress "still".

Asian cities? I have not traveled to those places, but I would imagine people in those parts are less tolerant and inclusive. And the air................ nuff said.

Now this is for living here, not visiting, yeah?

Some people complain no matter where they live. I appreciate and love living here. Great place to raise a family.



You mention BC, then Vancouver, which is it? And, why do you bring this topic up again? Do you like living here?

[Marshall Placid]

For me personally, I think it's a lot to do with the people of Vancouver.

At the most basic level, if a city has the best economy, best nature settings, best this and that, etc. etc., it counts for nothing if the people in the city are not respectful of others, polite, tolerant, and "nice".

So, yes for me, the PEOPLE of Vancouver is a major positive factor for the City, and that is what puts Vancouver to the top of the Podium (IMHO, even more so than other higher placed European cities - tolerance being key).

For example, if you need help with opening a door, get into an accident (and need a witness), or plain help, a lot of Vancouverites will help you.

[asian_XL]

^ you live in Richmond and think people are nice there? lol

[MG1]

Aside from what you see in certain restaurants and shopping centres, Richmond has plenty of nice people. Steveston is an awesome place, for example, so are a lot of other communities in Richmond.

[Spoon]

For example, if you need help with opening a door, get into an accident (and need a witness), or plain help, a lot of Vancouverites will help you.

9 out of 10 times, they sure as hell aren't Asians :yuno:

[MG1]

9 out of 10 times, they sure as hell aren't Asians :yuno:

Which is why I go out of my way to do this when at places like Aberdeen. Get the weirdest look like they have never seen it happen. One day, it will sink in if they see it enough times - one can only hope, right?

Little things make a difference. Like saying, "Thank you," after receiving free samples at Costco. In the Bellingham Costco, the amount of thank you's I hear is nowhere near the frequency of that at let's say the Still Creek Costco in Burnaby. Mind you, the people at Bellingham Costco butt in to get their sample even though there is a line up.......... no worse than asian ladies taking three, four samples at the Richmond Costco saying it's for their invisible family, I guess.

I refuse to let go of something as basic as good manners. Let's not complain but teach these people what good manners is about. Smile, and under your breath, say god bless when you see bad manners, lol.

[Hondaracer]

If I won the lottomax this would still be my home, so yea, to me it is

[european]

It's called beautiful British Columbia for a reason.

[westopher]

If I won the lottomax this would still be my home, so yea, to me it is
Yep. Thats how you know its the best place for you, if you know you had no boundaries keeping you but still would stay.
I live here by choice. If I really wanted to, theres a way to get anywhere, but this is perfect for me. The only other place would be Cali, climate, and culture wise that fits for me so well, but then you deal with the bullshit of american politics, so no thanks.

[Jmac]

Best place to live depends on so many variables unique to each individual. Still nice to be considered amingst the best metropolitan areas, though.

[JesseBlue]

I noticed that "beautiful british columbia" is getting very dirty. I'm so annoyed with tha amount of trash that you see on the streets and empty lots.

[zilley]

I noticed that "beautiful british columbia" is getting very dirty. I'm so annoyed with tha amount of trash that you see on the streets and empty lots.

trust me.. its still beautiful bc when you compare it to seattle.

I never understood why it was called beautiful bc until I went to seattle.

[asian_XL]

Other than the porn and the food, nothing great about Tokyo
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2013/03/Tokyo-small-apartment-shibuya-1.jpg

Shanghai apartment and enjoy the smog
http://www.deconcrete.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shanghai-362-Longchang-Road.jpg

Taiwan apartment, pretty much the best living environment and quality
http://cdn.homedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Cloud-Pen-Studio-apartment-overall.jpg

Seoul apartment, not too bad
http://humble-homes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-White-Cone-House-Small-Apartments-Apparat-C-Seoul-Kitchen-Humble-Homes.jpg

Where people live in Hong Kong
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/13/article-2558403-1B72CEB300000578-155_964x633.jpg

What an apartment looks like in Vancouver
http://www.dunowen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/apartments-for-rent-vancouver-furnished-2-bedroom.jpg

[geeknerd]

To non-residents that ask, I've always said that Vancouver is a great place to live when you're older and/or have money.

[ilovebacon]

seriously, that cant be a person bed in that hong kong picture..

[Ch28]

seriously, that cant be a person bed in that hong kong picture..

It's real

[boostfever]

seriously, that cant be a person bed in that hong kong picture..

Very sad indeed :(

Hong Kong's cage homes: Tens of thousands living in 6ft by 2ft rabbit hutches | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084971/Hong-Kongs-cage-homes-Tens-thousands-living-6ft-2ft-rabbit-hutches.html)

[Spoon]

It's real

Yea, you can certainly rent a Vancouver condo for the same amount as one of those cages (US$200). :drunk:

[unit]

these comparisons are silly... all those cities above have good and bad, just like we do. showing a nice clean condo in seoul has nothing to do with the city at all.
why even bother caring where is the best overall city? everybodys criteria is different.

some things however affect everybody such as air quality, weather, affordability, human rights, social development, etc...

we dont have it best in each category but not many places do... theres no utopia in this world.

[GS8]

It's a city....

It's what YOU make of it based on YOUR life decisions. That's it.

These lists are fucktarded

[Ronin]

Pbbbbt...yeah, let's compare a Coal Habour apartment to what is basically Hong Kong's equivalent of the DTES, why don't you...

Tokyo would be my pick. I love snowboarding and such too but Vancouver is pretty boring in comparison. I like that there are lots of people and places and stuff to do and see in Tokyo. Tons of nooks and crannies to explore. Vancouver is too new of a place to be interesting.

[Stormspirit]

The richer you are, the better your environment in any city.

[westopher]

Other than the porn and the food, nothing great about Tokyo
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2013/03/Tokyo-small-apartment-shibuya-1.jpg

Shanghai apartment and enjoy the smog
http://www.deconcrete.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shanghai-362-Longchang-Road.jpg

Taiwan apartment, pretty much the best living environment and quality
http://cdn.homedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Cloud-Pen-Studio-apartment-overall.jpg

Seoul apartment, not too bad
http://humble-homes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-White-Cone-House-Small-Apartments-Apparat-C-Seoul-Kitchen-Humble-Homes.jpg

Where people live in Hong Kong
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/13/article-2558403-1B72CEB300000578-155_964x633.jpg

What an apartment looks like in Vancouver
http://www.dunowen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/apartments-for-rent-vancouver-furnished-2-bedroom.jpg
Everything about this post is retarded, but the part not spoilered takes the cake. Blurred out pussies with giant muffs and squids shoved in assholes is not awesome.

[Timpo]

OK here are some contradictions to Vancouver's livability.

Vancouver has the worst traffic jam in North America
TomTom Traffic Index (http://www.tomtom.com/en_us/trafficindex/#/list)

Research shows Vancouver is least satisfying place to live.
How’s Life in the City? Life Satisfaction Across Census Metropolitan Areas and Economic Regions in Canada (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-626-x/11-626-x2015046-eng.htm)

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-626-x/2015046/c-g/c-g01-eng.gif

[asian_XL]

Everything about this post is retarded, but the part not spoilered takes the cake. Blurred out pussies with giant muffs and squids shoved in assholes is not awesome.

There are always good reasons Vancouver is ranked high among other cities, and you can see why so many immigrants from all over the world moving to Vancouver. My family moved to Vancouver with the same reason, it is better than where we lived.

The pictures are indeed quite exaggerated, but the living environment is not unreal in these cities. For other RSers, it is Captain Obvious, just that Timpo is not quite sure what the world is like.

Of course Vancouver is not perfect, just like young people tend to leave somewhere else to make big buck, but in general Vancouver is a great place to live in terms of quality.

[westopher]

You didn't acknowledge how fucked up Japanese porn is however.

[Hondaracer]

Grind out a day at the factory and then get back in your bunny cage!