[privacypoller]

The cost of living between Vancouver and Seattle is very comparable, especially when you account for your biggest input costs, housing, food & transportation. The Salaries most definitely are not. The biggies south of the border set the baseline salary for everyone; when they move north they match the existing, much lower rates.

If I was a new-ish grad and wanted to stay in the PNW there's not a chance I'd pick Vancouver. Seattle has all the same electric cars, dog bakeries and yarn stores that you'll find in the lower mainland, and heading to Whistler for the weekend with more US greenbacks in your pocket would be a lot more fun...

[hluska]

I can't believe how much Vancouver has changed (as far as attractiveness for recent grads) over the last twenty years.

When I turned 20 in 1997, Vancouver seemed like a personal version of heaven. Rents were more expensive than where I'm from, but that increase was easily offset by the ability to easily double my salary. Real estate was heavy, but not so heavy that it seemed unobtainable. Add in what I perceived to be real opportunity to work in an interesting field, a highly educated workforce and the natural beauty and I was completely sold.

Today, even if I were twenty again, I can't think of a single legitimate reason why I would choose Vancouver over Seattle.

[woolvalley]

Having lived in both, the cities are pretty much identical in practice in your day to day life, not counting the costs and the income.

[seanmcdirmid]

Eating out is definitely better in Vancouver than Seattle, both in variety and price. However, that’s about it.