‘Food sucks here’: Seattle residents compare their city to Vancouver

Though the number of Canadian travellers to the United States continues to drastically drop, one Vancouverite planning a move to Seattle reached out to the city’s residents to find out what he may be in store for.

The question was asked in a Seattle subreddit, with the Canadian explaining that they expected little to no change in lifestyle because “Seattle is the American Vancouver.”

However, in a discussion covering topics like public transit, housing, and even cuisine, Seattleite revealed more differences than first seen on the surface.

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The cost of living was a major point that came up.

“Way more affordable in most cases due to higher earning power and lack of the completely screwed Canadian housing market,” said one commenter.

“This is a big part of my decision. I was mesmerized by how ‘cheap’ the real estate is,” said the original poster.

According to RentCafe, the average rent for a Seattle apartment is $2,232. In Vancouver, the average rent for an apartment is currently $3,199, according to Zumper.

“The myriad charts showing the collapse of Canadian disposable income growth versus house price growth live rent-free in my head,” said another Seattle resident. “Lots of causes of course, but the affordability gap is astounding and you all sure have reaped the whirlwind.”

One thing that everyone seemed to agree on was the fact that Vancouver has better transit.

“Vancouver has muuuuch better transit,” claimed one user. “I love Seattle but Vancouver is kind of better in every way.

“The SkyTrain is significantly more useful, efficient, cleaner, and nicer than the Link light rail,” added another.

Food was another big conversation piece, with Seattleites agreeing that food across the border was much better than in the Emerald City.

“Food sucks here,” said one Seattle resident succinctly.

“Coffee, takeout food, restaurant food, and food in general are all more expensive in Seattle than in Vancouver.

However, one resident said all was not lost when it comes to finding good eats in Seattle

“It for sure takes some time and communication to learn where the good food places and markets are at. Yelp can be helpful, but talking to the store workers and restaurant employees about their own favorite other places will help you find some real gems,” they shared.

Nightlife comparisons between the two cities also cropped up in the online discussion.

“Vancouver has a more vibrant city centre due to the number of businesses and residences present; downtown Seattle is a ghost town in many places by comparison.”

The big question that Seattle residents had for their Canadian neighbour was why they were planning a move to America with all of the tension between the two countries.

“Why would you want to move to the U.S. now,” asked a commenter. “This place is going down the toilet since inauguration day.”

“My salary has more than tripled,” the original poster responded. “Canadians don’t get paid well, unfortunately. Otherwise it’s obvious to stay in Canada.”

How would you compare the two cities? If you’re a Vancouver resident who has been to Seattle, what are the biggest differences between the two cities? Let us know in the comments.