British Columbia is an amazing province in Canada, offering residents and visitors alike lots to do. The province is Canada’s westernmost, being located in the Pacific Northwest region. Since British Columbia has so much to offer, it is often considered an amazing retirement destination.
However before you begin your retirement planning and start looking for Vancouver homes for sale, you should start looking into some of the many features of the region. So what are the biggest pros and cons of retiring in British Columbia? Let’s take a closer look.
Climate
One of the main draws of retiring in British Columbia is the province’s amazing climate. Due to British Columbia’s location in the Pacific Northwest, the province enjoys a relatively mild climate. Winters aren’t extremely cold, especially compared to other parts of Canada.
Additionally, summers will never get extremely hot, with temperatures usually never reaching uncomfortable levels. The mild climate of British Columbia is perfect for retirees looking to avoid the extreme temperatures that some other locations may have to deal with.
Scenery
Another major positive of British Columbia is the abundance of amazing scenery and natural areas. Vancouver is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in some stunning oceanside views and offering the potential of beach trips. The Rocky Mountains are also relatively close by, meaning the area is perfect for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Additionally, the area is home to many beautiful forests, allowing you to get even closer to nature. If you’re a nature lover and want to spend your retirement exploring it, British Columbia may be the perfect place for you.
Cost of Living
A big con of living in British Columbia is the high cost of living. British Columbia is among Canada’s most expensive provinces to live in, meaning you’ll have to pay a lot of money to live there. Not only does British Columbia have some of the highest-priced real estate in the country, but it also has a slew of provincial taxes that other regions don’t have to deal with.
All of these costs add up, meaning you may have to stretch your retirement funds to make living in British Columbia work. The area is amazing, but not everybody has the ability to retire in such a nice area.
Entertainment
Although British Columbia is home to a variety of great natural areas and hiking grounds, it doesn’t have many other unique entertainment aspects. Although nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts might have plenty to do, retirees that don’t like the outdoors or are too old for outdoor activities may be bored.
Vancouver may have the common entertainment options cities have, but that’s only one area of British Columbia. In smaller cities and rural areas, you may have trouble finding other sources of entertainment. As a result, if you’re a retiree that doesn’t like activities like hiking and biking, then you may want to retire in another location if you want to be entertained.
