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East Coast vs West Coast Canada | Which is Right for You?

Newfoundland Labrador is a beautiful province.

Canada has a lot to offer those who call it home. From rolling mountain ranges, beautiful flat-lands, gorgeous islands, andsome of the biggest and most vibrant cities in the world. If you happen to be a fan of the life aquatic, or are just thinking ofmoving to one of Canada’s coasts, it can be difficult deciding whether to move to the East coast vs West coast of theworld’s second largest land mass.

Before you make the move though, there are a few things you need to consider.

The cost.

Although the West coast is a beautiful place to live, it’s important to first make sure that you can afford it. The beautifulocean view on Canada’s West side comes with a hefty price tag. Housing, amenities, food, you name it, cost more therethan they do on the East coast. For example, housing in St. John’s is almost 65% less expensive than in Vancouver, andboth are in provinces near the ocean. Make sure, wherever you decide to end up, that you budget yourself accordinglyfirst.

The vibe.

Although the West and East coast both have living by an ocean in common, the vibe is incredibly different between thetwo of them. The West coast, Vancouver to be more specific, feels a lot like the Canadian equivalent of California. Thevibe is one that focuses on a healthy lifestyle, green living, and appreciating culture. Vancouver is known for their love of

arts and entertainment, cultural appreciation and celebration.

The East coast, on the other hand, feels a lot like the Canadian equivalent of Maine. The Maritime provinces, regardlessof which city you’re in, have that fishing town feel to them. Although they also encourage a healthy lifestyle, it’s less aboutpower shakes and running up hills, and more about keeping fit and living by the ocean.

The culture.

The West coast is heavily influenced by Native American, East Asian, and Indian culture. Native American culture has alsogreatly impacted the West coast, both in their traditions and art. The mix has made British Columbia one of the trendiest,most culturally diverse places in Canada, and is a large part of why people look to move to that end of the country.

The East coast, by comparison, has a heavily Celtic cultural influence as well as even some Scandinavian. The closer tomainland Canada you get, the more French culture becomes an influence as well thanks to Quebec. Newfoundland andNew Brunswick are heavily French speaking as well, and are known for being fully bilingual.

The weather.

Although Canada is generally colder than other countries around, not all coasts are created equal. The West coastgenerally tends to have a warmer climate, longer summers, and more rain than anywhere else in the country. Althoughthey do still get snow, their winters are mostly made of harsh rainfall.

The East coast, on the other hand, is colder. They get heavy winds, heavy snow, glacier temperatures and shortersummers. Although the climate in the Maritimes can be a harsh one, they still don’t get as much snow as some of the otherprovinces and have a beautiful Atlantic view to make up for it.

The food.

While this might be a trivial aspect of living on either the West or East coast, it’s important for a foodie to know whatthey’re getting into before they switch homes.

One of the great things about the West coast is their close proximity to the prairies. Thanks to their location, they’re able toimport incredible Alberta beef to compliment the locally grown produce they’re able to farm during their summers. Again,thanks to their focus on healthy living much of what they eat is local and organic. Their restaurants focus more on theartisanal and clean way to eat, as opposed to the rich and decadent foods found across the country.

Thanks so to the East coast’s Maritime and fishing focus, much of the food is seafood based. Fresh lobster, fish, crab, anda host of other ocean bound delicacies, the East coast is the place to be if you’re a seafood aficionado. Although B.C. isknown for their salmon, the East really can’t be beat when it comes to fresh catches.

Although both the West and East coast of Canada have their own unique charms, it’s important to weigh the pros andcons of each when deciding which side of the country you’re looking to make the move to.

The splendour of the West Coast

However, if you’ve made up your mind then be sure to try Navut’s neighbourhood finderto help choose the right home for you.

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