Seattle vs Vancouver

[American2020]

What are the similarities and differences between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, British Columbia ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F4Kqek6Aa4

[Crumpets]

So, I haven't watched the whole video - only the first few minutes. But I'm from Seattle and lived there for about 24 years, and I've been to Vancouver probably 30-50 times between 1995 and 2019, so these are my observations:

Similarities:

Culturally, I think Vancouver is the closest city to Seattle of anywhere I've been. Portland is obviously a strong contender, but I'd put Vancouver above it, mostly just due to the fact that Portland just feels like a smaller city than both in my opinion.

The video goes over the obvious geographic similarities. The only major geographic difference I can think of between the two is that the mountains come right into metro Vancouver, while Seattle has its mountains farther away. However, Mount Rainier is so dominant in Seattle that it's basically a cultural icon of the city in and of itself.

There are even some completely random things the two cities have in common, such as the fact that both have grided street plans, but have their downtown streets at angles in contrast to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Some differences:

Both cities are going through periods of major growth, but Vancouver has almost completely transformed its skyline in the last 30 years, driven largely by residential buildings. Seattle has condos, but they are far less dominant as part of the city.

Vancouver's suburbs have grown insanely in recent years. Seattle's have too, but still feel pretty suburban. Some of the Vancouver suburbs like Burnaby, Coquitlam, and Surrey, despite being relatively unknown outside of Canada, would be pretty major metropolises even without Vancouver, with much of their growth coming in just the last couple of decades. Bellevue has a similar dynamic around Seattle, but it's really the only one.

The video notes that Vancouver is more diverse than Seattle, and I think it's pretty noticeable. When you drive into Vancouver from the South, you pass by three large different non-Christian houses of worship within just a few blocks. You hear Bollywood on the radio, and there are street signs, not only in Asian languages, but in native languages as well. Seattle kind of has this in the International District, but not much elsewhere.

[brucejoel99]

Pay is higher in Seattle; there are way more big corporations in Seattle so there's much more room for career growth; income taxes in Seattle are way lower due to there being no state tax; rentals are slightly cheaper in Vancouver, renters' rights are much stronger in Vancouver; housing prices are lower in Seattle, but there's extremely little inventory; property taxes are much higher in Seattle; groceries are more expensive in Seattle (mostly because organics are the norm); eating out is much more expensive in Seattle; hard alcohol costs slightly less in Seattle, while beer is noticeably cheaper in Seattle & wine is nearly half the price of Vancouver; transit is better in Vancouver; Seattle has better drivers, but they don't signal; Seattle's bike share is far better; Seattle is dirty & older, although that's quickly changing; Seattle has a more vibrant entertainment scene; Vancouver has a much better airport, but you pay for it; Vancouver has closer & better skiing; Seattle has the NFL; Vancouver has NHL (Seattle won't until 2021).

[YE]

Pay is higher in Seattle; there are way more big corporations in Seattle so there's much more room for career growth; income taxes in Seattle are way lower due to there being no state tax; rentals are slightly cheaper in Vancouver, renters' rights are much stronger in Vancouver; housing prices are lower in Seattle, but there's extremely little inventory; property taxes are much higher in Seattle; groceries are more expensive in Seattle (mostly because organics are the norm); eating out is much more expensive in Seattle; hard alcohol costs slightly less in Seattle, while beer is noticeably cheaper in Seattle & wine is nearly half the price of Vancouver; transit is better in Vancouver; Seattle has better drivers, but they don't signal; Seattle's bike share is far better; Seattle is dirty & older, although that's quickly changing; Seattle has a more vibrant entertainment scene; Vancouver has a much better airport, but you pay for it; Vancouver has closer & better skiing; Seattle has the NFL; Vancouver has NHL (Seattle won't until 2021).

More semicolons please.

[Dr. MB]

I've been to Seattle many times and to Vancouver only once, but I'd say Vancouver edges it out a little. Vancouver's prettier.

[brucejoel99]

Pay is higher in Seattle; there are way more big corporations in Seattle so there's much more room for career growth; income taxes in Seattle are way lower due to there being no state tax; rentals are slightly cheaper in Vancouver, renters' rights are much stronger in Vancouver; housing prices are lower in Seattle, but there's extremely little inventory; property taxes are much higher in Seattle; groceries are more expensive in Seattle (mostly because organics are the norm); eating out is much more expensive in Seattle; hard alcohol costs slightly less in Seattle, while beer is noticeably cheaper in Seattle & wine is nearly half the price of Vancouver; transit is better in Vancouver; Seattle has better drivers, but they don't signal; Seattle's bike share is far better; Seattle is dirty & older, although that's quickly changing; Seattle has a more vibrant entertainment scene; Vancouver has a much better airport, but you pay for it; Vancouver has closer & better skiing; Seattle has the NFL; Vancouver has NHL (Seattle won't until 2021).

More semicolons please.

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[T'Chenka]

You can't drive around with a gun in Vancouver, with few exceptions that are rarely taken advantage of.

[Santander]

I spend lots of time in both for business. While both have natural beauty in close proximity, I think Vancouver has better geography and is more beautiful. Vancouver is far more cosmopolitan than Seattle. Seattle is probably the better place to live if you have to work for a living, as there are actual jobs and house prices aren't so psycho. Seattle also dies off less at night. The great irony of Vancouver is there are no real major industries, and its growth has been fueled entirely by people who move there for (outdoor) lifestyle reasons or immigrants who want to be around people like them (Chinese/Indian).

Culturally, both cities are sh**t.

[Badger]

Culturally, both cities are sh**t.

[TDAS04]

The PNW is my favorite region of the globe.  I've been to Seattle, liked it a lot.  While I've not been to Vancouver, I'm sure it's wonderful.  I have been to Victoria, BC, and I fell in love with it instantly.

After looking at the demographic statistics of the two cities, Seattle is obviously whiter than Vancouver.  To play devils advocate, though, I wonder if it can be argued that Seattle is more diverse since most of Vancouver's non-whites are Chinese or Indian, while Seattle has considerably more blacks and Hispanics, and the Asians come from more varied nationalities.

[Lechasseur]

Vancouver

[OBD]

Both cities have significant Asian communities, though Vancouver's (Richmond) is definitely more coalesced than Seattle's (and Portland's for that matter). Personally, I prefer Vancouver, it's more scenic and seems less chaotic than Seattle.

[Del Tachi]

Vancouver is what Seattle would be if Seattle was also Los Angeles

[Lechasseur]

Vancouver is what Seattle would be if Seattle was also Los Angeles

Meaning?