Burnaby, BC
About
Burnaby, a vibrant city in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, offers residents a unique blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. Known for its strategic location adjacent to Vancouver, Burnaby has emerged as one of Metro Vancouver's most important regional centers, combining economic opportunity, educational excellence, and exceptional quality of life.
Recognized as one of Canada's most competitive and innovative cities, Burnaby earned the title of "Best Run City in Canada" from Maclean's Magazine. The city's economic development vision focuses on diversity, job creation, quality employment, and sustainable growth. Its diverse economy encompasses multiple thriving sectors, including information technology, wireless communication, biotechnology, life sciences, film production, digital media, education, environmental technologies, professional services, and light manufacturing.
Market Statistics
Property Average Price: $1,558,689 CAD
Median House Price: $1,869,933.00 CAD (+1.1% monthly growth)
Median Apartment Price: $1,006,887.00 CAD (+0.8% monthly growth)
Burnaby East Benchmark Price: $1,638,127.87 CAD (+0.9%)
Burnaby North Benchmark Price: $1,411,349.60 CAD (-1.2%)
Burnaby South Benchmark Price: $1,605,970.00 CAD (-0.5%)
Single-Family Detached (North): $2,998,984.41 CAD(-2.9%)
Single-Family Detached (South): $3,174,707.09 CAD (-2.1%)
History & Culture
Burnaby's cultural landscape reflects its evolution from a suburban community to a diverse urban center. The city preserves its heritage through sites like the Burnaby Village Museum, which attracts over 143,000 visitors annually and ranks as one of just three tourist destinations in the top twelve Greater Vancouver attractions located outside Vancouver proper.
The city boasts an impressive cultural precinct featuring a 10,000-seat natural amphitheater, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, and the Burnaby Art Gallery, creating a centralized hub for artistic expression and community gatherings. Annual events like Hat's Off Day in the Heights neighborhood draw approximately 40,000 attendees, showcasing the city's strong community spirit and cultural engagement.
Today's Burnaby is characterized by exceptional diversity, with multicultural influences evident throughout the city's neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural institutions. This diversity enriches the community fabric and contributes to the city's distinctive character within Metro Vancouver.
Climate
While the search results don't contain specific climate data for Burnaby, the city shares Metro Vancouver's temperate oceanic climate, characterized by mild, wet winters and moderately warm, relatively dry summers. Burnaby's geography, nestled between mountains and water, creates microclimates throughout the city, with neighborhoods at higher elevations like Burnaby Mountain experiencing slightly different weather patterns than those in lower-lying areas.
Cost of Living
Burnaby ranks as one of Canada's more expensive cities, with the average monthly expenses for a single person totaling $3,598 CAD, positioning it in the top 9% of the most expensive cities globally. This places Burnaby as the most expensive city in British Columbia and Canada according to some cost of living indices.
Monthly utility costs average $105 CAD for a single person and $163 CAD for a family, while internet service (50+ Mbps) typically costs $80 CAD per month. Transportation expenses include $3.52 CAD for a single transit ticket or $104.90 CAD for a monthly transit pass.
Despite these costs, Burnaby ranks exceptionally well for quality of life (90/100), positioning it as the 10th best city to live in Canada and 4th most livable city in British Columbia. The median after-tax salary of $4,329 CAD covers living expenses for approximately 1.2 months.
Commute Time
Burnaby benefits from an extensive transportation network that connects residents both within the city and throughout Metro Vancouver. The public transit system includes buses, the SkyTrain rapid transit system, and connections to regional rail services, providing multiple options for commuters and residents.
A significant transportation development was the recent opening of the Capstan Canada Line Station in December 2024, enhancing transit accessibility in Burnaby's growing neighborhoods. The city's transportation planning emphasizes sustainable mobility, with comprehensive cycling networks and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
For drivers, Burnaby offers relatively good accessibility to major highways, including Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and Highway 99, though peak-hour congestion can be significant on major routes. Gas prices average around $1.86 CAD per liter, while a typical 8 km taxi ride costs approximately $20.23 CAD.
Schools
Burnaby School District 41 stands as one of British Columbia's largest school districts, serving a student population of over 23,500 across 41 elementary schools and 8 secondary schools. The district offers diverse educational programs including French Immersion, Advanced Placement, Learning Through the Arts, International Education, specialized sports academies, alternative education, and continuing education options.
The district has consistently maintained high school completion rates significantly above the provincial average, reflecting the quality of education available to Burnaby residents. Beyond K-12 education, Burnaby hosts two prestigious post-secondary institutions: Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), both offering world-class programs across multiple disciplines.
This educational ecosystem, from elementary through post-secondary levels, creates an environment that values learning and contributes to the city's economic vitality and community well-being.
Activities
Cost of Living Comparison
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Burnaby Cost
Canadian Average
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Report Card
Hear from our clients
“Buying your first home can be a very daunting task especially in today's market. But with Richard's help it was easy. I work approx. 50-60 hours a week and my wife was working 2 jobs and he worked around our busy schedule and met with us where ever was easiest for us. Richard is very knowledgeable. He had an answer for every question we had and was very quick to respond to messages/emails. You can tell that he's passionate about what he does.
We were in the market for a few months and with a little luck mixed with Richard quick work we were able to secure a beautiful home somehow for just under for just under asking. I am very thankful for him helping us start this new chapter in our lives”
“Had an amazing experience having Richard as my realtor. He provided me with an experience that felt personal and helped me get something that best suited my needs. He was very professional and thorough with his research. I highly recommend him.”
“if you want an honest and extremely hard working realtor, definitely choose Richard. We started looking months before we were ready, advised by him which I think also helped encourage us to get more ready, and then when we were ready we knew what we were looking for and how to get it!
Also my partner and I closed on our place in the most inconvenient time, which was during Richard’s honeymoon. Ideally we didn’t have any issues but of course that is never the case and something came up with the seller and Richard was still able to get everything sorted from a different country! I don’t know how many realtors would do that or just pass you to someone else!”
“Richard helped us find our first home!! We were able to get everything we were looking for in a presale townhouse in the Port Moody area. Richard was prompt, professional, and proactive, walking us through every step of the process.”
Do you have any question?
What transportation options are available in Burnaby and how can I get around the city?
Burnaby has 11 SkyTrain stations, frequent TransLink bus service, major highways, bike routes, taxis, and car rental options for easy transportation.
What is the weather like in Burnaby throughout the year?
Burnaby has a temperate climate with rainy winters, occasional mountain snowfall, and warm, breezy summers ideal for outdoor activities.
What educational opportunities are available in Burnaby?
Burnaby School District offers strong academic programs, international student support, and homestay options in collaboration with Langara College.
What are Burnaby's City Hall hours and how can I contact different city departments?
City Hall operates weekdays with varying hours, and residents can contact departments like Engineering (604-294-7460) or after-hours services (604-294-7200).
What is Burnaby's location and size relative to Vancouver?
Burnaby is Metro Vancouver’s third-largest city, just 12-14 km from downtown Vancouver, with transit options making the commute 16-42 minutes.
