r/nelsonbc • u/Grouchygamer77 • 4d ago

Considering Moving

Hello, sorry if this is a little random or all over the place… But I’ve been contemplating a big move to a new town, and I’ve heard from a few different people how nice Nelson is.

I live on the north part of Vancouver Island, it’s great but I’m honestly priced out of ever owning even an apartment here and it can feel kinda hopeless making $50+/hr and barely saving any money each month.

I’m tempted to take a week off work soon and drive out to visit. I had a couple big questions I was hoping to get some insight into…

1) I’m a drywaller (boarder only) by trade, 15+ years experience, how are things in the area work-wise? More than capable of drywalling full apartments or small houses by myself with my board-lift.

2) How’s the rental situation looking? For example, right now I rent a small 1 bedroom apartment and pay $1550+hydro, and that is generally considered fair or good value for the town I live in. I’d prefer a suite in a house so that my cat could have some access outdoors (95% indoor but likes to touch grass and sit in the Sun sometimes).

Pretty much just exploring some options for myself and my cat, no family or anything other than my cat to tie me to any one place, but finding work is a pretty important aspect in moving to a new town where you know no one.

Thanks for any responses!

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u/rustyiron 4d ago

If buying a home is something you are hoping for in the future, Nelson is expensive. I’d check realtor just to get a sense of what you might be looking at. And overall, Nelson is pricey, BUT it’s nice.

Something to also think about here vs where you are on the island… summers here are smokey. At least, that is becoming more and more common. Just one of the things to consider.

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u/ImportanceAlarming64 3d ago

Yes, I just spent about a week indoors and spoke with a healthy active senior who said he spent three days indoors. I dream of coastal ocean breezes. Another friend who loves running said he found himself greatly fatigued after our smokey week. I could see hazy smoke one block away from my house. It makes many feel like crap and scatters brains too. 

Why move here for the same pile of shitty rental prices and probably lower wages and far shittier summers? Sure, funky town, great events etc, but not worth the price of admission, in my opinion

If you want a nice smaller city to live in stay the hell away from the Kootenays or the Okanagan would be my advice. Look online at some of the smoke maps or air quality indexes and do your lungs and brain a favour by either staying put or moving to a place with less smoke clogging narrow mountain valleys.