The transit-connected middle city — SFU on the mountain, Metrotown in the middle, and the best-priced SkyTrain access in Metro Vancouver.
Living in Burnaby
Burnaby is the third-largest city in British Columbia and arguably the most strategically located. Sitting directly east of Vancouver, it's served by both the Expo Line and the Millennium Line SkyTrain — more transit stations than any Metro Vancouver city except Vancouver itself. On one end of the city, Simon Fraser University sits on top of Burnaby Mountain with a 360-degree view of the Lower Mainland. In the middle, Metropolis at Metrotown is the largest shopping centre in Western Canada, surrounded by one of the densest residential districts in the region. On the other end, BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) trains tens of thousands of students a year in applied trades and technology.
For newcomers, Burnaby is the pragmatic middle ground. A one-bedroom apartment costs roughly 15% less than the equivalent in downtown Vancouver, while commute times to downtown are shorter than from Surrey or Richmond. The schools are strong (Burnaby School District is one of the better-performing public systems in BC). The population is diverse but not concentrated in any one community — about half are foreign-born, with significant Chinese, Korean, Persian, Filipino, and South Asian communities. You won't find the singular identity of Richmond's Chinese concentration or Surrey's Punjabi-speaking majority, but you'll find almost everything else.
The city also quietly has some of the best green space per capita of any major Metro Vancouver city. Central Park (the one in Burnaby, not New York) is an 80-hectare urban forest immediately next to Metrotown station. Deer Lake, Burnaby Lake, and Burnaby Mountain together give residents a rare combination of dense urban living and easy access to forest and water. If you're the kind of newcomer who values walkable transit, decent rent, good schools, and a quiet forest within 10 minutes of your apartment, Burnaby is probably your answer.
Where to live
Burnaby's downtown — three SkyTrain stations, the largest mall in Western Canada, and dense high-rise living right on the Expo Line.
North Burnaby's new downtown — the Amazing Brentwood towers, the Millennium Line, and the fastest-changing neighbourhood in the region.
East Burnaby's transit interchange — where the Expo and Millennium lines meet, with a brand-new master-planned district rising around it.
The old-Burnaby main street along Hastings — heritage commercial strip, Persian bakeries, and the best views south of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Rankings
Same neighbourhoods, three different questions. Pick the ranking that matches what matters to you — and we'll tell you which Burnaby neighbourhood comes out on top, and why.
Discover
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viewpointSimon Fraser University sits on top of Burnaby Mountain — a brutalist concrete campus with 360° views of Metro Vancouver and the North Shore.
parkA 140-hectare park with a swimmable lake, rowboat rentals, the Burnaby Village Museum, and a stage that hosts free summer concerts.
park80 hectares of mature urban forest and meadows directly next to Metrotown SkyTrain station — Burnaby's own Stanley Park.
museumA restored 1920s streetcar village with a working carousel, costumed interpreters, and free admission — the best family day out in Burnaby.
parkA 300-hectare regional park around a shallow natural lake, with a boardwalk network, bird-watching, and Burnaby's quietest forest trails.
Services in Burnaby
Local price ranges for the most-searched home services. Community submissions + researched quotes, updated regularly.
Food in Burnaby
Getting around
Burnaby is served by both the Expo Line (running through the south of the city via Patterson, Metrotown, Royal Oak, and Edmonds) and the Millennium Line (running through the north via Gilmore, Brentwood, Holdom, Sperling, Lake City, Production Way, and the Lougheed interchange). More SkyTrain stations than any Metro Vancouver city except Vancouver itself. Beyond SkyTrain, the 144 Metrotown-SFU bus and 145 Production Way-SFU bus provide the main connection to Simon Fraser University on top of Burnaby Mountain. The city is split between Zone 1 (west Burnaby, roughly everything west of Willingdon or Edmonds) and Zone 2 (east Burnaby, including Lougheed and the SFU connection), so most commuters need 2-zone monthly passes.
Patterson · Metrotown · Royal Oak · Edmonds · Brentwood Town Centre · Gilmore · Holdom · Sperling–Burnaby Lake · Lake City Way · Production Way–University · Lougheed Town Centre
Schools & health
Burnaby School District (SD 41) is one of the stronger public school districts in Metro Vancouver, consistently performing above the provincial average in both elementary and secondary grades. The district is home to Burnaby North Secondary and Burnaby Mountain Secondary, both of which rank well in BC provincial rankings. Burnaby also hosts Simon Fraser University — British Columbia's second-largest research university — on top of Burnaby Mountain, and BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology), the province's main applied trades and technology school, in the southwest corner of the city. Primary healthcare is delivered through Fraser Health, with Burnaby Hospital as the main acute care facility.
Weather & seasons
Burnaby's climate is essentially the same as Vancouver's — mild, wet winters and warm dry summers. The city is slightly warmer in summer than Vancouver proper because it's further inland, and the upper elevations of Burnaby Mountain are noticeably cooler and windier than the lower neighbourhoods. Snow is uncommon and usually melts within a day, but Burnaby Mountain gets snow more often than Vancouver because of its 283-metre elevation.
May through September is the best window — warm, dry, and all the outdoor attractions (Deer Lake swimming, Burnaby Mountain hiking, Central Park) are at their best. The Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival at Deer Lake Park in early August is a free summer highlight. December is the other peak — the Heritage Christmas display at the Burnaby Village Museum is one of the best in the region.
From YVR airport, take the Canada Line SkyTrain to Bridgeport Station and transfer to the 430 bus or continue to Waterfront and transfer to the Expo Line. Direct transit time to Metrotown is about 45–55 minutes. A taxi or ride-share from YVR to Metrotown runs $40–55 depending on traffic.
The Peace Arch border crossing is about 50 minutes south of Burnaby via Highway 99 and Highway 1. Amtrak Cascades from Seattle stops at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, about 25 minutes from Burnaby on the Expo Line.
Common questions
Yes — noticeably, though less dramatically than Surrey. CMHC's 2023 data puts a Burnaby two-bedroom purpose-built rental at $2,062 vs Vancouver's $2,181. On the secondary market the gap is typically $300–500 per month in favour of Burnaby for equivalent units. The biggest savings are outside the Metrotown and Brentwood cores — Edmonds, Lougheed, and Burnaby Heights have some of the best-value rental buildings in Metro Vancouver.
From Metrotown station to Waterfront is about 25 minutes on the Expo Line. From Brentwood Town Centre to Waterfront is about 20 minutes via the Millennium Line and a transfer at Commercial–Broadway. Driving during rush hour is variable, typically 30–45 minutes depending on the route and traffic.
Burnaby is genuinely the best place to live in Metro Vancouver if you're studying at SFU or BCIT. SFU has on-campus housing at UniverCity on top of Burnaby Mountain, and Lougheed Town Centre is the cheapest off-campus neighbourhood with direct bus access to the university. For BCIT students, the Edmonds and Brentwood areas are well-connected and have abundant rental stock.
Metrotown is older, denser, more established, and centred on the Metropolis shopping mall on the Expo Line. Brentwood is newer, still under construction, centred on the Amazing Brentwood development on the Millennium Line, and has a more modern master-planned feel. Metrotown is better for commuting to downtown Vancouver; Brentwood is better if you want new construction and don't mind being under construction for a few more years.
Yes — the views alone are worth the trip. SFU's brutalist campus is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in British Columbia, and the free 145 bus from Production Way-University SkyTrain station runs directly to the summit every 10 minutes. Sunset from the Centennial Rose Garden at the top is one of the best views in Metro Vancouver.
Metrotown and Crystal Mall have the best and most affordable Chinese food scene outside of Richmond. North Burnaby (along Hastings Street in Burnaby Heights) has the largest Persian and Italian food scene in Metro Vancouver. Brentwood has newer, trendier restaurants aimed at the young-professional condo market. For day-to-day food diversity, Metrotown wins by volume.
If you live near a SkyTrain station (Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed, Production Way, Edmonds) you can comfortably live without one. If you live in the suburban parts of South Burnaby, Government Road, or Capitol Hill in North Burnaby, a car is more practical — the bus service is adequate but not as frequent as the SkyTrain corridor.
Burnaby is generally very safe by major-city standards. Crime rates are below the Metro Vancouver average in most categories, with the main concern being auto theft and car break-ins around Metrotown and other SkyTrain stations — park in secured underground lots where possible. Violent crime is uncommon across the city.
Burnaby School District (SD 41) is one of the stronger public school districts in BC, with results consistently above the provincial average. Burnaby North Secondary and Burnaby Mountain Secondary are the two highest-ranked public high schools. The district also has a significant French immersion program and strong ELL (English Language Learner) support, reflecting Burnaby's 52% foreign-born population.
Burnaby has many licensed daycares participating in BC's $10-a-day program, with a mix across Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed, and the residential areas. As with the rest of Metro Vancouver, the challenge isn't the rate, it's the waitlist — apply to multiple centres early and apply to the Affordable Child Care Benefit (separate income-tested subsidy) regardless of whether you secure a $10-a-day spot.
Keep exploring
Greater Vancouver is a collection of very different cities, each with its own rhythm, rents, and food scene. If you're comparing or planning a move, these are the obvious ones to look at next.
Downtown cores, historic neighbourhoods, and the densest food scene in BC.
Mountain views, new Korean restaurants, and space to breathe.
Home to the best Chinese food in North America and Steveston village.