The VanCityGuide newsletter
One email a month. Real prices, newcomer-tested.
What actually costs what in Greater Vancouver, which rules changed this month, and the one guide you should read before signing a lease. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We use Beehiiv for delivery. You'll get a confirmation email to click once — that's the double opt-in keeping our list clean.
What's in it
A monthly digest, not a daily distraction.
Greater Vancouver moves fast. MSP coverage thresholds change, CMHC rent data drops, BC MoE releases new school scores, and TransLink adjusts fares — and somehow nobody tells you when it happens. That's the gap this newsletter fills. One email, first Monday of every month, under five minutes to read.
This month in prices
The one cost-of-living number that actually moved this month — rent, groceries, hydro, transit — with the citation visible and the context explained.
One newcomer guide, re-surfaced
The single step-by-step guide most useful to readers this month. If it's July and MSP enrolment is the bottleneck, you get the MSP guide.
A rule or number that changed
A deduction threshold, a bylaw, a deadline, a fare — whatever quietly shifted that a newcomer would otherwise miss. Dated and linked to the source.
Who writes this
Written for newcomers, by someone who's been one.
VanCityGuide is independent and doesn't take sponsorship money from the providers we cover. The newsletter extends the site's editorial voice — calibrated, cited, and skeptical of round numbers. Check the cost-of-living breakdowns, the newcomer guides, and the city hubs to see the house style.
Questions people ask
About the newsletter
How often will you email me?
Once a month, on the first Monday. No flash emails, no product launches, no deal alerts. If you want more than that, the site is always there.
Is it actually free?
Yes. VanCityGuide is ad-supported and (eventually) affiliate-supported on specific commercial pages. The newsletter itself carries no sponsored content and costs nothing to read.
Will you share my email?
No. The list lives on Beehiiv (our newsletter platform) and isn't sold, rented, or shared with anyone. The only emails you'll receive from that list are from VanCityGuide.
Why double opt-in?
After you subscribe, Beehiiv sends a one-click confirmation link. That keeps typos and bots off the list and protects deliverability for everyone else. It's worth the extra click.
Is this useful if I already live here?
Yes — about a third of the content is rule changes and price shifts that affect long-time residents too. If it's purely newcomer material for a given month, the subject line will say so.
How do I unsubscribe?
One-click link at the bottom of every issue. No form to fill, no reason required. You can also reply 'stop' and we'll remove you manually.
Ready when you are
One email a month. That’s the whole deal.
Enter your email, click the confirmation link Beehiiv sends you, and you’re on. We’ll never share the list, and the unsubscribe link is at the bottom of every issue.