heaven on 45th

In one of the world's most livable cities (rated three now after just being bumped off the top spot by Melbourne), real estate is of course at a premium. Vancouver is a huge destination for travellers on working holiday visas, most of which are Australian, and students. They all want the same thing: a cheap place to live. Craigslist is the go-to site for room hunters. There is something to suit everyone - except those on a budget. Actually that's not true. If you're willing to share your room with one or two other people, who can do quite well. Maybe $400 a month? But when you're 26 and a homeowner in your own country, sharing your bedroom isn't appealing.

The average room is about $700 a month. And for that price don't expect five-star living quarters. A room in Kitsilano, Vancouver's trendy beach area, was advertised for $550. There are hotel showers bigger than this room. It had a single bed, raised so there was storage under it and a small set of drawers. That was about all the room could hold. Oh and a person. As long as they wanted to sit on the bed. Down the road was a room for $600. No windows, but at least a decent size this time. Homestay's a very popular, especially with International students, of which there are a lot. One has to wonder how they afford to live here?

Hundreds of room/apartment shares are posted on Craigslist every day. The good ones will be inundated. So will the bad ones. It's property war. Rooms disappear in hours. One ad offered accommodation in exchange for a relationship. Another advertised a homestay with a "fun Christian family". There is a big culture of just renting "a room". People don't seemed too fussed about who they live with, just as long as it's a place to live.

I eventually turned to a site called Kijiji, in an effort to avoid all the homestay ads. That led me to Anna, who is studying media arts. She'd just found a great two-bedroom apartment, very close to the bus line my work is on. I looked at it on Friday afternoon and fell in love. It was clean, it had sun and Anna seemed lovely. Luckily, Anna called later that night and said I had it. Now I just have to wait to meet the landlord on Tuesday and cough up some references to make it official. Hopefully that part goes smoothly. It's not quite Heaven on Fifth (Sex in the City reference there), but it's my heaven on East 45th. The price: $565 a month. Outrageous in Tassie terms. But pretty reasonable for the world's third most livable city.