This city was named BC’s most move-able city and here’s 5 reasons why
Kelowna ranked first in B.C. and fourth in Canada for growth in U-Haul’s 2023 migration report. Here is why people are moving to the Okanagan.
Kelowna ranked fourth among the top 25 Canadian cities for growth in 2023, and first in British Columbia, according to U-Haul’s annual migration trends report, which Daily Hive covered at the time. This post, first shared on westrichbay.com in February 2024, looked at five reasons the city keeps drawing new residents.
- Rent. Cost-of-living site Numbeo put average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in central Kelowna well below the Vancouver equivalent.
- Cost of living. Numbeo also reported lower restaurant and grocery prices than in Vancouver, and a monthly transit pass at about half the price.
- The scenery. Mountains for hiking surround the city, and Okanagan Lake’s beaches make it a summer spot for swimming and boating.
- Wineries. Around 40 wineries sit in and around Kelowna, many with views over the Okanagan Valley.
- Market culture. Farmers’ and crafters’ markets across the city sell products made in the valley.
The figures come from the 2023 and early-2024 sources the original post cited; check those sources for current numbers.
Westrich Bay sits on the west shore of Okanagan Lake, 4.9 km by road from downtown Kelowna. Explore the location.
Source: U-Haul Migration Trends report (2023), via Daily Hive (opens in a new tab)