Isn't comparing Montreal and Vancouver like comparing Prague and London (UK)? They are totally different places.
But it's all within one country, right?
Just kidding, I know Canada is more like, 3 countries/markets. Have been to YVR before but that was many years ago so I don't remember much; so essentially a new taste for me.
As for costs, I knew that YVR was expensive but have always had the mentality of prices being perhaps fractionally higher (like 20-30%) than Montréal or Québec City......when reality was double the price. Eating generally wasn't so bad, the transports publics wasn't so bad plus the Compass card is just a déposit so got the money back. Foodstuffs were higher than expected, again in comparison to the East. Now I really understand why so many can't afford to live in the centre- and perhaps the prevalence of Ferraris and Maseratis that I saw. Never thought of it as the Canadian analogous city to NY either (that's the GTA in my opinion). But I did like all the motorcycles I saw there........"Oooh look a FZ-09.....!"
I didn't like Seattle. Crumbling infrastructure ("no income tax"), high prices, bad roads, terrible drivers and traffic. Not as pretty like Vancouver. Takes forever to get anywhere, compounded by the fact my friend lives with his father at the moment on Bainbridge Island and you end up scheduling your entire life around the ferry schedule.
"Why don't they build more bridges?"
"No income tax.....and you're only allowed residential development."
The result? It takes 90min to drive about 100km of actual distance.
I had some good times; went karting, rode my friend's motorcycle, got some nice seafood, and the weather was nice. Just given all the hype I hear about the West from other folks my age plus my comfort level in QC and Toronto, I was expecting more and it really....wasn't all that.
As for currency, I know the $C versus $US favourability exists but I treat my 3 "official" currencies ($C, $US, and EUR) at parity. The savings just shows up as a small bonus in Canada and thesedays I treat 1 EUR = 1 USD.