Rents aren&#x27;t as bad as the bay area (still awful) and the skytrain makes getting around easy. Most people just don&#x27;t live in Vancouver proper.<p>As for why, there isn&#x27;t enough upward pressure. Vancouver is at least getting a few of the big companies, but they really need to get some big tech in sucking up talent to drive some competition in salaries. Currently if people want money they head south, those who stay are in a market where they can&#x27;t command the big salaries.