The $200K Question: Should You Move to Surrey or anywhere outside of the City of Vancouver?

Barton Lui
Jan 10
4 min read

I've been getting the same question from almost every first-time homebuyer I meet with lately:

"Barton, should I move to Surrey to save money? I can get a condo for $500,000 instead of spending $710,000 in Vancouver. That's $200,000 I could save."

The answer isn't a simple yes or no. It depends on one critical factor: how you plan to get to work.

Let me break down the real numbers so you can decide if Surrey is actually right for you.

The Price Gap is Real (And Huge)

Surrey Benchmark Apartment Price: $501,000 Metro Vancouver Benchmark Apartment Price: $710,000 The Difference: $209,000

In mortgage terms, that $209,000 difference translates to roughly $1,000 per month in savings on your mortgage payment alone.

That's real money. That's a car payment, groceries, or a nice vacation fund.

But—and this is important—that's only half the story.

The Commute Math Nobody Talks About

Here's what most people miss when they're excited about the price difference:

Driving to work from Surrey to Downtown Vancouver:

Average commute: 45-60 minutes one way
Daily round trip: 90-120 minutes
Annual fuel cost: $2,000-$3,000
Annual maintenance: $1,500-$2,000
Your time cost: priceless (but let's call it significant)

If you're driving 5 days a week, you're spending 7.5-10 hours per week in traffic. That's like having a second part-time job... except it pays you nothing.

The Reality: That $1,000 monthly mortgage savings gets eaten up pretty quickly when you add gas, car maintenance, and the mental cost of sitting on the Massey Tunnel or the Pattullo Bridge during rush hour.

Unless you use transit.

This is Where Surrey Wins: The SkyTrain Advantage

Surrey has something the rest of the Fraser Valley doesn't: The Expo Line SkyTrain.

If you live within walking distance of a SkyTrain station (like around King George or Whalley), your entire equation changes:

SkyTrain Commute from Surrey to Downtown:

Travel time: 40-45 minutes
Cost: $115/month for a transit pass
What you can do: Read, work, sleep, relax
Time you actually "lose": Slightly less than driving.

Suddenly, that commute isn't too bad? But realistically, how many people can make transit time "productive"?

The Math Flips:

Monthly mortgage savings: $1,000
Monthly transit cost: $115
Net savings: $885/month
Quality of life improvement: Moderate to Significant

You get to keep the savings AND reclaim some of your time.

When Surrey Makes Sense

Move to Surrey if:

✓ You use transit or work hybrid. If you're on the SkyTrain 3 days a week and remote 2, the commute becomes manageable.

✓ You need more space. That $501,000 gets you a newer and bigger apartment in Surrey vs. a smaller and older 1-bedroom in Vancouver.

✓ You're building a family. More space + lower mortgage = breathing room in your budget for life.

✓ You plan to stay 5+ years. The SkyTrain is still expanding. Transit improvements coming (Hopefully sooner). Your investment only gets better.

✓ You can access transit easily. Living near a station isn't negotiable for this to work.

When You Should Stay in Vancouver

Stay in Metro Vancouver if:

✗ You drive to work frequently. The bridge traffic erases your savings and steals your time.

✗ You need that Vancouver downtown lifestyle, community. Higher end coffee shops, fancy restaurants, gyms, nightlife—all steps away in Vancouver.

✗ Your job requires downtown presence. Client meetings, in-office culture, network proximity matter.

✗ You don't have transit access. If you're far from a SkyTrain station, you're committed to driving.

✗ You value short commutes above all else. Your mental health and family time have real value.

The Truth About First-Time Buyers Right Now

Here's what I'm seeing in the market right now (January 2026):

Surrey is a BUYER'S market. Inventory is up. Sellers are motivated. You can negotiate. You have power.

Vancouver is still competitive. Prices haven't dropped as much. Inventory is tighter. Bidding wars still happen occasionally if the listing is great.

But that price difference comes with a tradeoff: distance.

The question isn't "Am I saving money?".

The question is: "Is the lifestyle worth it?"

Your Commute is Your Life (Seriously)

Here's something most real estate agents won't tell you:

Your commute is one of the biggest quality-of-life factors after your home itself.

Research shows that people with long commutes report:

Higher stress levels
Less family time
Lower job satisfaction
Reduced hobbies and personal growth time

An extra hour in traffic is an hour you don't get back.

Can you put a price on that? You're literally deciding to trade money for time.

The equation is:

Surrey + SkyTrain: Keep the $1,000/month AND some of your time
Surrey + Driving: Lose 10 hours/week to traffic, keep only about $500/month in actual savings
Vancouver: Lose the $1,000/month, but gain your time and convenience

What I'm Recommending to My Clients

If you're serious about the Surrey move, here's my checklist:

Step 1: Check Transit Access Before you look at ANY property, walk the neighbourhood. Can you realistically access a SkyTrain station? 15-minute walk? That's the threshold.

Step 2: Run Your Specific Numbers

Where exactly are you working?
How many days in-office?
What's your actual commute time by transit?
Can you work while commuting?

Step 3: Calculate Your REAL Savings Total monthly savings (mortgage difference) minus transit costs and transportation costs. What's the actual number?

Step 4: Visit in Rush Hour See what the neighborhood actually feels like at 8 AM and 5 PM. Is this where you want to live?

Step 5: Think Long-Term The SkyTrain is expanding. Future infrastructure improvements are coming. Are you buying for today's market or tomorrow's value?

The Bottom Line

That $200,000 price difference between Surrey and Vancouver is real.

But it's not free money.

If you use transit, work hybrid, or need space: Surrey is genuinely a smart financial move. You're getting better value and keeping most of the savings.

If you drive to work 5 days a week and live far from transit: You're trading money for time, and you might not come out ahead.

The best move is the one that aligns with how you actually live—not just the numbers on a spreadsheet.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

Whether you're seriously considering Surrey, staying in Vancouver, or still undecided, I'm here to help you run YOUR specific numbers.

First-time homebuying is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. It should be based on real data, not just hope.

Let's talk about what actually makes sense for your situation.

📧 barton@bartonrealtor.com 📱 604-715-5568

I'm a text away. Let's figure this out together.