Neighbourhood guide
Living in Kitsilano, Vancouver
Beach at the bottom of the hill, Broadway at the top, and a SkyTrain station arriving at Arbutus in 2027. Here is what renting in Kitsilano is actually like, how you get around today, and the trade-offs locals talk about.
Beachfront Very walkable Young professionals Dog friendly
63 rentals available in Kitsilano
What's it like to live in Kitsilano?
Kitsilano, known to locals as "Kits", runs from the water at Cornwall up the slope to 16th Avenue, and which half you land in changes your rent by several hundred dollars a month. Down near the beach you are paying for the view and the short walk to Kits Pool, the longest saltwater pool in Canada and the thing locals organise their summer around. Up past 8th Avenue the buildings are older walk ups, the rents soften, and you trade the ocean for a quieter street and a shorter trip to the hospital and the Broadway corridor.The rental stock is mostly low rise: three and four storey buildings from the sixties and seventies, plus a steady supply of basement suites and upper floors in character houses. Purpose built towers are rare, which is why in suite laundry and parking are worth asking about rather than assuming. Around 44,000 people live across five and a half square kilometres, which makes Kitsilano noticeably less dense than the West End or downtown, and it feels like it on the residential streets. Just under six in ten households rent, and more than half the homes were built before 1981.West 4th Avenue is the spine, with coffee, athletic wear, produce markets and a dense run of restaurants that stays busy on weeknights. Broadway is where the practical errands live. Today there is no SkyTrain station, so you are on the bus, and while the 4, 44, 84 and the 99 B-Line all run frequently, a wet February morning will remind you of it.That changes in 2027. Arbutus Station, at Broadway and Arbutus in the east of the neighbourhood, is the western terminus of the Millennium Line extension and is scheduled to open in the fall. It will also become the new eastern end of the 99 B-Line, so the UBC trip becomes a train plus one bus rather than a single long ride. Worth factoring into a lease decision, because the rent around that corner is unlikely to stay where it is.It suits people who want to be outside. The seawall, Kits Beach and Vanier Park are all walkable, and the neighbourhood empties onto the sand the moment the sun appears. It suits families less well than nearby Dunbar, mostly on price per bedroom, but the catchment schools are strong and the parks are genuinely good.
Best suited for
- Young professionals
- Couples without kids
- Dog owners
- UBC staff and grad students
- –Car commuters heading east
- –Larger families on a budget
Quick facts
- Population44,000
- Renter households57%
- Median age39
- Rental vacancy1.7%
Getting around
Frequent buses in every direction today, and a SkyTrain station at Broadway and Arbutus from fall 2027.95/100
WalkabilityDaily errands do not need a car78/100
Transit accessFrequent bus, no SkyTrain station until 202792/100
CyclingSeaside greenway and the Arbutus Greenway, flat at sea levelKitsilano Beach8 min walk
Broadway–City Hall Station14 min by bus
Downtown Vancouver20 min by bus
Arbutus Station, from 202710 min walk
UBC campus20 min by bus
Vancouver General Hospital15 min by bus
2 Macdonald
4 Powell
7 Dunbar
9 Boundary
14 Hastings
44 UBC
84 UBC
99 B-Line
Kitsilano on the map
The neighbourhood boundary, and the places listed further down the page.Schools and childcare
Kitsilano spans several public elementary catchments, so which one applies depends on your exact address. Walk times are measured from West 4th and Vine.| School | Type | Walk time |
|---|---|---|
Henry Hudson Elementary | Public · K–7 | 12 min |
Kitsilano SecondaryCatchment secondary | Public · 8–12 | 13 min |
Lord Tennyson Elementary | Public · K–7 | 14 min |
General Gordon Elementary | Public · K–7 | 15 min |
Saint Augustine School | Independent · K–7 | 7 min |
St. John's School | Independent · K–12 | 9 min |
Fraser AcademySpecialises in dyslexia | Independent · 1–12 | 10 min |
Kitsilano Area Childcare Society | Childcare · 0–5 | 7 min |
Around the neighbourhood
Walk times from West 4th Avenue and Vine Street. A few of these sit just outside the neighbourhood boundary, where they are the nearest of their kind.Groceries
- Lena Market1 min
- Whole Foods Market1 min
- Kitsilano Natural Foods6 min
- IGA8 min
Coffee and bakeries
- Provisions Kitsilano1 min
- COBS Bread1 min
- Kokomo1 min
- 49th Parallel & Lucky's Doughnuts3 min
Food and drink
- Raisu1 min
- Au Comptoir1 min
- Peaceful Restaurant2 min
- Sophies Cosmic Cafe6 min
Parks and beaches
- Delamont Park7 min
- Connaught Park11 min
- Kitsilano Beach Park12 min
- Tatlow Park14 min
Fitness and pools
- The Cycle Collective6 min
- Kitsilano Outdoor Swimming Pool9 min
- Yoga West9 min
- Kitsilano Ice Rink11 min
Everyday services
- Shoppers Drug Mart1 min
- London Drugs8 min
- Kitsilano Farmers Market12 min
- VPL: Kitsilano Branch14 min
Rent with confidence in Kitsilano
What BC tenancy rules protect, and how liv.rent keeps the process safe from first message to signed lease.Deposits are capped
A landlord in BC can ask for a security deposit of up to half a month of rent, plus up to half a month again if you have a pet. Anything more is not permitted.Rent increases are limited
Existing tenancies can only be increased once every 12 months, by no more than the provincial cap, and with three full months of written notice.Every listing is verified
Landlords complete ID verification before they can post, and you can sign the lease and pay rent through liv.rent, so there is no e-transfer to a stranger.Kitsilano sees a high volume of rental scams each summer, when student and seasonal demand peaks and a lot of tenants are booking from another city. Never send a deposit before viewing a unit, and never pay outside a platform that keeps a record. The tenancy points above are general information about renting in British Columbia, not legal or financial advice. For guidance on your own tenancy, contact the Residential Tenancy Branch.How liv.rent verification works
Kitsilano rental questions
Is Kitsilano expensive compared with the rest of Vancouver?
Yes, modestly. CMHC's October 2025 survey put the average rent for a purpose built apartment at $2,051 in its Kitsilano/Point Grey zone against $1,970 across Vancouver, which also puts it above the West End on the same measure. That average covers every occupied unit, including long tenancies held down by rent control, so a suite coming available today asks well above it. Rents drop noticeably as you move uphill from the beach toward Broadway, so the same budget goes further above 8th Avenue.
Does Kitsilano have a SkyTrain station?
Not yet, but it will. Arbutus Station, at Broadway and Arbutus in the east of the neighbourhood, is the western terminus of the Millennium Line extension and is scheduled to open in fall 2027. Until then the nearest station is Broadway–City Hall, and the neighbourhood is served by frequent buses including the 4, 44, 84 and the 99 B-Line.
How long does it take to get to UBC from Kitsilano?
About twenty minutes by bus today, on the 4, 44, 84 or the 99 B-Line depending on where in the neighbourhood you are. When Arbutus Station opens in 2027 the 99 B-Line will terminate there, so the trip from further east becomes SkyTrain plus one bus rather than one long ride.
Is Kitsilano a good neighbourhood for families?
The catchment schools and parks are strong, but price per bedroom is high compared with Dunbar-Southlands or Renfrew. Kitsilano spans several public elementary catchments, so confirm which one your address falls into rather than assuming the nearest school. Families who prioritise walkability and beach access over square footage tend to be happiest here.
Can I find pet-friendly rentals in Kitsilano?
Yes. A meaningful share of Kitsilano listings on liv.rent allow cats or dogs, helped by the fact that most of the stock is low rise and house suites rather than strata towers with pet bylaws. Landlords may ask for an additional pet deposit of up to half a month of rent.
Is parking included with Kitsilano rentals?
Often not. Much of the housing stock is pre-1980 low rise without dedicated parking, and street parking is permit-controlled in most of the neighbourhood. Confirm before signing.
When is the best time to look for a rental in Kitsilano?
Inventory peaks in late spring and again in August as student leases turn over. December and January are the quietest months, which means fewer options but less competition per unit. Vacancy in CMHC's Kitsilano/Point Grey zone was 1.7% in October 2025, tied for the tightest of its Vancouver zones against 3.7% citywide, so being ready to apply matters more than timing the month.
Ready to look? Browse Kitsilano rentalsStudios from $1,700 to 3 beds from $2,700
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