Header image attribution: Dietmar Rabich on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0This post contains affiliate links. Our Extraordinary Planet may be compensated for any purchases you make.If you’re making travel plans to the Pacific Northwest you might have asked yourself: “are Vancouver and Seattle similar?” After all, they’re both huge metropolitan cities in the PNW, and they even have their own space needle.
Well, there are enough differences for me to make an article about it, but yes! Are Seattle and Vancouver similar? Yes, in a lot of ways. But a lot can change when you cross the border, so I would like to show you how Vancouver and Seattle are different today.
Are Vancouver and Seattle Similar? Similarities You Need To Know
Rain is one of the biggest things the two cities have in common. You can expect it to rain pretty constantly year round, especially in the winter. It’s very comfortable, usually around 32°F or 0°C, so any snow that does manage to fall usually melts away before it can pile up. Summer is nice and temperate though, it rarely ever gets too hot and nature will bloom beautifully once the rain begins to let up.
Vancouver and Seattle are both huge port cities with vibrant cultures. They’re positioned in North America between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cascade mountain range to keep pretty comfortable year round and so that business can keep moving. Most of Seattle lacks easy access to the beach or sea, unlike Vancouver, but both offer great options for sea exploration. Just recently, I wrote about the gorgeous ferry service that runs in Vancouver!
Chinese people are a relatively big population in Vancouver and Seattle, but just a smaller part of the cities’ larger Asian population. Both cities have historically received a lot of immigration, but while Vancouver is more distinct in where cultures shaped the city, Seattle is more of an indistinct American melting pot. The experiences you can have here aren’t quite the same, and really, it’s well worth experiencing the experiences and traditions people have cultivated.
Technology is also a huge part of their financial districts, if you are a techy or artsy person, there’s quite a lot of opportunity to learn and research in both, especially if you were considering moving there one day.
TLDR: are Vancouver and Seattle similar? Yes, the two cities have a lot in common culturally!
Are Vancouver and Seattle Similar? Differences You Need To Know
The national culture is one of the biggest immediate differences. Firearms, modes of transport, available healthcare (should something happen), and local laws are something you should take into account when planning to travel or move to either place. Most chain businesses are worldwide, but still, expect that your favorite retailer or shop won’t be available. Try to enjoy the variety it offers, Seattle is dominated by smaller Cafes but Canada is packed with Tim Hortons.
If you’re visiting Seattle, a car might be required. Metropolitan Ubers can be expensive, Seattle is bigger, and American public transit is unfortunately not great. Vancouver, on the other hand, is a lot less car dependent.
But Seattle isn’t just bigger, it’s almost twice as large as Vancouver and has nearly twice the population! This can be as much of a good thing as a bad thing, I personally value walkability and the smaller size of Vancouver makes it very appealing. On top of that, Vancouver has some of the best public transit in all of America, which really helps.
TLDR: are Vancouver and Seattle similar? They do have some major regional differences, especially in terms of their size and population!
Are Vancouver and Seattle Similar? Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this answers all your questions about if Vancouver and Seattle are similar. If you don’t have a passport, they can take a while to get, so make sure you apply far in advance if you intend to travel to one which is a foreign country! And of course, if you visit either, don’t forget to visit their space needles. The view is not one to be missed.
