British Columbia · Metro Vancouver

Burnaby, BC 🏙️

Metro Vancouver's tech and university hub — home to SFU, BCIT, Electronic Arts, and an exceptional SkyTrain network connecting every corner of the city to Vancouver.

249,000
Population
$1,150,000
Avg Home Price
$2,400
Avg 1BR Rent
Expo + Millennium Lines
SkyTrain
SFU + BCIT
Universities
HQ here
EA Games
72 / 100
Walk Score
Overview

About Burnaby

Burnaby is the third-largest city in BC, sitting immediately east of Vancouver and forming the heart of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain network. The city is home to Simon Fraser University (SFU) atop Burnaby Mountain — one of Canada's top universities — and BCIT, one of the largest technical institutes. Burnaby hosts the headquarters of some of Canada's most significant companies including Electronic Arts (EA), Fortis BC, and TELUS.

Burnaby has two distinct urban centres: Metrotown (around Metropolis at Metrotown mall — BC's largest) and Brentwood Town Centre — both of which have seen massive densification with hundreds of new towers. The Expo Line and Millennium Line SkyTrain give Burnaby exceptional transit connectivity to Vancouver, Surrey, and beyond. Burnaby Lake Regional Park and Deer Lake Park provide significant green space.

Pros & Cons of Living in Burnaby

✓ Pros

  • Exceptional SkyTrain access — Expo and Millennium Lines
  • Simon Fraser University and BCIT — academic anchors
  • EA Games HQ — significant tech employment
  • Metrotown — BC's largest mall and urban hub
  • Brentwood Town Centre — rapidly growing urban node
  • Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake parks — urban nature
  • More affordable than Vancouver city proper
  • Very diverse, multicultural community

✗ Cons

  • Still very expensive at $1.15M average
  • Rapid densification changing neighbourhood character
  • Limited single-family home availability
  • High BC provincial income tax
  • Some areas dominated by high-rise towers
  • Parking and traffic congestion on major roads
  • Limited independent retail — dominated by chains
Best For

Who Should Live in Burnaby?

💻
Tech Workers (EA, TELUS)
🎓
SFU & BCIT Students
🚇
Transit-First Commuters
🌍
Multicultural Families
🏙️
Urban Condo Dwellers
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Burnaby

Yes — Burnaby offers excellent transit connectivity, good amenities, more affordable housing than Vancouver proper, and a diverse community. It's particularly good for SFU and BCIT students, tech workers at EA and TELUS, and families who prioritize SkyTrain access. The rapid densification around Metrotown and Brentwood is transforming the city dramatically.
Slightly — Burnaby's average home price ($1.15M) is comparable to Vancouver proper. The main advantage of Burnaby over Vancouver is getting more square footage for the same price and having access to newer condo towers. Both cities are among the most expensive in Canada.
Major Burnaby employers include Electronic Arts (one of the world's largest game companies), TELUS (Canadian telecom giant), Fortis BC, Ballard Power Systems (hydrogen fuel cells), and hundreds of smaller tech and healthcare companies. Simon Fraser University and BCIT together employ thousands.
Excellent — Burnaby is served by two SkyTrain lines: the Expo Line (running through Metrotown and other stations) and the Millennium Line (serving Brentwood, Holdom, Sperling, and others). These provide fast, frequent service to downtown Vancouver (15–20 min), Surrey, and Coquitlam. Burnaby has among the best transit access in all of Metro Vancouver.