UBC student flying from Calgary to Vancouver to avoid high rent

A University of British Columbia (UBC) student has made headlines after sharing that it's cheaper to fly to school between provinces than renting a place in Vancouver.

Calgary resident Tim Chen attends UBC in Vancouver and says that choosing to fly to his classes is cheaper than paying monthly rent at YVR.

She took to Reddit to share her experience and see if others feel the same about the coastal city's skyrocketing rent prices.

Very walkable
byu/brownsugar1041 inUBC

Opinion
From discussion byu/StunningButton390
inUBC

In the original post shared on Reddit six days ago, Chen called himself a “super commuter at UBC” due to living in Calgary, saying he attends classes twice a week, flies to Vancouver in the morning and returns to Calgary at night.

“I flew on Air Canada for all of these flights, and in January I made 7 such trips.”

He said he thinks he's saving money because living with his parents means he doesn't have to pay rent in Calgary, other than “the occasional utility bill,” which is much cheaper than renting a one-bedroom for $2,000 or more. Vancouver.

His unique post quickly caught the attention of many, with many responses marveling at the incredible lengths Chen goes to each week to attend his classes.

Opinion
From discussion byu/brownsugar1041
inUBC

Opinion
From discussion byu/brownsugar1041
inUBC

But surprisingly, others in the shared comments do the same and can see the logic behind it.

Opinion
From discussion byu/StunningButton390
inUBC

Opinion
From discussion byu/brownsugar1041
inUBC

Peers were also looking for tips in the comments, and Chen gave them some advice, suggesting they consider Air Canada's student airfare.

Opinion
From discussion byu/brownsugar1041
inUBC

Chen's plane ride may be a surprising alternative, but for those facing Vancouver's rental market, his reasoning may make more sense.

According to Zumper, rents in Vancouver in January averaged $2,700 a month for a one-bedroom and $3,890 for a two-bedroom, which is unaffordable for most Canadians, let alone students.

The Daily Hive reached out to Chen and UBC for comment, but had not yet heard back at the time of writing.

What do you think of someone who flies to class to save on rent? Let us know in the comments below.