Living in Saanich: 10 Things to Know Before Moving to Saanich [2024]

Nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the Saanich community offers the perfect blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. From its lush parks and hiking trails to its vibrant local culture and varied economy, Saanich is one of Victoria’s best suburbs. So, if you're considering a relocation or simply curious about what this picturesque region has to offer, keep reading. 

10 Reasons to Move to Saanich

• Dozens of lush parks
• Miles of sandy beaches
• Varied housing market
• Diverse local economy
• Award-winning employers
• Great educational opportunities
• Rich local heritage
• Endless restaurants and retail
• Convenient public transportation
• Quick access to the city of Victoria

Cost of Living in Saanich

The cost of living in Saanich is 14% lower than in the rest of British Columbia, with one person typically spending about $2,100 per month, including rent.

Housing costs in Saanich are about on par with the rest of the nation but significantly less expensive than in the rest of British Columbia. Condos in Saanich East and those in Saanich West start at just $320,000, while luxury homes overlooking the sea can cost up to $7.9 million. 

Renters can expect around the following prices:

• $1,700 for a studio
• $2,000 for a one-bedroom
• $2,700 for a two-bedroom
• $4,000 for a three-bedroom

Most other expenses cost about the same as they do throughout British Columbia and Canada. Utilities cost an average of $85.40 per month for one person, while an internet package adds about $77.70. Meanwhile, food costs an average of $556 per month. 

Saanich's residents spend an average of $66 per month on transportation. Riding the BC Transit costs $2.50 for a single ride or $85 for a monthly pass.

Saanich Job Market

Saanich boasts a labour force of 61,505 and about 700 businesses, with most jobs in sales, business and finance, and education and governmental services.

The University of Victoria is one of the largest employers in the Victoria economy, with 5,660 full-time faculty and staff. The institution has won several awards as an employer, including recognition as one of Canada's Best Employers, Greenest Employers, and Best Diversity Employers.

The District of Saanich is another major employer which made the list of BC's Top Employers. Its 1,400 employees work in over 300 types of positions across 11 locations throughout the municipality.

While not based in Saanich, Island Health offers several locations near the community. With 27,000 staff and 2,400 physician partners, the healthcare provider is the largest employer on Vancouver Island. It has received numerous awards, including appearances on lists of Canada's Top 100 Employers, Greenest Employers, and Best Diversity Employers.

While Saanich has a few large employers, most businesses in the municipality have less than ten employees.

Popular Industries in the Area

Saanich's most prominent industries include healthcare, public administration, retail, professional services, and education.

Several Island Health locations and independent practices throughout Saanich support the region's healthcare sector's 9,380 jobs.

With the province capital just south housing a flourishing municipal government, Saanich has 7,410 people working in public administration.

Although the University of Victoria accounts for most of Saanich's 5,750 education workers, Camosun College and a sizable public school district also make a modest contribution.

Meanwhile, Saanich's 7,000+ employees work in retail and 6,055 in professional services, split among the smaller businesses in Saanich's pedestrian-friendly commercial centres.

Things to Do in Saanich

With lush parks, impressive historic sites, and a thriving restaurant scene, Saanich offers its residents numerous opportunities to explore the area's nature, history, and culture.

Outdoor Activities

Saanich is excellent for hiking, biking, boating, swimming, golfing, and other sports.

Saanich boasts over 170 parks featuring over 100 kilometres of trails, 56 playgrounds, and dozens of tennis and basketball courts and sports fields. Nearly 40 beach accesses allow visitors to enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing on lakes, rivers, and the Salish Sea. Saanich's finest parks include Cuthbert Holmes Park, Mount Douglas Park, and Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park.

Golfers will find several courses around Saanich, including the public, par 67 Cedar Hill Golf Course, the public 9-hole Mount Douglas Golf Course, and the private Gorge Vale Golf Club.

Local Attractions

Saanich offers numerous historical, cultural, and scientific attractions, including historic sites, art galleries, and an impressive observatory.

Heritage walking tours highlight period homes and historic sites throughout Saanich, including the Prospect Lake General Store, Royal Oak Station, and Craigflower Schoolhouse.

The Arts Centre at Cedar Hill features two galleries with temporary displays, plus open studios where artists can drop in to work. The historic Saanich Municipal Hall also offers two art collections.

The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, another National Historic Site built in 1918, was once one of the world's leading astrophysical research centres. It now hosts free stargazing parties on Saturdays.

Restaurants & Nightlife

Saanich has vibrant culinary and nightlife scenes featuring inviting breakfast cafes, fine-dining restaurants, and laid-back pubs.

Located inside the Hotel Zed Victoria, The Ruby on Douglas is one of Saanich's most popular breakfast restaurants. It even has a games room with a ping pong table.

Meanwhile, Artisan Bistro offers a French-inspired fine dining experience featuring a boutique wine list, local beers and cocktails, and Fernwood coffee.

Stop by The Loft Pub for live music and pub food daily, or check out the weekly trivia, music bingo, and karaoke lineup at Felicita's Campus Pub at the University of Victoria.

Saanich Climate

Saanich features a warm and temperate climate with cool, wet winters and warm, arid summers.

Saanich receives about 1,066 millimetres of precipitation annually. The wet season begins in October, making it Saanich's most humid month. However, November is actually the wettest month, with an average of 176 millimetres of precipitation spread across 17.1 days.

November signals the beginning of Saanich's cool season when average daily highs are below 10 degrees Celsius. December is the coldest month, with average temperatures around 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Saanich experiences shorter days throughout winter. January receives the fewest hours of sunlight, with an average of 4.5 hours of sunshine each day.

With spring, temperatures warm up, and precipitation drops significantly in April. March marks the end of the cool season, while June kicks off Saanich's warm weather.

Early July through late August is the best time to visit Saanich for warm-weather activities like hiking, boating, and swimming. July is the least rainy and humid month, receiving an average of just 16 millimetres of precipitation across 3.4 days. While August is the hottest month, temperatures hover around a comfortable average of 16.8 degrees Celsius.

Traffic in Saanich

Saanich enjoys relatively light traffic, lower-than-average commute times, and ample parking selections.

The average commute time in Saanich is just 19 minutes, considerably shorter than the national average of 23.7 minutes. Over 30% of commuters arrive at their destinations in less than 15 minutes, while 50.1% take 15 to 29 minutes.

Saanich's roads are busiest between 7 and 9 a.m. when most commuters leave for work. Many commuters travel into downtown Victoria, just 5 to 10 minutes from the centre of Saanich, 10 to 18 minutes from Royal Oak, and 12 to 18 minutes from Cadboro Bay. Meanwhile, Langford is about 9 to 14 minutes away.

Victoria International Airport is 18 to 28 minutes from Saanich. The ferry terminal in the Swartz Bay community is a bit further, taking 22 to 35 minutes, while one in the Brentwood Bay community is 20 to 30 minutes from Saanich.

Most parking within Saanich is free, although healthcare facilities like Mt. Tolmie Residential Care and Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health charge $2.25 and $2.50, respectively.

Meanwhile, parking in Victoria costs $2.50 per hour at the city's parkades and on-street parking spots or $4-11 for two hours at private lots.

Alternative Routes

Saanich has a few roads that let drivers skip the highway, avoid accidents, and take in some of the area's gorgeous scenery.

Instead of Highway 1 or Burnside Road, Tillicum and Burnside residents can stick to Gorge Road, a scenic route following the lovely Gorge Waterway.

Heading north and south, drivers can avoid Patricia Bay Highway by opting for Glanford Avenue, Maplewood Road to Belkinsop Road, Cordova Bay Road, or Interurban Road, which all experience considerably less traffic.

Saanich Public Transportation

Saanich has numerous transportation options, including buses, ferries, airplanes, car-sharing, and taxis.

BC Transit runs 700 bus stops in Saanich, with 15 new bus shelters installed annually. Regional routes connect Saanich to the rest of the greater Victoria region. A single ride costs just $2.50, and monthly passes are $85.00.

BC Ferries has two terminals near Saanich. Travelling from Brentwood Bay across the Saanich Inlet to the Mill Bay community is $7.30 per passenger and $16.85 for a vehicle. Meanwhile, taking the ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen near Vancouver is $18.50 per passenger and $63.85 for a vehicle.

Saanich is also just 20 minutes from the Victoria International Airport, which serves about two million passengers annually. Flights to Calgary start at just $55, while tickets for Vancouver start at $96 and Toronto at $158.

Numerous taxi services based in Victoria serve the Saanich area, including Esquimalt Saanich Taxi, Current Taxi Victoria, Bluebird Cabs Ltd., Uptown Taxi, Victoria Taxi, and Yellow Cab of Victoria.

Schools in Saanich

Saanich has robust education opportunities, with 14 public schools, a private school, and numerous higher learning facilities.

Saanich Schools serves nearly 8,000 students, with eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and three secondary schools. The district also offers additional programs at its Children's Development Centre, two Individual Learning Centres, and SIDES, an online K-12 school.

High school students can also benefit from the district's successful international student program and various dual credit programs preparing them for post-secondary school.

Meanwhile, Lakeview Christian School provides private education for pre-kindergarten through tenth grade in small classes. Eleventh and 12th grades are also available on-site through WestCoast Distributed Learning.

Saanich is home to the University of Victoria, a research-intensive university with over 22,000 students. It also hosts one of the largest public colleges in British Columbia, Camosun College, which boasts over 160 innovative programs across five different schools.

Victoria features even more higher education options less than 10 minutes from Saanich. Students can choose from the IT-focused Multihexa College, the healthcare-oriented Sprott Shaw College, or the holistic medicine-based Pacific Rim College. 

Meanwhile, Edison College features art, business, and health sciences programs, and Cambria College offers studies in healthcare, education, business, and hospitality.

Ready to Call Saanich Your Home?

Saanich offers everything from lush greenery to educational opportunities and access to everything the Greater Victoria area has to offer. So if you've been pondering the idea of relocating to a place that offers the best of both worlds – a tranquil natural haven and urban amenities at your doorstep – consider making Saanich your new home.