Also for me personally the biggest draw is nature aspect of it. How accessible are the hiking trails? Is snowboarding at resorts something that is easily doable every weekend or is it absolutely crazy?
Yeah, every weekend. Microbreweries and the great outdoors are pretty much all this city brings to the table. If that's ok with, you'll be good? I used to live and work in North Van, and would go mountain biking after work all the time. The skiing on the north shore varies between sloppy and icy but can be good occasionally, but you will be there in 30 minutes or so. Rent in Vancouver is expensive. "Affordable" rent will be in East Vancouver, Burnaby or a place in Surrey.