Vanmates manages furnished student rooms and homestays built around an SFU commute. SFU's main campus sits atop Burnaby Mountain, so our Burnaby homes are closest — SkyTrain to Production Way–University Station, then the 145 bus up the mountain, about 15–20 minutes door-to-door. Studying at SFU Vancouver (Harbour Centre, downtown) instead? Coal Harbour and Mount Pleasant put you minutes away. Rent is genuinely all-in: Wi-Fi, utilities, and weekly cleaning are included, with 24/7 WhatsApp support in your language. We've placed international SFU students since 2016, and most of them booked before they ever landed — with a real Vancouver address for their study permit and a self-check-in guide waiting.
Co-living from $975/mo · homestays from $1,300/mo · all-in, no surprise bills
One monthly price covers everything. No separate utility, internet, or cleaning bills — the number you see is the number you pay.
Pricing last reviewed: July 2026. All prices in CAD and include Wi-Fi, utilities, and weekly common-area cleaning. Homes closest to the SkyTrain and the 145 up Burnaby Mountain sit toward the top of each range.
Pulled directly from our internal Vancouver inventory — real rooms accepting bookings today, with Burnaby and SkyTrain-line homes closest to the Burnaby Mountain campus. If nothing matches, you'll always get a next step.
SFU's main campus sits at the top of Burnaby Mountain, so the final leg is always the 145 bus. Where you live decides how long the rest of the trip takes.
Note: SFU's Burnaby Mountain campus is genuinely on a mountain. Winter weather and 145 bus frequency can add time — check the schedule and dress for snow that isn't falling down at sea level.
Every option is chosen for its SFU commute, safety, and walkable amenities. Here's how the choices trade off.
Closest · SkyTrain to the 145 up the mountain
Burnaby is the natural home base for SFU. Our homes here sit near the SkyTrain, so you ride to Production Way–University Station and catch the 145 up Burnaby Mountain in about 15–20 minutes total. Quieter and greener than downtown, with everyday shops and groceries close by. Best fit for SFU students who want the shortest, simplest commute to the Burnaby Mountain campus.
Best value · mall & transit hub
Metrotown is Burnaby's transit and shopping heart — Metropolis mall, groceries, restaurants, and the Expo Line all in one place. You stay on the SkyTrain to Production Way–University, then the 145 to campus. Our Metrotown rooms are the best value near SFU and suit students who want everything on their doorstep and an easy, well-connected ride up the mountain.
Central · lively · longer commute
Mount Pleasant is one of Vancouver's most central and social neighborhoods — breweries, Main Street's design shops, and the Millennium Line straight to Production Way–University, then the 145 up the mountain in roughly 35–40 minutes. Ideal for SFU students who want a livelier base and don't need to be on the Burnaby Mountain campus every single day.
For SFU Vancouver / Harbour Centre
Coal Harbour is the downtown pick for students based at SFU Vancouver's Harbour Centre campus — a short walk or a couple of SkyTrain stops away, with the seawall and downtown at your door. It's a premium, central choice; for the Burnaby Mountain campus expect a longer SkyTrain-plus-145 trip, so it suits students whose classes are mostly downtown.
Three ways to live as an SFU student. Here's how they compare on the things that matter.
| Co-living | Homestay | Private suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From (all-in) | $975/mo | $1,300/mo | $1,600/mo |
| Meals | Self-catered, shared kitchen | Two meals a day included | Self-catered, own kitchen |
| Best for | Social students on a budget | Under-25s & first arrivals | Couples & co-op students |
| Privacy | Private room, shared spaces | Private room in a family home | Fully self-contained |
| Support | House manager + 24/7 WhatsApp | Host family + 24/7 WhatsApp | 24/7 WhatsApp |
"I booked my Burnaby room from Manila before I flew. The SkyTrain to Production Way plus the 145 gets me up to SFU in about 20 minutes, and the video tour matched exactly. My first week on Burnaby Mountain was completely stress-free."
"All-in pricing is real — one payment, no hidden hydro or internet bills. I'm in Metrotown, so the mall and the Expo Line are right there, and the house manager fixed our heater the same day I messaged on WhatsApp."
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Not ready to book, or can't find the right room? Send your details and we'll match you to available homes near SFU — and add you to the priority list so you hear first when new rooms open. SFU runs on trimesters, so intakes are spread across the year and availability is steadier than at semester schools; September is still busiest, so book 4–6 weeks ahead for a Fall start.
SFU's main campus sits at the top of Burnaby Mountain, so the last leg is always the 145 bus. From our Burnaby homes you take SkyTrain to Production Way–University Station and catch the 145 up the mountain — about 15–20 minutes total. Metrotown adds an Expo Line hop first; Mount Pleasant is roughly 35–40 minutes via the Millennium Line to Production Way, then the 145. In winter the mountain gets snow, so allow extra time and check bus frequency.
The cheapest option is a co-living room, which starts at CAD$975/month all-in. The best-value rooms are usually in Metrotown or a shared Burnaby house, where you stay on the SkyTrain line to Production Way–University and the 145 without paying a premium to be right beside campus. Every price includes Wi-Fi, utilities, weekly cleaning, and 24/7 WhatsApp support, so there are no extra bills to budget for.
SFU Vancouver's Harbour Centre campus is right downtown, so Coal Harbour and Mount Pleasant are the easiest bases. Coal Harbour is a short walk or a couple of SkyTrain stops to Harbour Centre; Mount Pleasant reaches downtown quickly on the Expo Line from Main Street–Science World. If you split time between Harbour Centre and Burnaby Mountain, a home on the SkyTrain line keeps both reachable.
Yes — most of our SFU international students reserve before landing. We do a video walkthrough of the room, share the exact lease terms and total move-in cost up front, and hold the room with a deposit. You get keys and a self-check-in guide before you fly, so you have a confirmed Vancouver address for your study permit and arrival.
SFU runs on trimesters — Fall, Spring, and Summer — so intakes are spread across the year and availability is steadier than at semester-only schools. September is still the busiest window, so for a Fall move-in we recommend reserving 4–6 weeks ahead; Spring and Summer starts are usually easier. If nothing matches your dates right now, join the priority list and we'll alert you the moment a matching room opens.
The full picture across every campus and neighborhood — pricing, transit, and how matching works.
See Vancouver housing →Rooms and homestays built around a UBC commute — Kitsilano, Point Grey, and the 99 B-Line.
Explore UBC housing →Live with a vetted local family, two meals a day included. Best for younger students and first arrivals.
Explore homestays →Browse real available rooms or get matched by our team — we typically reply on WhatsApp within an hour.