Kitsilano — "Kits" to locals — is the beachy, laid-back west-side neighborhood that most defines Vancouver student life. Mornings start with a swim or a run at Kitsilano Beach, and the cafés, bakeries, and boutiques of West 4th Avenue are a short walk from every one of our homes. Most Kits houses are classic character homes with big shared kitchens and porches, and they're the closest Vanmates neighborhood to UBC: the 99 B-Line express bus puts you on campus in 10–15 minutes. That combination — beach lifestyle plus the shortest commute to UBC — is why Kits is so popular with UBC students and young professionals. Vanmates manages the rooms here as furnished, all-in rentals: one monthly price covers Wi-Fi, utilities, and weekly cleaning, with 24/7 WhatsApp support in your language. Many of our residents book their Kits room before they ever land in Canada.
Co-living from $1,100/mo · homestays from $1,400/mo · all-in, no surprise bills
Kits is a premium west-side neighborhood, so rooms sit a little above the city average — but one monthly price still covers everything. No separate utility, internet, or cleaning bills.
Pricing last reviewed: July 2026. All prices in CAD and include Wi-Fi, utilities, and weekly common-area cleaning.
Pulled directly from our internal inventory — real Vancouver rooms accepting bookings today, prioritising Kits and the nearby west side. If nothing matches, you'll always get a next step.
Kits sits on the west side, close to the water and to UBC. Here's roughly how long you'll travel to the main campuses and downtown.
Kitsilano is one neighborhood, but it wears a few different hats. Here's what to expect day to day.
Kits Beach · Vanier Park · saltwater pool
Kitsilano Beach is the heart of the neighborhood — beach volleyball, the outdoor Kitsilano Pool, and sunset views over English Bay. The seawall runs right along the water, so a morning run, a swim, or a bike to UBC is part of everyday life. In summer the whole neighborhood spills onto the sand.
Cafés, bakeries, shops & restaurants
West 4th Avenue is the main high street — independent cafés, brunch spots, yoga studios, outdoor-gear shops, and grocery stores, all walkable. A few blocks south, West Broadway adds more restaurants and transit, including the 99 B-Line to UBC. You rarely need to leave the neighborhood for the essentials.
Character houses · 4–6 bedroom shared homes
Kits is known for its classic wood-frame character houses — porches, bay windows, and generous shared kitchens. Our co-living homes here are typically 4–6 bedrooms with a house manager, furnished and ready to move into. They go fastest each September, so the earlier you reserve the better your pick.
UBC students & young professionals
Because it's the closest neighborhood to UBC with a lively, outdoorsy feel, Kits draws UBC students and young professionals who want an active home base. If you like being near the beach, walking to your coffee, and skipping the long commute to campus, you'll fit right in.
Two ways to live in Kits. Here's how they compare on the things that matter.
| Co-living | Homestay | |
|---|---|---|
| From (all-in) | $1,100/mo | $1,400/mo |
| Meals | Self-catered, shared kitchen | Two meals a day included |
| Best for | Social UBC students & young pros | Under-25s & first arrivals |
| Privacy | Private room, shared spaces | Private room in a family home |
| Support | House manager + 24/7 WhatsApp | Host family + 24/7 WhatsApp |
"I booked my Kitsilano room from Seoul before I flew. The video tour matched exactly, and the 99 B-Line gets me to UBC in about 12 minutes. Swimming at Kits Beach before class is unreal."
"All-in pricing is real — one payment, no hidden hydro or internet bills. I walk to West 4th for coffee and the house manager fixed our heater the same day I messaged on WhatsApp."
Verified resident reviews. See our cancellation policy and community guidelines for the full terms.
Not ready to book, or can't find the right room? Send your details and we'll match you to available Kits homes — and add you to the priority list so you hear first when new rooms open.
Vanmates co-living rooms in Kitsilano run CAD$1,100–$1,600/month, and homestays with a local family are CAD$1,400–$1,700. Kits is a premium Vancouver neighborhood, so rooms cost a little more than Mount Pleasant or Burnaby — but every price is all-in, covering Wi-Fi, utilities, weekly cleaning, and 24/7 WhatsApp support, with no surprise bills.
Kitsilano is the closest Vanmates neighborhood to UBC. The 99 B-Line express bus gets you to campus in 10–15 minutes, and in good weather it's about a 20-minute bike ride along the seawall. That easy UBC access is the main reason UBC students choose Kits over neighborhoods farther east.
Kits pairs the shortest commute to UBC with a beach-and-café lifestyle you don't get elsewhere in the city: Kitsilano Beach, the seawall, and the shops and restaurants of West 4th and West Broadway are all walkable. If you study at UBC or want an active, outdoorsy home base, Kits is worth the premium. If budget is your priority, we'll point you to Mount Pleasant or Burnaby instead.
Most Kitsilano co-living rooms have a 3-month minimum. After the first three months you can leave with 30 days' notice, which suits students on a single semester or co-op term. Homestays are typically booked by the term (4 months) and align with UBC intake dates.
Kits is one of our most in-demand neighborhoods, and rooms move fastest heading into September. The live inventory on this page shows what's accepting bookings today. If nothing matches your dates, message us on WhatsApp and we'll add you to the priority list for Kitsilano and alert you the moment a matching room opens.
Furnished student rooms near UBC, SFU, and BCIT across every Vanmates neighborhood, with all-in pricing.
See student housing →All our Vancouver neighborhoods, pricing, and how Vanmates co-living and homestays work in the city.
Explore Vancouver →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.