Living in Vancouver is pretty expensive, but it's worth it IMO. You can always find cheaper places, which aren't in the best parts of town, but as long as you aren't bothered by homeless people wandering around you would have no problem. As a 19yr old female, I wouldn't feel comfortable living in one of the rougher areas in Vancouver, but I know a few people who do and it's just fine. At least with Vancouver there are many housing price options, depending on what type of area you would want to live in. There are the uber expensive parts of town, the expensive parts of town, the reasonably priced parts of town (which are still kinda expensive), then you have got the rough parts of town (not real drug areas or anything, but older houses, more homeless people, etc.) and then you have got the REALLY rough areas which are the cheapest, but no one except the desperate wanna live there.

Haha I kinda just rambled on but hopefully that info helps someone.