Nearly 400,000 people live in the metro area of the city of Victoria, British Columbia, to enjoy its Victorian architecture and breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes. The pleasant climate and ample things to do year-round sweeten the deal considerably, making it easy to choose this area as the ideal place to live.

The most challenging part of moving to Victoria or the surrounding area is choosing between the city and all the most popular suburbs. From Saanich to Esquimalt, each offers a unique living experience, so they're all well worth exploring before selecting the best one. To get started on that journey, use this guide to explore the top eight suburbs in the area.

Sooke sits about 50 minutes, or 40 kilometres, down the Juan De Fuca Highway from Victoria, BC. Well-known as "Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea," this city stretches along the western coast of Vancouver Island. The natural forests and waterways make living here a true delight, treating over 15,000 residents to scenic views every season.

The pleasant sub-Mediterranean climate allows residents to get out in nature often. Local parks abound across the cityscape, giving people of all ages a place to walk, play sports, and much more. Popular parks include Ed Macgregor Park, Carpenter Road Park, and Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. Many hiking trails are nearby, like the Sooke River Trail and Wadams Way Multi-Use Trail.

The rocky beaches along the Salish Sea offer residents waterfront views and fun outdoor activities. When residents want to take their watercraft out onto the water, they can launch their boats at the Sooke Harbour Marina. For fishing fun, many people spend their days on the Sooke River as well.

Single-family homes in Sooke typically list from the high $800s, but the area's largest and most luxurious properties can exceed $4 million. Renting a home costs over $3,000 monthly for a three-bedroom unit.

Located just four kilometres, or about 12 minutes, from Victoria, Oak Bay offers suburban living near the bustling cityscape. Known as one of the oldest nearby communities, this city features upscale homes set on well-designed properties along with plenty of neighbourhood parks. Residents also get quick and easy access to the waterfront at more than nine public parklands.

Traditionally, Oak Bay is within the Songhees First Nation people's traditional territories. Relics from their ancient settlements remain standing to this day at sites like Willows Beach. The townscape was incorporated in 1906, resulting in even more people moving to Oak Bay from all over Canada and beyond. Today, more than 18,000 people reside in the neighbourhoods across this Victoria suburb.

Residents enjoy spending a lot of their free time outdoors at the beaches and parks in the area. The Victoria Golf Club is another popular local venue with a 6,120-yard links course set right along the oceanfront. In addition to playing golf, visitors love to use the course as their wedding venue of choice. The onsite dining room is a popular place to enjoy a sophisticated meal, especially when celebrating special occasions.

When looking at homes in Oak Bay, homebuyers will typically see listings starting in the $700s. The average rent for one-bedroom apartments is $2,000 monthly, while three-bedroom units cost $3,000 monthly.

Saanich is just three kilometres, about a 10-minute drive, north of Victoria, BC. This city has a perfect balance of urban and rural landscapes, giving residents plenty of options on where to live. Since the town was incorporated in the early 1900s, more than 120,000 people have settled there.

For thousands of years prior, Saanich originally served as the home of the First Nations people. Today, the city stretches across the territory of the Saanich Peoples, Malahat Nation, and Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. These tribes continue to reside on their ancestral lands and contribute to the local government through the WSANEC Leadership Council.

The WSANEC Leadership Council and local governments help make the city an excellent place for all its residents to live, work, and play. They work hard to protect over 170 parks and other natural landscapes, including Mount Douglas Park, Cadboro Bay, and Arbutus Cove Park, for all to enjoy. Their work also involves planning year-round community events, like the Saanich Earth Day Festival, Saanich Strawberry Festival, and Saanich Flavour Trail.

To enjoy all the area offers, people come from far and wide to buy or rent homes in their price range. On average, homes for sale in Saanich list from $950,000, while condos start at around $500,000. Rent starts at $1,000 a month and goes up from there, depending on the property location, size, and amenities.

Cardova Bay lies about 20 minutes, or 12 kilometres, north of Victoria, BC. This city started as a popular seaside resort, thanks to its location right along the Salish Sea. People would visit by train and stagecoach to soak in the beauty of the waterfront at their leisure. Visitors loved to stroll along the sandy beaches, which offer an altogether different experience than all the other rocky shores nearby.

Since its inception, this city has gained over 8,000 residents. Locals love how the area feels far away from everything while offering quick access to Downtown Victoria. When residents don't want to shop in the cityscape, they can stop by Mattick's Farm for all they need. This upscale shopping centre has all the daily essentials and much more, ready to impress shoppers whenever they come by.

When the beaches aren't calling their names, residents can spend the day at the Cordova Bay Golf Course. This challenging 18-hole course promises to fill the day with golfing fun and plenty of practice hours on the putting greens.

Homes for sale in Cordova Bay list from the $700s, but the area's largest and most luxurious homes list from $1 million and up. Rentals cost about $2,400 a month, depending on their floorplans, amenities, and neighbourhood location.

Sidney is about 35 minutes, or 27 kilometres, north of Victoria. With its location along the shores of the Saanich Peninsula, this town offers endless opportunities to enjoy the waterfront year-round. For even more fun in the sun, residents can quickly jet off to any locale by taking a trip to the nearby Victoria International Airport. Residents also have easy access to the BC Ferries Swartz Bay Terminal and a port-of-call for the Washington State Ferries.

The Salish Sea is the main attraction in Sidney by far. Although the beaches are rocky, they always serve as a great place to picnic, play in the waves, and take sunset strolls. Rockhounds love to check out all the minerals that wash up daily, especially at Glass Beach near the Sidney Pier.

Nearby, residents can also find the Gulf Islands Natural Park Reserve, which is world-renowned as the place to go for excellent birdwatching and whale-watching excursions. While there, visitors can also stop by the Shaw Center for the Salish Sea to learn about all the local marine life.

Homebuyers can expect starting listing prices in the $500,000 range for single-family homes in Sidney, but luxury properties in the area list from $1 million and up. Rent is around $2,000 monthly, depending on the unit type, size, and location.

Langford is only 14 kilometres, or about 20 minutes, from Victoria via the Trans-Canada Highway. This city lies between the Salish Sea coast to the south and the Saanich Inlet to the north. Both inland and waterfront activities abound, giving residents plenty of fun things to do on their days off.

The cityscape did not get incorporated until 1992. Until then, it operated as an extension of Victoria, although it's always been a desirable place to live. Almost 50,000 people live in this community, and its population is constantly growing yearly. The year-round recreational activities are a big draw, but people also love the temperate climate, welcoming community vibes, and attractive home designs.

Shopping adventures are always on tap as well. Residents just have to go to the Millstream Village Shopping Center to find all the most popular stores, including PetSmart, Golf Town, Marshalls, Michaels, The Home Depot, and Costco.

Single-family homes in Langford list from around $1 million. Townhouses list for an average of $690,000, while condos average $500,000. Rental rates are $2,000 a month for a single-bedroom unit but can reach over $3,500 for a three-bedroom apartment.

The city of Colwood is located about 20 minutes, or 14 kilometres, down the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria, BC. This sprawling cityscape stretches along the coast of the Salish Sea, right next to Esquimalt. The Esquimalt Lagoon and the bird sanctuary on its barrier island comprise a significant portion of its coastal boundaries. Gorgeous natural landscapes extend from there, including Hatley Memorial Gardens and Royal Colwood Golf Club.

When residents want to get outdoors, they can choose over 50 greenspaces, including memorial parks, hiking trails, and beaches. Some public greenspaces combine the best of both worlds, like the Royal Beach Park Playground. Visitors can climb, swing, and jump around at this park on the play equipment before exploring every inch of the oceanfront.

Although much of the cityscape features residential neighbourhoods, there are a few restaurants, coffee shops, and stores in the area. Right on Sooke Road, for example, residents can find Save-On-Foods, DQ Colwood, Hardy's Bar & Grill, and many other popular spots to shop and eat.

Single-family homes in Colwood list from just under $1 million. Rent stays closer to an average of $2,150 depending on the property type, floorplan size, location, and amenities.

The Township of Esquimalt is across the Inner Harbour from Victoria, BC. All it takes is a 12-minute, five-kilometre drive to get there. The Salish Sea and other waterways surround this unique community on three sides. Community members can always enjoy the oceanfront to the fullest as a result. They can spend their days at nearby beaches or launch watercraft from local boat launches, like Fleming Beach.

Over 18,000 live in this township, happily residing in inviting neighbourhoods like Gorge Vale, Saxe Point, and Rock Heights. Thanks to the region's unique landscape, each neighbourhood has a big personality. Kinsman Gorge Park is a cozy seaside community featuring a regular farmer's market, the Gorge Waterway Nature House, and several attractive viewpoint parks. At the other end of the town is Saxe Point, which offers unmatched views of the Salish Sea. This neighbourhood allows residents to remain just minutes away from snorkelling and scuba adventures at the many dive sites.

When moving to the area, homebuyers can expect single-family homes for sale in Esquimalt to list from the $700s. Renters may pay anywhere from $1,800 to over $3,000 monthly to live in Esquimalt. Rental prices vary by property type, location, and amenities.

Each suburb near Victoria, BC, has its own charm and personality—and buying a home in most of them will help you lower the Victoria cost of living. To get a feel for which one warrants a move, just come by for a visit. After you do, it will be easy to see how the overall vibe and aesthetics align with your needs and preferences. For the ultimate experience, stay in the city proper for the week and explore one to two suburbs to see what they have to offer.