Student flies to college to save on soaring rent in Canada, calls it 'super-commuting'

The student has completed a remarkable seven round trips in January alone. (Representational)

An economics student at a Canadian university has taken an unconventional approach to tackle the issue of sky-rocketing rent in cities. Tim Chen, a final-year student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, devised an extraordinary commuting strategy, flying nearly two hours each way from his home in Calgary to attend classes.

This unorthodox method, which he calls "Super-commuting," sheds light on the extreme measures individuals are willing to take to cope with exorbitant off-campus housing prices. He flies to college twice a week.

Chen's decision to embark on this journey is rooted in the financial challenges posed by Vancouver's housing market. The exorbitant prices for off-campus housing left him with limited options. Chen told CTV News., "I thought, why don’t I just stay at Calgary and then just fly here, it’s like a one-hour flight, that’s like the same as taking a bus."

Utilizing Air Canada for his unique commute, Chen completed a remarkable seven round trips in January alone.

Chen's monthly expenditure on air travel, approximately $890, pales in comparison to the steep rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver, which can reach $1,550. By opting for this alternative, Chen manages to save money while efficiently balancing academics and cost-effective living.

"I’ve got three hours of class in total, after the class, I go back to the bus and go back to the airport!" Chen added.

Interestingly, Chen's situation sheds light on a broader trend at UBC, where some students have resorted to unconventional living arrangements, including living out of vans, due to the unaffordability of traditional housing options.

A Wall Street Journal journalist also recently admitted to commuting daily from Ohio to his Midtown Manhattan job, driven by the economic calculus of affordability.