Cost of Living In Whistler, BC

Morning sun finds fresh snow on the peaks in January, while spring afternoons trade skis for mountain bikes and summer nights linger around patio firepits under starlit ridgelines. Life here looks like a postcard yet runs on the steady pulse of a working resort, so living costs mirror both the scenery and the squeeze of limited housing.

If you’re browsing Whistler homes for sale or thinking about a move, be ready for prices influenced by year-round locals, seasonal staff, and vacation-home buyers all shopping the same small market. The numbers that follow spell out those expenses and compare them with Vancouver and Squamish to help you map a realistic mountain budget.

As of September 2025, the average sale price across all Whistler properties is about $1,373,000 (CAD). Detached chalets average roughly $3,400,000 (CAD), townhomes sit near $1,600,000 (CAD), and condo apartments come in around $406,000 (CAD).

Homes steps from the gondola or overlooking Blackcomb often exceed the averages, while older cabins in Alpine Meadows or duplex lots in Bayshores trend closer to the medians.

Seasonal inventory shifts nudge numbers, yet the bigger driver is product mix; more chalet sales push the average up, whereas a condo-heavy month brings it down. Prices stay elevated because buildable land is scarce and luxury demand remains steady.

Rental prices in Whistler are among the highest in B.C. for comparable unit types.

Listing sites and renters’ market trackers show one-bedroom apartments commonly listed between roughly $2,300 (CAD) and $3,800 (CAD) per month, depending on season, location (village centre versus Creekside or Bayshores), and whether the place is fully furnished. 

If you plan to rent per month, expect variation: a fully furnished one-bedroom in the village centre or a condo marketed to tourists will be at the upper end; a shared house, a basement suite, or a Pemberton rental (commutable in some cases) will usually be cheaper. Tenants looking to save often consider shared house setups or look outside the immediate village.

When you buy property in Whistler, you face provincial property transfer tax rules plus the town’s municipal property tax.

British Columbia’s Property Transfer Tax (PTT) structure is tiered (1% up to $200,000; 2% up to $2M; 3% beyond that; higher bands apply for very expensive properties), and the provincial site is the authoritative reference.

On top of PTT, Whistler council and the Resort Municipality set municipal property tax rates; recent municipal budgets included notable increases (the RMOW approved significant rate adjustments into 2025), so annual property tax bills for homeowners are meaningfully higher than they might have been a few years ago.

There are also other seller/buyer considerations in B.C. (first-time buyer exemptions, additional transfer taxes for non-residents in specified regions, and policy proposals such as short-term ownership or flipping taxes at the provincial level), so buyers should budget for transfer taxes and check exemptions that might apply to their purchase.

A small condo that draws about 400 kWh of electricity per month pays roughly $45 (CAD) for power, while a larger home using closer to 750 kWh comes in near $85 (CAD). Natural-gas heat adds about $50 (CAD) per month on average, rising toward $90 (CAD) in the coldest stretch. Municipal charges from the Resort Municipality of Whistler for water, sewer, and solid-waste collection total around $100 (CAD) per month.

Put together, a one-bedroom condo typically sees utility bills of about $150 to $200 (CAD) in most months. A detached home with higher energy use can expect $300 to $400 (CAD) during peak winter.

Grocery costs in resort towns tend to run higher than provincial averages because of freight, tourism demand, and a smaller retail base.

Local cost-of-living trackers for Whistler show basic grocery items and supermarket prices slightly above larger Canadian centres when measured item-for-item. A reasonable grocery budget for a single person cooking at home might land in the $300–700 (CAD) per month range, depending on habits; shoppers and expats used to lower supermarket prices will notice the difference.

If you’re trying to live cheaply, shop sales, use local deals, buy larger packs, or consider Squamish or Pemberton supermarkets for occasional bulk runs. That said, local culture with its cafés and specialty shops makes eating out part of life in Whistler, and restaurant meals are priced at a premium compared with non-resort cities.

Whistler is unusually walkable for a resort town, and the local bus system keeps many daily trips inexpensive.

Single-ride fares on the Whistler Transit System have historically been low (about $2.50 (CAD) per trip), with day, monthly, and annual pass options for regular users; the system is operated in partnership with BC Transit and the RMOW. Routes and schedules change seasonally to accommodate ski and summer traffic, and many residents use bike racks on buses for summer mountain biking commutes.

Car ownership adds other costs: fuel, insurance (B.C. insurance and market premiums), winter tires, and parking fees, which in the village can be expensive or limited in peak season. 

The most recent 2025 estimate from World Population Review places Whistler’s median household income at $99,000 (CAD), while the average household income sits higher at $127,300 (CAD).

Both figures outpace the provincial median of roughly $85,000 (CAD) and reflect a mix of year-round professional roles and higher-earning second-home owners.

High incomes help offset resort-level housing costs for some residents, yet many seasonal workers and service employees still share housing to keep expenses manageable.

Compared with the Canadian average, Whistler is more expensive across the big three categories: housing costs, eating out and groceries, and accommodation-linked services.

Compared with larger centres like Vancouver, Whistler may be similar or higher on housing per square foot in premium locations, but lower in some everyday services that are locally supplied. Compared with smaller non-resort cities, Whistler is clearly more expensive.

Cost-of-living trackers show Whistler above national averages for rent and everyday restaurant prices, and Statistics Canada’s national grocery trends indicate grocery inflation continued in 2024, so expect prices in Whistler to vary seasonally and to be clearly above many cities in Canada when measured as “total cost” per month.

For people looking to move to Whistler, the trade-off is lifestyle: mountain access for skiing and snowboarding, trail systems for mountain biking, and a strong social life clustered around cafés, restaurants in Whistler village, and outdoor events. Those lifestyle perks are part of why housing costs and monthly expenses are high.

Expect to pay a premium. Median and average prices vary by property type; luxury single-family homes and chalets carry the highest per-unit prices, while condos and townhomes are the more attainable segments, though still above many non-resort markets. Local market reports through late 2024 and early 2025 document that pricing shifts quickly with luxury transactions.

Yes. The Whistler Transit System has frequent local routes, affordable single fares, and monthly passes that make living in the village with limited or no car practical for many residents, especially if you live near the village centre or a main route. Expect some service changes between winter and summer schedules.

Grocery item prices in Whistler tend to be higher than in larger urban markets because of freight and tourism demand; national data show grocery inflation slowed in 2024 but still added to monthly costs. If you are price-sensitive, checking weekly flyers and buying bulk in larger towns can save money.

Often yes. Pemberton and Squamish typically offer lower housing and rental prices than Whistler, though commute time and transportation costs increase; for some buyers and tenants, the total cost to live and work can be lower outside Whistler even when factoring fuel or transit. Local market updates show different momentum in Pemberton versus Whistler, so compare current listings before deciding.

Season passes (or multi-day passes) represent a meaningful annual cost for skiers and snowboarders. Season pass products vary by program and year; Whistler Blackcomb and major pass programs publish that pricing and the range of pass types each season, so include that when you budget for winter and summer costs. Pass pricing is frequently updated by Whistler Blackcomb each season.

Finding work is realistic. Whistler hires across hospitality, retail, mountain operations, and professional services, but many roles are seasonal and wages vary. If you plan to live and work in Whistler, prioritize early job searches, consider shared housing or employer housing options, and budget for the local costs outlined above.