Moving to Whistler, BC

Whistler is a mountain town that feels like a year-round playground. Wake up to alpine air, spend afternoons on the bike park or hiking trails, and trade your sneakers for ski boots when the winter season arrives. If you want to move to Whistler, you should expect a lively mix of outdoor life, hospitality rhythms, and a tourism-driven calendar that shapes daily life in the village.

Homes in Whistler sit between compact village condos and high-end single-family homes on the valley slopes, so whether you come to Whistler for work or to live in Whistler full-time, the town has a distinct mountain rhythm.

Whistler sits about a 90-minute drive north of Vancouver along the Sea to Sky corridor, with Pemberton another roughly 30-minute drive north up the same highway. The town is officially the Resort Municipality of Whistler and occupies the valley below Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, so most local directions reference lifts, village plazas, or the highway.

Geographically, Whistler is part of British Columbia’s Sea to Sky region, which links coastal Vancouver to alpine communities and the agricultural valley around Pemberton; that short 30-minute drive between Whistler and Pemberton matters a lot if you’re weighing housing in Whistler versus more affordable options outside the resort.

Expect a market shaped by seasonality and strong demand for resort properties. Recent market reports show sales activity below five-year averages and higher inventory compared with a year earlier. Luxury sales remain active while overall dollar volume has softened compared with pre-pandemic years.

Average home values hover around $1,357,000 (CAD) for all property types as of August 2025, a 1.7 percent rise compared with the same month last year. Single-family benchmarks are closer to $2,820,000 (CAD) while townhomes trend near $1,700,000 (CAD) and most condos change hands for below $900,000 (CAD). 

Housing types range from ski-in ski-out condos and townhomes in Whistler Village to detached houses and ski chalets on nearby ridgelines.

If you are hunting homes in Whistler, know that the market swings between buyers in softer periods and seller advantage during high ski season. Pricing and days on market vary by product type and location within the valley.

Living in a ski resort community is notoriously expensive compared with larger urban centers. Everyday costs and housing both trend above provincial averages, and that shows up in average rental prices and seasonal price premiums. Short-term and furnished rental markets post strong nightly rates, and long-term average rental prices in Whistler are markedly higher than in adjacent towns like Pemberton or Squamish.

Groceries, dining, and services also carry a premium tied to the resort economy and logistics of mountain delivery; expect to pay more for convenience items and hospitality sector prices, and budget accordingly when you plan to move to Whistler or to find long-term housing in Whistler.

Electricity service in Whistler is handled through BC Hydro. Moving or starting electrical service is done directly through BC Hydro’s move-in pages. Natural gas, where available, is managed through FortisBC; both utilities provide online move and start options to get service set up before you arrive.

The Resort Municipality manages water and wastewater and publishes guidelines on drinking water quality and service contracts.

Internet and TV options come from regional providers such as TELUS or Shaw but availability and speeds can vary by building, so check service maps if remote work matters to you.

Whistler’s safety picture shifts with the tourist calendar. Local RCMP data from March 2025 recorded about 42 violent incidents per 10,000 residents, notably below the provincial average of 66. Property crime picks up during peak winter, when skis, boards, and unlocked vehicles become easy targets. Reports reached roughly 386 incidents per 10,000 residents in the 2024–25 season, with gear theft leading the list.

Daily life still feels relaxed if you follow common-sense habits. Residents lock bikes, register expensive equipment, and keep valuables out of cars, especially near trailheads and village lots. Residential pockets away from the main strip stay quieter, while the bar district can run lively after last call. 

Whistler has a mountain climate with snowy winters and mild, relatively wet summers. Environment and Climate Change Canada provides climate normals and forecasts that show cold, snowy conditions at elevation in winter and comfortable alpine summers. Expect consistent snowpack through the winter season on the higher slopes and changeable weather in the shoulder months.

Seasonal rhythm matters: ski season in Whistler typically peaks in midwinter and can extend from late fall into spring, while summer brings mountain biking, hiking, and warm daytime highs that feel alpine rather than coastal.

Public schools fall under the Sea to Sky School District (No. 48). Two elementary campuses, Myrtle Philip Community School and Spring Creek Community School, serve most valley neighbourhoods, while the francophone system operates École La Passerelle for K-7 families seeking full French instruction.

In the Fraser Institute’s January 2025 report card, Myrtle Philip earned a 6.9 out of 10, and Spring Creek posted a 6.8, both solid mid-table results among the province’s 948 elementary schools. 

Older students continue at Whistler Secondary School in Alpine Meadows, where classroom academics share space with trades workshops, outdoor-education projects, and a French Immersion program that carries on from elementary grades. Provincial data for the 2024 school year places its graduation rate above the British Columbia average, a sign that close-knit support and varied programs keep students on track.

The hospitality sector dominates local hiring; year-round roles include hotel work, lift operations, retail, food and beverage, and resort management, while seasonal hiring spikes around ski season and summer events. Tourism Whistler maintains regional career listings and employer resources that reflect the market’s hospitality focus.

Opportunities beyond hospitality exist in real estate, construction, healthcare, and municipal services, but many newcomers either plan for hospitality or seek remote work because local full-time positions can be limited and competitive.

If you want to work in Whistler, factor in seasonal hiring cycles and certification or licensing where applicable.

Getting to and from Vancouver is straightforward by car on the Sea to Sky Highway or via shuttle services.

Whistler Village is highly walkable, and local transit connects neighborhoods, lifts, and the surrounding valleys. The town’s compact footprint makes driving less necessary inside the village, though owning a vehicle is common for those who commute to nearby towns like Pemberton.

For visitors and residents alike, logistical planning around winter driving, parking availability, and peak-season transfers matters; if you plan to commute regionally, allow time for weather-related slowdowns on the highway.

Life in Whistler centers on outdoor activity and hospitality culture: skiing and snowboarding dominate winter days, while mountain biking, hiking, and alpine activities fill summer schedules. The town is social and event-driven, with live music, festivals, and a steady flow of visitors that keep restaurants and bars busy; expect a community where many people work in or around the ski resort.

If you like being close to trails, lifts, and a lively après scene, the Village lifestyle is a strong fit. For a quieter, less tourist-driven pace, look beyond the core to nearby neighbourhoods or surrounding towns.

Most errands start along the pedestrian Village Stroll, where you can pop into EVO or Showcase for ski and bike gear, then wander a few doors down for locally branded hoodies and artwork. Fresh St. Market keeps everyday groceries covered, while Nesters just north of the village carries a deeper produce selection and a reliable bakery counter.

On the food front, the choice spans quick fuel and date-night splurges. Araxi still draws food-lovers with regional seafood and an award-winning wine list, and Bearfoot Bistro is the place to saber Champagne before ice-cold vodka tastings in the cellar. Alta Bistro earns steady praise for French-inspired plates built around Pemberton produce, while Rimrock Café remains a long-time favourite for cedar-plank salmon and personable service. Casual meals land at spots like Peaked Pies for meat-filled pastries, El Furniture Warehouse for late-night burgers, or Nagomi for affordable sushi. Après crowds spill onto the Longhorn’s patio or pack the GLC above the gondola plaza, hunting pitchers and live-music sets once the lifts shut down.

Reservations help on weekends and powder days, but shoulder-season specials and locals’ happy-hour deals make dining out easier on the wallet if you know when to look.

Skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb and riding the PEAK 2 PEAK gondola are top draws, and the bike park turns summer into a world-class mountain biking playground. The resort’s lift network and summer alpine experiences make outdoor activities central to most visitor itineraries and resident pastimes.

Beyond the slopes, the valley offers hiking, lake paddling, cultural stops like the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, spas, and a music and festival calendar that keeps things lively year-round.

Whistler Blackcomb usually aims for an early November opening, weather permitting, and often keeps lifts spinning into late May on Blackcomb Glacier. Exact dates depend on snowfall and spring conditions, so check the resort’s annual schedule as winter approaches.

You can commute, but it is a long daily drive. Many people travel to Vancouver occasionally rather than daily, and shuttle services or remote work are common alternatives due to the 90-minute Sea to Sky route.

Yes. Gear shops, rental outlets, and season-pass offices are concentrated around Whistler Village and lift bases, and major pass products and ski-gear retailers operate on-site and online.

Yes. Neighborhoods on the valley outskirts and nearby communities offer quieter residential life, though you trade immediate lift access and village convenience for more privacy and sometimes lower prices.

Absolutely, though it takes some planning. Teachers, nurses, trades crews, and remote tech workers all call the valley home, and community groups, from kids’ sports clubs to volunteer ski patrol, make it easy to plug in. The catch is housing: rents run high and vacancies dip during peak seasons, so most newcomers line up long-term leases or room shares well ahead of moving day.

Timing matters. Resorts and restaurants recruit in early fall for winter and again in late spring for summer, and those hiring waves spill over into support roles like retail, childcare, and maintenance. 

Bring any required work permits, safety tickets, or professional licenses, and be ready to show a concrete housing plan. Employers know accommodations are tight and favor applicants who already have a place lined up.