FIRST THINGS FIRST
So you want to move to Whistler (or almost any mountain town in Canada at this point!), theres a few things you should know and consider before taking the leap. Of course, moving to a mountain town or ski resort isn’t quite as simple as booking a flight and turning up with a suitcase.
FIND ACCOMMODATION BEFORE YOU GO
I cannot stress this enough. I’ve been asked countless times about advice jobs, ski/board equipment, making friends etc. but this is all irrelevant if you dont have anywhere to live, this is your number one hurdle, is a make or break. Ive seen plenty of people leave, I almost had to leave a handful of times, because there is a huge housing crisis. Most jobs won’t even hire you if you haven’t got housing. A few years ago, moving inland would be the alternative, however over the years it has become a similar issue.
JOB WITH SKI PASS IS IDEAL, BUT DO NOT FOCUS ON THIS
Sure, the first thing you want to benefit from is a ‘free’ ski pass – however look at the wage and other benefits offered at the job. Often if youre employed by the mountain, it is minimum wage (and if you’re ok with that and just want an easy way in, go for it!), but sometimes youre better off finding a job in a hotel or elsewhere, and they have payment plans or the wage is higher making up for it anyways.
THE REALITY
For years, I’d imagined waking up surrounded by mountains, spending my days outdoors and swapping the usual routine for something a little more adventurous. Eventually, the idea of moving stopped being a daydream and started becoming a plan.
The cost of living though can be high compared with many other places. Rent, groceries and everyday expenses all need to be considered before making the move.
There’s also the practical side of moving abroad. If you’re coming from another country, you’ll need to research the appropriate visa or work permit, healthcare arrangements, banking and other essentials before you arrive.
The dream is important, but so is having a plan.
LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK
The biggest change is probably how you spend your free time.
When you live somewhere like Whistler, the outdoors becomes part of your everyday routine rather than something you have to travel to.
In winter, that might mean getting up early for a day on the slopes, heading out for a few runs after work or simply enjoying a snowy walk through the village.
In summer, it could mean hiking before breakfast, jumping into a lake after work or heading out on a mountain bike at the weekend.
There’s also a strong social scene. The villages usually have plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars, and there always seems to be something happening.
But you don’t have to be an expert skier, snowboarder or mountain biker to enjoy living there. One of the nicest things about a mountain town is simply being surrounded by people who enjoy getting outside.
The Things Nobody Tells You
Moving somewhere beautiful doesn’t automatically make every day perfect.
There will be homesickness. There will be expensive grocery shops. There will be long working days, bad weather and moments when you question why you decided to leave home in the first place.
Mountain-town life can also be intense. The seasons are busy, accommodation is competitive and personal space isn’t always easy to come by. But those challenges are part of the experience.
You learn to adapt. You become more comfortable with uncertainty. You meet people quickly, because almost everyone is in the same boat.
And gradually, somewhere that once felt completely unfamiliar starts to feel like home.
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely.
Moving to Whistler wasn’t necessarily about making a permanent life-changing decision. I planned on taking a year off university! For some people, it’s a few months and it sticks that way, or visas only permit. For others, it’s a year that turns into much longer.
There’s something incredibly rewarding about stepping away from the familiar and putting yourself somewhere new. You get the chance to meet different people, experience a completely different lifestyle and discover what you actually want from everyday life.
And yes, the mountains help.
There are mornings when you look outside and realise you’re living somewhere that people travel thousands of miles to visit.
That’s when you remember why you came.
Thinking About Moving to Whistler?
If you’re considering making the move, do your research, save more money than you think you’ll need, if needed, sort out your visa and accommodation plans early, and don’t expect everything to go perfectly.
But don’t let the practical challenges put you off either.
Sometimes the biggest adventures start with a decision that feels slightly unrealistic.
For me, moving to Whistler was about more than moving to a new place. It was about choosing a different way of living — one where adventure was no longer something reserved for holidays, but something that could become part of everyday life.
And that, ultimately, is the magic of moving to the mountains.