What you need to know about Renting in Whistler (2024 Guide)

You’ve made the decision to move to Whistler – in this blog post I list the best neighborhoods to live in Whistler, the best websites to search for rental properties and how much rent you can expect to pay per month.

Whistler has been my home for the past two years, and what a crazy, beautiful madness it is. Living in Whistler is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever lived. It’s an adrenalin junkie’s dream, with skiing & snowboarding being the sport of choice in the Winter. Which winter sport you choose will determine your destiny here. More on that below.

I’m sure you’ve already heard/ read that Whistler is one of the best ski destinations in the world. And in Summer you can enjoy downhill mountain biking or kayaking in its many lakes. You can even try your hand at the very unique sports of bobsledding and axe-throwing in Whistler. There are just so many unique things to do in Whistler!

We faced a lot of hurdles finding a suitable rental property in Whistler and so I’ve put together this incredibly detailed blog post to help you successfully find a place to rent in Ireland. I also have a blog post on moving to Whistler, it’s an incredibly detailed guide.

P.S. If you’re interested in applying for a Working Holiday Visa to Canada, read all my detailed instructions!

Finding a Home to Rent in Whistler

As you can imagine, it can be very difficult to find decent housing in Whistler. It is a very competitive market, and rent can be quite expensive (depending on the area you wish to move to). Before starting your search, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself first –

1. How much rent can I afford?
2. What area do you want to live in? Try to narrow it down to at least 5 areas.
3. What does your ‘ideal rental property’ look like? How many bedrooms does it have? Does it have a garden? Parking? etc.

How Do I Get Accommodation in Whistler?

• Join the local housing groups on Facebook such as Whistler Housing Rentals for Locals and Whistler Winter or Summer to find apartments and rooms for rent

• Search in the Pique – the local online magazine classifieds section

• Register your interest with local letting agencies like Whistler Property; Mountain Country or Whistler Property Management

• Ensure you have good previous rental references (even if they are from overseas) and enough money for a bond and your first months rent

• Try to arrive in Whistler before the peak seasons begin – if you’re planning to stay for the Winter season, arrive in October, and for the Summer season, arrive in April. This way, you will have more choices and slightly more reasonable rental options available to you.

How much is Rent in Whistler?

Rent prices in Whistler vary massively – our two-bedroom apartment in Bayshores was $1,800 CAD per month. Which was very reasonable, but the maximum number of tenants allowed was two. A big plus was it had a large wrap-around balcony and garden. However, we signed our lease for this back in 2018. And here in B.C. landlords can only increase your rent by 3.5% every 12 months.

For units in Whistler Village, you are likely going to pay at least $2,800 CAD per month for a studio and from $3,000 CAD for a one-bedroom apartment. If you go further afield to Pemberton (a 30-minute drive), average rental prices for a one-bedroom decrease to about $2,200 CAD per month. Further away in Squamish, a 45-minute drive from Whistler, you’re looking at about the same at $2,200 CAD for a one-bedroom.

If you really want to save money on rent, you can rent a bed in a room in or near Whistler Village for about $1,500 CAD per month; this is just a bed, so you will be sharing the room with one or two other people. Again, this price massively depends on where the house is located and the condition of it. Some share houses are truly awful. Similarly, you can rent your own room in a shared house for around $2,000 CAD per room.

The Best Neighborhoods to Live in Whistler

There are a couple of neighbourhoods in Whistler, here I will list the best/most popular. We lived in Bayshores for two full years and loved it.

Whistler Cay

Is the closest area to Whistler village. The prices here are a little more expensive, but the apartments/ houses here are generally in good condition

Creekside

The “original Whistler village” is a mini-village in itself and has some stores, bars and even the gondola to go up the mountain – meaning you don’t have to make your way into Whistler to ski

Bayshores

A family-friendly neighborhood with some beautiful chalet-style homes. It is a 10-15 minute drive into Whistler and a 15-20 minute walk to Creekside. Regular bus services operate from here.

Alpine Meadow/ Rainbow

Home to Meadow Park Sports Center and a large supermarket. It is a very popular and relatively cheap area to rent. It’s a 10-15 minute drive into Whistler, with a regular bus service operating.

Function Junction/ Cheakamus Crossing

These are the first neighborhoods you will come across as you drive up from Vancouver. Function Junction is more of an industrial area with some housing scattered within, it is home to the locally famous Re-use It Center. Cheakamus Crossing is the furthest neighbourhood from Whistler village, but most of the rental units here are new.

The Best Short-Term Apartment Rentals in Whistler

We recommend (if your budget allows) renting a cheap short-term apartment whilst you look for suitable long-term housing – here’s a list of some apartments we recommend –

• This super-comfortable studio apartment in Whistler’s Upper Village is truly gorgeous. Handily, the Blackcomb Gondola is just a 2-minute walk away. Average nightly price is $181 CAD per night!
• This Studio apartment for $230 CAD per night is located within the Mountain Side Hotel in Whistler Village. It’s ski-in-ski-out and is rated highly 9.5/10) by past guests

• Or book a cheap private room in Whistler Lodge Hostel on Nordic Drive for about $113 CAD per night!
• This studio apartment at Blackcomb Spring Suites in the Upper Village offers a hot tub, full kitchen, and views of Blackcomb Mountain. The hotel itself has a swimming pool and gym! Expect to pay from $230 CAD per night.

Best Websites to Search for a Rental Property in Whistler

• On Facebook Groups such as Whistler Housing Rentals for Locals and/or Whistler Winter or Summer 

• Search in the Pique – the local online magazine classifieds section

• Search on the websites of local letting agencies like Whistler Property; Mountain Country or Whistler Property Management

Applying for a Rental Property in Whistler

The documents you should have at every viewing include:

• A form of I.D like your drivers licence, passport or other form of photographic I.D.
• References from past landlords
• A current work reference
• A current payslip or bank statement that shows your income

What You Need to Know About Paying for Utilities in Whistler

Utilities are typically not included in the monthly rent price in Whistler, so make sure you have additional savings to pay for electricity/gas and WiFi. When renting in Whistler, you need to set up the utility accounts (gas, electric, WiFi, etc.) in your own name.

Ask your landlord which companies supply your gas and electricity, as it’s easier to stick with the same companies. You can of course shop around to get the best deal.WiFi and TV providers are competitive in Whistler, so make sure you shop around to get the best deal.

There’s no curbside waste collection in Whistler so you must physically bring your household waste to the rubbish depot at either Nesters (8010 Nesters Road) or Function Junction (1001 Lynham Road).

We didn’t pay any water charges in Whistler.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Thanks so much for reading. I hope this guide has helped you plan your move to Whistler! If you found this blog helpful, be sure to browse around some more! I have guides on  Canadian road trip tips, luxury vacation to Whistler as well as doing a ski season in Whistler and so much more!!

Last Updated on March 27, 2024 by snaphappytravel