FAQ

The cost of living in Prince Rupert is generally lower than a major city. Housing and rental prices, along with amenities like gas, trasnit, and recreation fees are all cheaper. Some items, like groceries, can be more expensive, due to the distance they have to travel. Property taxes, too, tend to be a bit higher relative to property value. The median income in Prince Rupert was $73,421 in 2015 (according to the last Statistics Canada survey), and is expected to rise with the increase in high paying jobs in port-related industries.

As an older community, Prince Rupert has a fairly wide-ranging age of housing stock. There are many heritage and character homes; many homes offer beautiful views of the ocean and outlying islands. An average home generally sells for between $250,000-$350,000, with houses that offer waterfront views generally coming in on the higher end or above that range.

BC Ferries, Air Canada via the Prince Rupert Airport, VIA Rail, Highway 16, the local Seaplane base flies to Alaska, Haida Gwaii and outlying communities. See the transportation page for more details.

Prince Rupert has a notoriously wet climate, and on average gets some level of precipitation for 240 days of the year. However that being said, the rain can often pass quickly, leaving way for the sun to poke through and create one of the region’s signature rainbows.

There are 5 elementary schools in Prince Rupert (one being a private Catholic School), as well as a middle school for students grade 6-8, and a high school serving students grade 9 -12. There is also an elementary school in the neighbouring bedroom community of Port Edward. The School District here also has a fulsome Aboriginal Education centre dedicated to creating a community that values and respects Aboriginal languages, cultures, histories, knowledge, skills, and people as an integral part of the education system and lifelong learning.

The outdoor scene in Prince Rupert is thriving. There’s so much to do, from walking or running the trails, enjoying the beautiful harbour by boat, kayak, or canoe, surfing at Tugweel island, skiing at Shames, golfing, mountain biking, and more.

The crime rate in Prince Rupert is notably almost exclusively related to offenders/victims that are known to one another, rather than “stranger on stranger” crime. In smaller communities due to smaller populations, statistics can also be skewed from year to year by the presence of one or two prolific offenders, who can make quite an impact to the overall crime rate. For these reasons, as well as due to a change to how crime is categorized, Prince Rupert received a higher ranking in 2019 than in years past. However, the community is still a very safe one—with almost no incidences of violent crime.

The economy of Prince Rupert is quickly diversifying, with employment opportunities across almost all sectors. From trades to teachers, from hospitality to the hospital, there are positions that suit every type and level of skill and experience. The biggest industry is trade, with the major employers being the container facility, coal, wood pellet, and grain terminals, to two additional propane off loading facilities, log sort, logistics areas, and a number of ancillary industries and trades that are needed to service North America’s fastest growing port. In addition, there are many public sector opportunities.

Prince Rupert is a close-knit and safe community, where neighbours are always willing to lend a helping hand. This, and so much more, make it a great place to raise a family. There are a myriad of options for after-school activities, from the “Good Times Games” shop to the recreational soccer, hockey, rugby, and golf teams. The city’s small size means more fun: you can head straight from school to dance or gymnastics, or out on a harbour cruise in less than 10 minutes.