Quality of Life

Opportunity is waiting in Prince Edward Island for you to enjoy a unique and unparalleled lifestyle. Our Island boasts a breathtaking atmosphere that only a coastal province can provide. Matched with clean air and safe, welcoming communities, you will find an environment as unique as our Island culture. 

Our people leverage the advantages of our small province to create a lifestyle they truly value. In fact, a 2018 poll study confirmed 90% of Islanders believe their quality of life to be either “excellent” or “good”. PEI is such a special place that last year alone, over a million people chose it as their vacation destination. Those of us living here get to benefit from the Island’s charming way of life every single day – enjoying endless opportunities for adventure year-round. 

Opportunity is waiting to…

•  Find the space you need to support a balance between work, relaxation, and adventure.
•  Settle roots and raise your family in a tight-knit community that is welcoming, clean, safe, and supportive.
• Join a community that gives back – 40% of Islanders volunteer their time across the Island. Well above the Canadian average of 35%.
• Bring more time to your day, ditch the daily commute and instead spend time on what is meaningful and valuable to you. Over 50% of Islanders live within 7km from their workplace. 
• Take in the beauty of local art, music, theatre and craft, exploring the Island’s rich culture.
• Live life outdoors and explore and experience all four seasons – Over 700km of active transportation paths, over 400 golf fairways, and over 800km of beautiful beaches along the Island’s shoreline.
• Taste the Island, and enjoy the many culinary experiences across PEI where talented chefs serve up the best local ingredients and the Island’s agriculture, seafood and meat products.
• Bring the full you, adding to a rich, increasingly diverse culture and what it means to be an ‘Islander’.

Environment and Recreation

With idyllic rolling hills, white and red sand beaches, fields of green and gold, and open space galore, Prince Edward Island is known worldwide for its natural beauty. Our landscape and environment has helped shape our Island way of life for many years. People are drawn to our province by the beauty and charm but stay for the accessibility to the great outdoors and the opportunity to explore. 

No matter where you live in PEI, you are minutes away from the tranquility of our island beaches. Beaches people plan their vacations around.

In PEI we experience four full seasons, and no matter the time of year there are endless opportunities to explore: 

• Discover fantastic walking trails, boardwalks, and cycling paths that span the Island.
• Spend your summer days golfing championship golf courses, boating or kayaking our deep blue waters, or cycling from town to town and exploring the Island.
• Snow typically begins to fall in November. On Average, the Island experiences a total annual snowfall of 290 centimeters.

Our Climate commitment – PEI is committed to some of the most aggressive climate action commitments in Canada, including reaching the goal of Net 0 emissions by 2040. 

Interested in learning more about how Islanders are supporting these targets?

Education for the Future

Parents can be sure their children will have access to quality education in Prince Edward Island. With a total student enrollment of just over 20,000 learners across the Island, students benefit from small class sizes, excellent support resources and facilities. All 62 public schools in PEI are governed by one of the province’s two school boards and follow the same high-quality curriculum.

In PEI, the Public Schools Branch is responsible for 56 English language schools spread across the province. While  La Commission Scolaire de langue francaise is responsible for 6 of the Island’s French-language schools. PEI’s culture is deeply connected to its Acadian history and francophone communities. Children in PEI have the option to experience their education in French or English from kindergarten through to twelfth grade. 

A recent Pan-Canadian Assessment Program shows that 92% of students in PEI performed at or above the national average in mathematics, Island students also achieved scores amongst the highest in Canada in both science and reading. A testament to the quality education delivered across our Island schools. 

Two PEI high schools also offer students the opportunity to enroll in the International Baccalaureate program. An internationally recognized, and challenging two-diploma program that aims to develop critical thinking skills and prepare students for post-secondary study and beyond.

For parents that are interested,  PEI currently has five private schools.

Post-Secondary Options 

Child Care

The experiences children have early in life have a direct impact on their overall growth, development and well-being. To support parents in accessing care for their children, the province of Prince Edward Island created the PEI Early Learning & Child Care Registry, providing parents and guardians with an easy way to search, and sign up for early learning programs and child care across the province. 

• PEI’s early learning & child care system ranked #1 in Canada
•  Early learning and child care model includes high-quality early years centres that have regulated parent fees, a wage grid for early childhood educators, parent advisory committees, and funding for children with special needs;
• The Island’s publicly managed system approves new licenses based on community needs;
• early years centres follow a provincial curriculum;
• all staff must be certified

Early Childhood Development Association of PEI – A provincial, non-profit organization committed to promoting and supporting quality development programs and services for island children and families

Healthcare

Health PEI is responsible for the delivery of publicly funded health services across Prince Edward Island. The organization and all island healthcare workers are committed to providing quality healthcare to all islanders, where they need it and when they need it. 

The organization’s primary goals are to : 

• Provide Islanders with safe, quality, person-centered care and services
• Provide access to appropriate care by the right provider in the right setting 
• Optimize resources and processes to sustain a viable healthcare system

The organization operates 7 Hospitals, including 2 Acute Care Hospitals, and 1 Psychiatric Hospital. Health PEI also operates 26 community health sites, and 9 long-term care homes across the province.

Cost of Living

Prince Edward Island’s ease of access to amenities and outdoor adventures, combined with our quality of life offers high value at a lower cost than many major cities.

Depending on which community you call home, the 2021 market basket threshold for a family of four in Prince Edward Island was listed between $44,753 and $46,5551. Lower than many other urban cities including Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Halifax.

With more money in your pocket, you will be able to spend more on what is important to you.

Check out our cost of living comparison tool to learn more.

Cost of living in Charlottetown compared to Toronto, ON.

While the housing market in Charlottetown has seen growth over the last number of years, by moving to Charlottetown, your monthly housing costs could see a drop of 34%. Finding the right home to invest in and establish roots just got that much more affordable. Combined with a variety of transportation options like public transit or accessible bike lanes and virtually no rush hour to speak of – there are so many ways to cut down on commute costs, and commute times. With more money in your pocket, you have more to spend on other expenses like food, experiences and the things that keep life interesting!

Cost of living in Charlottetown as compared to Halifax, NS.

With housing costing roughly 17% less in Charlottetown, perhaps now is the time to invest in a new home in the perfect community for you and your family. Housing savings combined with increased transportation savings mean you have more money in your pocket for what’s important to you. Access to high-quality options for everything from local shops and restaurants, to unique cultural events – some extra costs for other expenses is well worth it! 

Cost of living in Charlottetown as compared to Winnipeg, MB.

Is the East Coast calling? With housing costing 16% less in Charlottetown, now could be the time to relocate to one of our safe and welcoming communities. With savings in housing and transportation costs, spending a little more to have access to diverse, high-quality options for everything from local shops and food to dog grooming services and unique cultural events, and some extra costs for other expenses are worth it! Enjoy the amenities of a beautiful city, while being only minutes from the nearest beach or golf course. 

Cost of living in Charlottetown as compared to Montreal, QC.

With a diverse variety of housing options in some of the Island’s most sought-after communities, you might just find the perfect home that suits your budget and access to excellent schools and amenities you come to expect in larger metros. Our people enjoy high-quality options for everything from local shops and food to dog grooming services and unique cultural events, some extra costs for other expenses are worth it! Enjoy the amenities of a beautiful, clean and safe city, while being only minutes from the nearest beach or golf course. 

Cost of living in Charlottetown as compared to Calgary, AB.

With the money you save on housing and transportation costs, combined with shorter commute times and virtually zero rush hour – you could save yourself time and money! With a variety of housing options in communities that are safe, clean, welcoming, and with access to high-quality amenities you’ve come to expect from larger metros – opportunity is waiting in PEI. 

Cost of living in Charlottetown as compared to Vancouver, BC.

Ready to leave one coast for the other? Or perhaps you’re ready to leave behind the hustle and bustle that comes from living in one of Canada’s largest cities. Replace the noise of honking cars and busy streets with the sounds of waves crashing on the beach. Plus, with all the money you could save on costs like housing and transportation, you now have more in your pocket to spend on the things that are important to you. Our people enjoy high-quality options for everything from local shops, quailty restaurants and unique cultural events, some extra costs for other expenses are well worth it! 

Arts

Prince Edward Island’s breath-taking beauty and supportive creative community is an inspiration for artists and craftspeople across the globe, leading to our thriving art scene. We’re renowned for storytelling through our proud traditions of music, dance and theatre. With venues big and small across the Island, there is no shortage of incredible experiences to take in.

→  Discover PEI theatre, music, and dance on stages across the Island.
→ Take in Island artwork at galleries and studios across the Island.

Festivals and Events

Whether you’re joining the crowd for a big music festival, enjoying a small town ceilidh, shopping in a holiday market, or sampling local cuisine, there’s always something to celebrate in Prince Edward Island.

→ Learn more at FestivalsPEI.com

Community

There’s no shortage of ways to get involved on Prince Edward Island. Whether you like to spend your spare time volunteering for causes you are passionate about, exploring new hobbies and creative outlets, or playing sports competitively or recreationally, you’ll find the people, spaces, and support you need to do just that.

→ Sports and Recreation in PEI 

→ Volunteer Opportunities in PEI

Dining

Across Prince Edward Island, you’ll find award-winning restaurants and culinary experiences to assuage your appetite, discover local ingredients, and find out why we’ve earned the name Canada’s Food Island:

→ Explore Island Restaurants

→ Craft Breweries & Wineries

→ Culinary Experiences

Acadian & Francophone Regions

Other popular links: La Cooperative D’integration francophone de I’lle du-Prince-Edourd, Public Schools of Prince Edward Island, Wellington Rural Action Centre, RDEE Ile-Du-Prince-Edouard, Chambre De Commerce Acadienne Et Francophone De L’I.-P.-E.