Essentials
- City
- Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Population
- Approximately 38,809 (City), 83,000 (Greater Area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-500 Mbps via Bell Aliant FibreOP
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD; Major banks include RBC, TD, and Scotiabank on University Ave
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable; high-quality groundwater source
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Bell, Rogers, Telus; available at Charlottetown Mall ($40-70/month for 20GB+)
- Banking for Expats
- TD Bank, Scotiabank, and Wise/Revolut are widely accepted
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Canada Homes for Rent, and Kijiji for local listings
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit/debit (Tap) accepted everywhere from taxis to markets
- Short Term Rentals
- The Holman Grand Hotel ($220/night) or Airbnb lofts in Downtown
- Budget Accommodation
- Charlottetown Backpackers Inn ($40/night for bunk, 123 Weymouth St)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historic District / Waterfront (near Victoria Row)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Brighton or Downtown (walkable to cafes and waterfront)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Startup Zone (31 Water St) - Day passes approx. $25, monthly $200
- Best Cafe for Work
- Receiver Coffee Co. (128 Richmond St) - High-speed Wi-Fi and ample seating
- Networking Events
- PEI Business Women’s Association and Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber events
- Social Events for Expats
- Immigrant & Refugee Services Association (IRSA) PEI mixers
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Kari (local ride-share app) or Yellow Cab
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- MacQueen's Bike Shop (430 Queen St) - Approx. $35/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Brackley Beach (PEI National Park) - 20 mins drive north
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Canada Express (flights to Toronto/Montreal)
- Top International Airline
- Porter Airlines or WestJet (with US connections)
- Highway Access
- Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1) connects to the Confederation Bridge
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Charlottetown T3 Transit Hub (Confederation Court Mall stop)
- Public Transport Passes
- T3 Transit - $2.00 per ride or $65.00 for a monthly pass
- Regional Travel
- Maritime Bus (service to Moncton and Halifax)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital (60 Riverside Dr)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Modo Yoga Charlottetown (249 University Ave) - $20 drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Atlantic Fitness Centre (18抵岸 St) - $15 day pass
- Laundry Services
- Clean It All Laundromat (342 University Ave)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- SkipTheDishes and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Lobster Roll at Dave's Lobster or COWS Creamery Ice Cream
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- My Plum, My Mother's (6 Brown’s Ct) - fully plant-based
- Best Dessert Spots
- Receiver Coffee Co. and COWS (150 Queen St)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Atlantic Superstore and No Frills
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca and BestBuy.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and PC Express
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Victoria Row (Richmond St) and Beer Garden (Summer-only)
- Local Brewery
- PEI Brewing Co. (96 Kensington Rd) and Upstreet Craft Brewing
- Wine Bars
- The Sims Corner Steakhouse & Oyster Bar (86 Queen St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Founders' Food Hall & Market (6 Prince St)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Hojo’s Japanese Cuisine (119 Kent St)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Province House National Historic Site and Victoria Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- Confederation Centre of the Arts (145 Richmond St)
- Historical Sites
- Beaconsfield Historic House (2 Kent St)
- Religious Sites
- St. Dunstan's Basilica (65 Great George St)
- Annual Events
- Charlottetown Festival (Anne of Green Gables Musical), Jazz & Blues Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Historic Downtown / Great George Street
- Theater Venues
- The Guild (111 Queen St)
- Local Markets
- Charlottetown Farmers' Market (100 Belvedere Ave) - Saturdays
- Music Scene
- The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse (live traditional music)
- Street Art
- Eckhart the Mouse statues and mural at Receiver Coffee
- Cooking Classes
- The Culinary Institute of Canada (4 Sydney St)
- Art Galleries
- The Robert Harris Gallery (Confederation Centre)
- Historic Buildings
- Government House (Fanningbank)
- Local Heritage
- Birthplace of Confederation (1864 Conference)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Victoria Park Boardwalk (Downtown waterfront)
- National Parks Nearby
- Prince Edward Island National Park (25km away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Confederation Trail (273km tip-to-tip rail trail crossing the city)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Peake's Wharf at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wright’s Creek and Hyde Park (Cornwall)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated pits at Tea Hill Provincial Park (10 mins away)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post (Confederation Court Mall), FedEx
- Tech Repair Services
- Most Wanted Tech (121 St. Peters Rd)
- Table Tennis Spots
- UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre
- Language Classes
- Study Abroad Canada Language Institute (223 Grafton St)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- PEI Public Library (Confederation Centre)
- Community Centers
- Murphy's Community Centre (200 Richmond St)
- Gaming Lounges
- The Hive + Honeycomb (Board game cafe, 119 Grafton St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Red Shores Racetrack & Casino (21 Exhibition Dr)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000 CAD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000 CAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $252,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $440,000 CAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $312,000 CAD)
- Corporate Tax
- 31% Combined (12.5% Federal + 16% PEI Lower rate for small business is approx 11%)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (often reduced to 5-15% via treaties)
- Tax System
- Residency-based; Worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 51.37% (Federal + Provincial combined)
- VAT
- 15% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes (Foreign Accrual Property Income - FAPI rules)
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.5% of assessed value (higher for non-residents)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1% Real Property Transfer Tax; waived for first-time PEI residents
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific 0% nomad tax; federal tax credits apply