"IQALUIT" Iqaluit by Gina867

Dress warm...even in summer you'll find it to be colder than WHEREVER you've come from.
Bring as many items from home as you can. Many products of all kinds are unavailable here, and even if they are, you'll pay twice as much for them.
If you're looking for souveniers, just go out to eat. The locals go from table to table in every restaurant selling their prints and carvings.
There are strict liquor restrictions in Nunavut, so you won't find a liquor store anywhere in the North. If you want a drink, head to the Tulugak Bar in the Frobisher Inn hotel, or call the Legion and ask for a visitor guest pass. This will be extremely enjoyable for the 19-30 traveller!
Wait until you get home to develop any pictures you take. Processing will take weeks at the few places it is available.

As rent is by far the biggest expense in Iqaluit, try to get a roommate. Advertising with flyers at the local stores and businesses, as well as word of mouth, are the best ways to get a place. Expect to pay on average $1000/mt for an apartment, with roommates. A bachelor apt. is in the neighborhood of $1500/mt, and availability is scarce.
Intramural sports is a good way of meeting people if you're not into the bar scene. The recreation dept. has all the info you need, and look on bulliten boards for info as well.
If you are into the bar scene, get a membership to the Legion. It's pricey, considering it's a LEGION, but that's where all the 19-35 people go on the weekends, and it's a REALLY GOOD TIME!!!! There's also the Tulugak Bar, which features most of the colorful local drunks, but a good time can be had almost every night, especially on Wed. and Thur. nights. (Note to the ladies: go to the side door, smile at the doorman, and tell him you're new in town to minimize your wait in line.....)
I recommend Sub Zero Subs if you're going to eat out. It's not exactly cheap, but the food is delicious, they deliver, and the service gets better with the frequency of your patronage.....
As much as you'll be tempted with you're big paycheques, don't bother subscribing to caller ID. The name of the caller doesn't show up, only the number, so unless you know by heart every number in Iqlauit, it's a waste of money.

Cabs have a flat rate of $4.50 per trip. But be careful of stopping at a store or bank machine on the way to your final destination...that counts as another trip and it doesn't take long to add up.
Be very wary of the liquor laws. Bringing alcohol into the territory without a permit can land you in big trouble, and packages are searched both at the airport and post office.
Try to learn a few basic words (hi, how are you, what's your name) from one of the locals as soon as possible. It will make your transition, either as a visitor or new resident, much smoother and more enjoyable.
LOTS of people in Iqaluit have and use police scanners as a form of entertainment. Be careful what you say on cordless phones...seriously.
Haggle with the local carvers and artists....get advice from residents, who have experience with the going rate of common items. Depending on the time of day, you could strike a really good deal, but without the proper knowledge and assistance, you could get taken for a whole lot.

• Pros:nightlife, souveniers, exposure to culture
• Cons:weather, isolation, cost of living
• In a nutshell:Good luck....you'll need it.