In Nunavik and Nunavut, the same building can cost several times more than in the south. The quantities don’t change. What changes is everything it takes to get them there and put them in place. A serious estimate in the North starts with logistics.
1. The sealift sets your schedule
Nunavik’s 14 communities have no road access. Crews, equipment and materials arrive mostly by summer sealift, with only a few sailings per season. A material left off the shipping list can cost you a full season, or a very expensive airlift. In the estimate, the shipping deadline matters as much as the bid closing date.
2. A short building season
The work window is short. You have to account for real productivity, temporary shelters and heating, extended hours, and the risk of pushing part of the work to the following year, with the storage and protection that come with it.
3. Fuel
Diesel also arrives by sealift. It runs the loaders, the trucks and every piece of equipment. A local shortage can shut down a site, so fuel availability has to be planned and priced.
4. Housing and rotations
Much of the workforce comes from the south. Flights, housing, meals and crew rotations have to be estimated on top of wages. Local businesses and workers, and each community’s own requirements, also come into play.
5. Ground conditions
In some communities, buildable land is scarce or poorly suited to construction. Foundations have to account for frozen ground and how it behaves. The geotechnical study is essential before setting a price.
6. What happens in the south is felt in the North
A delay at a port, a forest fire or rising costs in the south hit northern sites directly. The Quaqtaq school, approved at $60M and reaching $200M after the pandemic according to Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, shows how wide the gaps can get.
How we estimate a northern project
- a standard quantity takeoff, followed by a complete shipping list with weights and volumes;
- planned waste and spares for anything that can’t be replaced quickly;
- transportation, fuel, housing and rotations as separate items;
- justified contingencies, with every assumption written down.
We’ve estimated projects such as the Arctic Bay water treatment plant and the Chisasibi South Central District. See also our civil engineering estimating service.
How much more does a project cost in the North than in the south?
It depends on the community, the season and the type of project. The gaps are large, which is why a detailed estimate beats a simple factor applied to a southern price.
