Yukon - the territory of the captivating north

This is the perfect place for people who appreciate small, close-knit communities and beautiful natural landscapes.

In this article, we'll cover the following topics:

geographical location;
climate;
where to live;
crime;
education;
work and salary;
prices and taxes;
healthcare;
population;
what to see;
immigration programs.

Located in the far northwest of Canada, Yukon holds a legendary place in the country's history. It's perhaps best known for the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s.

Fun fact: The Klondike Gold Rush, also known as the Yukon Gold Rush, was a mass migration of prospectors to the Yukon Territory and Alaska after gold was discovered there in 1896. When news of the discovery reached Seattle and San Francisco, about 100,000 people set out for the north in search of fortune.

Today, Yukon has a population of about 47,000, mostly living in the territorial capital, Whitehorse. The territory's economy is based mainly on mining and tourism. Yukon is ideal for people who value small, close-knit communities and beautiful natural landscapes.

Yukon nature Yukon is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Northwest Territories to the east, British Columbia to the south, and the U.S. state of Alaska to the west.

Climate

Yukon has a subarctic climate. Winters are relatively long and harsh, summers are short, and days are long, especially in the northern part of the territory beyond the Arctic Circle.

Major Cities

Yukon Coat of Arms About two-thirds of Yukon's population lives in Whitehorse. Dawson City and some older settlements, like Old Crow located far north of the Arctic Circle, are in areas of stunning natural beauty and maintain a picturesque appearance.

Mining and transportation hubs like Whitehorse, Watson Lake, and Mayo resemble towns elsewhere in western North America, offering familiar choices of popular fast-food restaurants and other retail stores.

Attractions and Tourism

Yukon Tourism is a fast-growing sector and a pillar of the territory's economy. Wilderness tourism, including activities like guided river trips, hiking, and horseback riding, makes up a large part of Yukon's appeal to tourists. There are two major national parks — Ivvavik and Vuntut — located in the remote northwestern part of the territory. They help protect the important Porcupine caribou herd, which migrates through northern Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories and is of great importance to the Gwich'in people. The parks also protect several species of migratory birds.

Fun fact: Every year, there's a 1,000-mile dog sled race that starts in Whitehorse and ends in Fairbanks, Alaska. The event is held every winter in February and usually lasts 10-16 days until the last team crosses the finish line.

Healthcare and Education

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Education, healthcare, and social services are managed by the territorial government with financial support from the federal government. Comprehensive medical and hospital services are provided on the same public basis as in other Canadian provinces and territories. The main hospital facilities are in Whitehorse, while remote centers are served by a system of nursing stations.

Primary and secondary education is provided by the territorial school system, and Yukon University, with its main campus in Whitehorse and a network of community branches, offers two-year university-level courses and a range of vocational and adult education programs.

Fun fact: The Yukon School of Visual Arts is the northernmost art school of its kind. The school offers a program equivalent to the first year of a bachelor's degree, with the option to continue studies at colleges or institutes in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax.

Transportation

Yukon Yukon has several transportation links to other Canadian provinces and other parts of North America. Whitehorse Airport is the most important in Yukon. Regular air services operate between Whitehorse and Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, and Vancouver, British Columbia, connecting the capital with other cities and larger settlements in the territory.

Crime

As in Canada's other two territories, the crime rate in Yukon is significantly higher than the national average. In 2023, police recorded 11,065 criminal offenses in the territory. Most crimes are property-related: theft, breaking and entering, and so on. A small portion of incidents are violent crimes. About 68.8% of all violations occur in Whitehorse.

The chance of becoming a victim of property crime or violent crime is 1 in 63 and 1 in 611, respectively.

Communities

According to the 2001 Canadian Census, the largest ethnic group in Yukon is English (27.1%), followed by Indigenous peoples (First Nations and Inuit, called "First Nations" in Canada, 22.3%), Scottish (21.9%), Irish (19.1%), German (14.3%), and French (13.4%), although more than a quarter of respondents also identified their ethnicity as "Canadian".

Taxes

Taxpayers in this part of Canada are very fortunate — they only pay the federal GST, which is just 5%. For comparison, residents of Quebec pay almost 15%. In addition to GST, there's income tax, which depends on salary and is calculated as follows:

Your Annual Income	Income Tax Rate
$48,535 CAD or less	6.4%
$48,535 to $97,069 CAD	9%
$97,069 to $150,473 CAD	10.9%
$150,473 to $500,000 CAD	12.8%
$500,000 CAD and above	15%

Cost of Living

Yukon The cost of living in Yukon is higher than the national average, but people also earn higher wages due to the region's remoteness.

Housing is a challenge in Whitehorse and most other communities due to high construction costs, harsh climate, and unstable economic conditions.

Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the capital will cost $1,300-1,400 CAD. A three-bedroom apartment can be rented for $1,900-2,200 CAD.

Other monthly expenses include:

Restaurant meal — $65
Takeout coffee — $5
Monthly transit pass — $62
Internet — $143
Gym membership — $55
Daycare — $1,350

Salaries

As mentioned, due to its remote location, Yukon workers receive higher wages than in southern Canada. The average salary is $75,446 CAD per year or $38.69 CAD per hour. Entry-level positions start at $36,075 CAD per year, while the most experienced workers earn up to $117,375 CAD per year. The minimum wage in Yukon from April 2025 will be $17.94 per hour, one of the highest in Canada.

Immigration

Yukon The territory has its own immigration program — the Yukon Nominee Program. It includes several streams:

— Yukon Express Entry (for skilled workers with NOC skill level A, 0, or B, who have a job offer in Yukon and are registered in the Express Entry system)

— Skilled Worker (for skilled workers with NOC skill level A, 0, or B who have a job offer from a Yukon employer)

— Critical Impact Worker (for semi-skilled and low-skilled workers with NOC skill level C or D who have a job offer from a Yukon employer)

— Business Nominee (for foreign entrepreneurs who want to own and operate a business in Yukon)

By choosing one of these streams, you can receive a nomination from Yukon, which allows you to apply for permanent residence in Canada and — after three years of permanent residency — for Canadian citizenship.