Living in Castlegar

In Castlegar, unemployment is 10.8% (2021).

At the end of 2022, Castlegar had a population of 8,744. The unemployment rate was 10.75% at the end of 2021. Foreign residents numbered 690 at the end of 2021.

Last checked 2026-09-2613 sources

Population8,744people31 Dec 2022Official source · Statistics Canada

Median gross salary (region)2,680EUR/month31 Dec 2020Official source · www150.statcan.gc.ca

Unemployment rate10.75%country median 8.4% — 28% aboveOfficial source · Statistics Canada

Recorded crime8,294incidents per 100,000country median 4,873 — 70% aboveOfficial source · Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, police services in British Columbia

PM2.5, annual mean7.14µg/m³31 Dec 2024Nearest stationOfficial source · Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), NAPS

Higher unemployment than 73% of Canadian cities that publish it, more recorded crime than 86% of Canadian cities that publish it and dirtier air than 87% of Canadian cities that publish it.

Which Canada-wide rules apply when you move to Castlegar?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in CanadaNational rates and thresholds that apply in Castlegar.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

The number of dwellings in Castlegar reached 3,702 at the end of 2021.

No city-level rent figure is published for Castlegar. The available city-level cost figures remain below.

What recurs every month3 published recurring costs, € per month

€ / month

Internet, 60 Mbps€50

Transport pass€37

Mobile plan, 10 GB€24

Metric	Value	Period	Source
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited	49.79 EUR/month	30 Sept 2026	Bell Fibe 500 home internet²Official · national market
Mobile plan, 10 GB	24.27 EUR/month	30 Sept 2026	Public Mobile 50GB plan⁷Official · national market
Monthly transport pass	37.36 EUR/month	13 Sept 2026	BC Transit / West Kootenay Regional Transit¹Official
Dwellings	3,702 dwellings	31 Dec 2021	Statistics Canada⁹Official

Is Castlegar a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile

Remote worker49%strong on work, weak on housing · range 39–59%

Skilled employee53%strong on work, weak on education · range 43–63%

Student44%strong on cost, weak on education · range 33–55%

Family40%strong on family, weak on education · range 30–50%

Retirement50%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 38–62%

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Castlegar?

The unemployment rate is about 10.8 % (2021).

Unemployment rate: 10.75 % · Statistics Canada¹¹

Unemployment across cities in CanadaUnemployment in Castlegar is 10.8%. Of 515 cities with data, 125 have unemployment of 6 to under 8%.

125

108

0–22–44–66–88–1010–1212–1414–1616–1818–2020–22

Castlegar 10.8%

Unemployment rate (%)

Metric	Value	Period	Source
Median gross salary (regional)	2,680 EUR/month	31 Dec 2020	www150.statcan.gc.ca¹³Official
Unemployment rate	10.75 %country median 8.4%	31 Dec 2021	Statistics Canada¹¹Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Castlegar. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Job Bank and public employment services — Public employment service

Government of Canada

Job SearchMigrant Support

Open official service

Open the Canada service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Castlegar. Sources checked through 12 Aug 2026.

Safety

How safe is Castlegar?

Police recorded about 8,294 incidents per 100,000 (2025). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, police services in British Columbia⁴

Recorded crime across major citiesCastlegar highlighted among comparable cities

recorded incidents per 100k residents

Winnipeg7,894

Edmonton7,108

Halifax6,020

Vancouver5,438

Calgary4,796

London4,743

Québec4,630

Ottawa4,298

Hamilton4,257

Toronto4,177

Gatineau3,756

Montreal3,674

Metric	Value	Period	Source
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents	8,294 incidents per 100,000country median 4,873	31 Dec 2025	Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, police services in British Columbia⁴Official

Mobility and administration

Castlegar's nearest airport was YCG, 4 km away and offered 2 direct destinations.

Metric	Value	Period	Source
Direct destinations from the nearest major airport	2 count	3 Aug 2026	OpenFlights⁵Official
Distance to the nearest major airport	4 km	3 Aug 2026	OurAirports⁶Official
Nearest major airport (IATA code)	YCG	3 Aug 2026	OurAirports⁶Official

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Castlegar. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.

Country-level information

IRCC newcomer language-learning services finder — State Language Course

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

For newcomers to Canada.

English, FrenchFree

Open official information

Open the full Canada section

National programme information is not treated as proof of a course location in Castlegar.

Find courses near Castlegar

Climate and air quality

The annual PM2.5 concentration measured 7.1 µg/m³ at the end of 2024.

Is the air quality good in Castlegar?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.1 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

PM2.5 — annual mean: 7.14 µg/m³ · Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), NAPS³

Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits

Within WHO 2021 guidelineAbove WHO, within EU limitAbove EU legal limitCity annual mean · µg/m³

PM2.57.1WHO 5 · EU 25

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in CanadaAnnual PM2.5 in Castlegar is 7.1 µg/m³. Of 123 cities with data, 46 have annual PM2.5 of 3 to under 4 µg/m³.

1–22–33–44–55–66–77–88–99–1010–1113–1415–1616–1717–1820–2140–41

Castlegar 7.1

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

Metric	Value	Period	Source
PM2.5 — annual mean	7.14 µg/m³	31 Dec 2024	Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), NAPS³Official · nearest-station reading

Population and city profile

The total area of Castlegar was 19.9 km² at the end of 2021. The population density of Castlegar stood at 419.6 people per km² at the end of 2021.

How many people live in Castlegar?

The published population was 8,744 people in 2022. Source: Statistics Canada¹⁰

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population

By nationality

National passport92.1%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

Metric	Value	Period	Source
City area	19.87 km²	31 Dec 2021	Statistics Canada¹²Official
Foreign-resident share	8.56 %	31 Dec 2021	Statistics Canada⁸Official
Foreign residents	690 people	31 Dec 2021	Statistics Canada⁸Official
Population density	419.6 people/km²	31 Dec 2021	Statistics Canada¹²Official
Population	8,744 people	31 Dec 2022	Statistics Canada¹⁰Official

Population over time22 published observations, 2001–2022

7,359

7,855

8,351

8,847

8,74420012005200920152022

Population rose 10.8% between 2001 and 2022, from 7,889 to 8,744.

Alternatives for people set on Castlegar

Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.

Blainville as a Castlegar alternative in the same country

A move, not a commute, at 3268 km, better on 4 of 5 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0.

Residents: 62,700 Blainville vs 8,744 Castlegar+617%
Recorded crime, per 100k: 2,099 Blainville vs 8,294 Castlegar−75%
Unemployment: 5.6% Blainville vs 10.8% Castlegar−48%
Foreign residents: 11.7% Blainville vs 8.6% Castlegar+37%
Median gross pay, region: €2,789 Blainville vs €2,680 Castlegar+4%

Full comparison More about Blainville

Alternative cities in Canada

Other cities in Canada to compare with Castlegar, nearest in population first.

All Canada cities

Sainte Catherine de la Jacques Cartier8,771 residents Embrun8,680 residents Kitimat8,647 residents Otterburn Park8,640 residents Dauphin8,637 residents Nicolet8,542 residents

How does Castlegar compare?

Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Castlegar's.

Open the full comparison

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Castlegar when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide

Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Put Castlegar's key facts on your site — a card with this page's figures and a link back, free under CC BY 4.0.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Castlegar?

The published population was 8,744 people in 2022. Source: Statistics Canada.

Is the air quality good in Castlegar?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.1 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), NAPS.

How safe is Castlegar?

What is the unemployment rate in Castlegar?

The unemployment rate is about 10.8 % (2021). Source: Statistics Canada.

What is the typical salary around Castlegar?

The median gross salary is 2,680 EUR/month. Source: www150.statcan.gc.ca.

How many foreign residents live in Castlegar?

690 residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Statistics Canada.

Is Castlegar a good place to live?

Castlegar may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation

ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 16). Castlegar, Canada: population, salary, cost of living, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 34d4e5b0c56b206140a32d002b489a9e]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ca/castlegar/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

BibTeX citation

@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_castlegar-canada-population-salary-cost-of-living-jobs_116c69147979,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Castlegar, Canada: population, salary, cost of living, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-10-16},
  version = {34d4e5b0c56b206140a32d002b489a9e},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ca/castlegar/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}

Markdown citation

[Castlegar, Canada: population, salary, cost of living, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ca/castlegar/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 34d4e5b0c56b206140a32d002b489a9e; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown

BC Transit / West Kootenay Regional Transit bctransit.com · checked 2026-09-15
Bell Fibe 500 home internet bell.ca · checked 2026-09-15
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), NAPS data-donnees.az.ec.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-05
Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, police services in British Columbia www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-09-24
OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
Public Mobile 50GB plan publicmobile.ca · checked 2026-09-15
Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-03
Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-07
Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-03

Show 3 more sources

Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-03
Statistics Canada www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-03
www150.statcan.gc.ca www150.statcan.gc.ca · checked 2026-08-27

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.