About the Living Wage

The living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to meet their basic expenses (including rent, food and transportation) once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies are taken into account. It does not include debt repayment or savings for future plans.

More and more British Columbians work in low-wage jobs that do not pay enough to live on. A living wage lifts working people out of poverty.

In a province as diverse as BC, communities differ when it comes to their cost of living. For example, while some communities may have lower housing or childcare costs, others may have limited transit and so have to take on the additional cost of a car.

No matter where they live, people should be able to afford a decent life. There are jobs that need to be done in every community, and therefore people need homes, services, and a good quality of life in every community. A local calculation allows communities to identify policy advocacy that would address poverty in their community.

The Living Wage is calculated using a 35-hour working week. According to data from the Labour Force Survey, in 2023 BC workers worked an average of 35.5 hours per week.

Living Wage BC encourages employers to pay a living wage as well as advocates for government policies that help lift wages and lower costs.