Living wage jumps 20 per cent in Greater Victoria
The hourly pay necessary for two people to support themselves and two children in Greater Victoria has jumped up to $24.29 this year—a 20 per cent increase from the $20.46-per-hour living wage in 2021.
The living wage is calculated each year by the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria based on the costs of essentials like food, housing, transportation, and childcare. The number represents what two working parents of two young children must each earn to meet the family’s basic needs.
The cost of living is rising across the province, but Greater Victoria has been affected more than most, especially when it comes to high food prices. For the first time ever, this jump puts Victoria’s living wage above Vancouver’s. The only municipality higher than Victoria this year was Golden.