The 'living wage' in Calgary is now dangerously close to this Canadian city
Calgary is getting more expensive to call home, and a new report says that the hourly wage a worker needs to cover basic needs has increased yet again.
The report, from Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) and in collaboration with the Alberta Living Wage Network, revealed that Calgary’s suggested living wage has risen by 40 cents over the past year, now sitting at $26.90 per hour. This is the smallest year-over-year increase in five years.
Calgary’s living wage is creeping dangerously close to Toronto’s living wage ($27.60/hour) while moving further away from Edmonton’s living wage ($22.65/hour). The gap between Calgary and Edmonton has grown, from $1.45 in 2023 to $4.25 in 2026.
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“The living wage is about more than getting by. It’s being able to pay rent, put food on the table, and handle an unexpected expense without falling behind and going into debt,” said Michelle James, Vibrant Communities Calgary’s spokesperson for the living wage initiative.
“At $26.90 an hour, the gap between Calgary’s living wage and Alberta’s $15 minimum wage remains substantial. Also concerning is the fact that Calgary’s living wage is inching closer to Toronto’s while moving farther away from our nearby neighbour of Edmonton.”
With the exploding cost of fuel this year, it’s little surprise that transportation costs saw the largest increase of any expense across all household types this year, rising by more than 10 per cent. These higher costs leave workers with less money for other essentials, such as food on the table or winter clothing, and add to financial stress.
The living wage in Calgary is now nearly 80 per cent higher than Alberta’s existing minimum wage of $15 an hour — the lowest in Canada. The minimum wage is also $13 per hour for students under the age of 18 in Alberta.
VCC has updated the living wage for Calgary annually since 2008. You can view more about the Alberta Living Wage report online.