The living wage in Edmonton has gone up for the second year in a row
Edmonton’s living wage has increased for the second year in a row, according to a new report examining affordability in Alberta communities.
The 2026 Living Wage report, released Monday by the Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN), calculates Edmonton’s living wage at $22.65 per hour — a 35-cent increase over last year.
After falling in 2024, Edmonton’s living wage climbed by $1.45 per hour in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of increases.
According to the report, shelter costs increased in 13 cities, while food costs increased in 10. Other communities saw decreases in these expenses, helping to moderate their calculated living wage rates.
Government benefits also played an important role in this year’s report. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and improvements to the ALWN’s calculation of the Canada Workers Benefit helped lower calculated living wage rates in some communities.
Red Deer saw the largest year-over-year increase, rising 8.23 per cent to $22.35 per hour. According to the report, higher costs for child care, shelter, transportation, and food contributed to the increase.
Meanwhile, Brooks recorded the largest decrease, falling 6.36 per cent to $20.60 per hour, reflecting lower food and shelter costs alongside changes to government benefits.
- You might also like:
- 14 awesome things to do in Edmonton this week: Nov. 9 to 13
- Edmonton cracks list of world's best cities for Gen Z
- The largest year-round Christmas store in Canada has been in Alberta for 40 years
A living wage is defined as the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their basic expenses and maintain a modest standard of living after adding government transfers and subtracting taxes.
“In every community, the living wage is higher than minimum wage. This gap represents people who are struggling to make ends meet even while working full time,” said ALWN economist Ryan Lacanilao.
The calculation considers three household types: a two-parent family with two children, a one-parent family with one child, and a single person working full-time.
Alberta’s living wage varies, ranging as high as $27.45 per hour in Banff down to $18.05 per hour in Medicine Hat.
The minimum wage in Alberta is $15 per hour, the lowest in Canada and one that’s remained unchanged since 2018.
The full living wage report can be found online.