Annual report finds living wage in Victoria has climbed to $27.40 an hour

In an annual report by Living Wage BC, it’s been determined that the livable wage in the Greater Victoria region has risen to $27.40 an hour. 

This newly determined living wage is up from 2024’s figure of $26.78 per hour.

According to Living Wage BC, the living wage is the hourly amount that a worker must earn to cover essentials, avoid chronic financial stress and participate in their community. 

This figure is the bare minimum a resident of the region needs to support a basic, decent standard of living, but without additional comfort or extra expenses such as travel.

The living wage is determined via partnership with the Victoria Social Planning Council, who aid in calculating the wage needed by different household types to afford basic costs. 

Several family types, and their expenses, are assessed in this process, which includes a single adult, a single parent with one child and a family of four with two adults and two children. 

These family types are then weighted by their prevalence to produce a single living wage for Greater Victoria.

This year’s Living Wage BC report found that nearly 33% of workers in BC earn less than the living wage, women and racialized workers are disproportionately affected and that jobs in food service, retail and agriculture are among the lowest paid. 

With the current minimum wage in BC being $17.85 per hour, there is a $9.55 per hour pay gap between what is considered necessary to live in Victoria and what is commonly paid by employers. 

Living Wage BC says that in order for the gap to close between the current minimum wage and the living wage, the BC government must develop and implement policies to lift wages and lower costs for British Columbians.

Additionally, Living Wage BC says the Province could strengthen and extend financial supports for low-income individuals. 

Free transit and more affordable housing initiatives are also options to help close this gap.

Throughout the rest of BC, Greater Victoria’s living wage is among the highest. Whistler’s living wage is $29.60 per hour, Squamish’s is $28, Metro Vancouver is $27.85 and Revelstoke’s and Golden’s are both $27.80.