Calgary's living wage is $22.40 per hour. A living wage is a proxy for the cost of living in a community. It is determined by calculating average expenses, taxes, and government benefits for a given household using local costs. A living wage considers the basic needs of an average household, plus the additional costs we all incur from time to time, to allow a household to fully participate, thrive, and build their human and financial assets (e.g., education and savings).

Employment income that is sufficient to cover the cost of living is vital to reducing poverty and building a resilient city and economy. Since 2008, Vibrant Communities Calgary has been updating the living wage figure for Calgary. This brief provides the details of the calculation, which was done in collaboration with the Alberta Living Wage Network.

Calgary's Living Wage