Region’s ‘living wage’ jumps 5.4% from one year ago

Even with inflation tamed, there is a noticeable increase in the cost of living in Greater Victoria. The shift is evident in the latest report from the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria.

The report says the living wage in our region is $26.78 — 5.4% more than last year.

The Greater Victoria living wage calculation is based on the needs of two-parent families with young children. However, it is also meant to support all workers, so young adults are not discouraged from having children due to low wages, and older workers have additional income as they age.

“Some preliminary estimates we have produced suggest that the living wage may not be sufficient to support single parents and single individuals in Greater Victoria. In other communities, this is not the case, and we want to explore this in more detail in the future,” CSPC Executive Director Shelley Cook said in a media release.