(Image credit: Living Wage for Families)

By Russ Byth

Living wage BC

Housing and food costs push living wage

Nov 9, 2023 | 9:40 AM

The hourly wage needed to make a modest living in Kelowna has gone up 7.5 per cent in the past year.

Living Wage for Families BC and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says two parents would need to make $24.60 an hour each, in order to cover basic expenses.

The living wage in Kamloops is $20.91, up 9.2 per cent.

Vernon was not included in the study.

The study says workers earning less than the living wage are facing ‘impossible choices’ such as whether to buy groceries or pay for heating.

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The groups say while parents with young children in licensed child care have benefitted from large fee reductions this year, the savings are entirely consumed by soaring prices in other areas. Housing costs alone demand an added $411 per month from their budget—a spike of 16.6 per cent.

Food, the second most expensive item in the living wage family budget, is an extra $68 per month, soaring by 6.1 per cent.

(Image credit: Living Wage for Families)