Living wage estimation shows how expensive it is to live in Burlington, Oakville, Milton
Published November 1, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills comprises the second most expensive region to live, according to a recently-released report by the Ontario Living Wage Network.
The OLWN released its updated living wage rates for 2021 and Halton is the second most expensive place among the 23 regions tabulated, trailing only Toronto.
Halton’s living wage is $20.75, or more than $43,000 annually based on a 40-hour workweek.
Ontario’s minimum wage, meanwhile, is $14.35 per hour.
The calculations by the OLWN take into account food, housing, clothing, amenities (phone, internet, hydro, etc), transportation, child care, medical, recreation, and even a modest vacation.
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The group says its 2021 calculations take into account a weighted average among a family of four, a single parent with one child, and a single adult.
It believes the new living wage rates reflect changing demographics in the province and increases in inflation — which has quadrupled since the beginning of 2019 and is at an 18-year high.
OLWN works with Community Development Halton on the final numbers for the region. If the employer pays benefits, the living wage rate would be reduced.
In 2019, the last time the report was published, the living wage for Halton was $20.38 per hour.
