The Alberta Living Wage Network is a network of municipalities and community organizations that is working to raise awareness about the cost of living in towns and cities across Alberta. The Network recalculates the living wage each year to reflect current costs and public policy changes affecting affordability. ALWN also runs an employer certification program to recognize employers that are paying their employees a living wage.
The purpose of this calculation is to highlight the true cost of living in Alberta; to provide municipalities with local data to support their decision making; to encourage action on policies and programs that positively impact the affordability of our province; and to celebrate employers who commit to paying a living wage, like our Certified Living Wage Employers. For Albertan employers, paying a living wage remains a tangible way to invest in their people, strengthen recruitment and retention, and contribute to healthier, more resilient local economies.
2025 has been a year that has seen Albertans face several economic challenges that have impacted the cost of living, key among those for most communities has been continued rising housing costs and rising costs in transportation.