The Alberta Living Wage Network has released its annual breakdown of the living wage for cities across the province, and St. Albert received the dubious honour of having the province’s fourth-highest living wage.
The network estimates that a worker living in St. Albert needs to be making $23.80 an hour to be able to “cover their basic expenses and have a modest standard of living once government transfers have been added and taxes have been subtracted.”
In 2022, the network calculated St. Albert’s living wage as $22.40.
St. Albert’s living wage is higher than the province’s three largest cities Calgary ($23.70), Edmonton ($22.25) and Red Deer ($18.75).
The cities with the highest living wages are Canmore ($38.80), Jasper ($24.90), Fort McMurray ($24.50), St. Albert ($23.80) and Calgary ($23.70).
Medicine Hat had the lowest living wage at $17.35. It was followed by Red Deer and then Brooks ($19.05).
The analysis included 16 municipalities across the province.
According to the Alberta Living Wage Network’s website, the calculation is based on “the income needs of three household types: a two-parent family with two young children; a lone-parent family with one child; and a single individual.”
“It assumes that each adult is working full-time hours and includes savings for unexpected costs, continuing education, child care, and a small amount which allows people to participate in the community. “
