The minimum cost to live in Trail rose six per cent over one year, according to an annual study by Living Wage BC and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Living wage is defined as the hourly rate required for two parents, each working full time, to support a family of four. The Nov. 20 report says one in three B.C. workers earn less than their community's living wage.
In Trail the living wage rose to $22.85 hourly, the highest of three Kootenay communities included in the report.
Nelson's wage increased by three per cent to $21.82. Grand Forks' wage is $20.81, making it the cheapest of the 25 B.C. regions and communities included in the report to live in.
“Hundreds of thousands of B.C. workers earn less than the living wage and face impossible choices like buy groceries or heat the house, keep up with bills or pay the rent on time,” said Anastasia French, provincial manager of Living Wage BC, in a statement.
“Racialized workers and women are disproportionately affected by low wages in a region where the cost of living keeps climbing.”
The most expensive community to live in is Whistler with a living wage of $28.89. Metro Vancouver meanwhile rose five per cent to $27.05, followed by Kelowna ($25.77) and Revelstoke ($25.50).
B.C.'s minimum wage was raised to $17.40 per hour in June.
Approximately 450 employers have committed to paying their workers their community's living wage. Local employers include the Village of Fruitvale, Neighbours United, Urban Systems, Kootenay Career Development Society, The Skills Centre, Reach CPA, Community Future Central Kootenay, Emery Herbals, Green Team Cannabis and iilo Creative Alliance.
