Airdrie's Living Wage

Airdrie's 2025 Living Wage is $29.00.

The 2026 Living Wage calculations are anticipated to be released in November 2026 by the Alberta Living Wage Network. 

Airdrie’s Living Wage is an important measure of affordability in Airdrie. It represents the hourly wage a household needs to earn to cover basic living expenses and participate fully in community life.

Each year, the Living Wage is calculated by the Alberta Living Wage Network using local data and considers the cost of necessities such as:

• Housing
• Food
• Transportation
• Childcare
• Health-related expenses
• Other basic household costs

The Living Wage provides a snapshot of what it takes for working households to meet their essential needs in our community and serves as a valuable indicator of local economic conditions.

The City of Airdrie's Social Planning department joined the Alberta Living Wage Network in 2022 and released Airdrie's first official Living Wage calculation in 2024.

The Living Wage is shared publicly because it provides valuable insight into affordability challenges and trends that may affect residents, businesses, community organizations and decision-makers.

By sharing this information, the City aims to:

• Increase awareness of local affordability challenges
• Support informed community conversations
• Provide data that can assist planning and decision-making
• Help identify emerging economic trends affecting residents
• Inform discussions related to housing, transportation, childcare and community well-being

Airdrie’s Living Wage is one of several indicators used to better understand the overall health and well-being of our community.

The City's Role

The City's role is to collect, analyze and share Living Wage information in a transparent and accessible manner. The City does not set wage requirements for employers and does not require businesses to participate in any Living Wage program. Instead, the City provides reliable local data that helps residents, businesses, community organizations and other stakeholders better understand affordability and economic trends in Airdrie.

The Living Wage is a community data point that can help:

• Inform policy and planning discussions
• Support community organizations and service providers
• Identify affordability trends
• Guide conversations about housing and economic development
• Provide context for discussions about community well-being
• Support evidence-based decision-making

The Living Wage is not intended to represent every household's situation. Rather, it serves as an indicator that helps us understand broader economic conditions within the community.