GTA living wage rises to $27.60 an hour, nearly $10 above minimum wage

People in the Greater Toronto Area need at least $27.60 an hour to afford a reasonable standard of living, the Ontario Living Wage Network estimates. That is the highest living wage in Ontario and $9.65 above the provincial minimum wage of $17.95, which took effect Oct. 1. The lowest is $21.15 in London-Elgin-Oxford, but the non-profit network says minimum wage covers living costs in no region of the province. The average living wage across Ontario rose 1.6 per cent since 2025. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says paying a living wage isn't realistic for many small and medium-sized businesses.