Hamilton’s new Living Wage is $22.60/hour, a 6.1% increase from last year.
This updated calculation, released by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) on November 10, reflects what it truly costs to live and work in Hamilton: covering essentials like rent, food, childcare, and transportation, while allowing individuals and families to participate fully in community life.
A Living Wage is an evidence-based calculation that factors in the cost of housing, nutritious food, childcare, transportation, and the opportunity to participate in community activities. Rates vary somewhat in regions across Ontario as costs of living change. While the minimum wage increased to $17.60 on October 1 of this year, there is still no place in the province where someone could make ends meet working full-time at this wage. That gap of $5/hour in Hamilton represents the growing challenge for working people trying to keep up with rising housing and food costs. The updated living wages in Ontario range from $21.05 in the southwest region to $27.20 in the GTA. As inflation has calmed in the past year, the 2025 living wage rates have increased by an average of 5.3%. For the most part, the increase in this year’s living wage rate is mainly due to rising costs for rent in our province. Inflation of food costs may have calmed, but it remains high relative to earlier years.
Hamilton continues to be a leader in the Living Wage movement, with about 50 certified Living Wage Employers, including community organizations like YWCA Hamilton and Neighbour to Neighbour, small businesses, social enterprises, and faith-based organizations like the Anglican Diocese of Niagara, one of the first in Ontario to champion fair wages.
On November 18, the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction will host a webinar for local employers interested in learning more about Living Wage certification and how fair pay benefits both workers and workplaces. Webinar Registration
For more details, check out the Ontario Living Wage Network 2024 calculation report here.
