Living Wage Week: The (Real) Cost of Living in the GTA

More than half of people living in Canada say thinking about their finances makes them anxious, with many reporting negative impacts on their health, sleep, family well-being and focus at work and school. Not surprisingly, it’s those already living on the margins — like two-thirds of people earning under $40,000/year — who report financial anxiety. These findings from a recent survey undertaken by Leger on behalf of United Way Canada Centraide speak to the strain of stretched finances and the struggle to make ends meet.

And that struggle is real for far too many in our region — even those working full time on the province’s minimum wage. Raised to $17.60/hour this fall, it is light years behind what it takes to cover the true costs of living in today’s GTA, says the Ontario Living Wage Network.

According to their 2025 rates, just released today, $27.20/hour is what it would take to pay for necessities like shelter, transportation, childcare, food and the internet. And it is that whopping $9.60/ hour gap and everything that can fall through that crack that keeps people up at night and eats into their day.

That’s why we are proud to be one of 634 certified Living Wage employers in this province, modeling the change we want to see. And why we fund the Ontario Living Wage Network’s work calculating annual living wage rates and certifying and supporting more employers in making that commitment to their employees.

At United Way Greater Toronto, we understand that earning a living wage to cover one’s basic necessities is essential to financial stability. We know that along with housing stability, access to services and opportunities to engage in shaping our neighbourhoods, financial stability is a foundation for equitable communities. And we believe investing in these building blocks and the opportunities they create for everyone to thrive benefits us all.