The latest report from the Ontario Living Wage Network suggests the cost of living in Waterloo Region and Guelph continues to climb. The organization released its 2026 calculations on Monday. It listed the living wage in Dufferin Guelph Wellington Waterloo as $23.40, an increase of 40 cents compared to the year before. Ontario’s current minimum wage is $17.95 – a difference of $5.45. Meanwhile, the 2026 living wage for Brant Haldimand Norfolk Niagara was set at $21.60, a jump of 20 cents from 2025. Overall, the network reported an average increase of 1.6 per cent across the 10 regions they monitor. In 2025, it jumped to 5.3 per cent. The latest report says there is no region in Ontario where the minimum wage is keeping pace with the living wage. What is a living wage? The Ontario Living Wage Network defines a “living wage” as what people need to earn to live in their community. The calculations include food, shelter, transportation, recreation and a “modest vacation.”
