The 2025 Winnipeg living wage is increasing by $1.02 to $19.77 an hour, while living wages for Brandon and Thompson are essentially holding steady at $16.22 and $17.89, respectively.
• The living wage increase in Winnipeg is being driven by rising food prices, the higher cost of renting a three-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg, and higher transportation costs. These cost increases are a reflection of both inflationary pressures as well as Statistics Canada’s updating of how food and transportation costs are measured, using improved data on prices and household consumption in Manitoba.
• Despite the higher living wage, the Canada Child Benefit for the Winnipeg living wage family increased by 5 percent, although this increase was mostly offset by the elimination of the Canada Carbon Rebate.
• Brandon and Thompson families saw similar increases in the cost of food and vehicle ownership, but did not see the same large increase in rents. Both these families also saw large inflation-related increases to federal benefit programs, such as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), the Canada Worker Benefit (CWB), and the GST Credit, leading to minimal changes in the living wage for families in these cities.
• 2025 Living Wages:
– Winnipeg: $19.77/hour
– Brandon: $16.22/hour
– Thompson: $17.89/hour
