Cost of Living in Waterloo Region Increases Significantly

Living in Waterloo Region isn’t cheap, as shown by the recent living wage report.

This year, the living wage across Ontario went up by about 5.3 per cent, but Waterloo Region saw a larger increase of 8 per cent.

The Ontario Living Wage Network stated that to get by in the Dufferin-Guelph-Wellington-Waterloo area, an individual needs to earn $23 per hour, which is an increase from $21.30 per hour last year.

They considered expenses like food, housing, clothing, communication, taxes and transportation.

“Despite the annual October 1st increase to the provincial minimum wage to $17.60, there is still no place in Ontario where you could work full-time and cover all your expenses,” reads a report.

The Ontario Living Wage Network data 2025.

The network points out that various factors are pushing costs higher, with food and housing being the most significant contributors.

“Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index, September 2025 reports that the cost of food was 3.5 per cent and 4 per cent higher than August and September of 2024.”

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) continues to have the highest living wage rate at $27.20.