Having an income or financial resources equal to or greater than the cost of living helps to avoid poverty and provide quality living standards. How are we doing with respect to the Standard of Living? You told us: B

Income Some of the highest income-earning households in Greater Victoria (those in the 90^th percentile) earned $150,600 on average in 2006, a 24.4% increase over 2001. For some of the lowest earning households (in the 10^thpercentile), their average income in 2006 was $23,600, a 21% increase over 2001. Grade: C+
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Consumer price index Consumers in Greater Victoria paid 1.1% more in March 2009 for goods and services than in March 2008. This rate of inflation compares with average annual increases of 2.0% in 2008 and 1.3% in 2007. Other capital cities such as Regina had one of the highest increases at 2.6%, and Charlottetown and Halifax the lowest at 0.2%. Grade: C+
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Aboriginal income The median annual household income for aboriginal people in the Capital Region in 2006 was $44,693 or 84.4% of the median household income for the total population. By comparison, in 2001 the median household income of aboriginal people was 74.4% of the total population's. Grade: C+
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Affordability index In 2008, a two parent family with two children would need to work a cumulative 70 hour work week earning $17.02 an hour to afford a modest standard of living in BC's Capital Region. This is an increase of 63 cents an hour over 2007. Grade: D+
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Social safety net dependence In December 2008, 3.5% of the people in the Capital Region age 19 to 64 were dependent on employment insurance or basic income assistance (not including permanent disability assistance) compared with 4.7% in the province. The social safety net supported 2.9% of the population in the Capital Region in December 2007. Grade: C
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Top 5 Household Expenditures in Greater Victoria
Source: Statistics Canada

Photo: Artist - Elfrida Schragen