It's a benchmark by which we can measure how well we are doing.
Each year, the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria calculates and releases the "living wage", based on the best data available about costs in our region.
The 2017 living wage is the hourly wage that two working parents with two young children must earn to meet their expenses.
It's based on necessities like rent, child care food and transportation. This year's living wage is $20.01--down one cent from last year
Council researcher Stephanie Hardman explains the decrease, given that the cost of housing has risen.
"There have been some federal social policies that have actually offset these increasing expenses for families. So the Canada Child Benefit. That actually shows the importance of social policy in helping to assist families who are struggling to make ends meet."
This is the second year in a row there continues to be decreases to living wage rates in the Capital Regional District.