What it costs to live and work in Alberta: the minimum wage, provincial income tax, sales tax and rent, from official sources, and what they mean for your monthly budget.
| Alberta | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $15.00 an hour | Government of Alberta: Minimum wage |
| Provincial income tax | 8 % to 15 % | Canada Revenue Agency: Canadian income tax rates for individuals, current year (2026 provincial rates) |
| Sales tax | 5 % GST | Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST calculator (and rates) |
| Rent (CMHC Rental Market Survey, average monthly rent of a 2-bedroom unit in purpose-built rental row houses and apartments, province-wide (centres of 10,000+), October 2025) | $1,670 a month (2025) | CMHC Housing Market Information Portal: Alberta, Rental Market Statistics Summary, October 2025 Rental Market Survey (row and apartment, 2 bedroom) |
Alberta's general minimum wage is $15 an hour, unchanged since October 2018. Students under 18 may be paid $13 an hour for up to 28 hours a week while school is in session. No increase has been announced.
Alberta has six brackets for 2026: 8 % on the first $61,200, rising to 15 % on income above $370,220. The Alberta basic personal amount is $22,769.
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so most purchases carry only the 5 % federal GST.
What income does rent in Alberta take?
A common guideline is to keep housing at or below 30 % of gross income. At $1,670 a month, that means a household income of about $66,800 a year before tax.
Good to know
- Families with children and lower incomes can get the Alberta Child and Family Benefit; for July 2026 to June 2027 the base part pays up to $1,529 a year for one child, and a working part adds up to $782 for one child once family employment income passes $2,760.
Sources
- Government of Alberta: Minimum wage (2026-10)
- Canada Revenue Agency: Canadian income tax rates for individuals, current year (2026 provincial rates) (2026-06-25)
- Canada Revenue Agency: T4127 Payroll Deductions Formulas, 122nd edition, effective January 1, 2026 (Table 8.2, provincial basic personal amounts) (2025-12-03)
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST calculator (and rates) (2025-04-01)
- CMHC Housing Market Information Portal: Alberta, Rental Market Statistics Summary, October 2025 Rental Market Survey (row and apartment, 2 bedroom) (2025-12)
- Government of Alberta: Alberta Child and Family Benefit (2026-07)