North Vancouver minimum-wage workers must spend 164 of 174 monthly work hours to cover average apartment rent of C$2,983, according to Zoocasa's Aug. 10 report.
29 of 60 Canadian cities require more than 120 work hours a month for rent, while only eight let workers cover it in under 100 hours.
British Columbia and Ontario dominate the least affordable markets: Vancouver takes 87% of work hours, while North York, Kanata and Toronto each require 84%.
Zoocasa said rent levels—not provincial wage rules—drive the gap, noting B.C.'s highest minimum wage of C$18.25 still leaves four of its cities in the top 10 least affordable.