Open ProvincesBritish Columbia
British Columbia is a Canadian province. Capital: Victoria. Find key facts below and follow the link to the official government site for current services, taxes and programs.
Key figures
- Population
- 5,710,598 2026-07 · 0.1% / 12 m
- Unemployment rate
- 6.3% 2026-10
- Inflation (12 months)
- 3.0% 2026-09
- Average weekly earnings
- $1,370 2026-08
Source: Statistics Canada. Updated automatically. Compare all provinces →
Guides for this province
- Renting in British Columbia: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in British Columbia: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to British Columbia: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in British Columbia: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in British Columbia: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in British Columbia: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in British Columbia: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in British Columbia: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in British Columbia: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in British Columbia: child benefits and family programs
- Immigrating to British Columbia: nominee program, steps and processing times
| Type | Province |
|---|---|
| Capital | Victoria |
| Joined Canada (or created) | 1871 |
| Languages | English (de facto) |
| Sales tax system | GST + provincial sales tax |
| Sales tax rates | GST 5% + Provincial sales tax 7% = 12% (Source: Canada Revenue Agency) |
| Public health plan | MSP (Medical Services Plan) |
| Driver's licensing body | ICBC / Service BC |
| Official government site | https://www2.gov.bc.ca/ |
Rates and amounts change. Each figure on this site shows its official source and the date it was read; confirm on the official page before making a decision.
Programs in this province or territory
Families and children
- BC Family BenefitMonthly payment for families with children, combined with the CCB.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — July 2026 to June 2027 First child $145.83 / month Second child $91.66 / month Each additional child $75 / month Reduced when adjusted family net income is above $30,176 - Affordable Child Care BenefitMonthly payment that lowers childcare fees based on income.
Amounts — as published in November 2026 Group care, child under 19 months (maximum) $1,250 / month Group care, 19 to 36 months $1,060 / month Group care, 37 months to school age $550 / month Families may qualify with income up to $111,000 / year Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Full benefit in licensed care if adjusted income is up to $45,000; partial above.
- $2,000 is deducted from income for each family member beyond two, and $3,000 per child with support needs.
- Cannot exceed the provider's fee; combines with $10-a-day and fee-reduction programs.
- Families earning up to $111,000 may qualify; those above may apply with deductions of $2,000 per person beyond the first two and $3,000 per child with support needs. The maximum is paid up to an adjusted income of $45,000 (licensed care), $39,000 (registered family care) or $24,000 (unlicensed or in-home care).
How to get it : Apply online through the My Family Services portal.
Work and income
- Income Assistance and Disability AssistanceMonthly support for people in need and for people with the PWD designation.
Read the full guide →Amounts — Income Assistance: Aug. 1, 2023; Disability Assistance: Dec. 1, 2025 Income Assistance, single employable: support allowance $560 / month Income Assistance, maximum shelter allowance, 1 person $500 / month Disability Assistance, single: support allowance $983.50 / month Disability Assistance, maximum shelter allowance, 1 person $500 / month Earnings kept, Income Assistance, single employable $600 / month Earnings kept, Disability Assistance, single $16,200 / year Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Support allowance plus shelter allowance; the minimum shelter allowance is $75 for one person.
- Asset limits: $5,000 (single) or $10,000 (couple, families) on Income Assistance; $100,000 with one PWD designation on Disability Assistance.
How to get it : Apply online or by phone (My Self Serve) or at a Service BC office.
Health and drugs
- Fair PharmaCareIncome-based help with prescription drug costs; register once.
Amounts — as published in November 2026 Deductible if you do not register $10,000 / year Family net income under about $30,000 no deductible Highest family maximum $10,000 / year Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- Your deductible and annual family maximum are set from family net income two years earlier.
- After the deductible, PharmaCare pays part of eligible costs; after the family maximum, 100%.
- More generous schedule when someone in the family was born before 1940.
How to get it : Register once, free, online or at 1-800-663-7100, and consent to the income check with the CRA.
Housing
- Rental Assistance Program and SAFERMonthly rent help for working families and for seniors.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — as published in November 2026 Rental Assistance Program: household income limit (families with a child) $60,000 / year SAFER (seniors): income must be under $40,000 / year SAFER: maximum rent used in the calculation $1,150 / month - Home owner grantReduces property tax on your principal residence.
Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Amounts — from January 1, 2027 Regular grant $570 / year Full grant if the assessed value is at most (2026) $2,075,000
Students and training
- StudentAid BCOne application for federal and BC student loans and grants.
Amounts — 2026/27 B.C. Access Grant, programs under two years up to $4,000 / year B.C. Access Grant, programs of two years or more up to $1,000 / year Official source ↗ · read on 2026-11-13Conditions and rules
- For low- and middle-income full-time students in undergraduate, diploma or certificate programs at B.C. public institutions, with at least $1 of assessed need.
- Master's and PhD students are not eligible for this grant.
How to get it : One online application covers federal and B.C. loans and grants.
Federal programs (all of Canada) →
Online accounts
- BC Services Card appDigital ID used to sign in to BC services and to federal accounts such as CRA.Official page ↗ · link checked
- Health GatewaySee your lab results, medications, immunizations and health visits.Official page ↗ · link checked
Guides
- Moving to another province: checklistA practical checklist for moving between Canadian provinces and territories: health card, driver's licence, vehicle, taxes and address changes.
- Sales tax systems across CanadaWhich provinces and territories charge GST only, GST plus a provincial tax, QST or HST — grouped, with links to official sources.
- Provincial health insurance plansThe name of the public health insurance plan in each Canadian province and territory, with a link to each government.
- Driver's licensing by provinceWhich body issues driver's licences in each Canadian province and territory, with a link to each government.
Tools
- Mortgage payment calculatorCanadian compounding, any province.
- Compound interest calculatorSavings growth with regular contributions.
- Tip & bill split calculatorTip amount and per-person share.
- Personal finance tracker (private, encrypted)Accounts, investments, goals and net worth — stored encrypted in your browser.
- Income tax calculator by province (2026)Federal and provincial tax, CPP and EI on a salary: pick your province.
- Sales tax calculator (GST/HST/PST by province)Add or remove sales tax for any province or territory.
- Average rent by cityCMHC average rents for 180 Canadian cities, by number of bedrooms.
- Gasoline prices by cityMonthly average pump price in 18 cities, and the change over a year.
- Wages by occupation and provinceLow, median and high wages for 500 occupations in every province.
- Vehicle fuel consumption ratingsOfficial L/100 km and CO2 ratings for current model-year vehicles.
- Recent recalls and safety alertsThe 100 latest food, product, vehicle and health recalls.
- Recent earthquakes in CanadaEarthquakes of the last 30 days in and near Canada.
- Immigration processing times by countryIRCC's current estimates for visitor visas, study and work permits.
- Air quality right now (AQHI)Live Air Quality Health Index for communities across Canada.
- Business grants, loans and programs finder1,600 federal, provincial and territorial programs for businesses and self-employed people.
- Statutory holidays by provincePublic holidays this year and next for each province and territory.
- EI: hours required and weeks payable by regionHow many insurable hours you need for Employment Insurance where you live.
- Benefit payment datesWhen the next CCB, OAS, CPP and other payments arrive.
- Rent increase calculator by provinceThe highest rent your landlord can ask for, where a cap exists.
- Land transfer tax calculator by provinceLand transfer tax or registration fees when you buy a home, with first-time buyer relief where it exists.
- Weather alerts in Canada, liveActive warnings, advisories and statements from Environment and Climate Change Canada, by province.
- River water levels, liveLatest level and flow of major rivers, with the change over 24 hours.
- City comparer: rent, gas and minimum wagePut two Canadian cities side by side: average rents, gasoline, minimum wage, sales tax and the hours of work a 1-bedroom takes.
- Net-to-gross salary calculator by province (2026)The gross salary you need to take home a given amount, in any province or territory.
- RRSP tax refund calculator and RRSP vs TFSAHow much tax an RRSP contribution saves in your province, and whether an RRSP or a TFSA grows more.
- Canada Child Benefit calculator (July 2026 to June 2027)Estimate your Canada Child Benefit from your family income and the ages of your children.
- Housing starts and new-home prices by provinceMonthly housing starts (CMHC) and the new housing price index for 35 areas.
- Population growth and migration by provinceBirths, deaths, immigrants, emigration, interprovincial migration and temporary residents for the last five years.
- Employment Insurance beneficiaries by provinceHow many people receive regular EI benefits in each province and territory, and how that changed over a year.
- Canadian time zone converterOne time, every Canadian zone: Pacific to Newfoundland, with daylight saving handled for you.
- Invoice generator with GST/HST/PSTBuild an invoice with the right sales tax for your province, then print it or save it as a PDF.
- Paper sizes: Letter, Legal, A4 and moreDimensions of Canadian and international paper sizes in mm, inches, points and pixels.
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- Rent or buy calculator for CanadaCompare buying a home with renting and investing the difference, with your province's land transfer tax and every assumption editable.
- Minimum wage earnings calculatorWhat a minimum-wage job pays per week, month and year in each province.
- Inflation calculator (Canada)What an amount from any year since 1914 is worth today.
- Currency converter (Bank of Canada rates)Canadian dollar against 10 currencies, official daily rates.
- Grocery prices by provinceAverage price of 26 staples in each province, and the change over a year.
- Loan payment calculatorMonthly payment and total interest.
- Percentage calculatorPercent of, percent-of-total and percent change.
- Metric / imperial converterTemperature, length, weight and volume.
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