Canadians spent more on taxes than basic necessities in 2025: Study:
The average Canadian family last year spent more on paying taxes than for basic necessities ...
torontosun.com/news/canadians-spend-more-on-taxes-than-basic-necessities-2025-study
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Study: Canadian families paid more taxes than essentials in 2025The Fraser Institute says a family with average income of $121,111 spent $50,721 on taxes.
Key FactsAug 13, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: torontosun.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: torontosun.com
- According to the study, a family with average income of $121,111 spent $50,721 (41.9%) on taxes in 2025 and $43,657 (36%) on shelter, food and clothing.
- In 1961, the first year with available data, shelter, food and clothing accounted for 56.5% of family income, compared with 33.5% for taxes.
- Since 1961, the study reports that the tax bill rose 2,928%, while income increased 2,322%, shelter costs 2,349%, food spending 952%, clothing costs 526% and the consumer price index 946%.
- Including today’s combined federal and provincial deficits, the study estimates that the tax bill has risen 3,243% since 1961 and notes that governments now provide more public services, while medicare did not exist in 1961.
At a time when the cost of living is top of mind across the country, taxes remain the largest household expense for Canadian families.— Jake Fuss, director of fiscal studies for the Fraser Institute and co-author of the report Taxes Versus the Necessities of Life: The Canadian Consumer Tax Index, 2026
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mandatory financial charge or other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization to collectively fund government spending, public expenditures, or
any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body; form of energy stored in chemical
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