With the new year comes new resolutions and goals, and also increased fares and fees, as many things will be more expensive in B.C. in 2026.
Not only are grocery prices expected to climb by four to six per cent (with a family of four expected to spend an additional $994 this year), but there are also increases in things like utilities and transportation.
Fees related to utilities
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As of Jan. 1, FortisBC bumped up natural gas rates so that the average household will see an 11.1 per cent increase in their bill, paying about $10.95 more each month.
The utility says this supports upgrades to keep the gas system safe and reliable and fund energy-efficient rebate programs.
FortisBC also increased its electricity rates by 3.63 per cent on Jan. 1, which will result in an additional $5.35 each month for the average household. This is because of the higher cost of purchasing electricity.
On April 1, BC Hydro will also be increasing its fares by 3.75 per cent, following an increase of the same amount the year prior. The reasoning for the increase is that it can “continue to build the critical infrastructure and supply needed to strengthen B.C.’s economy.”
Rent and property
The province set the rent increase limit to 2.3 per cent, down from three per cent in 2025.
Vancouver will not increase its property taxes this year, though most other Metro Vancouver cities will see a bump.
In 2025, rent prices fell five to 10 per cent in Vancouver, Burnaby, and the North Shore. A one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver, for example, dropped from $2,490 per month to $2,308.
Homeowners in the Lower Mainland can also expect their assessed value to decline between 10 and zero per cent.
The province has also dropped the threshold for the B.C. Home Owner Grant from $2.175 million in the 2025 tax year to $2.075 million for the 2026 tax year.
Transportation
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By April 8, BC Ferries will increase their fares between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Both drive-up and prepaid fares for a standard vehicle and adult will cost $110, up from $95.
Passenger fares will increase from $20 to $21.
But the ferry service has also added additional ‘saver fares,’ offering lower prices on 30 per cent of its sailings during off-hours (like midweek, early morning or late evening).
Their goal with these adjustments is to support customers “by optimizing capacity, balancing costs across a large, geographically dispersed system, and encouraging more off-peak travel.”
In July, Translink will increase its transit fare by five per cent, adding an average of $0.14 to each average trip. This will be followed by two per cent increases annually thereafter.
It will also add $1.50 to the YVR AddFare.
This is part of the transit authority’s investment plan to fund its services to the end of 2027 and cut its $600 million structural deficit by half in 2028.