Income is perhaps the most important social determinate of health. Level of income affects an individual or family’s ability to access goods and services that shape their living conditions and quality of life. Individuals and families need an income to pay for child care, housing, post-secondary education, healthy food, and out-of-pocket medical costs. Individuals and families with low incomes may face difficulty affording basic necessities and may be at higher risk of poverty and social exclusion.

It is important to consider income against the rising costs of living. When the cost of living increases at a faster rate than incomes, more low- and modest-income families are at risk of poverty.

Income distribution within a community is also an important determinate of health. More equal income distribution is one of the best predictors of better overall health of a community. Regions with more income equality tend to have higher life expectancies and lower rates of disease and injury.