More people who live and work in Fort McMurray will be getting an extra $1,040 a month from the province to help with the high cost of living.

About 1,000 health-care staff, day-care workers and provincial employees already get the allowance, but this month the bonus was extended to the remaining 1,500 people who work for organizations funded by the province. That includes teachers, college staff and community workers.

Treasury Board President Lloyd Snelgrove said Tuesday the cost of living in Fort McMurray is higher than anywhere else in Alberta.

"We use a very defined and set up criteria," he said. "It takes …Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Calgary and shows what the average housing costs are, and Fort McMurray is still very nearly $700 higher than the average."