Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese have traded barbs on wage rises for workers and living costs in the third and final leaders’ debate before polling day.

But the debate, hosted by Seven Network on Wednesday night ahead of the May 21 vote, was more civil and less shouty than their previous encounter on Sunday.

Mr Albanese pressed his case on wages, arguing low wage workers, including cleaners and aged care workers, were the “heroes of the pandemic” and deserved “more than our thanks”.

Mr Albanese, who earlier this week said he would “absolutely” back a wage rise for low paid workers in line with inflation, said a five per cent increase amounted to about “two cups of coffee a day” or $1 an hour for employees on the minimum wage of $20.33 an hour.