Compare housing affordability across 20 Canadian cities — see where you qualify, what it costs monthly, and how cities stack up side by side.
Data last updated: March 2025 · Sources: CREA, CMHC, municipal tax rates
Enter your income and down payment above
See how 20 Canadian cities compare for your situation.
Housing affordability varies enormously across Canada — from Edmonton where median detached homes are around $510,000, to Vancouver where the median detached home exceeds $1.8 million. This calculator applies the same lender qualification standards to every city so you get an apples-to-apples comparison.
Each city is evaluated using the same GDS (39%) and TDS (44%) debt service ratios that Canadian lenders use, applied at the mortgage stress test rate (your rate + 2%, minimum 5.25%). Property tax rates, average heating costs, and condo fees are city-specific — so the comparison reflects real local costs, not just home prices.
Edmonton and Regina consistently rank as the most affordable major cities — combining lower home prices with stronger relative incomes. Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Quebec City also offer strong affordability. At the other end, Vancouver, Toronto, and Victoria remain severely unaffordable for median-income households without significant down payments.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and Yukon have no provincial land transfer tax — a significant savings on a $500,000 home. Ontario and BC buyers face the highest closing costs. Toronto buyers pay a double land transfer tax (provincial + municipal), adding $20,000–$30,000 in closing costs on a typical home.
Median prices sourced from CREA and regional real estate boards (Q1 2025). Property tax rates from municipal websites. Rent averages from CMHC Rental Market Report. All figures are estimates — actual costs vary by neighbourhood, property type, and market conditions. Not financial advice.