Prospective homebuyers in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Toronto, Ontario, needed an annual income of over 200,000 Canadian dollars in 2023 to qualify for the average priced home. In Vancouver, this figure was approximately 237,000 Canadian dollars. British Columbia and Ontario, are Canada's most expensive provinces for housing. According to a January 2023 forecast by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the housing market is expected to cool down in the next two years, which is likely to improve home affordability.

The house price ratio in Canada peaked in the second quarter of 2022, followed by three quarters of decline and a slight rebound in 2023. The ratio measures the development of housing affordability and is calculated by dividing nominal house price by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 set as a base year when the index amounted to 100. Canada's index score in the third quarter of 2024 amounted to 136.8, which means that house price growth has outpaced income growth by almost 37 percent since 2015. Canadian home prices are fallingAfter several years of steady increase, Canadian house prices were forecast to fall slightly in 2023. This was also the case in British Columbia, which has consistently been the most expensive province for housing. This is likely because Vancouver, Canada's most expensive city, is located there. Canadian incomes on the riseIncomes in Canada have steadily risen since 2000 and show no signs of slowing down in the near future. This should improve housing affordability, as long as home price growth slows down.

The average mortgage payment across all Canadian metros declined in 2023. In the third quarter of the year, Vancouver and Toronto topped the ranking of highest mortgage payment costs. Homebuyers in Vancouver had to pay, on average, 2,410 Canadian dollars monthly, while in Toronto, the average monthly scheduled mortgage payment was 2,318 Canadian dollars. Canada’s housing market House prices in Canada vary widely across the country. In 2023, the average sales price of detached single-family homes in Vancouver was nearly three times as expensive as the national average. Vancouver is undoubtedly considered the least affordable housing market: In 2021, the cost of buying a home with a 25-year mortgage in Canada was approximately 45 percent of the median household income, whereas in Vancouver, it was nearly 64 percent. Development of house prices The development of house prices depends on multiple factors, such as availability on the market and demand. Since 2005, house prices in Canada have been continuously growing. According to the MSL composite house price index, 2021 measured the highest house price increase.

The average resale house price in Canada was forecast to reach nearly 836,000 Canadian dollars in 2026, according to a January forecast. In 2024, house prices increased after falling for the first time since 2019. One of the reasons for the price correction was the notable drop in transaction activity. Housing transactions picked up in 2024 and are expected to continue to grow until 2026. British Columbia, which is the most expensive province for housing, is projected to see the average house price reach 1.2 million Canadian dollars in 2026. Affordability in Vancouver Vancouver is the most populous city in British Columbia and is also infamously expensive for housing. In 2023, the city topped the ranking for least affordable housing market in Canada, with the average homeownership cost outweighing the average household income. There are a multitude of reasons for this, but most residents believe that foreigners investing in the market cause the high housing prices. Victoria housing market The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, where housing prices are also very high. The price of a single family home in Victoria's most expensive suburb, Oak Bay was 1.9 million Canadian dollars in 2024.

In November 2024, a single-family house in Oak Bay cost 1.9 million Canadian dollars. Oak Bay was the most expensive suburb in Victoria, British Columbia, followed by Highlands and North Saanich. Victoria: an overview Victoria is the capital city of the province of British Columbia. The city is located south of Vancouver, and across the U.S. border from Seattle. In 2020, the average home price in Victoria was 961,000 Canadian dollars, which placed the city as the sixth most expensive Canadian city for residential real estate. Home affordability in Canada Housing affordability is, undoubtedly, one of the biggest barriers to homeownership in Canada. In 2023, the ratio of homeownership costs to income was 62.5 percent. Nevertheless, more expensive locations in the country had a higher ratio, with Vancouver exceeding 100 percent, suggesting that on average, mortgage payments exceeded the monthly income. Amid lower affordability and worsening homebuyer sentiment, house prices in some of Canada's markets are forecast to decline slightly in 2024.

The average price for a house in Quebec stood at approximately 487,000 Canadian dollars in 2023 and was set to increase slightly in the next two years. In 2025, the average price is forecast to reach 512,000 Canadian dollars. Meanwhile, the national average house price was forecast to pick up in 2025. Compared to other provinces, Quebec was the third-most expensive province to buy housing in Canada, after British Columbia and Ontario. Quebec Located on the eastern side of Canada, Quebec had an estimated population of almost nine million people in 2022. It is the second most populated province in Canada, and the second-largest by land size, as it is three times the size of Texas. The largest city in Quebec is Montreal, which is close to the Vermont border in the United States. The median total family income in Quebec has been steadily rising since 2000. Housing Prices in Canada Housing prices in Canada vary province to province. The most expensive average house price was in British Columbia in 2022. Vancouver, the most populated city in British Columbia, is known for its high-priced real estate market. However, housing prices all over Canada have increased in the past couple of years.

The average price for a house in Quebec stood at approximately 522,828 Canadian dollars in 2024 and was set to increase slightly in the next two years. In 2025, the average price is forecast to reach 566,620 Canadian dollars. Meanwhile, the national average house price was forecast to pick up in 2025. Compared to other provinces, Quebec was the third-most expensive province to buy housing in Canada, after British Columbia and Ontario. Quebec Located on the eastern side of Canada, Quebec had an estimated population of almost nine million people in 2023. It is the second most populated province in Canada, and the second-largest by land size, as it is three times the size of Texas. The largest city in Quebec is Montreal, which is close to the Vermont border in the United States. The median total family income in Quebec has been steadily rising since 2000. Housing Prices in Canada Housing prices in Canada vary province to province. The most expensive average house price was in British Columbia in 2024. Vancouver, the most populated city in British Columbia, is known for its high-priced real estate market. However, housing prices all over Canada have increased in the past couple of years.

In Toronto, the gross rental yields amounted to 3.8 percent in the city center as of January 2024, whereas rental yields outside the city center were higher at 4.12 percent. Rental yield is the amount a property investor is likely to earn through renting a property. It’s calculated by dividing the total amount invested into the property by the annual rental income of the property. Vancouver vs TorontoRental yields are very important to potential investors and are an important factor they look at when deciding where to invest. City center properties generally command higher rents than those outside the center, though not in this case. Vancouver has higher rents for both two-bedroom apartment and one-bedroom apartments. Vancouver rents increasingMonthly rents for residential units in Vancouver have steadily risen over the past decade. The share of rental units which were unoccupied was low across all unit sizes. This bodes well for rental yields in the market in the future.