Between 2022 and 2025, the construction price of residential and non-residential buildings in Canada has grown at the same pace. The price of both types of buildings was roughly ***** percent higher in the last quarter of 2025 than in 2024, which is the year when the index base was set at 100. Nevertheless, that only considers the cost of buildings in 15 selected metropolitan areas in Canada. Toronto was by far the metropolitan region with the highest construction costs in Canada.

What determines construction costs? The growth rate of the construction price of different types of buildings tends to follow similar trends to some extent. For example, price growth rates in Canada for most types of buildings were more moderate in 2024 than in previous years. However, those figures show a lot of disparity, with the cost of building a high rise apartment building growing much faster than that of other types of buildings. This might be because the construction costs depend on elements such as the location, materials, and complexity of the building, which tend to be quite different for each type of building.

Lumber building materials in Canada In 2024, Canada was the world’s second-largest exporter of wood building materials such as veneer sheets, parquet flooring, particleboard, laminated wood, and builders’ joinery and carpentry. Forestry, logging, and processing wood into ready-to-use materials are important industries in the Canadian economy. High price growth rates of building materials impact negatively the construction industry as their activities become more expensive. However, the forestry and logging industry benefited from the cost of lumber rising in 2020 and 2021. In the past years, the price of lumber, however, has fallen again.

Building construction price indexes (BCPI), percent change, by type of building and construction division. Quarterly data are available from the first quarter of 1982. The table presents quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year percentage changes for various aggregation levels. The base period for the index is (2017=100).

Ambulatory healthcare was the type of building with the highest construction costs in Ontario (Canada) in 2024. The cost of that type of building ranged from *** to *** Canadian dollars per square feet. Townhouses, along with warehouses, among the cheapest buildings to construct, even though the townhouse sale price in Canada was much higher in 2024 than in a decade earlier. On the other side of the residential spectrum, the construction cost of high-rise buildings with mid-end specifications could reach up to *** Canadian dollars per square feet. The housing sector in Ontario The fast population growth in Toronto, the main city in Ontario, has put pressure on its housing market. From 2001 to 2023, the number of people living in Canada’s largest city increased from **** to *** million people. During the past years, house prices in Ontario rose at a similarly fast pace. Combined, these elements signal a strong demand for homes in Toronto and Ontario as a whole. The construction sector has responded to this trend: In 2023, most housing starts in Canada took place in the province of Ontario. That same year, EllisDon Corporation, with headquarters in Mississauga (Ontario), was the second-largest contractor in Canada. One of its largest residential/mixed-use projects under development is the 489-539 King St. West Development, in Toronto. Construction cost in North America Building construction costs in Quebec, the second most populous province in Canada after Ontario, had a similar cost range: Ambulatory healthcare buildings were the most expensive, and warehouses were the cheapest to build. However, enclosed malls and higher education buildings were significantly more expensive in Quebec than in Ontario. Across the border, the cities with the highest residential construction costs in the U.S. were San Francisco for multi-family housing, and New York City for single-family housing. Meanwhile, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York had the highest hotel construction costs in the U.S.

One of the building types with the highest construction costs in British Columbia (Canada) in 2024 were healthcare ambulatory care buildings. The construction of those buildings cost between *** and ***** Canadian dollars per square feet. That year, construction costs for residential health care buildings could reach up to *** Canadian dollars per square feet. In 2023, around 234,700 people were employed in the construction sector in British Columbia.

In 2024, the construction prices of non-residential buildings reached growth rates of over five percent in several Canadian cities. That same year, construction costs for commercial buildings in Victoria grew by 7.4 percent in 2024, and by 5.15 percent in Quebec. However, most cities had lower construction cost growth rates than in the previous year. The residential construction costs in these Canadian cities also increased that year.

Graph and download economic data for Total Cost of Residential Construction for Canada (OPCNRE01CAA661N) from 1981 to 2016 about cost, Canada, residential, and construction.

In late 2024, data centers were the type of building with the highest construction costs in Vancouver. That year, construction costs of hospitals stood between *** and *** Canadian dollars per square foot. Light and heavy industry buildings had the lowest construction costs. These costs are similar to those of other big Canadian cities, such as Montreal.

Building construction price indexes (BCPI) by type of building. Quarterly data are available from the second quarter of 1982. The table presents quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year percentage changes for various aggregation levels. The base period for the index is (2017=100).

Infrastructure construction price index (ICPI). Annual data are available from 2010. The table presents data for the most recent reference period and the last four periods. The base period for the index is (2010=100).

Canada Construction Price Index: Non Residential Building: Structures: Institutional data was reported at 153.100 1997=100 in 2007. This records an increase from the previous number of 140.600 1997=100 for 2006. Canada Construction Price Index: Non Residential Building: Structures: Institutional data is updated yearly, averaging 130.800 1997=100 from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2007, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 153.100 1997=100 in 2007 and a record low of 116.800 1997=100 in 2003. Canada Construction Price Index: Non Residential Building: Structures: Institutional data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.EA015: Construction Price Index: 1997=100.

Residential building construction prices increased in most major metropolitan areas in Canada in 2024. Nevertheless, those increases were lower than in 2021 and 2022, when the cost of building housing soared with two-figure growth rates in most of the cities included. Victoria was among the metropolitan areas in Canada with the highest growth rates in 2024, with the residential construction costs increasing by **** percent there.

Ontario's construction costs 2023, by building type Published by Fernando de Querol Cumbrera, Dec 10, 2024 Ambulatory healthcare was the type of building with the highest construction costs in Ontario (Canada) in 2023. The cost of that type of building ranged from 7,110 to 8,750 Canadian dollars per square meter. Townhouses with mid-end specifications were, along with warehouses, among the cheapest buildings to construct, even though the townhouse sale price in Canada was much higher in 2023 than in a decade earlier. On the other side of the residential spectrum, the construction cost of high-rise buildings with mid-end specifications could reach up to 5,370 Canadian dollars per square meter. The housing sector in Ontario The fast population growth in Toronto, the main city in Ontario, has put pressure on its housing market. From 2001 to 2022, the number of people living in Canada’s largest city increased by over 37 percent. During the past years, house prices in Ontario rose at a similarly fast pace. Combined, these elements signal a strong demand for homes in Toronto and Ontario as a whole. The construction sector has responded to this trend: In 2022, most housing starts in Canada took place in the province of Ontario. That same year, EllisDon Corporation, with headquarters in Mississauga (Ontario), was the second-largest contractor in Canada. One of its largest residential/mixed-use projects under development is the 489-539 King St. West Development, in Toronto. Construction cost in North America Building construction costs in Quebec, the second most populous province in Canada after Ontario, had a similar cost range: Ambulatory healthcare buildings were the most expensive, and warehouses were the cheapest to build. However, enclosed malls and higher education buildings were significantly more expensive in Quebec than in Ontario. Across the border, the cities with the highest residential construction costs in the U.S. were San Francisco for multi-family housing, and New York City for single-family housing. Meanwhile, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York had the highest hotel construction costs in the U.S.

Archived - Non-residential building construction price index (NRBCPI), type of building of major subtrade groups. Quarterly Data are available from the first quarter 1981. The table presents data for the most recent reference period and the last four periods. The base period for the index is (2002=100).

Canada Construction Price Index: CU: Victoria data was reported at 122.600 1992=100 in 2008. This records an increase from the previous number of 121.600 1992=100 for 2007. Canada Construction Price Index: CU: Victoria data is updated yearly, averaging 113.550 1992=100 from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2008, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 122.600 1992=100 in 2008 and a record low of 110.500 1992=100 in 2003. Canada Construction Price Index: CU: Victoria data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.G046: Union Wage Rate Index: Construction: 1992=100.

This table contains 192 series, with data for years 1956 - 1993 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and was last released on 2007-04-13. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (10 items: Canada; Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador ...), Type of construction (4 items: Total; all types of construction; Grading; Granular base courses; Paving ...), Highway construction price indexes (3 items: Total; contract work and materials; All contract work; All materials supplied ...), Index base period (3 items: 1986=100;1981=100;1971=100 ...).

The segment wood, plastics, and composites was the component that was responsible for the highest share of residential construction costs in 2025. Meanwhile, concrete made up ***** percent of the cost of building a residential building in Canada that year. General requirements and finishes were some of the other segments that constituted a significant share of the overall cost of building a home.

Electric utility construction price index (EUCPI). Annual data are available from 1956. The table presents data for the most recent reference period and the last four periods. The base period for the index is (1992=100).

Canada Construction Price Index: Residential: Apartment: Low Rise: London data was reported at 105.700 2023=100 in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 102.900 2023=100 for Dec 2024. Canada Construction Price Index: Residential: Apartment: Low Rise: London data is updated quarterly, averaging 100.600 2023=100 from Mar 2023 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 105.700 2023=100 in Mar 2025 and a record low of 99.300 2023=100 in Jun 2023. Canada Construction Price Index: Residential: Apartment: Low Rise: London data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.EA011: Construction Price Index: 2023=100.

Graph and download economic data for Total Cost of Residential Construction for Canada (OPCNRE01CAM661N) from Jan 1981 to Dec 2016 about cost, Canada, residential, and construction.

Canada Construction Price Index: Apartment Building: Toronto data was reported at 156.100 1997=100 in 2007. This records an increase from the previous number of 147.800 1997=100 for 2006. Canada Construction Price Index: Apartment Building: Toronto data is updated yearly, averaging 139.200 1997=100 from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2007, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 156.100 1997=100 in 2007 and a record low of 124.800 1997=100 in 2003. Canada Construction Price Index: Apartment Building: Toronto data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.EA015: Construction Price Index: 1997=100.