Here's what salary you need to afford a home in Quebec vs. every other Canadian province

Buying a home in Quebec—and across the rest of Canada—has become a significant challenge for many people. Whether you're eyeing property in Montreal or looking for something quieter in the province's outskirts, it's hardly breaking news that house prices have climbed in recent years.

But how do Quebec's housing prices compare to the rest of Canada?

New research from weathvieu.com has compared the salary needed to afford a home in every Canadian province to determine whether any of them can actually be considered affordable.

To work this out, weathvieu started with the average home price in each province in August 2024 and calculated the total mortgage amount by subtracting a 20% down payment from the home price, which helps avoid the cost of CMHC insurance.

Then, they calculated the mortgage payments using a 5-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.50% over a 25-year amortization. To ensure the home was affordable, they used the 28/36 rule, which suggests that no more than 28% of your gross monthly income should go toward housing. This method provides a clear picture of the annual salary needed to comfortably afford a home in each province.

So, what's the verdict? Well, as you can imagine, there's a lot of bad news.

As of August 2024, the average home price in Quebec was $506,224, which means you'd need to earn about $116,256 per year to comfortably afford a home in the province. Montreal's real estate market costs continue to rise, but there are still cheaper options outside of the city.

While it'd be a stretch to call that affordable, Quebec is still significantly cheaper than some of Canada's pricier regions like British Columbia and Ontario.

Let's start with the most expensive: British Columbia. The average home price in B.C. is a staggering $998,159, which means you'd need to earn $229,231 annually to afford a home there. Ontario follows closely with an average home price of $884,761, requiring a yearly salary of $203,189.

In comparison, Quebec's $116,256 salary requirement feels more reasonable—though still a significant hurdle for many buyers.

Meanwhile, some provinces offer slightly more affordable options. In Alberta, the average home price is $503,502, meaning you'd need an income of $115,631 a year to afford a home.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan offer even cheaper alternatives. In Saskatchewan, the average home price is $332,413, so you'd need an annual income of $76,340 to afford a home. Manitoba is pricier at $383,396, requiring a salary of $88,048 per year.

Heading east, Atlantic Canada stands out as the most affordable region in the country. Newfoundland and Labrador is the cheapest place to buy a home, with an average price of $318,631, meaning you'd need to earn just $73,175 per year. New Brunswick comes in close behind, with a $329,307 average home price, requiring an income of $75,627 annually.

Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are slightly more expensive than their Atlantic neighbours but are still affordable compared to Quebec. In P.E.I., the average home price is $379,098, meaning you'd need an income of $87,061 per year. Nova Scotia's average home price is $460,753, so you'd need to earn about $105,814 annually to buy a home there.

When comparing the annual income needed to the average household income for each province, six out of ten provinces can be considered "affordable": Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and P.E.I.

Unfortunately, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia are still out of reach for many, with all three requiring a six-figure salary to make home ownership possible.

While some provinces are considered more affordable by these calculations, it's important to note that even here, coming up with a 20% down payment is no small feat. If you're currently renting or most of your income goes toward essentials like bills and groceries, saving up for that deposit can feel almost impossible.

Another thing to consider is that these numbers reflect a single income. For those buying with a partner or co-buyer, combining incomes could make these homes more affordable. However, for solo buyers hoping to enter the housing market, it's an entirely different story. In provinces like British Columbia and Ontario in particular, the required salary far exceeds the average individual income, making it much tougher for anyone looking to buy a home on their own.

In Quebec, while housing affordability is still a challenge, the situation isn't quite as dire as in provinces like B.C. and Ontario. For those dreaming of buying a home, Quebec sits in that middle ground between being relatively affordable compared to some of Canada's pricier regions, yet still requiring a substantial income to achieve homeownership.

While owning a home in Quebec—or anywhere in Canada—may feel like a distant dream for some, there are still pockets of relative affordability across the country—you just need to know where to look!

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