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Home Affordability

Here’s What Canadians Earning the Median Income Can Afford to Buy Across Canada

Daniel Crook by Daniel Crook
August 3, 2023
in Affordability, Canada
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Home prices have crept up throughout 2023. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average national price reached $760,600, up 7.8% over the last six months. In that time, while interest rates have risen, buyer demand is still at a high, and with such low levels of national inventory, it’s possible that prices will continue to climb for the rest of the year.

  • Read: Top Canadian Cities for Buying a Home on a Single Income

Despite this, there are still pockets of affordability across Canada. We analyzed major cities from coast to coast to learn where a homebuyer earning the median income in their city could afford a home at the city’s average price, using the most recently available data.

10 of 17 Cities Have Home Prices Out of Reach of Median Income Earners

While Ottawa is the city with the greatest median income of $106,240, and can therefore afford the highest-priced home, a home in the city at the current average price may still be out of reach. The average home price in Ottawa is $652,700, just over $160,000 higher than the highest-priced home median income earners can afford there. Of the 16 cities we analyzed, median-income earners would struggle to afford average-priced homes in 10 of those. 

  • Read: Analyzing the Impact: Can House Prices Decline if Canada’s Population is Growing at Record Rates?

The city with the highest median income that can afford a home at the average price is Edmonton, where the median income is $93,710, meaning buyers can afford as much as $433,173, just under $70,000 more than the average price of a  home. 

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It is likely no surprise to most Canadians that those earning the median income in Vancouver and Toronto will find it difficult to afford a home at the average price in either of these major markets. In each, homes cost an average of over $1,000,000. In Vancouver, a median income earner may be able to afford  $413,869, around $800,000 less than the average price. Toronto homebuyers earning a  median income are limited in their options, if any, at  $395,785.

  • Read: Renting Vs. Buying: Where Monthly Mortgage Payments are Comparable to Monthly Rents Across Canada

Where Will Buyers Find the Greatest Affordability?

Those earning a median income in smaller cities, however, are in luck. While the median income in these cities is smaller than major ones in British Columbia or Ontario, home prices are vastly more affordable and there is a much lower threshold to hit. For instance, while Saint John has the lowest median income on our list of $79,000, the average price in the province is just $291,000, far lower than the maximum that median income earners could potentially afford of $365,165. 

  • Read: The Most Affordable Ontario Cities to Buy Real Estate in July 2023

Other cities, such as Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Edmonton all have home prices lower than the most that median income earners could afford. Buyers in Edmonton may be able to afford to buy a home up to a maximum of $429,456, while those in Regina have the largest gap between what the median income could afford and the average price, at just under $111,000. 

If you’re looking to enter one of these markets, it’s important to speak with a local realtor who can give you specific information and guidance about the local real estate market. Give us a call today to discuss your home-buying plans. 

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Daniel Crook

Daniel Crook

Daniel is Zoocasa's Content Marketing Specialist, creating content to help Canadians make informed decisions on the real estate market. Outside of Zoocasa, he is an avid watcher of sports including football (soccer), cricket, basketball and F1, as well as a big fan of science fiction books.

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