If you are thinking of buying a house in Quebec, one of the first things to do is get familiar with housing costs in the province. Buying a home is an expensive undertaking that deserves careful consideration, and knowing how to shop for a mortgage and set a budget will help you buy with confidence.
You will want the homes you look at to come with listing prices that align with your finances. Even if your income can cover the mortgage payments, leave some wiggle room for the other expenses that come with everyday living. Here is where house prices currently sit in Quebec, and a few costs that are unique to buying in the province.
Key Points
1. The average house price in Quebec is $570,542, up about 5.2% from a year earlier, one of the strongest gains in the country.
2. Quebec is more affordable than Ontario and British Columbia, but prices vary widely from Montreal to smaller regions.
3. Quebec buyers pay a one-time welcome tax (droit de mutation) on top of the purchase price, which is higher in Montreal.
4. In Quebec, a notary, not a lawyer, prepares the deed and closes the sale.
What Is The Average House Price In Quebec?
The average price for a house in Quebec is about $570,542, a 5.2% increase from the same month last year.1 That is a province-wide average, and prices can look very different from one city or region to the next. Quebec remains one of the more affordable large provinces in Canada, even as it posts some of the fastest price growth.
Average House Prices By Region In Quebec
The province-wide average hides a lot of variation. Montreal sits at the top of the range, but several smaller regions are posting the fastest growth in the province.
| Region | Benchmark Price (July 2026) | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal CMA | $590,200 | +2.4% |
| Sherbrooke CMA | $577,240 | +11.1% |
| Gatineau CMA | $497,986 | -0.5% |
| Trois-Rivieres CMA | $431,176 | +7.8% |
| Central Quebec | $359,100 | +8.0% |
Source: CREA 1
Figures are MLS HPI benchmark prices as of July 2026.1 Montreal is the province’s priciest and most active market, with average home prices in Montreal leading the province. Sherbrooke, though, has been the fastest-rising market of all, up 11.1% over the year, with Central Quebec and Trois-Rivieres close behind. The map below shows where these markets sit across southern Quebec.
A few patterns stand out across the province:
- Montreal is the priciest market at $590,200, though its growth has been modest (up 2.4%).
- Sherbrooke is the fastest-rising in the province, up 11.1%, and now sits just behind Montreal.
- Central Quebec and Trois-Rivieres are catching up quickly (up 8.0% and 7.8%), even as they remain the most affordable markets on the map.
- Gatineau is the outlier, dipping slightly (down 0.5%), likely tied to the softer Ottawa-area market next door.
How Does Quebec Compare To The Rest Of Canada?
Quebec sits below the national average and well below its neighbour Ontario, while still gaining value faster than most provinces. Here is how it compares.
| Region | Average House Price | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $930,231 | -1.3% |
| Ontario | $797,486 | -2.9% |
| Canada (national) | $674,819 | +0.2% |
| Quebec | $570,542 | +5.2% |
Source: CREA (July 2026).1 While Ontario and British Columbia have cooled over the past year, Quebec has kept climbing, thanks to strong demand and prices that remain within reach for many buyers.
The Welcome Tax: Quebec’s Land Transfer Tax
One cost that catches many buyers off guard is the welcome tax, officially the transfer duty or droit de mutation. Every buyer in Quebec pays it, and it is due as a one-time bill a few months after you take possession. It is calculated on the highest of your purchase price, the price in the notarial deed, or the municipal assessment adjusted by a comparative factor.
The tax is progressive, so each rate applies only to the portion of the value that falls within its bracket. The provincial base rates are as follows.
| Portion Of The Price | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $62,900 | 0.5% |
| $62,900 to $315,000 | 1.0% |
| Over $315,000 | 1.5% |
Larger cities can add higher brackets. Laval, Longueuil, and Gatineau go up to 3%, and Montreal, the only city in the province with extra brackets that high, reaches up to 4% on the most expensive homes.2 On a $700,000 home in Montreal, the welcome tax works out to roughly $9,349.
Buying A Home In Quebec: The Notary’s Role
Quebec’s home-buying process is different from the rest of Canada in one important way: a notary, not a lawyer, handles the transaction. Quebec notaries are legal professionals who prepare the deed of sale, verify the title, register the mortgage, hold funds in trust, and officially close the sale.
Budget for notary fees as part of your closing costs, usually a flat fee of roughly $1,000 to $1,800 depending on the transaction. The seller and buyer can agree on who chooses the notary, but the buyer typically pays.
Taxes On A New Home In Quebec
If you buy a newly built home rather than a resale, you will also pay sales tax on the purchase: the federal GST of 5% plus Quebec’s provincial QST of 9.975%. Rebates are available that return part of these taxes on homes under certain price thresholds, so ask your builder and notary how much applies to your purchase. Resale homes are generally exempt from GST and QST.
What Affects Home Prices In Quebec?
Sellers set listing prices with help from their real estate agents, and while the final sale price may not match the asking price exactly, a well-priced home usually sells close to it. A few factors do most of the work.
- Location: Proximity to transit, schools, groceries, parks, and other amenities lifts value, as does a home’s exact spot in a neighbourhood (a quiet cul-de-sac versus a busy street) and the area’s reputation.
- Comparables (comps): Agents price a home against similar properties nearby that recently sold, ideally within the last three to six months, of a similar size and type. The closer the match, the more accurate the price.
- Condition: Two similar homes can be valued very differently based on condition. A well-maintained, updated home commands more than one that needs work.
Can You Afford A Home In Quebec?
To work out how much house you can afford, start with your income, current debts, and the full cost of owning a home. Two steps make it clearer.
- List your monthly expenses. Add up everything you spend, from credit cards, car loans, and student loans to insurance, utilities, groceries, and subscriptions, and compare it to what you earn. What is left over is what can go toward a mortgage.
- Calculate your GDS and TDS. Lenders use the Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratio, your housing costs as a share of income, and the Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio, all your debts as a share of income, to decide how much you qualify for. They prefer a GDS under 30% to 39% and a TDS under 44%.
For a full assessment of what you can borrow, work through your mortgage affordability before you start shopping.
Average Home Prices Across Canada
The Costs Of Owning A Home In Quebec
Beyond your mortgage, budget for the ongoing and one-time costs that come with owning a home so you do not end up “house poor”:
- The welcome tax: A one-time transfer duty, due a few months after possession.
- Property taxes: Billed by your municipality based on your home’s assessed value.
- Home insurance: Required by your lender and worth having regardless.
- Utilities: Heat, electricity, water, and similar services.
- Maintenance and repairs: Ongoing upkeep to protect your home’s value.
- Condo fees: If you buy a condo, monthly fees for shared maintenance.
Government Housing Help In Quebec
Quebec offers several programs that can ease the cost of housing. On the ownership side, first-time buyers can use the federal Home Buyers’ Plan to withdraw from their RRSP and the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit at tax time. On the rental and affordability side, Quebec programs such as AccesLogis and the Rent Supplement Program help lower-income residents with housing costs. It is worth checking which you qualify for before you buy.
Final Thoughts
Quebec is a relatively affordable province to buy in, especially next to Ontario and British Columbia, but it comes with its own costs and process, from the welcome tax to the notary-led closing. Wherever in Quebec you plan to buy, evaluate your finances, save for a solid down payment, and do your homework so you can focus on homes you can comfortably afford.
Quebec House Price FAQs
The average house price in Quebec is about $570,542 as of 2026, up roughly 5.2% from a year earlier.
Yes. The average house price in Quebec (about $570,542) is well below Ontario (about $797,486), though Quebec is pricier than most Maritime and Atlantic provinces.
The welcome tax, or droit de mutation, is a one-time transfer duty every buyer pays. Provincial rates run from 0.5% to 1.5% depending on the price, and larger cities like Montreal add higher brackets up to 4% on expensive homes.
Yes. In Quebec, a notary rather than a lawyer prepares the deed of sale, verifies title, registers the mortgage, and closes the transaction. Notary fees are typically a flat $1,000 to $1,800.
The average price of a condo in Quebec is around $400,000, though it is higher in Montreal and lower in smaller regions.
The average rent in Quebec is roughly $1,495 per month, which is among the more affordable in the country, though rents in Montreal run higher.
Home prices in Quebec have increased about 5.2% year over year, one of the strongest gains of any province.
Yes. Programs such as AccesLogis and the Rent Supplement Program help with rental costs, while first-time buyers can use the federal Home Buyers’ Plan and First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit.
References
- Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). (2026). Provincial and national housing market statistics (July 2026). https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-stats/
- Ville de Montreal. (2026). How property transfer duties are calculated. https://montreal.ca/en/articles/how-property-transfer-duties-are-calculated-9279
- Revenu Quebec. (2026). Real estate transfer duties. https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/
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