cost to own vs rent
Free resource · unlocks with your email
What does it really cost to own a home in your province?
Insurance, property tax, hydro, heat, internet — add it all up and see how it stacks up against rent.
All amounts are monthly, in Canadian dollars — except property tax, which we ask for yearly because that's how your notice arrives.
Don't own yet? Estimate a mortgage payment →
$2,657/month
Fixed-rate estimate, compounded semi-annually like Canadian mortgages. With less than 20% down you'll also pay mortgage default insurance, which this doesn't include.
100% free · unlocks instantly
See your full cost to own vs rent
This guide is free. Just pop in your email and the whole thing unlocks right away, plus every other free resource on the site.
- Every free guide & calculator on the site, unlocked
- New free-money finds in your inbox: grants, unclaimed money, savings hacks
- No spam, ever. I'll never sell your email.
By unlocking, you agree to get occasional emails from Samantha at sunshine¢s (thesunshinevibe.com) with free money-saving resources, tools and tips. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy
Cost to own by province
| Province | Insurance | Property tax | Hydro | Heat | Internet | Total | Avg 2-bed rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OntarioHighest total | $133 | $787 | $165 | $85 | $87 | $1,257 | $2,167 |
| Nova Scotia | $108 | $572 | $161 | oil* | $92 | $933+ | $1,963 |
| Prince Edward Island | $92 | $517 | $198 | oil* | $102 | $909+ | $1,467 |
| Saskatchewan | $113 | $425 | $179 | $75 | $74 | $866 | $1,486 |
| Alberta | $129 | $304 | $187 | $111 | $95 | $826 | $1,658 |
| Manitoba | $104 | $452 | $110 | $38 | $87 | $791 | $1,547 |
| New Brunswick | $96 | $453 | $152 | oil* | $89 | $790+ | $1,477 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $104 | $320 | $170 | oil* | $84 | $678+ | $1,463 |
| British ColumbiaSelected | $154 | $213 | $132 | $57 | $94 | $650 | $2,337 |
| QuebecLowest total | $96 | $323 | $83 | $7 | $79 | $588 | $1,492 |
Monthly averages, excluding mortgage. Costs vary a lot by city and home.
*Most homes here heat with oil or electricity, so real totals are higher.
Where these numbers come from
- Home insurance: Onlia, average annual premiums by province, 2026
- Property tax: nesto.ca Canada Property Tax Guide 2026 (based on each province's average home price)
- Electricity: Canada Energy Regulator, 1,000 kWh/month bill before tax (rates as of Nov 2025)
- Heat (natural gas) and internet: Statistics Canada Survey of Household Spending 2023, via WealthNorth
- Rent: CMHC Rental Market Survey, Oct 2025, 2-bedroom units with new tenants