Income Needed to Buy a Home in Quebec (2026)
Verdict: severely unaffordable — requires C$164,989/year (#3 least affordable of 13 Canadian provinces)
Quebec ranks #3 of 13 Canadian provinces for housing unaffordability in 2026. Buying the average home at C$552,983 requires a household income of about C$164,989. That's C$98,189 more than the median household actually earns (C$66,800) — a shortfall of 147% of typical income.
Quebec's affordability ratio of 2.47 (required income ÷ actual median income) is 16.5% worse than the median across all 13 Canadian provinces (2.12). Home prices here sit 6.1% above the cross-province median of C$521,364.
The Canadian math is stricter than the sticker price suggests. Buyers in Quebec must qualify at the OSFI B-20 stress rate of 7.24% — a full 2 points above the 5.24% contract rate — over a 25-year amortization. With a minimum-style down payment of 5.5% (C$30,298), CMHC insurance adds C$20,907 to the loan, and land transfer tax typically costs another C$6,768 in closing costs. The result: a stress-tested monthly payment of C$3,926 before property tax and heat.
Quebec monthly cost breakdown (2026)
| Average home price | C$552,983 |
| Down payment (5.5%) | C$30,298 |
| CMHC insurance premium | C$20,907 |
| Total insured loan | C$543,592 |
| Monthly P&I @ 7.24% stress rate | C$3,926 |
| Monthly property tax | C$324 |
| Monthly heat allowance | C$150 |
| Total monthly housing cost (GDS) | C$4,400 |
| Required household income | C$164,989 |
| Median household income | C$66,800 |
Run your own numbers
These figures model the average buyer. Your rate, down payment, and debts change the answer — check your personal maximum with the Home Affordability Analyzer or build a full payment schedule in the Advanced Mortgage Calculator — and remember Canadian lenders qualify you at the stress rate, not your contract rate.
How Quebec compares
- Nova Scotia — similar affordability (ratio 2.42, requires C$152,008)
- Nunavut — similar affordability (ratio 2.27, requires C$205,727)
- Yukon — similar affordability (ratio 2.17, requires C$183,580)
- Saskatchewan — among the most affordable Canadian provinces (requires C$110,157)
- Northwest Territories — among the most affordable Canadian provinces (requires C$159,652)
See every state and province ranked in the 2026 Mortgage Affordability Index.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to buy a house in Quebec in 2026?
About C$164,989 per year to afford the average-priced home of C$552,983, assuming the OSFI stress test at 7.24% and a 32% GDS ratio. The median Quebec household earns C$66,800.
What is the monthly cost of owning a average home in Quebec?
Roughly C$4,400 per month, including principal and interest at the stress-test rate, property tax, and a heating allowance.
Is Quebec affordable at the median income?
No. The required income exceeds the median household income by C$98,189 (147%), ranking Quebec #3 least affordable of 13 Canadian provinces.
Methodology & sources
Calculated under OSFI B-20: qualifying at the contract rate + 200 bps, 32% gross debt service ratio, 25-year amortization, CMHC premium per the National Housing Act schedule. Home prices from CREA-based averages; incomes from Statistics Canada's Canadian Income Survey. Figures model the average scenario and are not financial advice. Full sources on the affordability index.