Home buying costs in Canada
In Canada the biggest closing cost is the provincial land transfer tax — and in Toronto a municipal land transfer tax on top of it. Both are charged on price bands. Alberta and Saskatchewan charge no land transfer tax, just a registration fee. Add your lawyer (a notary in Quebec), title insurance, a home inspection and, if your down payment is under 20%, CMHC mortgage insurance.
7 of 8 provinces & territories source-verified as of June 2026.
Canada buying-cost calculator
Pick your province or territory, then adjust the price and deposit.
Estimated upfront costs
$10,925
≈ 1.82% of the price · excludes your deposit
land transfer tax alone
$8,475
the biggest single line
Line-by-line breakdown
Land transfer tax by province or territory
What the land transfer tax costs at three common Canada home prices, highest to lowest at $800,000. Open a province or territory for its full bands, first-home relief and a preset calculator.
| Province or territory | $600,000 | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $10,000 | $14,000 | $18,000 | Verified |
| Manitoba | $9,650 | $13,650 | $17,650 | Verified |
| Ontario | $8,475 | $12,475 | $16,475 | Verified |
| Nova Scotia | $9,000 | $12,000 | $15,000 | est |
| Montréal | $7,349 | $11,349 | $15,349 | Verified |
| Quebec | $7,111 | $10,111 | $13,111 | Verified |
| Saskatchewan | $2,400 | $3,200 | $4,000 | Verified |
| Alberta | $650 | $850 | $1,050 | Verified |
Owner-occupier standard rates, before first-home relief. Montréal shows its own city welcome tax; Ontario is the provincial tax only — within Toronto the municipal land transfer tax is charged on top (see Ontario).
What you'll pay to buy in Canada
Beyond the land transfer tax, budget for these on top of your deposit. Each is built into the calculator above.
- Real-estate lawyer / notary — Handles the closing, title search and registration. In Quebec a notary performs this role.
- Title insurance — A one-time policy, usually lender-required and arranged by your lawyer. Roughly $1 per $1,000 of value — higher in expensive markets like Toronto.
- Home inspection — Optional but advised — a pro checks the home's condition before you commit. Condos lower; large/rural homes higher.
- Registration & disbursements — Title registration, property-tax adjustments, courier and small disbursements your lawyer collects at closing.
- CMHC mortgage default insurance — Required when your down payment is under 20%. The premium is added to your mortgage (not paid in cash), though PST on it is due upfront at closing in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Official sources
Canada guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy a home in Canada?
In Canada, expect total upfront buying costs of roughly 1.5%–4% of the price, on top of your deposit. The largest piece is usually the land transfer tax. The rest is your real-estate lawyer, an inspection, registration fees, and mortgage insurance if your down payment is under 20%. Use the calculator above for an itemised estimate.
What is the land transfer tax in Canada?
It depends on your province or territory — land transfer tax is set by each province. British Columbia is at the higher end (about $10,000 on a $600,000 home) and Alberta the lower. See the table below or open your province or territory.
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