Buying · Quebec City · cash 2026
All the money needed to buy the median house in Quebec City in 2026: down payment, tax on the CMHC premium, welcome tax, notary, inspection, with the 20% scenario, the condo and 2016 for comparison.
To buy the median house in Quebec City, sold for $480,000 from January to September 2026, plan for $33,252 to $35,752 in cash. The big piece is the minimum down payment (5% of the price): $24,000. Add $5,310 of welcome tax (Quebec City's 2026 grid), $1,642 of Québec tax on the $18,240 CMHC premium (the premium goes into the loan, the tax is paid in cash) and $2,300 to $4,800 for the notary, inspection and appraisal. A first-time buyer then recovers up to $5,078 through Québec's welcome tax credit, bringing the bill to about $29,424. With 20% down to avoid the premium, it takes $103,610 to $106,110 instead. In 2016, the minimum down payment, premium tax and welcome tax on the median house ($250,000) added up to $15,540; in 2026, $30,952 (+99%). Assumptions: Centris median price of single-family houses and condos sold (January to September 2026), federal minimum down payment (5% of the first $500,000, 10% of the rest, 20% from $1.5M), CMHC premium on the schedule in force since 2017 (added to the loan), Québec's 9% tax on the premium (paid in cash), welcome tax on the city's 2026 grid, notary $1,800 to $3,500 for a house ($1,500 to $2,800 for a condo), inspection $500 to $800, appraisal $0 to $500 depending on the lender. Source: Centris (Matrix) for prices, compiled October 29, 2026.
The short answer
To buy the median house in Quebec City, sold for $480,000 from January to September 2026, plan for $33,252 to $35,752 in cash. The big piece is the minimum down payment (5% of the price): $24,000. Add $5,310 of welcome tax (Quebec City's 2026 grid), $1,642 of Québec tax on the $18,240 CMHC premium (the premium goes into the loan, the tax is paid in cash) and $2,300 to $4,800 for the notary, inspection and appraisal. A first-time buyer then recovers up to $5,078 through Québec's welcome tax credit, bringing the bill to about $29,424. With 20% down to avoid the premium, it takes $103,610 to $106,110 instead. In 2016, the minimum down payment, premium tax and welcome tax on the median house ($250,000) added up to $15,540; in 2026, $30,952 (+99%).
The cash to plan for in Quebec City, item by item
| 2026 in Quebec City | House, minimum down | House, 20% down | Condo, minimum down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median price | $480,000 | $480,000 | $335,000 |
| Down payment | $24,000 | $96,000 | $16,750 |
| CMHC premium (added to the loan) | $18,240 | none | $12,730 |
| 9% Québec tax on the premium (cash) | $1,642 | $0 | $1,146 |
| Welcome tax | $5,310.50 | $5,310.50 | $3,135.50 |
| Notary | $1,800 to $3,500 | $1,800 to $3,500 | $1,500 to $2,800 |
| Pre-purchase inspection | $500 to $800 | $500 to $800 | $500 to $800 |
| Appraisal (if the lender charges it) | $0 to $500 | $0 to $500 | $0 to $500 |
| Total to plan for | $33,252 to $35,752 | $103,610 to $106,110 | $23,031 to $25,131 |
| First-time buyer credit (recovered later) | $5,078 | $5,078 | $3,136 |
Centris (Matrix) median prices, January to September 2026. The notary, inspection and appraisal ranges are 2026 market ranges (see notary fees).
From 2016 to 2026 in Quebec City
| Year | Median house | Minimum down payment | Tax on the premium | Welcome tax (2026 grid) | Total before fixed costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $250,000 | $12,500 | $855 | $2,186 | $15,540 |
| 2017 | $250,750 | $12,538 | $858 | $2,193 | $15,589 |
| 2018 | $252,000 | $12,600 | $862 | $2,206 | $15,667 |
| 2019 | $260,000 | $13,000 | $889 | $2,286 | $16,175 |
| 2020 | $270,000 | $13,500 | $923 | $2,386 | $16,809 |
| 2021 | $310,000 | $15,500 | $1,060 | $2,786 | $19,346 |
| 2022 | $339,000 | $16,950 | $1,159 | $3,196 | $21,305 |
| 2023 | $350,000 | $17,500 | $1,197 | $3,360 | $22,058 |
| 2024 | $384,000 | $19,200 | $1,313 | $3,870 | $24,384 |
| 2025 | $450,000 | $22,500 | $1,539 | $4,860 | $28,900 |
| 2026 | $480,000 | $24,000 | $1,642 | $5,310 | $30,952 |
What these numbers say in Quebec City
- Of $34,502 at the middle of the range, the down payment is 70%, the welcome tax 15% and the rest (premium tax, notary, inspection, appraisal) 15%.
- A single buyer with a full FHSA ($40,000) who withdraws the HBP maximum ($60,000) covers all the cash in Quebec City; the FHSA alone is enough. For a couple, the limits double.
- The median condo in Quebec City ($335,000) takes $23,031 to $25,131 in cash, about $10,421 less than the house.
- The first-time buyer credit covers $5,078 of the $5,310 tax on the median house in Quebec City, but it is claimed after the purchase: the money has to be there first.
- Across the 50 cities tracked, the median house ($610,000) takes a median $48,877 to $51,377 in cash in 2026. The down payment, premium tax and welcome tax have at least doubled since 2016 in 44 of 50 cities.
What it changes for buying in Quebec City
In Quebec City, the cash to plan for is among the lowest of the 50 cities tracked: a well-funded FHSA and the HBP are often enough. It is the moment to buy for anyone who has the cash: the choice is there, and every year of waiting is paid in rent that builds nothing. The down payment detail is in down payment to buy in Quebec City; the tax alone in welcome tax on the median house in Quebec City; the monthly payment in mortgage payment in Quebec City.
How to read these numbers
Assumptions: Centris median price of single-family houses and condos sold (January to September 2026), federal minimum down payment (5% of the first $500,000, 10% of the rest, 20% from $1.5M), CMHC premium on the schedule in force since 2017 (added to the loan), Québec's 9% tax on the premium (paid in cash), welcome tax on the city's 2026 grid, notary $1,800 to $3,500 for a house ($1,500 to $2,800 for a condo), inspection $500 to $800, appraisal $0 to $500 depending on the lender. The calculated items (down payment, premium tax, welcome tax) follow the median price; the fixed costs are 2026 ranges, hence a total as a range. For 2016, we compare the down payment, premium tax and welcome tax, with the city's 2026 tax grid on both years. Adjustments repaid to the seller (prepaid municipal and school taxes, heating oil, condo fees), home insurance, moving costs and a fund for first repairs come on top depending on the file.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash do you need to buy a house in Quebec City in 2026?
$33,252 to $35,752 for the median house ($480,000) in 2026: $24,000 of down payment, $1,642 of tax on the CMHC premium, $5,310 of welcome tax and $2,300 to $4,800 for the notary, inspection and appraisal.
Do you need 20% down to buy in Quebec City?
No, 5% of the price is enough, so $24,000 on the median house, with a $18,240 CMHC premium added to the loan. With 20% ($96,000), no premium, but $103,610 to $106,110 in cash.
When is the welcome tax paid in Quebec City?
Quebec City bills it a few weeks after the purchase, but you need it set aside: $5,310.50 on the median house. An eligible first-time buyer recovers $5,078 through Québec's credit, to claim within 18 months.
Sources: Centris (Matrix), Statistics module, query of September 16, 2026 for the municipality of Quebec City, median sale price of single-family houses and condos by year; federal minimum down payment rules; CMHC premium schedule; Quebec City's 2026 transfer duty grid; compiled by the Loaa & Manseur team, aggregates only. The hub how much cash to buy a house in 50 cities compares the 50 cities.
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Published September 7, 2026 by the Loaa & Manseur team, the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 according to the official RE/MAX ranking. Tell us about your project.