Salary to buy · Montreal · 2016 vs 2026
The gross income it takes to buy the median house in Montreal, computed for every year from 2016 to 2026 with the Centris price and the year's contracted rate: how much more than in 2016, and the price's and the rate's share of the increase. Labelled assumptions, nothing estimated on prices.
To buy the median house in Montreal, a household needed a gross income of about $67,675 in 2016 (price of $380,000, rate of 2.67%) and needs about $148,206 in 2026 (price of $755,000 over January to September 2026, rate of 4.14%): $80,531 more, +119%, for a price up 99%. The monthly housing cost (mortgage at 20% down over 25 years, taxes at 1% of the price, heating) went from $1,805 to $3,952; the mortgage is 82% of it. Of the $80,531 increase, the price explains $63,056 and the rate $17,475 (22%). It is one of the highest required salaries among the 50 cities tracked (median $120,462 in 2026, $47,644 in 2016). Assumptions: 20% down payment, 25-year amortization, the year's average contracted rate (2.67% in 2016, 2.13% in 2021, 4.14% in 2026), municipal and school taxes estimated at 1% of the price per year, heating and electricity at $1,200 per year, 32% gross debt service ratio. Source: Centris (Matrix) for prices, compiled October 13, 2026.
The short answer
To buy the median house in Montreal, a household needed a gross income of about $67,675 in 2016 (price of $380,000, rate of 2.67%) and needs about $148,206 in 2026 (price of $755,000 over January to September 2026, rate of 4.14%): $80,531 more, +119%, for a price up 99%. The monthly housing cost (mortgage at 20% down over 25 years, taxes at 1% of the price, heating) went from $1,805 to $3,952; the mortgage is 82% of it. Of the $80,531 increase, the price explains $63,056 and the rate $17,475 (22%). It is one of the highest required salaries among the 50 cities tracked (median $120,462 in 2026, $47,644 in 2016).
The salary required for the median house in Montreal, 2016 to 2026
| Year | Median house | 5-year contracted rate | Monthly mortgage payment | Monthly housing cost | Gross salary required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $380,000 | 2.67% | $1,388 | $1,805 | $67,675 |
| 2017 | $405,004 | 2.87% | $1,512 | $1,950 | $73,106 |
| 2018 | $434,700 | 3.49% | $1,734 | $2,196 | $82,359 |
| 2019 | $465,000 | 3.17% | $1,793 | $2,280 | $85,519 |
| 2020 | $536,500 | 2.44% | $1,910 | $2,457 | $92,141 |
| 2021 | $633,500 | 2.13% | $2,178 | $2,806 | $105,222 |
| 2022 | $652,000 | 3.90% | $2,716 | $3,359 | $125,975 |
| 2023 | $645,000 | 5.26% | $3,078 | $3,716 | $139,331 |
| 2024 | $675,000 | 4.96% | $3,128 | $3,790 | $142,144 |
| 2025 | $721,750 | 4.20% | $3,100 | $3,802 | $142,556 |
| 2026 | $755,000 | 4.14% | $3,223 | $3,952 | $148,206 |
Median price of single-family houses sold on Centris (Matrix) by year (2026: January to September 2026); average 5-year contracted rate (Bank of Canada, Statistics Canada 10-10-0006); payment at 20% down over 25 years; housing cost = payment + taxes estimated at 1% of the price + heating $1,200 per year; required salary = annual cost ÷ 32%.
What the comparison says in Montreal
- The price rose 99% and the required salary 119% in Montreal: the rate did the rest, 2.67% in 2016 against 4.14% in 2026. At the 2016 rate, the 2026 house would require $130,731 of salary instead of $148,206.
- The decade's lowest rate, in 2021: $105,222 of salary required for a house at $633,500 at a 2.13% rate. From 2021 to 2026, the required salary rose 41% in Montreal, the price 19%.
- One more point of rate in 2026 would add $12,675 to the required salary in Montreal; one point less would remove about as much, 9% of the required salary, the equivalent of a price increase of the same order.
- The price ÷ required salary ratio went from 5.6 to 5.1 in Montreal: it takes $19,630 of income per $100,000 of price in 2026.
- Across the 50 cities tracked, the salary required for the median house went from $47,644 to $120,462 in median (+144%, price +124%); it doubled in 47 cities, exceeds $100,000 in 35 cities (against 1 in 2016) and $150,000 in 9. In 2016, 38 cities made do with $60,000; in 2026, 1.
What it changes for buying or selling in Montreal
In Montreal, the required salary rose +119% in ten years, less than in most of the 50 cities tracked (median +144%), because the price rose less. At $148,206 of gross income with 20% down, the median house stays within reach of an average household; with the minimum down payment and the lender's qualifying rate, the bar is higher: that is the calculation in what salary to buy a house in Montreal. For a seller, that is good news: the pool of qualified buyers at this price is wide. The payment alone, year by year, is in mortgage payment on the median house in Montreal; the down payment in down payment to buy in Montreal.
How to read these figures
The calculation isolates two effects: price and rate. The salary at the 2016 rate recomputes the 2026 house with the 2016 rate, which gives the price's share of the increase; the rest is the rate. Assumptions: 20% down payment, 25-year amortization, the year's average contracted rate (2.67% in 2016, 2.13% in 2021, 4.14% in 2026), municipal and school taxes estimated at 1% of the price per year, heating and electricity at $1,200 per year, 32% gross debt service ratio. This is not a pre-qualification: a mortgage broker applies the qualifying rate, your debts and your actual down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What salary does it take to buy the median house in Montreal in 2026?
About $148,206 of gross household income for the median house at $755,000 (January to September 2026), with 20% down, 25-year amortization, the 4.14% contracted rate, taxes at 1% of the price and $1,200 of heating, at a 32% GDS ratio. With the minimum down payment and the qualifying rate, more is needed.
And in 2016, how much did it take in Montreal?
In 2016, the median house in Montreal cost $380,000 and the rate was 2.67%: $67,675 of income was enough. In 2026, $148,206: +119%. The price explains $63,056 of the increase and the rate $17,475.
Was it the price or the rate that pushed the required salary up in Montreal?
The price first: at the 2016 rate, the 2026 house would already require $130,731, +93% against 2016. The rate adds $17,475, 22% of the increase in Montreal. Across the 50 cities, the rate's share is 20% in median.
Sources: Centris (Matrix), Statistics module, September 16, 2026 query for the municipality of Montreal, median sale price of single-family houses by year; Bank of Canada and Statistics Canada (table 10-10-0006) for contracted rates; tax and heating assumptions labelled; compiled by the Loaa & Manseur team, aggregates only. The salary to buy the median house in 50 cities hub 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.