Buying a home in Canada comes with rules that don't exist elsewhere: mortgage interest compounds semi-annually, a down payment under 20% requires CMHC default insurance, and most provinces charge a land transfer tax on top of the price. These tools work all of it out, province by province.

Property tax range: 0.4%–1.3% of value
Avg home insurance: $900–$1,800/yr
Provinces with no land transfer tax: 3 (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador)

What buying actually costs in Canada

The land transfer tax is usually the biggest one-off cost, and it's provincial: Ontario and BC charge it (Toronto adds a second municipal layer), while Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador charge none. Property tax then varies from about 0.4% to 1.3% of a home's value per year across the country.

Home insurance averages between $900 and $1,800 a year depending on the province and its risks. And with less than 20% down, CMHC (or Sagen / Canada Guaranty) mortgage insurance is mandatory and added to your loan.

How affordability works here

Canadian lenders use two ratios — gross debt service (GDS, around 39% of income) and total debt service (TDS, around 44%) — and then apply the federal stress test, which qualifies you at a rate roughly two points above your actual rate. That's why the amount you're approved for is more conservative than the headline rate suggests.

Why these tools help

The mortgage calculator applies semi-annual compounding and adds CMHC and provincial property tax; the affordability calculator reflects GDS/TDS and the stress test; the LTV calculator shows the 20%-down CMHC threshold; and each province page details its land transfer tax and first-time-buyer rebates.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need CMHC insurance in Canada?

Yes, if your down payment is under 20%. Mortgage default insurance is mandatory on high-ratio mortgages and is normally added to the loan balance.

Which provinces have no land transfer tax?

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador charge no provincial land transfer tax — you'll pay only small title-registration fees instead.

What is the Canadian mortgage stress test?

A federal rule that qualifies you at the greater of your contract rate plus 2% or 5.25%, to ensure you could still pay if rates rose. It lowers the maximum you can borrow.

Browse by province or territory

Each region page has a live calculator plus local tax, affordability and legal context.