How much house can you afford in Toronto?
The average GTA home costs $1,003,956 as of July 2026, down 4.54% year-over-year and down 5.17% from June — with City of Toronto at $1,010,836 (-3.23% YoY). The GTA MLS HPI benchmark is $934,600 (-4.63% YoY). With 4.6 months of supply and an SNLR of 37.1%, Toronto remains in buyer’s market territory, though the gap to the 40% balanced threshold has narrowed as new listings fell sharply (-17.8% YoY).
Toronto affordability by property type
Real TRREB data — July 2026:
| Property Type | Avg Price | YoY | Down (20%) | Income Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condo Apartment | $636,323 | -2.33% | $127,265 | $141,491 |
| Att/Row/Townhouse | $903,986 | -2.75% | $180,797 | $193,058 |
| All Types | $1,003,956 | -4.54% | $200,791 | $212,318 |
| Semi-Detached | $964,922 | -7.34% | $192,984 | $204,798 |
| Detached | $1,291,690 | -5.14% | $258,338 | $267,752 |
Income assumes 4.04% rate, 25-year amortization, 32% GDS, $354/mo tax, $150/mo heat.
Condos remain the entry point — at $636,323, they require less than half the income of a detached home, and they’ve held up far better than semi-detached homes, which posted the steepest year-over-year decline of any property type this month (-7.34%).
Why condos are becoming the default starter home in Toronto
Two forces are converging to make condos the realistic entry point for most first-time GTA buyers. First, semi-detached homes — historically a middle-ground option — have fallen the fastest of any property type (-7.34% YoY), narrowing the price gap to condos less than it might first appear, but condos still require under half the income. Second, Toronto’s pre-construction condo market continues to see investors exit amid higher carrying costs, pushing more assignment and resale condo inventory onto the market and keeping condo prices comparatively flat (+0.89% month-over-month in July after a softer June). For buyers priced out of ground-level housing, this combination means more condo choice without the price growth seen in past cycles.
GTA neighbourhood price breakdown
General positioning by area (approximate, based on typical TRREB district pricing patterns rather than a single monthly snapshot):
| Area | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scarborough (E03–E05) | $700K–$1M | Detached typically $200K–$300K below citywide avg |
| Etobicoke | $800K–$1.2M | Mid-range suburban |
| North York | $800K–$1.5M | Wide range by neighbourhood |
| Downtown (C01, C08) | $700K–$750K | Condo average |
| Midtown (C02–C04) | $2M+ | Detached often exceeds $2M |
Scarborough detached homes remain the most affordable GTA entry point for detached housing, typically $200,000–$300,000 below citywide averages.
Toronto’s double land transfer tax — the hidden cost
Toronto is the only city in Ontario with a municipal LTT on top of provincial. Both use the same brackets:
| Purchase Price | Provincial LTT | Toronto Municipal LTT | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| $636,323 (condo avg) | ~$8,545 | ~$8,545 | ~$17,090 |
| $903,986 (townhouse) | ~$13,580 | ~$13,580 | ~$27,160 |
| $1,003,956 (avg) | ~$15,479 | ~$15,479 | ~$30,958 |
| $1,291,690 (detached) | ~$21,734 | ~$21,734 | ~$43,468 |
First-time buyer rebates: Provincial up to $4,000 + Municipal up to $4,475 = $8,475 max savings
Living in Hamilton or other GTA suburbs eliminates the municipal LTT entirely — saving $8,000–$21,000.
Toronto vs comparable cities
| City | Avg/Benchmark Price | Est. Income Needed | LTT/PTT at That Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $1,003,956 | $212,318 | ~$30,958 |
| Vancouver | $1,088,800 | $228,664 | ~$19,800 (PTT) |
| Ottawa | $683,308 | ~$144,500 | ~$10,100 |
| Hamilton | $728,200 | ~$154,000 | ~$10,900 |
| Calgary | $629,855 | ~$133,200 | ~$300 |
| Edmonton | $470,819 | ~$99,600 | ~$300 |
Toronto’s double LTT adds $10,000–$30,000+ more in upfront costs than most other major Canadian cities, on top of already having the highest average price.
Toronto market conditions — July 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average price | $1,003,956 (-4.54% YoY) |
| Benchmark (TRREB) | $934,600 (-4.63% YoY) |
| City of Toronto | $1,010,836 (-3.23% YoY) |
| Total sales | 5,995 (-0.9% YoY) |
| New listings | 14,484 (-17.8% YoY) |
| Active listings | 26,098 (-12.1% YoY) |
| Average DOM | 45 days |
| SNLR | 37.1% |
| Months of supply | 4.6 |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 97% |
| Market condition | Buyer’s market |
Homes selling on average 3% below asking price. New listings falling faster than active listings (-17.8% vs -12.1% YoY) suggests the buyer’s market may be narrowing if the trend continues.
See the Toronto housing market report for the latest.
Tips for Toronto homebuyers
- Buyer’s market, but narrowing — SNLR of 37.1% still favours buyers, but new listings are falling faster than sales
- Budget $31K+ for LTT — Toronto’s double tax is a major upfront expense
- First-time buyer? Claim both rebates — $8,475 back on combined LTT
- Condos are the realistic entry point — Less than half the income of detached, and prices have stabilized month-over-month
- Scarborough for detached value — Typically $200K–$300K below citywide average
- Consider Hamilton — 45 min by GO, hundreds of thousands cheaper, and no municipal LTT
- Compare mortgage rates — Even 0.1% saves $20K+ on a $1M mortgage
First-time buyer programs in Toronto (Ontario)
| Program | Benefit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario FTB LTT Rebate | Up to $4,000 rebate on Ontario LTT | Applies to Ontario portion |
| Toronto FTB LTT Rebate | Up to $4,475 rebate on Toronto municipal LTT | Applies to Toronto portion only |
| Total FTB LTT rebate | Up to $8,475 | Combined provincial + municipal |
| FHSA | Up to $40,000 tax-deductible savings | Essential at Toronto prices |
| RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan | Up to $60,000/person ($120,000/couple) | Repay over 15 years |
| CMHC insurance | 5% down on homes under $1.5M | Most Toronto condos and some townhomes |
| GST/HST New Housing Rebate | Partial HST rebate on new builds | 13% HST applies |
On the current $1,003,956 average Toronto home purchase, total LTT is approximately $30,958. With both FTB rebates ($8,475), a first-time buyer’s net LTT is approximately $22,483 — still the highest in Canada by a significant margin.
Related calculators
- Toronto Mortgage Calculator — Estimate your monthly payment
- Toronto Mortgage Rates — Compare current rates
- Toronto Housing Market — Latest prices and trends
- Ontario Affordability — Provincial overview
- Hamilton Affordability — Nearby alternative
- Land Transfer Tax Calculator — Calculate your exact LTT