Quebec · Updated June 2026
Saving for a first home in Montreal
Big-city amenities at prices well under Toronto or Vancouver. Montreal's benchmark stays comfortably under $500k for many home types, keeping the minimum down payment low.
What it takes to buy a first home in Montreal
The numbers below are for a typical home. Your own target depends on the home you want and how much you can set aside — the trick is turning that into a habit you actually keep, which is exactly what HarmonyBudget is built to do.
The minimum down payment follows Canada’s federal tiers: 5% on the first $500,000, 10% on the portion up to $1,500,000, and 20% on any home priced at $1,500,000or more. The “time to save” figure is plain cash savings at the rate shown, with no investment growth assumed — a deliberately conservative way to plan a short horizon.
The FHSA is your first move in Montreal
The First Home Savings Account lets a first-time buyer put away up to $8,000 a year — $40,000 in total — toward a home. Contributions cut your taxable income like an RRSP, and qualifying withdrawals come out tax-free like a TFSA. On the $31,000 you need for a Montrealdown payment, that’s the most efficient dollar you can save.
Turn $1,200/mo into a real plan
HarmonyBudget shows you where your money actually goes each week — no bank login, no spreadsheet — so the down payment you need for a Montreal home stops being a someday and becomes a date on the calendar. Join early access and get in first.
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Where a first home is easier to save for than Montreal
Curious what daily life costs in Montreal too? See the Montreal cost of living breakdown.
Common questions about buying a first home in Montreal
How much of a down payment do I need to buy a home in Montreal?
A typical home in Montreal costs about $560,000. Under Canada's federal rules, the minimum down payment on that is about $31,000 — roughly 6% of the price.
How long does it take to save a down payment in Montreal?
Setting aside about $1,200 a month, it takes roughly 2 years, 2 months to reach the $31,000 minimum down payment for a typical Montreal home. Saving more each month shortens that — the page lets you re-run the math with your own numbers.
Can an FHSA help me buy a first home in Montreal?
Yes. A First Home Savings Account lets you contribute up to $8,000 a year (up to $40,000 lifetime) toward a first home. Contributions lower your taxable income like an RRSP, and withdrawals for a qualifying first home are tax-free like a TFSA — so it's usually the first account a Montreal first-time buyer should fill.
Is it realistic to save for a first home in Montreal?
Montreal scores 63/100 on our first-home reachability score, where higher means faster to save for — that's "Reachable" compared with the other Canadian cities we track. It reflects how the down payment stacks up against a typical local saving rate.
How these numbers are worked out
We start from a typical home price, apply Canada’s federal down-payment tiers to get the minimum you must put down, then divide by a modest local monthly savings rate to estimate how long it takes to get there in cash. The reachability score compares that time against the average across the Canadian cities we track — a city at the average scores around 50, faster-to-save cities score higher, slower ones lower.
Sources: Benchmark is the CREA MLS® HPI composite benchmark for the Montreal CMA (early 2025). Plateau/central condos and off-island single-family homes sit on opposite sides of this composite. Benchmark prices are typical, quality-adjusted figures that move monthly and vary a lot by home type and neighbourhood — treat them as a starting point, not a quote. Last reviewed June 2026.