More than half of Canadians would relocate to affordable cities for homeownership, survey shows

Aaccording to a survey released on Monday by real estate brokerage Royal LePage, 51% of respondents were open to relocating to one of Canada's 15 most affordable housing markets to purchase a primary residence.

Among respondents in the Greater Montreal Area, Sherbrooke emerged as the most attractive relocation destination, with 29% saying they would consider moving there. Edmonton was the top choice among respondents in both the Greater Toronto Area (16%) and Greater Vancouver (18%).

"Home prices in Canada's largest cities have moderated over the past couple of years, but for many buyers, the math still doesn't work," Royal LePage President and CEO Phil Soper said in a statement.

"As barriers to entry remain high in the country's most expensive urban centres, relocating to a more affordable city is becoming less of a last resort and more of a deliberate strategy," he added.

The survey found renters were more willing to relocate than homeowners. Fifty-two percent of renters said they would consider purchasing a home in one of Canada's most affordable cities if employment conditions allowed.

Younger Canadians showed the greatest willingness to move. Seventy-seven percent of Generation Z respondents and 56% of Millennials said they would consider relocating for affordable housing, compared with 51% of Generation X respondents and 34% of Baby Boomers.

According to Royal LePage's affordability ranking, Lethbridge, Alberta, was Canada's most affordable city in 2026, requiring 18.9% of a household's monthly income to service mortgage payments. Saint John, New Brunswick, ranked second, followed by Thunder Bay, Ontario, Red Deer, Alberta, and Regina, Saskatchewan.

Among respondents willing to relocate, 55% cited a lower cost of living as the primary motivation, while 42% pointed to a more relaxed lifestyle and 41% said they wanted to live closer to nature and in less densely populated communities.

Soper said the price gap between Canada's most expensive housing markets and many mid-sized cities has narrowed in recent years as home prices in Toronto and Vancouver softened while values in cities such as Ottawa, Montreal and Regina remained stable or continued to rise.

"The result is a narrower pricing spread," Soper said. "For many Canadians, the question is no longer simply whether they can afford a home, but where they can achieve the best balance of affordability, career opportunity and quality of life."