Ottawa Priced Out of Canada's Affordability Rankings
Ottawa homebuyers facing sticker shock in the capital's real estate market have something to chew on: a new Royal LePage report has identified the 15 most affordable cities in Canada — and Ottawa is conspicuously absent from the list.
The report, released amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures across the country, highlights cities like Lethbridge, Red Deer, Saint John, and Thunder Bay as standout options for buyers looking to stretch their dollar. Thunder Bay, located in northern Ontario, is the lone Ontario entry on the list — a notable callout for Ottawa residents who may want to stay within the province while finding a more affordable market.
What This Means for Ottawa Buyers
Ottawa has long sat in a complicated position in Canada's housing landscape — not as expensive as Toronto or Vancouver, but far from the affordability sweet spot either. The city's median home prices have climbed steadily over the past several years, putting traditional homeownership increasingly out of reach for first-time buyers and young families.
For Ottawans weighing their options, the Royal LePage rankings serve as a useful reality check. Cities like Thunder Bay offer dramatically lower entry points for detached homes, and remote work trends have made geography less of a dealbreaker than it once was.
Thunder Bay: Ontario's Affordable Outlier
Thunder Bay's inclusion on the list is particularly relevant for Ontario residents. While it's a long drive from Ottawa — roughly 14 hours — the northern Ontario city has been quietly attracting buyers priced out of southern Ontario markets. It offers a mid-sized urban lifestyle, access to nature, and home prices that can feel almost unbelievable compared to the Ottawa-Gatineau corridor.
For those unwilling to leave Ontario entirely, Thunder Bay represents a real alternative worth considering — especially as remote and hybrid work arrangements continue to evolve.
Ottawa's Market in Context
The Royal LePage report is a timely reminder that Canada's housing affordability crisis isn't uniform. While cities like Ottawa continue to grapple with tight inventory and elevated prices, pockets of the country remain accessible for buyers willing to be flexible on location.
For Ottawa residents who are anchored to the capital — whether by family, work, or community — the takeaway is more sobering: the city remains a challenging market, and that's unlikely to change dramatically in the near term. Local advocacy for increased housing supply and transit-oriented development will be key to keeping Ottawa's market from drifting further out of reach.
What to Watch
Real estate observers in Ottawa will be paying close attention to how the national affordability conversation shapes federal and provincial housing policy. With an election cycle in the rearview mirror and new housing commitments on the table, there's cautious optimism — but Ottawa buyers have heard that before.
For now, if you're looking for a deal, the data says head west, east, or north. Ottawa, for better or worse, remains a market all its own.
Source: Global News Ottawa, reporting on a Royal LePage affordability study.
