The average home insurance cost Canada-wide depends heavily on where you live. For one example house, Instasure's model puts the typical premium at about $92 to $154 a month across the provinces, as of October 2026. The territories run higher. Below you'll find a dated table by province and city, the reasons for the gaps, and the levers that bring your own price down.
What is the average home insurance cost Canada-wide?
For an example house with a $500,000 rebuild cost, a $1,000 deductible, $2 million liability and water endorsements, Instasure's model estimates a typical premium of $92 to $154 a month across the 10 provinces. That's about $1,100 to $1,850 a year, as of October 2026. The territories run $167 to $200 a month.
There's no single number that fits every home. Published averages differ because each one is built on a different mix of houses, coverage choices and claims records. So instead of one national figure, this guide gives you dated estimates for one stated profile in every province and territory. Next to them is the latest independent data on how fast premiums are moving.
Home insurance cost by province (October 2026)
The table shows Instasure estimates for an example profile: a house with a $500,000 rebuild cost, built in 2000, with a $1,000 deductible and $2 million liability. It includes sewer backup and overland water endorsements where available, and no past claims. Monthly figures match our province pages, and annual figures come from the same model.
The last column is the Applied Rating Index change in personal property premiums, Q2 2026 compared with Q2 2025. It was released on July 22, 2026, and is the latest quarter published as of October 2026.
| Province or territory | Typical monthly estimate | Monthly range | Typical annual estimate | Applied Rating Index, Q2 2026 year over year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $125 | $100 to $155 | $1,500 | +1.9% |
| Alberta | $154 | $123 to $191 | $1,850 | +11.9% |
| Saskatchewan | $150 | $120 to $186 | $1,800 | +10.8% (with Manitoba) |
| Manitoba | $150 | $120 to $186 | $1,800 | +10.8% (with Saskatchewan) |
| Ontario | $133 | $107 to $165 | $1,600 | +4.2% |
| Quebec (information only) | $92 | $73 to $114 | $1,100 | +0.7% |
| New Brunswick | $92 | $73 to $114 | $1,100 | +8.9% (Atlantic) |
| Nova Scotia | $108 | $87 to $134 | $1,300 | +8.9% (Atlantic) |
| Prince Edward Island | $92 | $73 to $114 | $1,100 | +8.9% (Atlantic) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $100 | $80 to $124 | $1,200 | +8.9% (Atlantic) |
| Yukon (information only) | $167 | $133 to $207 | $2,000 | No regional figure |
| Northwest Territories (information only) | $175 | $140 to $217 | $2,100 | No regional figure |
| Nunavut (information only) | $200 | $160 to $248 | $2,400 | No regional figure |
Instasure estimates for an example profile as of October 2026: modelled figures, not quotes and not averages of policies sold. Applied reports Saskatchewan and Manitoba together and the four Atlantic provinces together, and its release gives no figure for the territories. Advisor service isn't available in Quebec or the territories yet, so those rows are for information.
Two patterns stand out. Alberta has the highest estimate among the provinces, and it also had the steepest increase in the Applied data. Saskatchewan and Manitoba sit just below Alberta on price, and premiums there and in Atlantic Canada are rising faster than in Ontario or BC. Quebec had the smallest increase, at 0.7%.
Home insurance cost per month in major cities
Insurers price by neighbourhood, not just by province. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) explains that insurers track the number, type and cost of claims by neighbourhood. Distance to a fire hydrant or fire station matters too.
| City | Typical monthly estimate | Monthly range | Typical annual estimate | Compared with its province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, BC | $125 | $100 to $155 | $1,500 | Same |
| Calgary, AB | $197 | $158 to $245 | $2,370 | Higher (hail loading) |
| Edmonton, AB | $170 | $136 to $210 | $2,040 | Higher (hail loading) |
| Saskatoon, SK | $162 | $130 to $201 | $1,940 | Higher (hail loading) |
| Regina, SK | $162 | $130 to $201 | $1,940 | Higher (hail loading) |
| Winnipeg, MB | $158 | $126 to $195 | $1,890 | Higher (hail loading) |
| Toronto, ON | $139 | $111 to $172 | $1,660 | Higher (flood loading) |
| Ottawa, ON | $133 | $107 to $165 | $1,600 | Same |
| Montreal, QC (information only) | $92 | $73 to $114 | $1,100 | Same |
| Halifax, NS | $108 | $87 to $134 | $1,300 | Same |
| St. John's, NL | $100 | $80 to $124 | $1,200 | Same |
Instasure estimates for the same example profile, as of October 2026.
Most cities match their province in our model. It adds a local loading for hail in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg, and for flooding in Toronto. Your own postal code can still put your price above or below these figures.
Average home insurance in Ontario
The example Ontario estimate is $133 a month, with a range of $107 to $165, as of October 2026. Ottawa matches it. Toronto is a little higher, at $139, because of the flood loading. The Applied Rating Index shows Ontario property premiums up 4.2% year over year in Q2 2026.
Other published Ontario averages can be higher, because they are built on different homes, coverage levels and claims records. Compare like with like: the same rebuild cost, deductible, liability limit and water coverage.
If you have a finished basement, settle the water question first. Our guide to does home insurance cover water damage explains sewer backup and overland water. Then compare home insurance in Ontario or see local figures for home insurance in Toronto.
Average home insurance in Alberta
Alberta's example estimate is $154 a month, with a range of $123 to $191. Calgary rises to $197 and Edmonton to $170 because of the hail loading.
The long-run data explains the gap. Statistics Canada found Alberta had the largest cumulative increase in homeowners' insurance prices of any province: 391.6% from December 2005 to December 2025. Over the five years to December 2025, Alberta prices rose 55.8%. The Applied Rating Index then shows another 11.9% rise in Q2 2026.
A 2026 study by MNP for IBC found hail can make up 30% to 68% of the total home premium in high-risk areas. Our Calgary hail insurance guide covers roof claims and hail deductibles. For local figures, see home insurance in Alberta and home insurance in Calgary.
British Columbia, the Prairies and Atlantic Canada
BC's example estimate is $125 a month, and BC had one of the smallest increases in the Applied data, at 1.9%. Our standard estimate doesn't include earthquake cover; in our model, BC's premium protection tier adds an earthquake endorsement. See home insurance in BC for local figures.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan both come in at $150 a month, with Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Regina higher for hail. Statistics Canada measured five-year increases of 46.7% in Manitoba and 40.9% in Saskatchewan, both above the national 38.6%. Applied shows the two provinces up 10.8% in Q2 2026.
In Atlantic Canada, our estimates run from $92 a month in New Brunswick and PEI to $108 in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia's five-year increase was 43.1%, according to Statistics Canada. Applied shows the Atlantic region up 8.9%.
Why premiums differ between provinces
Insurers set home rates by estimating how likely a claim is and what it would cost. IBC lists the main inputs:
- Rebuild cost. Your home's size, how and where it's built, and the value of your contents.
- Location. Claims history by neighbourhood, plus distance to a fire hydrant or fire station.
- Claims history. Past claims are often an insurer's best predictor of future claims.
- Condition. Roof age, plumbing, electrical systems, security systems and general upkeep.
Weather is what pulls whole provinces apart. Statistics Canada's study, released June 16, 2026, found homeowners' home and mortgage insurance prices rose 45.0% from December 2019 to December 2025. Over the same period, the all-items Consumer Price Index rose 21.0%. The study points to more extreme weather claims and higher building, replacement and repair costs.
It also links Alberta's outsized increases partly to its higher risk of hailstorms, wildfires and convective storms, particularly around Calgary. That's why Alberta tops the provincial table, and why its cities carry a hail loading in our model. Our model also uses higher benchmarks for the three territories.
What a typical policy includes at that price
The example profile is a full homeowner package, not a bare-bones policy. It includes:
- Dwelling at replacement cost, so the house is rebuilt at today's construction cost.
- Contents, for furniture, electronics and clothing.
- Personal liability of $2 million.
- Additional living expenses while your home is repaired after an insured loss.
- Sewer backup and overland water endorsements, where available at your address.
Here's how the price changes with the coverage level for the Ontario example (October 2026):
| Coverage level | What it includes | Typical monthly estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard comprehensive | Replacement cost dwelling, $1 million liability, no water endorsements | $117 |
| Comprehensive + water | Sewer backup and overland water where available, $2 million liability | $133 |
| Premium protection | Higher limits for jewellery and bikes, identity theft, equipment breakdown, service line coverage | $160 |
Instasure estimates for the Ontario example profile, as of October 2026.
If you're weighing whether water cover is worth it, look at flood insurance in Canada today. IBC's 2026 report on the flood insurance market found about 94% of Canadian homes are now eligible for overland flood coverage. It also found 88% of overland flood policies cost $300 or less a year. The share of households with flood insurance rose from 26% in 2017 to 71% in 2023.
If you rent or own a condo, these house prices don't apply. See our guides to condo deductible assessments and whether a landlord can require tenant insurance. If $2 million of liability feels thin for your assets, umbrella insurance adds a layer above your home and auto policies.
How to pay less than the average
Your own premium can land well above or below the average home insurance cost Canada-wide. Here's how single changes move the Ontario example in Instasure's model, as of October 2026. Each row changes one thing and keeps the rest of the profile.
| Change from the example profile | Typical monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| None (the example profile) | $133 |
| $2,500 deductible | $117 |
| $5,000 deductible | $107 |
| $350,000 rebuild cost | $102 |
| $750,000 rebuild cost | $181 |
| Built in 1985 | $144 |
| Built in 1950 | $163 |
| One past claim | $167 |
Instasure estimates, Ontario example profile, October 2026. Real insurers weigh these factors differently.
These are the levers that matter most for house insurance:
- Choose a deductible your savings can cover. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but only if you could pay it the week after a loss.
- Harden the roof in hail country. The 2026 MNP study for IBC found hail-resistant roofing and siding can cut premiums by up to 50% in high-risk areas. It can also bring lower deductibles.
- Keep the house updated. Roof, plumbing, electrical and security upgrades all feed into how insurers rate your home.
- Save claims for real losses. Past claims are a key rating factor, so paying for small repairs yourself can protect your premium.
- Insure the rebuild cost, not the market value. Market value includes the land, which doesn't need rebuilding. Under-insuring the house itself can leave you short after a total loss.
- Compare at renewal. Each insurer weighs these factors its own way, so get fresh home insurance quotes before you auto-renew. Ask about bundling your home and car, too.
If you've been declined or non-renewed, our hard-to-insure home desk is the place to start.
How we built these estimates
- Source. All Instasure figures come from our estimate engine, last reviewed in October 2026. They are modelled estimates for an example profile, not quotes or offers.
- Method. The model starts from a modelled provincial benchmark for a $500,000 rebuild cost. It then adjusts for rebuild cost, the year the home was built, the deductible, water endorsements, past claims, and a hail or flood loading in some cities.
- Range. The range runs from about 20% below to 24% above the typical figure, to reflect differences between insurers and homes.
- Outside data. The Applied Rating Index column shows the change in quoted premiums, not a price level. Statistics Canada figures track price changes for homeowners' home and mortgage insurance.
- Updates. We plan to refresh this guide every quarter. The Instasure Rate Index will add median figures from real quote requests once each province reaches its minimum sample.
A licensed advisor confirms real prices from insurers before you buy.
Michael's take
As a planner, I treat home insurance as part of the cost of owning the home, on the same line as property tax. It isn't a bill to shave every year. Statistics Canada's numbers show premiums rising much faster than general inflation since 2019. My rule of thumb is to plan for your renewal to grow faster than the rest of your budget, and to review it every year instead of letting it renew on autopilot.
Where I'd look for savings is the deductible, not the coverage. If your emergency fund can absorb a $2,500 deductible, the model shows a real saving. Dropping water endorsements or liability to save a few dollars a month leaves your plan exposed to the one loss that could derail it. And insure the rebuild cost, not what the house would sell for.
Next steps
Your own price depends on your address, your house and the coverage you choose. Use our home insurance calculator for an instant estimate in about a minute. Then compare your options on the home insurance page or your province page. A licensed advisor in your province can then compare insurers for you and confirm real quotes. Advisor service isn't available in Quebec or the territories yet, so the figures there are for information.