Sean Phillips, REALTOR® · Coldwell Banker Executives Realty · Vernon, BC
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Cost of living

Cost of living in Vernon, compared

Home prices, rents, closing taxes and ongoing costs in the North Okanagan, side by side with Calgary, Edmonton and the Lower Mainland.

Here are the numbers that matter most when you're deciding whether Vernon works for your budget, side by side with where you're coming from. Every figure names its source and date.

Home prices

*Edmonton figures are average prices, not benchmarks. North Okanagan year-over-year: single-family +0.7%, townhouse −7.2%, condo −3.4%.
Benchmark, August 2026Single-family / detachedTownhouseCondo / apartment
North Okanagan (AIR)$794,300$545,900$302,400
City of Calgary (CREB®)$744,300$415,200$295,400
Metro Vancouver (GVR)$1,799,400$1,028,800$686,200
Fraser Valley (FVREB)$1,319,600$750,600$466,100
Greater Edmonton (RAE, averages*)$575,575$298,238$215,422

The North Okanagan market was slower in August 2026, with single-family sales down 28.6% from a year earlier and 390 single-family homes for sale, taking 69 days to sell on average (AIR). Slower markets usually mean more choice and more room to negotiate for buyers.

BC Assessment's 2026 roll, which reflects values as of July 1, 2025, put the typical single-family home in the City of Vernon at $721,000 (unchanged from the year before), $910,000 in Coldstream, and the typical Vernon strata home (condo or townhouse) at $400,000.

Rent

CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025. CMHC flags Vernon’s 2-bedroom vacancy figure as “use with caution”.
Purpose-built apartments, October 2025Vacancy1-bedroom2-bedroom
Vernon3.2%$1,244$1,619
Calgary5.0%$1,582$1,914
Edmonton3.8%$1,301$1,603

Closing taxes

Coming from Alberta, the biggest new cost is B.C.'s property transfer tax: about $13,900 on a $794,300 home. Try your own numbers below, and read the buying guide for the exemptions.

Property transfer tax calculator

Property transfer tax before exemptions: $0

Estimated exemption: $0

Estimated tax to pay: $0

An estimate only, using the B.C. rates and thresholds in effect since April 1, 2024. It ignores the additional tax for foreign buyers (which doesn't apply in the North Okanagan) and lots over 0.5 hectares. Your lawyer or notary confirms the exact amount.

Ongoing costs

Sean's insider tip

Ask for the strata fees, the property tax and the utility history on every home you consider. Two homes at the same price can cost several hundred dollars a month apart once you add them up.

Common questions

What is the average house price in Vernon, BC?

The Association of Interior REALTORS® reported a North Okanagan single-family benchmark of $794,300 in August 2026, up 0.7% from a year earlier. The average single-family price (excluding lakefront and acreages) was $790,383 that month. BC Assessment's typical 2026 assessed value for a Vernon single-family home was $721,000, based on July 1, 2025 values.

How much is rent in Vernon?

CMHC's October 2025 survey found average purpose-built apartment rents in Vernon of $1,244 for a one-bedroom and $1,619 for a two-bedroom, with a 3.2% vacancy rate.

When are property taxes due in Vernon?

On the first working day in July (July 2 in 2026). The City applies a 10% penalty to unpaid balances after that, and offers a monthly pre-payment plan.

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Sources for this page

Last reviewed October 2, 2026 by Sean Phillips, REALTOR®.