Digging up BC’s Economical Real Estate Gems: Big Cities Surprisingly Affordable According to Zolo Report
The most affordable cities in BC, ranked
Dispelling myths of unattainable city living, Kamloops and Kelowna stand as beacons of affordability amidst British Columbia's expensive real estate landscape.
Affordability is an essential metric for anyone considering relocating to a new city. British Columbia real estate is the most expensive in the country, with an average home price of $1,019,917 in March 2024.
The report examined average home prices, incomes, population growth, and unemployment rates in 26 small, medium, and large cities in BC. The cities were scored on how they faired on each variable and then ranked accordingly.
The report revealed that:
- Kamloops, Kelowna, and Nanaimo are the most affordable large cities, with a population of over 100,000
- Prince George, Vernon, and Penticton are the most affordable medium-sized cities, with populations between 30,000 and 100,000
- Fort St. John, Terrace, and Prince Rupert are the most affordable small cities with populations under 30,000
Kamloops and Kelowna Offer Affordable Big City Living
In Zolo’s recent report, Kamloops and Kelowna tied for third place out of 26 cities, highlighting that larger cities can be affordable and offer a balance of home prices, income, population growth and unemployment rates.
By contrast, smaller Northern BC cities dropped in affordability, possibly due to a 9% increase in average home prices yearly and a 2.2% year-over-year increase in unemployment.
“For the past four years, Canadians across the country have been flocking to smaller cities in search of affordable living, and this increase in popularity has driven up prices in many of these pint-sized municipalities,” says Jordann Kaye, spokesperson for Zolo. “These rising prices eliminate some of the benefits of choosing to put down roots in a small city.”
Abbotsford-Mission, Port Alberni Least Affordable Cities in BC
The least affordable cities in BC were those with high home prices, relatively lower salaries, high unemployment and slow population growth. The least affordable cities included small and medium-sized cities on Vancouver Island, like Duncan (ranked 22) and Port Alberni (ranked 25). Major cities also ranked low on the list, like Abbotsford-Mission (ranked 25), Victoria (ranked 24), and Vancouver (ranked 23).
About Zolo
Zolo is one of Canada’s most popular national real estate marketplaces. Each month, over 10 million home shoppers use Zolo to level up the way they buy, sell, and learn about real estate.
Press Contact
Jordann Kaye, Content Marketing Manager and Spokesperson, jordann.kaye@zolo.ca
Ph: 902-401-0610
Jordann Kaye
Zolo
+1 902-401-0610
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