Best Neighbourhoods in Montreal for Homebuyers (2026): Prices, Culture & Transit
Updated
Montreal offers something rare among major North American cities: genuine culture, world-class food, and diverse neighbourhoods at prices that don’t require a six-figure salary. With homes averaging ~$550,000 (half of Toronto), Montreal is where your money goes furthest in a major Canadian city. Here’s a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown.
REM (Réseau express métropolitain) — new automated rail
Montreal’s Unique Property Types
Unlike Toronto and Vancouver (dominated by condos and detached houses), Montreal has iconic multi-family buildings:
Type
Description
Price Range
Why It Matters
Plex (duplex/triplex)
2–3 unit buildings; owner-occupied + rental income
$500,000–$1,200,000
Rental income can cover 50–80% of mortgage; excellent investment
Row house
Classic Montreal rowhouse with exterior stairs
$400,000–$900,000
Iconic Montreal architecture, often 3 stories
Condo
Newer builds and converted industrial/commercial
$250,000–$700,000
Most accessible entry point
Detached
Single-family homes (rarer on-island)
$700,000–$2,000,000+
Most common in suburbs and West Island
The plex advantage: A Montreal triplex at $750,000 where you live in one unit and rent two can generate $2,000–$3,000/month in rental income, effectively reducing your housing cost to near zero. This is Montreal’s secret weapon for building wealth through real estate.
Best Neighbourhoods by Budget
Under $400,000 (Condos)
Neighbourhood
Avg. Condo Price
Vibe
Transit
Language
Lachine
$300,000–$420,000
Canal-side, revitalizing, diverse
REM station (Gare Lachine)
Bilingual
LaSalle
$320,000–$430,000
Family-oriented, river access, suburban feel
Metro (De la Savane line access via bus)
Bilingual
Verdun (older condos)
$330,000–$420,000
Trendy, Wellington St. restaurants, waterfront
Metro (De l’Église, LaSalle, Verdun)
Bilingual
Montréal-Nord
$250,000–$380,000
Diverse, affordable, improving
Bus (future transit improvements)
French dominant
Saint-Léonard
$300,000–$400,000
Italian heritage, family-oriented
Metro (Saint-Léonard/Jean-Talon via bus)
Italian/French
Brossard (off-island)
$300,000–$420,000
Asian food scene, new construction
REM station (Brossard) — direct to downtown
Multilingual
$400,000–$700,000 (Condos + Smaller Plexes)
Neighbourhood
Avg. Price Range
Vibe
Transit
Growth
Griffintown
$400,000–$650,000 (condos)
New builds, young professional, canal-side
Good — Peel/Lucien-L’Allier metro + bus
Moderate — nearly built-out
Verdun (newer/larger)
$400,000–$600,000
Wellington St. hot spot, auditorium, waterfront promenade
Metro (3 stations)
High — one of Montreal’s trendiest
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (HoMa)
$400,000–$600,000 (condos/small plex)
Arts scene, Olympic Stadium, gentrifying
Metro (Pie-IX, Viau, L’Assomption)
Very high — rapid transformation
Villeray
$450,000–$650,000 (condos/rowhouses)
Family-friendly, Italian market (Jean-Talon), diverse
Metro (Jean-Talon, Fabre, D’Iberville)
High — families moving in
Pointe-Saint-Charles
$400,000–$600,000
Working-class becoming trendy, canal, community gardens
Anglophone-friendly, Monkland Village, family trees
Metro (Vendôme) + bus
Stable — established community
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
$550,000–$850,000 (plex)
River access, parks, quieter, multicultural
Metro (Henri-Bourassa, Sauvé, Crémazie)
Moderate — undervalued by many
$1,000,000+ (Detached + Large Plexes)
Neighbourhood
Avg. Detached Price
Vibe
Notable
Westmount
$1,500,000–$5,000,000+
Montreal’s wealthiest, English-speaking, separate municipality
Own police force, excellent schools, summit park
Outremont
$1,200,000–$3,000,000+
Francophone affluent, tree-lined, Université de Montréal
Elegant Victorian/Edwardian homes, Bernard Ave shops
Town of Mount Royal (TMR)
$1,000,000–$2,000,000
Model garden city, train station, planned community
Perfect grid streets, English/French bilingual
Hampstead
$1,200,000–$2,500,000
Small enclave, residential, English-speaking
Low property taxes, quiet, close to Westmount
Neighbourhood Comparison — Key Metrics
Neighbourhood
Walk Score
Transit Score
Avg. Condo
Avg. Plex
Avg. Detached
Language
Plateau Mont-Royal
95
88
$500,000
$850,000
Rare ($1.5M+)
French dominant
Mile End
93
85
$480,000
$900,000
Rare
Bilingual-French
Griffintown
88
82
$520,000
N/A
N/A
Bilingual
NDG
75
70
$400,000
$750,000
$1,000,000
English-French
Verdun
82
78
$400,000
$700,000
$800,000
Bilingual
Villeray
80
76
$450,000
$700,000
$900,000
French dominant
Lachine
65
60
$360,000
$550,000
$650,000
Bilingual
Montréal-Nord
55
50
$300,000
$500,000
$500,000
French dominant
REM Impact — Neighbourhoods to Watch
The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is Montreal’s new automated light rail system, connecting the South Shore (Brossard), West Island, the airport, and downtown. Stations near the REM are seeing price increases.
REM Station Area
Current Avg. Price
Before REM Avg.
Change
Best For
Brossard (Du Quartier)
$400,000–$550,000
$300,000–$400,000
+30%
Commuters, Asian food lovers
Lachine
$350,000–$500,000
$280,000–$380,000
+25%
Value buyers, canal lifestyle
Pointe-Saint-Charles
$400,000–$600,000
$300,000–$450,000
+30%
Investors, first-time buyers
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
$450,000–$650,000
$380,000–$550,000
+15%
Families, John Abbott College area
Gare Centrale (downtown)
Hub station
—
Hub
All transit users benefit
Montreal Welcome Tax (Droits de mutation)
Home Price
Welcome Tax
$400,000 (Verdun condo)
~$4,233
$550,000 (average)
~$6,733
$750,000 (Plateau plex)
~$10,349
$1,000,000 (NDG detached)
~$15,349
$1,500,000 (Westmount)
~$27,326
Quebec’s Act sets the base welcome tax at 0.5% up to $62,900, 1% up to $315,000 and 1.5% above that (2026 brackets). Municipalities may set a higher rate, up to 3%, on the part above $500,000. Montreal uses its own brackets: 2% from $552,300, 2.5% from $1,104,700, 3.5% from $2,136,500 and 4% above $3,113,000 (Montreal’s brackets, Quebec land transfer tax calculator).
Neighbourhood Profiles — The Best Picks
Best Overall: Plateau Mont-Royal
Montreal’s most iconic neighbourhood. Tree-lined streets, colourful row houses with exterior staircases, world-class cafés on Saint-Laurent and Saint-Denis, Parc La Fontaine, and a walkable, biking-friendly lifestyle that attracts young professionals, artists, and families.
Price: Condos $450K–$600K; plexes $650K–$1M
Best for: Young professionals, couples, artists, anyone who wants quintessential Montreal
Language: Predominantly French; some English in daily life
Trade-off: Expensive by Montreal standards; parking is brutal; summer tourist crowds
Best Value: Verdun
Verdun is Montreal’s hottest neighbourhood for value-conscious buyers. The Wellington Street strip has exploded with restaurants, cafés, and boutiques, while the waterfront promenade and Parc des Rapides offer green space. Three metro stations, and prices still well below the Plateau.
Price: Condos $330K–$450K; plexes $500K–$800K
Best for: First-time buyers, young families, foodies on a budget
Language: Bilingual — historically English working-class, now increasingly French
Growth: Strong — one of Montreal’s fastest-appreciating neighbourhoods
Best for Families: Villeray
Villeray is where Montreal families have been quietly moving for years. Close to Jean-Talon Market (the city’s best food market), family-friendly parks, good schools, and three metro stations. More affordable than the Plateau or Rosemont with a similar neighbourhood feel.
Best for: Families with young children, francophone professionals
Language: Predominantly French
Growth: Steady — increasing demand from families priced out of Plateau/Mile End
Best for Anglophones: NDG (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce)
Montreal’s most established English-speaking neighbourhood on-island (outside Westmount). Monkland Village has charming shops and restaurants, the area is full of mature trees and parks, and Concordia/McGill are accessible. Family-oriented with a strong community feel.
Best for: English-speaking families, university affiliates, professionals
Language: Bilingual with strong English presence
Trade-off: Slightly less metro access (Vendôme is the closest station); some areas bus-dependent
Best for Investment: Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (HoMa)
HoMa is Montreal’s Brooklyn — formerly working-class, now a hub for artists, craft breweries, and young professionals. The Olympic Stadium, Botanical Garden, and Biodôme are here. Prices are still lower than the Plateau or Verdun, but gentrification is accelerating.
Price: Condos $350K–$500K; plexes $400K–$700K
Best for: Investors, young artists, buyers seeking appreciation
Language: Predominantly French
Growth: Very high — rapid gentrification with institutional anchors (Olympic Park, future REM extension potential)
Transit and commuting
Transit Option
Coverage
Monthly Cost
STM Métro (4 lines)
Island of Montreal
$110.00/month (adult pass, zone A)
STM Bus
Island of Montreal
Included in Métro pass
REM (new light rail)
Downtown → South Shore, West Island, airport
Included in ARTM passes (zone A: $110.00)
Exo commuter rail
Suburbs (5 lines)
$152–$200/month (TRAM pass)
BIXI bike share
Island of Montreal
$99/year
Commute times to Downtown
From
Transit
Driving (rush hour)
Plateau Mont-Royal
10–15 min (Métro)
15–25 min
NDG
15–20 min (bus/Métro)
15–30 min
Verdun
15–20 min (Métro/REM)
15–25 min
Laval (Montmorency)
25–30 min (Métro)
30–50 min
Brossard (REM)
15–20 min (REM)
30–50 min
West Island (Pointe-Claire)
25–35 min (REM/train)
35–55 min
Longueuil
15–20 min (Métro)
25–40 min
Language considerations
Factor
Details
Official language
French — Bill 96 strengthened requirements in 2022
Bilingual neighbourhoods
Downtown, NDG, Westmount, West Island, parts of Plateau
French-dominant areas
East Montreal, Rosemont, Villeray, Laval, South Shore
Workplace language
Businesses with 25+ employees must operate in French (Bill 96 expansion)
Government services
French is the default; English services available but not guaranteed
Schools
Children of non-anglophone parents must attend French school (Bill 101)
Real estate transactions
Can be conducted in English; notarial documents available in English upon request
Impact on career
Some jobs (especially government, healthcare, education) require functional French
Pros and cons of living in Montreal
Pros
Cons
Most affordable major city in Canada for housing
Higher provincial income taxes than Ontario/Alberta
World-class food, festivals, and culture
Cold, snowy winters (but city manages snow well)
$9.65/day subsidized childcare
Language barrier for anglophones in many contexts
Cheapest electricity in North America
Bill 96 creates challenges for English-only residents
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 24, 2026 and October 2, 2026. How we check facts.