Estimate your monthly condo maintenance fees based on city, unit size, building age, and amenities.
Condo fees — also called maintenance fees or strata fees in BC — are one of the most variable costs in condo ownership. They can range from under $300/month in a small Calgary building to over $1,200/month in a luxury Toronto high-rise. This calculator helps you estimate what you'll pay and understand what drives those fees.
| City | Avg Rate/sqft/mo | 700 sqft est. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $0.65–$0.85 | $455–$595 | High amenity costs, older buildings |
| Vancouver | $0.55–$0.90 | $385–$630 | Strata fees; newer buildings often lower |
| Calgary | $0.45–$0.70 | $315–$490 | Lower maintenance costs overall |
| Montreal | $0.35–$0.60 | $245–$420 | Often includes heat/water |
| Ottawa | $0.50–$0.75 | $350–$525 | Mix of older and newer buildings |
| Edmonton | $0.40–$0.65 | $280–$455 | Similar to Calgary |
Condo fees are pooled into two buckets: operating fund (day-to-day expenses) and reserve fund (major repairs and replacements).
Condo fees typically increase 3–7% per year. Several factors drive increases:
Reserve fund underfunding: This is the biggest risk. If a condo corporation hasn't been saving enough in the reserve fund, it faces two choices: levy a special assessment (a one-time charge to all owners, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) or dramatically raise monthly fees. Always request the reserve fund study before buying.
Insurance increases: Building insurance costs have risen sharply in Canada — 15–25% in some years recently. This directly flows through to condo fees.
Aging building costs: Older buildings have more frequent and expensive repairs. Buildings 20+ years old often have higher fees than equivalent newer construction.
Before you buy, watch out for: reserve fund below 70% of recommended level, special assessments in the past 3 years, pending litigation against the corporation, and deferred maintenance items noted in board minutes. A knowledgeable condo lawyer or buyer's agent can help identify these issues. See our Status Certificate guide for Ontario-specific advice.
Condo fees often get criticized as expensive, but they replace costs homeowners pay directly. A detached house owner should budget 1–2% of the home's value annually for maintenance and repairs. On a $700,000 house, that's $7,000–$14,000/year ($583–$1,167/month). Condos consolidate these costs at scale, often more efficiently — but you lose control over when and how money is spent. See our Condo vs. House guide for a full comparison.
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