Start Here | Cheapest Areas
The cheapest places to buy a new ground-oriented home
Every neighbourhood priced below the regional median per square foot, measured from listings on the market now. What each one costs you in exchange is stated rather than skipped over.
The short answer
55 neighbourhoods price below the regional median of $820 per square foot, carrying 659 active listings between them. The lowest is Lower Landing in Chilliwack at $373, where the median home is 1,667 sq ft and lists at $647,400.
- Areas below the median
- 55
- Regional median
- $820
- Lowest per sq ft
- $373
- Listings in them
- 659
Cities priced below the regional median
Ordered cheapest first. Every city here prices under $820 per square foot, which is the median across the whole active set.
- Chilliwack 21 listings $410
- Mission 45 listings $430
- Abbotsford 42 listings $494
- Pitt Meadows 7 listings $521
- Maple Ridge 21 listings $524
- Surrey 180 listings $553
- Tsawwassen 5 listings $554
- Langley 82 listings $569
- Delta 51 listings $592
- Ladner 5 listings $611
- Port Coquitlam 12 listings $674
- New Westminster 11 listings $675
- Burnaby 122 listings $731
- Pemberton 13 listings $749
- Coquitlam 94 listings $753
- Squamish 25 listings $794
Every neighbourhood below the regional median
Cheapest first. Areas with fewer than four active listings are left out, because at that sample one home moves the figure enough to mislead.
| Neighbourhood | City | Active | Median price | Per sq ft | Median size | Townhouse / half duplex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Landing | Chilliwack | 10 | $647,400 | $373 | 1,667 | 10 / 0 |
| Bolivar Heights | Surrey | 13 | $1,489,000 | $398 | 3,741 | 0 / 13 |
| Chilliwack Proper East | Chilliwack | 6 | $669,900 to $829,000 | $404 to $426 | 1,660 | 5 / 1 |
| West Central | Maple Ridge | 4 | $1,214,330 to $1,249,900 | $380 to $472 | 2,956 | 0 / 4 |
| Mission | Mission | 45 | $789,000 | $430 | 1,813 | 29 / 16 |
| Abbotsford West | Abbotsford | 5 | $699,000 to $799,599 | $393 to $540 | 1,580 | 5 / 0 |
| Poplar | Abbotsford | 4 | $652,900 to $706,900 | $403 to $518 | 1,504 | 4 / 0 |
| Abbotsford East | Abbotsford | 18 | $979,000 | $488 | 2,085 | 6 / 11 |
| Sechelt District | Sechelt | 5 | $683,000 to $888,600 | $488 to $594 | 1,421 | 5 / 0 |
| Cedar Hills | Surrey | 8 | $1,109,890 | $493 | 2,338 | 4 / 4 |
| Sullivan Station | Surrey | 18 | $869,450 | $494 | 1,885 | 16 / 2 |
| Cloverdale | Surrey | 18 | $1,338,000 | $496 | 2,747 | 7 / 11 |
| Panorama Ridge | Surrey | 5 | $838,900 to $1,459,000 | $464 to $542 | 2,675 | 2 / 3 |
| Fraser Heights | Surrey | 12 | $1,084,999 | $509 | 1,969 | 7 / 5 |
| Central Abbotsford | Abbotsford | 15 | $819,000 | $510 | 1,609 | 8 / 6 |
| Langley City | Langley | 4 | $801,330 to $1,239,699 | $449 to $721 | 1,781 | 3 / 0 |
| Queen Mary Park | Surrey | 7 | $955,280 to $1,599,999 | $508 to $562 | 2,735 | 3 / 4 |
| South Meadows | Pitt Meadows | 7 | $1,085,360 to $1,355,000 | $478 to $645 | 2,492 | 3 / 4 |
| Scottsdale | Delta | 11 | $1,335,000 | $522 | 2,650 | 0 / 11 |
| Cottonwood MR | Maple Ridge | 7 | $658,900 to $1,033,940 | $469 to $633 | 1,671 | 6 / 1 |
| Crescent Bch Ocean Pk. | Surrey | 4 | $1,148,000 to $1,396,000 | $495 to $562 | 2,426 | 0 / 4 |
| Annieville | Delta | 11 | $1,224,000 | $533 | 2,317 | 0 / 11 |
| Fleetwood Tynehead | Surrey | 24 | $1,024,950 | $548 | 1,907 | 16 / 8 |
| Tantalus | Squamish | 4 | $1,231,000 to $1,438,000 | $541 to $581 | 2,275 | 4 / 0 |
| Sunshine Hills Woods | Delta | 4 | $1,299,270 to $1,445,000 | $533 to $571 | 2,448 | 0 / 4 |
| Albion | Maple Ridge | 7 | $709,900 to $819,320 | $515 to $567 | 1,443 | 7 / 0 |
| Whalley | Surrey | 8 | $844,900 | $566 | 1,533 | 7 / 1 |
| Willoughby Heights | Langley | 74 | $949,900 | $569 | 1,678 | 58 / 12 |
| Upper Deer Lake | Burnaby | 5 | $1,564,000 to $2,498,000 | $579 to $710 | 3,879 | 2 / 3 |
| Grandview Heights | Surrey | 36 | $1,149,450 | $589 | 1,892 | 19 / 17 |
| Pacific Douglas | Surrey | 8 | $1,224,000 | $602 | 2,052 | 2 / 6 |
| Forest Glen | Burnaby | 11 | $1,419,000 | $614 | 2,311 | 9 / 2 |
| East Newton | Surrey | 8 | $834,400 | $621 | 1,422 | 5 / 3 |
| Ladner Elementary | Delta | 5 | $1,334,920 to $1,459,360 | $606 to $709 | 2,234 | 1 / 3 |
| South Slope | Burnaby | 5 | $1,676,000 to $1,838,920 | $606 to $696 | 2,787 | 0 / 5 |
| Edmonds | Burnaby | 7 | $687,000 to $1,580,000 | $598 to $879 | 1,523 | 6 / 1 |
| Burnaby North Central | Burnaby | 7 | $1,316,600 to $1,598,400 | $598 to $734 | 2,153 | 4 / 3 |
| Burke Mountain | Coquitlam | 36 | $1,183,950 | $658 | 1,752 | 35 / 1 |
| East Burnaby | Burnaby | 7 | $1,449,888 to $1,834,000 | $536 to $749 | 2,414 | 0 / 7 |
| Scott Creek | Coquitlam | 4 | $947,270 to $1,249,900 | $645 to $717 | 1,645 | 4 / 0 |
| Central Port Coquitlam | Port Coquitlam | 10 | $1,029,900 | $680 | 1,614 | 6 / 4 |
| Queensborough | New Westminster | 5 | $884,893 to $1,071,895 | $660 to $732 | 1,311 | 5 / 0 |
| Holly | Delta | 4 | $892,192 to $1,094,570 | $705 to $740 | 1,288 | 4 / 0 |
| Hawthorne | Delta | 6 | $914,900 to $1,494,000 | $677 to $879 | 1,561 | 3 / 3 |
| Sperling-Duthie | Burnaby | 14 | $1,554,000 | $729 | 2,069 | 5 / 9 |
| Parkcrest | Burnaby | 5 | $1,519,400 to $1,899,360 | $702 to $750 | 2,316 | 2 / 3 |
| Capitol Hill BN | Burnaby | 4 | $1,522,430 to $2,399,000 | $660 to $797 | 2,659 | 0 / 4 |
| Hamilton | Richmond | 19 | $999,000 | $743 | 1,288 | 19 / 0 |
| Pemberton | Pemberton | 13 | $1,049,000 | $749 | 1,400 | 9 / 4 |
| Highgate | Burnaby | 10 | $1,278,000 | $756 | 1,575 | 4 / 6 |
| Willingdon Heights | Burnaby | 12 | $1,579,000 | $796 | 2,010 | 9 / 3 |
| Maillardville | Coquitlam | 14 | $1,234,950 | $803 | 1,561 | 1 / 13 |
| Westridge | Burnaby | 5 | $1,499,999 to $2,708,000 | $666 to $860 | 1,894 | 3 / 2 |
| Plateau | Squamish | 4 | $1,349,900 to $1,513,000 | $769 to $851 | 1,771 | 4 / 0 |
| Coquitlam West | Coquitlam | 37 | $1,079,900 | $815 | 1,270 | 37 / 0 |
A dash means fewer than four active listings, which is too few to publish a figure for. Rows with four to seven listings show a range instead of a median.
What the low price is actually buying
It is not a lower standard of construction. Every home in this set was finished within the last two years, under the same provincial building code, with the same warranty framework, using the same trades and suppliers as a home twice the price.
It is not less space either. In several of these areas the median home is larger than the regional median of 1,612 sq ft, because cheaper land lets a builder spread out rather than build up.
What it is buying is distance. That is the honest summary, and it is worth testing rather than assuming. Open a map, put in the address and your workplace, and check the travel time at the hour you actually leave. If the answer works, the saving is real money. If it does not, no price per square foot makes up for it.
Every area below the regional median, mapped
The single most useful thing on this page. The saving is real, and so is the distance, and a map settles the second question far faster than a table does.
300 of 659 homes plotted. 348 more have coordinates but were left off to keep the map readable. The ones shown are spread evenly across the price range rather than taken from one end. 11 listings have no coordinates in the feed and cannot be placed. Click a pin for the photo, the price, and a Street View link. Zoom with the plus and minus buttons or by pinching.
Homes in the lowest-priced areas
$574,90017 7300 COPPERWOOD STREET
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,667 sq ft
$599,90048 32929 CHERRY AVENUE
Mission · 3 bed · 1,351 sq ft
$609,90016 7300 COPPERWOOD STREET
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,624 sq ft
$609,90062 8430 NOTTMAN STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,420 sq ft
$629,90012 8545 MAPLEWOOD ROAD
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,705 sq ft
$629,9008 7300 COPPERWOOD STREET
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,611 sq ft
$639,00048 8430 NOTTMAN STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,420 sq ft
$639,90014 7312 MULBERRY ROAD
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,560 sq ft
$639,9008 32929 CHERRY AVENUE
Mission · 3 bed · 1,573 sq ft
$649,00039 8430 NOTTMAN STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,478 sq ft
$649,90012 32929 CHERRY AVENUE
Mission · 3 bed · 1,707 sq ft
$649,90016 33525 KINGSTON AVENUE
Poplar · 3 bed · 1,259 sq ft
$654,90015 7312 MULBERRY ROAD
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,587 sq ft
$659,90013 8924 CEDAR STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,427 sq ft
$659,90012 8924 CEDAR STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,427 sq ft
$659,9008 33520 KINGSTON AVENUE
Poplar · 3 bed · 1,272 sq ft
$664,90017 7312 MULBERRY ROAD
Lower Landing · 3 bed · 1,666 sq ft
$664,9006 46106 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Chilliwack Proper East · 3 bed · 1,660 sq ft
$674,9002 46106 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Chilliwack Proper East · 3 bed · 1,600 sq ft
$679,90011 8924 CEDAR STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,477 sq ft
$684,9007 46106 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Chilliwack Proper East · 3 bed · 1,660 sq ft
$684,9005 46106 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Chilliwack Proper East · 3 bed · 1,660 sq ft
$689,00014 7540 BRISKHAM STREET
Mission · 3 bed · 1,418 sq ft
$689,0007 7540 BRISKHAM STREET
Mission · 4 bed · 1,487 sq ft
81 more active listings are not shown here. Search every active listing . Prices are the list price. Most new homes have GST added on top.
Common questions
Where is the cheapest place to buy a new townhouse in the Vancouver area?
Measured by price per square foot, Lower Landing in Chilliwack at $373. Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford, and Hope hold the lowest figures overall. Inside Metro Vancouver proper, the lowest rates are in the eastern suburbs rather than anywhere in Vancouver itself.
Are cheaper areas cheaper because the homes are smaller?
No, and often the opposite. Several of the cheapest areas have median homes larger than the regional median of 1,612 sq ft. Land is what varies, not the building. Where land is cheap the builder has room to spread out, so the homes tend to be bigger.
What is the catch with the cheapest neighbourhoods?
Distance, and the transit that comes with it. Almost every area below the regional median is a long drive from the downtown core with no rapid transit connection. If you already drive to work, that costs you little. If you rely on transit, it costs you a great deal.
Do cheaper areas hold their value?
This page measures list prices on the market today, so it cannot answer a question about future value, and any page that claims to is guessing. What the data does show is that these markets are thinner, with fewer active listings per neighbourhood, which usually means slower sales in both directions.
Is a cheaper area a good idea for a first home?
It puts a brand new home with warranty within reach on a smaller budget, and it keeps a buyer inside both property transfer tax exemption thresholds. Whether it is right depends almost entirely on where a buyer needs to be during the week.
How many neighbourhoods price below the regional median per square foot?
55 neighbourhoods price below the regional median of $820 per square foot, carrying 659 active listings between them. Areas with fewer than four active listings are left out of this count, because at that sample size one home moves the figure enough to mislead.
What size home does the cheapest neighbourhood typically have?
In Lower Landing, Chilliwack, the median home is 1,667 sq ft and lists at $647,400. That is the lowest price per square foot in the dataset, at $373, and the home size there is not smaller than the regional median despite the lower price.
Are the homes in cheaper areas built to a lower standard?
Every home in this dataset was finished within the last two years under the same provincial building code, with the same warranty framework, using the same trades and suppliers as a home priced far higher. The price difference in these areas comes from land cost, not construction quality.
Where these figures come from
- VanPlex active listings, MLS® data
Active townhouses, half duplexes, and row houses built in the last two years across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Checked
- Government of BC, newly built home PTT exemption
Full exemption at $1,100,000 or less, partial to $1,150,000. Effective 1 April 2024.
Checked
See the homes behind these numbers
Every figure on this page comes from listings you can open. Search the full set of newly built townhouses, half duplexes, and row houses, and filter by price, bedrooms, freehold or strata, pets, and parking.