Over the past year, both rents and condo sale prices have softened in Greater Vancouver, so we wanted to see what a real “rent vs. buy” looks like today using two near-identical Metrotown-area examples:
Rent example: 6700 Dunblane Ave (≈550 sq ft, 30th floor) renting for $2,150/mo
Buy example: 1507–6468 Willingdon Ave (534 sq ft, 15th floor) sold Dec 2025 for $589,000
Assumptions (Buy Scenario)
Mortgage rate: 3.95%
Amortization: 25 years
Down payment: 20% ($117,800)
Mortgage amount: $471,200
Strata fee: $295/month
Property taxes + basic insurance: estimated ~$300/month
Monthly Comparison
Does the Equity Built Offset the ~$920/month Gap?
If ownership costs about $920 more per month, that equals approximately:
~$55,000 over 5 years
~$110,000 over 10 years
Estimated principal paydown (equity built from the mortgage alone):
~$61,000 after 5 years
~$136,000 after 10 years
So even with the updated strata fee, the equity built still exceeds the additional monthly cash outlay over both 5 and 10 years — before considering any market appreciation.
What Price Would Equalize Monthly Costs?
With today’s rate, strata fee of $295, and ownership expenses included, the condo would likely need to sell under ~$400,000 for total monthly ownership costs to align with the $2,150 rent.
This comparison gives some perspective on where prices could move in a more extreme correction scenario — and also explains why renting feels cheaper today while long-term buyers focus on equity growth and time in the market.
How does this compare to other major international cities?
A quick way to compare rent vs. buy pressure across cities is the price-to-rent ratio (higher usually means buying is “more expensive” relative to renting). Numbeo’s current Price to Rent Ratio (City Centre) shows:
For context, our Metrotown example implies a price-to-rent ratio around ~22.8 (589,000 ÷ (2,150×12)), which puts it closer to Vancouver/NYC/Sydney than the much higher-ratio cities like London or Singapore.
The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.