Shelter Costs, 2006

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Abstract

In 2006, the average monthly shelter cost for renter households was $728 and for owner households it was $998. For owners without a mortgage it was lower at $455 and for owners with a mortgage it was higher at $1393. The map shows by census division and census subdivision the average owner’s major (monthly) payments on shelter costs for households with a mortgage and without a mortgage, and the average (monthly) rent for renter households.

Shelter costs are the average monthly total of all shelter expenses paid by households to secure shelter. Shelter costs for owners may include the mortgage payment, property taxes, condominium fees and the costs of electricity, heat and municipal services. Shelter costs for renters may include rent and the costs of electricity, heat and municipal services.

Shelter costs reported by Canadian households (including both owners and renters) increased faster than consumer prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), between 2001 and 2006 (11.3%). Shelter costs rose faster for owner households than for renters.

Mortgage-free owners had the lowest average shelter costs ($455/month) followed by renters ($728/month) and then owners with mortgages ($1393/month) in the 2006 Census. However, mortgage-free owners experienced above-average increases in their shelter costs between 2001 and 2006 because other shelter costs, such as property taxes and heating fuels, had a significant effect on their overall payment.

Ontario had the highest average shelter costs among the provinces regardless of tenure in the 2006 Census, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. Owners with mortgages in Ontario had an average monthly shelter cost of $1,596 and mortgage-free owners had an average monthly shelter cost of $546; while, renters in Ontario had an average monthly shelter cost of $834.

Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest average shelter cost for all types of tenure. The average monthly shelter cost in Newfoundland and Labrador was $1,041 for owners with a mortgage, $327 for mortgage-free owners, and $569 for renters.

The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The Daily for May 1, 2008, marked the public release of this census variable. Technical notes for this variable can be found at Housing and Dwelling Characteristics Reference Guide, 2006.

The text was adapted from Statistics Canada, Changing Patterns in Canadian Homeownership and Shelter Costs, 2006 Census, Catalogue number 97-554-XWE2006001. Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from the Statistics Canada's Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at www.statcan.gc.ca, or its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136.