Methodology
Where the prices on RenoCalc come from, what is measured, what is estimated, and what the figures leave out.
Written and maintained by Maxime Legrand, founder of RenoCalc.
Cost indices last updated: 2026-07-28. Price-movement data: 2026-07-28.
In short: the price differences between cities, and how prices move over time, come from the external sources cited below. The base prices per line item and the quality tiers are our own estimates. We say so because most price guides don’t.
How the calculation works
Every estimate is the product of three things, applied to each line item you select:
| Component | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Base price per line item | RenoCalc estimate |
| Quality tier | RenoCalc estimate |
| Regional cost index | Altus Group, 2026 Canadian Cost Guide |
Quality tiers are fixed multipliers: budget ×0.7, standard ×1.0, premium ×1.6. Size multipliers apply on top, depending on project type.
Price differences between cities
Source: Altus Group, 2026 Canadian Cost Guide. Section used: Private sector, cost per square foot — Wood framed residential (dimensional lumber), page 5. Based on 6,652 projects / 1,632M+ sq ft / $573B, as at 2026-01-31.
We average four low-rise wood-framed residential categories, then convert to a relative index. We do not use Altus’s absolute costs — those are for new construction, not renovation. Only the ratios between cities are carried over.
Coverage by city
Altus publishes 9 city columns, not 28. So we state, for every city, what its index rests on.
Measured directly (9)
Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John's, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Anchored to a measured city (16)
Charlottetown, Gatineau, Hamilton, Kelowna, Kitchener, Laval, London, Mississauga, Moncton, Quebec City, Red Deer, Regina, Saint John, Saskatoon, Surrey, Victoria. These have no Altus column; they keep their position relative to a documented reference city (Quebec City to Montreal, for example).
Unsourced estimate (3)
Iqaluit, Whitehorse, Yellowknife. No published data covers these markets and no anchoring was defensible. Treat these estimates with caution.
Limits of this source
- Altus spread is a composite of labour/material cost AND design-specification differences between markets (Altus FAQ, p.8).
- Altus methodology combines historical project data with senior-manager expert judgment (Altus FAQ, p.8).
- Hard construction costs only; new build; excludes soft costs and 2026 tariff impacts (Altus, p.9-10).
- New residential construction is a proxy for renovation, which additionally carries demolition, access constraints and unknown existing conditions.
- Used for regional ratios only. Absolute price levels come from the base line-item prices, which remain unsourced.
- Altus explicitly advises against using the guide to measure escalation; escalation comes from StatCan NHPI.
How prices move over time
Source: Statistics Canada, table 18-10-0205-01, New housing price index, monthly. Series "House only (excludes land)", base 201612 = 100. Reference period: 2026-06-01.
This index measures how prices change by region over time. It does not measure one city’s price level against another’s — a common confusion, and one we deliberately avoid: between-city differences come only from the source above.
What the estimates exclude
- Taxes (GST, QST, HST). All figures are before tax.
- Design, architectural and engineering fees.
- Permits, except where explicitly selected as a line item.
- Unknown existing conditions: asbestos, vermiculite, mould, non-conforming structure or plumbing.
- Temporary accommodation or storage during the work.
- A contingency allowance. Budget an extra 10–15%.
RenoCalc gives you a planning-grade range. It is not a quote and it does not replace a contractor’s site visit. A meaningful gap between our range and a quote you receive isn’t abnormal — it’s a signal to find out why.
Updates and corrections
Cost indices are recalculated with each annual edition of the Altus guide. The Statistics Canada price-movement data is monthly. This page always shows the real dates of the data currently in force, at the top.
If you are a contractor or industry professional and our figures look wrong for your market, tell us. Reasoned corrections are welcome, and we’re glad to share our sources on request. Maxime Legrand answers personally.
Who maintains this page
Maxime Legrand, founder of RenoCalc, builds and updates the pricing model, chooses the sources, and writes this page. Journalists and editors: I’m glad to supply the raw per-city data, or custom figures for a specific market, at no cost.