The same home can cost more than twice as much in property tax depending on which GTA city it sits in. In 2026, Markham has the lowest residential rate at 0.722889% and Oshawa the highest at 1.575342%. On a home assessed at $750,000, that is the difference between $5,422 and $11,815 a year.
This page lists the 2026 residential tax rate for 26 GTA municipalities, explains how your bill is worked out, and has a calculator that shows what your home would pay in every city at once.
GTA property tax calculator
Enter the assessed value from your MPAC notice, not what you paid or what the home would sell for today. Pick your city to see your estimated 2026 bill, then compare the same home across the GTA.
2026 property tax rates for every GTA city
These are the total 2026 residential rates, which combine the local municipal rate, the regional rate where there is one, and the provincial education rate. Ranked from lowest to highest. The dollar columns show the yearly tax on a home with that MPAC assessed value.
| Rank | City | Region | 2026 rate | Tax on $500K | Tax on $750K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Markham | York | 0.722889% | $3,614 | $5,422 |
| 2 | Vaughan | York | 0.749217% | $3,746 | $5,619 |
| 3 | Richmond Hill | York | 0.760104% | $3,801 | $5,701 |
| 4 | Toronto | Toronto | 0.767311% | $3,837 | $5,755 |
| 5 | Oakville | Halton | 0.850960% | $4,255 | $6,382 |
| 6 | Whitchurch-Stouffville | York | 0.855234% | $4,276 | $6,414 |
| 7 | Milton | Halton | 0.863590% | $4,318 | $6,477 |
| 8 | Aurora | York | 0.873953% | $4,370 | $6,555 |
| 9 | King | York | 0.916009% | $4,580 | $6,870 |
| 10 | East Gwillimbury | York | 0.916299% | $4,581 | $6,872 |
| 11 | Newmarket | York | 0.919045% | $4,595 | $6,893 |
| 12 | Caledon | Peel | 0.982207% | $4,911 | $7,367 |
| 13 | Halton Hills | Halton | 1.003892% | $5,019 | $7,529 |
| 14 | Burlington (urban) | Halton | 1.015281% | $5,076 | $7,615 |
| 15 | Mississauga | Peel | 1.087901% | $5,440 | $8,159 |
| 16 | Bradford West Gwillimbury | Simcoe | 1.108080% | $5,540 | $8,311 |
| 17 | Georgina | York | 1.191146% | $5,956 | $8,934 |
| 18 | Brampton | Peel | 1.253381% | $6,267 | $9,400 |
| 19 | Uxbridge | Durham | 1.296721% | $6,484 | $9,725 |
| 20 | Pickering | Durham | 1.337288% | $6,686 | $10,030 |
| 21 | Whitby | Durham | 1.382491% | $6,912 | $10,369 |
| 22 | Scugog | Durham | 1.387026% | $6,935 | $10,403 |
| 23 | Ajax | Durham | 1.388664% | $6,943 | $10,415 |
| 24 | Clarington | Durham | 1.419218% | $7,096 | $10,644 |
| 25 | Brock | Durham | 1.477464% | $7,387 | $11,081 |
| 26 | Oshawa | Durham | 1.575342% | $7,877 | $11,815 |
Some municipalities charge different rates in rural and urban areas, or add local levies for things like fire service or transit, so your actual bill can differ slightly. Your tax bill always shows the exact rates applied to your property.
What stands out in 2026
York Region dominates the low end. Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill hold the three lowest rates in the GTA. Home assessments there are high, so these cities can raise the money their budgets need at a lower rate.
Durham dominates the high end. Every one of the eight highest rates is in Durham Region. Oshawa’s rate is more than double Markham’s. Durham homes are cheaper to buy, but the yearly tax gap narrows some of that saving. A buyer comparing a $900,000 house in Whitby with a $1.1 million house in Markham should run the carrying costs, not just the price.
Toronto’s rate is low, but bills are not always low. Toronto’s 2026 rate of 0.767311% is the fourth lowest, because assessments in the city are high. The City’s own worked example uses an assessment of $692,140, which produces about $5,311 in tax. Toronto also has its own municipal land transfer tax at purchase, which the 905 does not.
Peel is split. Caledon (0.98%), Mississauga (1.09%) and Brampton (1.25%) all share the Region of Peel rate, but their local rates differ. A Brampton home pays about 15% more tax than a Mississauga home with the same assessment.
How much did taxes go up in 2026?
| City | 2026 budget decision |
|---|---|
| Brampton | 0% increase to the City portion, plus a 1% hospital levy. The City says this adds about $73 a year on an average home. |
| Mississauga | 5.21% total increase on the residential bill: 1.61% City share and 3.60% Region of Peel share. About $53.91 more per $100,000 of assessment. |
| Vaughan | 0% increase to the City portion. Regional and education portions are set separately. |
A “0% increase” usually means the local share only. The regional portion, which often makes up half or more of the bill, can still rise.
How your property tax bill is calculated
The formula is simple:
Assessed value × total tax rate = yearly property tax
For a Brampton home assessed at $650,000: $650,000 × 1.253381% = $8,147 a year.
The total rate has three parts. Here is how Brampton’s 2026 rate breaks down, from the City’s tax rate by-law:
| Part | Brampton 2026 | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| City of Brampton | 0.537932% | Roads, transit, fire, parks, libraries, by-law |
| Region of Peel | 0.562449% | Police, paramedics, social housing, waste, public health |
| Education | 0.153000% | Set by the Province, same rate across Ontario |
| Total | 1.253381% |
Toronto is a single-tier city, so there is no regional portion. Its 2026 rate is 0.605295% for the City, 0.009016% for the City Building Fund and 0.153% for education. Vaughan’s is 0.203805% City, 0.392412% York Region and 0.153% education.
Your assessment is based on 2016 values
This is the part most buyers miss. MPAC, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, sets the assessed value of every property in Ontario. The province-wide reassessment planned for 2020 was postponed, so 2026 taxes are still based on what your home was worth on January 1, 2016, unless the property has changed since.
That means your assessment is probably well below today’s market value. It also means the purchase price does not reset your taxes in Ontario. When you buy a home, you take over the existing assessment. To see what a home you are buying really pays, ask for the latest tax bill in the listing details, or look up the assessment on MPAC’s AboutMyProperty site once you own it.
When the reassessment eventually happens, it will not automatically raise everyone’s taxes. Cities set rates to raise the revenue their budget needs. Homes whose value rose faster than the city average will pay more, and homes that rose slower will pay less.
What changes your assessment
- Additions, a finished basement, a new garage or a second unit
- A new build, which gets its first assessment after occupancy
- Demolition or major damage, which can lower it
Adding a basement apartment or a garden suite raises your assessment. Our guides to registering a second unit in Brampton and in Mississauga cover the costs of adding one.
New homes: watch for the supplementary bill
If you buy a new build, the first tax bills often cover only the land. Once MPAC assesses the finished house, you receive a supplementary or omitted assessment, and a catch-up tax bill can arrive months or even a year or more after closing. Budget for it. Our pre-construction closing costs guide explains it with the other surprises.
How to lower your property tax
- Check your assessment. If you think it is too high compared with similar homes on your street, you can file a Request for Reconsideration with MPAC. The deadline is printed on your Property Assessment Notice.
- Look for relief programs. Most GTA municipalities offer tax deferral or rebates for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Search your city’s site for “tax deferral”.
- Use the right instalment plan. Pre-authorized payment plans spread the bill across the year and avoid late penalties, which are typically 1.25% a month.
- Compare cities before you buy. A difference of 0.3% on a $700,000 assessment is $2,100 a year. Over a 25-year mortgage, that adds up.
Property tax and your mortgage
Lenders include property tax in the stress test. Higher taxes mean you qualify for a slightly smaller mortgage. Use our mortgage stress test calculator with the yearly tax from the calculator above to see how much you can borrow. Some lenders also collect the tax with your mortgage payment and pay the city for you.
Comparing cities? See what a home costs right now in our GTA home prices by city tracker and the latest market report.
Common questions
Which GTA city has the lowest property tax rate?
Markham, at 0.722889% in 2026, followed by Vaughan (0.749217%), Richmond Hill (0.760104%) and Toronto (0.767311%).
Which GTA city has the highest property tax rate?
Oshawa, at 1.575342%. The eight highest rates in the GTA are all in Durham Region.
How much is property tax on a $1 million house in Toronto?
It depends on the assessed value, not the price. A home that sells for $1 million today will usually have a much lower 2016-based assessment. If the assessment is $750,000, the 2026 tax is about $5,755. If it were assessed at the full $1 million, it would be about $7,673.
Why is Toronto’s property tax rate lower than Brampton’s?
Toronto has higher assessed values, so it can raise the money it needs at a lower rate. Brampton has lower average assessments, so its rate has to be higher to fund its budget. Brampton is also part of Peel Region, so its bill includes a regional portion.
Does buying a home change its property tax in Ontario?
No. Unlike some US states, Ontario does not reassess a home when it sells. The buyer takes over the existing assessment.
When are property taxes due in the GTA?
Most cities send an interim bill early in the year, based on about half of last year’s taxes, and a final bill in late spring or summer once the new rates are set. Each bill is usually split into two or three instalments. Check the due dates printed on your bill.
Are these rates the same for condos?
Yes. Condo units are taxed at the residential rate on their own assessed value. Condo fees are separate and do not include property tax.
Sources
- City of Toronto, 2026 property tax rates
- City of Brampton, By-law 13-2026, 2026 tax levy
- City of Vaughan, By-law 103-2026, 2026 tax rates
- City of Mississauga, 2026 budget adopted
- City of Brampton, 2026 budget news release
- MPAC, the assessment cycle
- WOWA, Ontario 2026 property tax rates, used for municipalities not listed above
Rates are 2026 residential rates for the main residential tax class. Estimates are for information only. Your tax bill shows the exact amount for your property.