In Québec in 2026, a bathroom renovation starts at around $19,000 for a cosmetic update and can go past $55,000 for a high-end job. A kitchen runs from about $7,000 (minor update) to $45,000 and up, and finishing a basement costs $60 to $110 per square foot.
In Montreal, expect to pay 10–15% more than in outlying regions. These prices are before tax, and a detailed on-site quote is the only way to get your real number.
Worried the final bill will be a nasty surprise? You're not alone. Renovation prices have moved a lot in the past few years, and most numbers you find online are either out of date or from somewhere else in Canada.
This guide pulls together 2026 price ranges published by Québec sources, with links so you can check them yourself. They're market averages, not our prices: every house is different, and only a site visit can price yours.
Why do renovations cost more in Montreal in 2026?
According to Soumission Rénovation, prices in Montreal, Gatineau and Québec City usually run 10–15% higher than in outlying regions such as Saguenay or the Gaspé. The reasons: skilled labour is scarcer and transport costs more.
Labour is the biggest piece. The same source puts it at about 60% of the total on a renovation bill, after the 2026 increase in CCQ rates (the Commission de la construction du Québec sets wages in the industry).
And many people guess low. Soumission Rénovation's 2026 index, based on a survey of more than 1,300 users, found that over 40% of homeowners underestimate the cost of a kitchen or bathroom renovation, even for basic projects.
Montreal also has a lot of plexes and older homes. Behind the walls you can find old plumbing, outdated wiring or poor insulation. None of that shows up on a first visit, which is why your budget needs a contingency (more on that below).
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Montreal?
In Québec, a bathroom renovation can start around $19,000 for a cosmetic update and go past $55,000 for a high-end project with major plumbing changes, according to Soumission Rénovation. The same source puts high-end work at $45,000 and up.
Its price table breaks it down like this, before tax:
- Cosmetic update, same layout: $18,000 to $24,000
- Standard renovation (the most common project in Montreal and Québec City): $25,000 to $38,000
- High-end or custom: $45,000 to $55,000 and up
What drives the bathroom cost up
- Moving the plumbing: relocating the toilet, shower or sink means opening floors and walls.
- A custom tiled shower: more labour than a prefab base, plus waterproofing that has to be done right.
- Heated floors: comfortable, but one more line on the budget.
- Condition of the walls and floor: a damaged subfloor or mould behind old tile adds work.
To see what a full bathroom renovation includes, visit our bathroom renovation page.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Montreal?
Soumission Rénovation's 2026 index puts a kitchen or bathroom at $7,000 for a minor update up to $45,000 and more for high-end work. That's an indicative range covering both rooms together.
To be straight with you: a full custom kitchen, with new cabinets, a quartz countertop and a new layout, often goes past the top of that range. As one example, the same source cites a 150 sq ft kitchen at $40,000.
Where the money goes in a kitchen
- Cabinets: usually the biggest line. Custom costs more than standard modules.
- Countertops: quartz costs far more than laminate, and fabrication adds lead time.
- Appliances: often bought separately, but part of the total budget.
- Plumbing and electrical: moving the sink or adding a range circuit requires licensed specialty contractors.
- Removing a wall: opening the kitchen to the living room may involve a load-bearing wall, which means a beam and often an engineer.
Want to know where your project lands in these ranges? We'll come see it and give you a detailed quote.
Book a consultation →What does it cost per square foot to finish a basement in Québec?
According to Soumission Rénovation, finishing a basement in Québec usually costs $60 to $110 per square foot, or about $85 per square foot for a standard-quality finish done by a general contractor.
- Small basement (500 sq ft): $35,000 to $50,000
- Average basement (1,000 sq ft): $65,000 to $95,000
Adding a bathroom is the biggest cost driver; the same source puts it at an extra $15,000 to $25,000. Rough-in plumbing alone (the supply and drain pipes installed before finishing) runs $2,500 to $8,500 according to Soumission Rénovation, with the high end applying when the concrete slab has to be cut.
In Québec, moisture control and insulation are the foundation of a livable basement. Finish over a damp wall and it will grow mould, so the water and insulation come first, before any drywall goes up. One of our clients wrote about exactly that kind of basement insulation job on Google:
“3 mots pour décrire l'équipe : communique, flexible et efficace. […] Nous sommes très satisfaits des travaux d'isolation du sous-sol et nous recommandons l'équipe sans hésitation!”
Basima Khourdaji, Google review (in French). Our translation: “Three words to describe the team: communicative, flexible and efficient. […] We're very satisfied with the basement insulation work and recommend the team without hesitation!”
Learn more about how we approach it on our basement renovation page.
What budget should you plan for each type of project?
This table sums up the ranges from the sources cited. They're Québec-wide averages, before tax. In Montreal, aim for the upper part of each range.
| Project | Basic renovation | Mid-range | High-end | What changes the price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | $18,000 to $24,000 | $25,000 to $38,000 | $45,000 to $55,000+ | Moving plumbing, custom shower, heated floors |
| Kitchen | from $7,000 (minor update) | Example: $40,000 for 150 sq ft | $45,000+ | Cabinets, countertops, appliances, wall removal |
| Basement (per sq ft) | $60 to $75 | $80 to $95 | $100 to $125+ | Bathroom, moisture, insulation, windows |
| Full renovation (per sq ft) | $10 to $45 (light refresh) | $125 to $175 (standard full renovation) | $150 to $260+ (major renovation) | Structure, kitchen and bath included, condition of the house |
Sources: bathroom, kitchen (2026 index), 150 sq ft kitchen and full renovation, basement. Québec averages, before GST and QST.
The kitchen mid-range isn't published as a range, so we give the source's example rather than invent a number. For a whole house, see our full home renovation page.
What hidden costs do people forget?
The renovation permit
In the City of Montreal, the base cost of a renovation permit is $9.80 per $1,000 of estimated work, with a minimum of $167.40 for an exclusively residential building, according to Soumission Rénovation. Example: for $40,000 of work, 40 × $9.80 = $392.
Required documents and processing times vary by borough. Laval, Longueuil and the other suburbs have their own rules and fees, so check with your municipality.
The unexpected
Our advice: keep a 10–15% contingency in your budget. In an older house, opening a wall sometimes reveals a problem nobody could see beforehand. If you don't need it, even better.
Taxes
Prices in this guide are before tax. Add GST and QST, 14.975% in total. On $40,000 of work, that's close to $6,000 more.
Living through the work
If your kitchen is out of service during the work, budget for meals out or a temporary kitchen corner. For a full renovation, you may need to stay elsewhere for part of the project.
How do you keep your renovation budget under control?
- Ask for a line-by-line quote: demolition, materials, labour, finishes. One vague lump sum is impossible to compare.
- Know which kind of price you're signing: a fixed price for a clearly defined scope, or time and materials, where you pay the actual hours.
- Pick your finishes before work starts: tile, fixtures, cabinets. Choosing mid-project can cause delays and cost more.
- Avoid changing the plan along the way: every change should be a written change order with its price.
- Pay in stages: payments tied to real progress, not a large sum up front.
At Construction Hibou, every project follows the same four steps: consultation, planning the budget and schedule with you, execution, then handover with a final walkthrough together. You deal with one project lead from start to finish. Learn more about us, or read our guide on how to choose a renovation contractor.
We work across Greater Montreal, including Laval, Longueuil, Pointe-Claire and Rosemont (pages in French).
