Why Port Coquitlam Has the Lowest Municipal Taxes and Utilities in Metro Vancouver

If you’re comparing communities in the Tri-Cities, there’s another number worth putting on your list alongside home prices, mortgage rates and monthly housing costs:

Property taxes and utilities.

And when it comes to that measure, Port Coquitlam stands out.

According to the City of Port Coquitlam’s 2025 comparison of municipal property taxes and utilities across Metro Vancouver’s 21 municipalities, Port Coquitlam had the lowest combined amount in the region at $4,373 for the year.

The regional average was $6,368.

That puts the average Port Coquitlam amount approximately $1,995 below the regional average.

How Does PoCo Compare?

Here’s how several Tri-Cities and surrounding communities compared in 2025:

The difference becomes particularly noticeable when comparing Port Coquitlam with some of the region's higher-cost municipalities.

The average figure for West Vancouver, for example, was $9,258 — more than $4,800 higher than Port Coquitlam's $4,373.

This Isn't Just a One-Year Difference

What makes the comparison particularly interesting is the longer-term trend.

Between 2021 and 2025, the City reports that taxes and utilities for the average Port Coquitlam property increased by approximately 24%, compared with 39% for the Metro Vancouver average.

So while costs have increased, Port Coquitlam's increases have remained below the regional average.

How Is Port Coquitlam Keeping Costs Lower?

The City says its approach has included line-by-line budget reviews, department efficiencies, deferring non-critical spending, selective use of reserves and surplus funds, leveraging provincial and federal grants, and generating tax revenue through new development.

The City's 2026 budget continues that approach.

For 2026, Port Coquitlam approved a 1.95% increase in municipal property taxes for the average home, described by the City as one of the lowest increases in Metro Vancouver.

For the average home assessed at $1,126,339, that represents an increase of approximately $45.34 in municipal property taxes.

It's also worth noting that the City does not control every cost appearing on a homeowner's bill. For example, the majority of the 2026 increases in water and sewer charges are attributed to increased costs from Metro Vancouver and other external providers.

What Does This Mean for Homeowners?

This is where the numbers become particularly relevant for anyone considering where to buy.

The purchase price of a home is only one part of the cost of homeownership.

A homeowner also needs to consider:

• Mortgage payments

• Property taxes

• Water and sewer costs

• Insurance

• Utilities

• Maintenance and repairs

• Transportation costs

A community with lower municipal taxes and utility costs can therefore have an impact on the ongoing cost of owning a home.

For buyers comparing Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody, this is one more factor worth putting into the equation.

One Important Qualification

There is an important distinction between the figures above and the total property tax bill a homeowner receives.

A municipal property tax bill includes amounts collected on behalf of other organizations, including the Province, school system, Metro Vancouver, TransLink and other agencies. Those amounts are not all controlled by the municipality.

Your actual tax bill will also depend on your property's assessed value and how that value changes relative to other properties in the same class.

In other words, $4,373 is a regional comparison figure — not a prediction of what every Port Coquitlam homeowner will personally pay.

The Bigger Picture

For people already living in Port Coquitlam, the numbers provide an interesting measure of how the community compares with its neighbours.

For people considering buying here, it's another piece of the affordability puzzle.

Port Coquitlam offers something that can be difficult to find in Metro Vancouver: a community where municipal taxes and utilities have historically remained below the regional average, while the City continues to provide services such as parks, recreation, roads, public safety, waste collection and infrastructure.

And in a region where the cost of homeownership continues to be an important consideration, the cost of owning a home doesn't stop at the purchase price.

Sometimes, the numbers behind the monthly and annual costs tell an equally important story.

Thinking of making a move?

Whether you’re considering buying in Port Coquitlam, comparing communities across the Tri-Cities, or thinking about selling your current home, understanding the full cost of homeownership matters.

Thinking about buying or selling? Let’s talk! ✨🏡

📞 Tara Kennedy
🏡 REALTOR®, ABR, RENE, SRS
📱 236-992-8989
🌐 www.tarakennedy.ca

Sources: City of Port Coquitlam 2025–2026 financial plan and tax information; municipal comparison data published by the City of Port Coquitlam based on regional municipal tax and utility figures.

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