International Housing Reality Check: What You'll Actually Pay in Mexico, Canada, and China vs. the US

Global real estate markets tell vastly different stories about affordability and investment potential. For those considering international relocation, understanding how housing prices compare across borders is essential—especially when the same investment can mean vastly different property values depending on location.

The US Housing Snapshot

The American residential market maintains a relatively stable price point. Current data shows the average home value in the United States stands at $367,969 in 2025, representing only modest growth of 0.8% year-over-year. The median list price hovers around $409,933 as of May, while the median sale price reached $357,600 in April. What’s particularly notable is the speed of transactions—homes typically go pending within approximately 17 days, reflecting a seller’s market dynamic that has held steady through spring 2025.

Mexico: The Affordability Champion

For budget-conscious property seekers, Mexico presents a dramatically different scenario. The average home cost in mexico comes in substantially lower than US counterparts, at approximately $92,500 (converted from 1.724 million pesos). This represents the typical pricing range observed between January and June of 2024. However, there’s an important caveat: prices have been climbing, with a 10% increase noted compared to the prior year, suggesting the affordability gap may be narrowing over time.

Canada: The Premium Neighbor

Just north of the border, property prices tell a contrasting story. The average home price in Canada reached $691,299 CAD in 2025—equivalent to roughly $504,787 USD at current exchange rates. This represents a substantial premium compared to the national US average, making Canadian real estate a more expensive proposition for foreign buyers. The market did show a slight correction, declining 1.8% from 2024 levels, but remains considerably higher in absolute terms.

China: The Square Meter Calculation

China’s housing market operates on different metrics entirely. Rather than total home prices, the focus is on cost per square meter. As of March 2025, newly constructed properties averaged 16,740 RMB per square meter, or approximately $2,334 USD. The critical factor affecting affordability in China isn’t just the per-square-meter price—it’s the income-to-housing-cost ratio, which has long made the market structurally challenging for average earners. Recent policy interventions have helped moderate prices for both new and existing properties.

The Tariff Factor Reshaping Markets

Prospective homebuyers and relocating families must account for an often-overlooked variable: trade tariffs. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that current tariffs could increase new home costs by approximately $10,900. These duties drive up construction materials, disrupt supply chains, and create pricing uncertainty. While some tariffs have been temporarily suspended, many remain unresolved, forcing builders and suppliers to operate in a state of ambiguity. The impact extends globally—international markets are equally affected by rising costs for materials like lumber and increased renovation expenses. The net result is market hesitation, as both buyers and sellers adopt wait-and-see approaches rather than committing to major transactions.

What This Means for Global Property Seekers

The comparison reveals stark regional differences in housing affordability and market dynamics. Mexico offers genuine cost advantages for budget-driven relocations, Canada presents a premium-priced market, and China operates under structural constraints despite moderate per-square-meter costs. Meanwhile, the US maintains its middle ground—neither the cheapest nor the most expensive option, but increasingly subject to external economic pressures like tariff policy that affect pricing trajectories.

For anyone weighing international housing options, understanding these price differentials alongside local income levels, market momentum, and policy uncertainties becomes the real decision-making framework.