Coquitlam or Port Coquitlam: Prices, Unit Counts and City Charges Compared

Michael LeeOctober 6, 20267 min read

The names are almost the same and the border runs down the middle of ordinary streets. The prices, the number of homes you can put on a lot, and what each city charges a builder per home are all different. Here is the comparison, using published figures.

Prices, August 2026

Property type	Coquitlam	Port Coquitlam	Gap
Detached	$1,599,100	$1,243,800	$355,300
Townhome	$987,900	$847,200	$140,700
Apartment	$646,100	$558,300	$87,800
Composite	$981,400	$840,300	$141,100

Those are benchmark prices from Greater Vancouver REALTORS. A benchmark is a modelled price for a typical home of that type, so it is a fairer comparison between two cities than an average of whatever happened to sell.

The detached gap of $355,300 is the number that moves families across the boundary. It is close to a quarter of the Coquitlam price.

Which way prices are moving

Port Coquitlam fell faster over the past year. Its composite benchmark was down 8.5% against Coquitlam's 6.4%. Detached homes did most of that: Port Coquitlam down 8.0% against Coquitlam's 5.9%, and over a single month, down 4.9% against 1.8%.

Over ten years the order reverses. Port Coquitlam's composite index is up 45.6% and Coquitlam's is up 21.4%.

How many homes you can build on a lot

This is where the two cities genuinely diverge.

Coquitlam rezoned most single-family lots into four small-scale zones in June 2025. R-1 and R-2 permit up to four dwelling units, with three on lots of 280 square metres or less in R-2. R-3 permits two principal units plus two accessory units. R-4 requires at least three units and applies to lots of 930 square metres or more.

Port Coquitlam permits small-scale housing on properties zoned RS1 through RS4, and sets out three thresholds: three units on lots of 280 square metres or smaller, four units on lots larger than 280 square metres, and six units on lots larger than 280 square metres within 400 metres of frequent bus service, which the city says is generally along Lougheed Highway.

Both cities exclude properties inside a designated Transit-Oriented Area from the small-scale rules. Those are governed by the provincial transit requirements instead.

What each city charges per home

Amenity cost charges pay for community centres, recreation facilities, libraries and parks. The two cities set them very differently.

	Coquitlam	Port Coquitlam
House	$21,205 per unit	$15,358 per unit or lot
Townhome, duplex, triplex, multiplex	$21,205 per unit	$8,038 per unit
Apartment	$21.31 per ft² up to 12 floors	$5,454 per unit

Coquitlam adopted its programme on July 7, 2025 and groups single-detached homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, multiplexes and townhomes into one low-rise category at a single rate. Port Coquitlam adopted Amenity Cost Charge Bylaw No. 4449 on June 29, 2026, with separate rates by housing form.

On a four-unit ground-oriented project, that is $84,820 in Coquitlam against $32,152 in Port Coquitlam.

Port Coquitlam's bylaw also defines a dwelling unit in a way that excludes a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit. Confirm with the city how that wording applies to your project before budgeting around it.

Development cost charges are separate and pay for roads, water, sewer, drainage, parks and now fire and police facilities. Coquitlam's rates under Bylaw 5411, 2025 are $64,396 per single family unit, $43,483 per multiplex unit, $38,537 per townhouse unit and $24,435 per apartment unit. Port Coquitlam was updating its parks development cost charges as of its most recent published material, so ask that city directly for the rates in force on the day you apply.

Transit and daily life

Coquitlam has SkyTrain. The Evergreen Extension of the Millennium Line runs through Coquitlam Central and Lafarge Lake-Douglas, giving a one-seat ride into Burnaby and downtown Vancouver. Port Coquitlam does not have a SkyTrain station. It has a West Coast Express commuter rail station, which is fast at peak hours and absent outside them, plus bus service.

If you commute by transit on a standard schedule, that difference is worth more than the price gap to many households. If you drive, or work from home, the price gap wins more often.

How much choice you get

In August 2026, Coquitlam had 122 new detached listings, 118 attached and 203 apartment. Port Coquitlam had 36 detached, 21 attached and 33 apartment.

Port Coquitlam's supply also dropped much harder: new detached listings down 47.1% from August 2025 and attached down 52.3%. Fewer listings in a smaller city means the specific home you want may simply not be available in a given month.

What this comes down to

Port Coquitlam prices $355,300 below Coquitlam on a detached house and $140,700 below on a townhome.
Port Coquitlam allows up to six small-scale homes on larger lots near frequent bus service. Coquitlam caps most lots at four.
Port Coquitlam charges $8,038 per ground-oriented unit in amenity charges against Coquitlam's $21,205.
Coquitlam has SkyTrain and far more listings. Port Coquitlam has neither.
Browse listings in both cities, or contact our team to compare specific homes across the boundary.

Plan your next step

Read the Coquitlam area page and the Port Coquitlam area page, then use neighbourhood checks to test the actual commute from each candidate home before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

How much cheaper is Port Coquitlam than Coquitlam?

On a detached house the gap was $355,300 in August 2026: Port Coquitlam's benchmark was $1,243,800 against Coquitlam's $1,599,100. On townhomes the gap was $140,700, with Port Coquitlam at $847,200 and Coquitlam at $987,900. On apartments it was $87,800, with Port Coquitlam at $558,300 and Coquitlam at $646,100.

Are Port Coquitlam prices falling faster than Coquitlam's?

Over the past year, yes. Port Coquitlam's composite benchmark fell 8.5 per cent between August 2025 and August 2026, against 6.4 per cent in Coquitlam. Over the past month the gap was wider, at 3.2 per cent in Port Coquitlam against 0.6 per cent in Coquitlam. Detached homes drove most of that difference.

Can I build more homes on a lot in Port Coquitlam than in Coquitlam?

On some lots, yes. Port Coquitlam allows three units on lots of 280 square metres or smaller, four units on larger lots, and six units on lots over 280 square metres within 400 metres of frequent bus service, which the city says is generally along Lougheed Highway. Coquitlam's small-scale zones cap most lots at four.

Which city charges builders less per home?

Port Coquitlam, by a wide margin on amenity charges. Its Amenity Cost Charge Bylaw No. 4449, adopted June 29, 2026, sets $15,358 per single family unit or lot, $8,038 per ground-oriented multi-family unit and $5,454 per apartment unit. Coquitlam charges $21,205 per low-rise dwelling unit, a category that covers houses, multiplexes and townhomes alike.

Do secondary suites pay amenity charges in Port Coquitlam?

Port Coquitlam's amenity cost charge bylaw defines a dwelling unit as a self-contained set of rooms used as a residence, but states that it does not include a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit as defined in the Zoning Bylaw. Confirm how that wording applies to your specific project with the city before you budget for it.

Which Tri-Cities municipality has SkyTrain?

Coquitlam does, through the Evergreen Extension of the Millennium Line, with stations including Coquitlam Central and Lafarge Lake-Douglas. Port Coquitlam has no SkyTrain station. It has a West Coast Express commuter rail station and bus service, so getting to Vancouver by transit takes longer and depends more on peak-hour schedules.

Which city has more homes for sale?

Coquitlam, by a large margin, because it is a bigger city. In August 2026 Coquitlam had 122 new detached listings, 118 attached and 203 apartment. Port Coquitlam had 36 detached, 21 attached and 33 apartment. Port Coquitlam's new listings also fell much harder, with detached down 47.1 per cent and attached down 52.3 per cent from a year earlier.

Are Port Coquitlam small-scale rules the same near SkyTrain?

Port Coquitlam applies the same principle Coquitlam does. Small-scale multi-unit housing units are not permitted on RS-zoned properties within a designated Transit Oriented Area. Those properties are governed by the provincial transit rules, which require higher minimum densities and heights than a three to six unit project would deliver.

Which city should I buy in?

It depends on what you are optimising for. Coquitlam costs more and offers SkyTrain, a larger selection of listings and more high-rise and townhome supply. Port Coquitlam costs less on every property type and has a smaller, quieter feel with a strong trail network. Commute method is usually the question that decides it.

Are Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam the same municipality?

No. They are separate cities with their own councils, zoning bylaws, fee schedules and building departments, which is why their rules and charges differ. The similar names cause constant confusion. Always check which city a property is in before you research zoning, because the answer changes what you can build and what it costs.

#Coquitlam #Port Coquitlam

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