Quebec City, QC · Q3 2026
Furnace renovation cost in Quebec City
Equipment, venting, and the gas work behind it. The figures below are modelled for Quebec City, QC using our 0.93× regional cost multiplier, on a detached home built 1960-1989 at a mid-range finish.
Typical planning budget
$4,100 to $6,650
Typical $5,000 · includes 12% contingency
Why Quebec City differs
Quebec City prices about 7% below Ottawa, which is the baseline our regional model is anchored to.
- Regional multiplier
- 0.93×
- Versus Ottawa
- -7%
- Province
- Quebec
- Sales tax on services
- GST + QST (14.975%)
Regional multipliers are anchored to Ottawa at 1.00 and scaled using Statistics Canada's Residential Renovation Price Index and Building Construction Price Index movements by census metropolitan area, then cross-checked against published contractor rate ranges. They are planning-level adjustments, not surveyed local quotes.
Areas this covers
Quebec City, QC is modelled as a single labour market, so these municipalities share the same cost multiplier:
- Québec
- Lévis
- Sainte-Foy
Somewhere else in Quebec? Compare every Quebec region.
Cost by finish level in Quebec City
Finish level moves the number more than almost anything else you control. All three rows use the same Quebec City multiplier and the same scope.
| Finish | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| BudgetStock materials, simple details, value fixtures | $2,950 | $3,600 | $4,750 |
| Mid-rangeCommon homeowner choice: durable materials, better fixtures | $4,100 | $5,000 | $6,650 |
| PremiumHigh-end materials, custom detailing, designer fixtures | $6,050 | $7,350 | $9,750 |
Cost by size in Quebec City
Typical all-in planning budgets at three representative sizes, mid-range finish.
| Size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,100 sq ft | $3,700 | $4,550 | $6,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft | $4,100 | $5,000 | $6,650 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $4,800 | $5,900 | $7,750 |
Where the money goes
The $5,000 typical figure for Quebec City, broken into the lines a contractor quote should also separate.
| Category | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| Labour | $1,450 | $1,750 | $2,400 |
| Demolition and disposal | $200 | $250 | $300 |
| Permit and design allowance | $150 | $200 | $250 |
| Subtotal | $3,650 | $4,450 | $5,950 |
| Contingency (12%) | $450 | $550 | $700 |
| Total planning budget | $4,100 | $5,000 | $6,650 |
Compared with the rest of Quebec
Same project, same scope and finish, priced against every other Quebec region we model.
| Region | Multiplier | Typical | vs Quebec City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec City (this page) | 0.93× | $5,000 | — |
| Montreal | 0.98× | $5,200 | +4% |
| Other Quebec | 0.91× | $4,950 | -1% |
Permits in Quebec
Renovation permits are issued by your municipality or borough. Quebec also applies the Construction Code province-wide.
Commonly triggered by this project
- Gas appliance work. Gas work must be performed by a licensed technician and may require a permit.
- HVAC changes. Adding or relocating heating, cooling, or ventilation may require a permit and load calculations.
Hiring in Quebec
Quebec is the strictest province: every construction and renovation contractor must hold a valid Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licence. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is illegal.
Trades that must be certified
- Electrical: Electrical work must be done by an RBQ-licensed electrical contractor, normally a CMEQ member.
- Plumbing and heating: Plumbing and heating work must be done by an RBQ-licensed contractor, normally a CMMTQ member.
Costs people forget on this project
Included as allowances above. Check any quote covers them too.
- Chimney liner or new venting on a condensing conversion
- Gas line resizing when adding load
- Condensate drain routing and pumps
- Electrical work for a new disconnect or dedicated circuit
- Ductwork undersized for the new blower
- Asbestos-wrapped ducting in pre-1990 homes
Typical schedule: 1 to 2 days for a straight replacement.
Questions homeowners ask
- Why is my furnace quote higher than the advertised price?
- Advertised prices are usually the equipment and a straightforward swap. The lines that move a quote are venting, gas line resizing, condensate drainage, electrical, and ductwork changes. Ask for those to be itemised rather than bundled, because a quote that omits them is not cheaper, it is incomplete.
- Do I need a permit to replace a furnace?
- Yes. Replacing a gas appliance is permitted and inspected work in every province, which is why the permit line above is never zero. A reputable installer pulls it as part of the job. If a contractor offers to skip the permit, that is a reason to end the conversation, not a saving.
- Should I replace the air conditioner at the same time?
- Often yes, if both are near end of life. The indoor coil and blower are shared, so doing both together avoids paying twice for the same access and refrigerant work, and a matched system runs more efficiently than a mismatched one. Price them separately first so you can see what the combined discount actually is.
- Is a heat pump a better choice than a furnace?
- In much of Canada a cold-climate heat pump now handles most of the heating season, with the furnace or electric backup covering the coldest weeks. It costs more up front and attracts the largest rebates of any upgrade on this site. Whether it pencils out depends on your electricity and gas rates, so check the rebates page before deciding.