What it is
CMHC states that under MLI Select, affordability qualification is based on median renter income for both existing properties and new construction projects.CMHC MLI Select pageas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
- Affordable units rent at or below 30% of median renter income for the market, from CMHC’s workbook (2019 data, last updated March 2021).CMHC median renter income workbookas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
- CMHC’s median renter income workbook shows 2019 household income before taxes for renter households, from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey, rounded to the nearest $100 and last updated March 2021.CMHC median renter income workbookas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
- If renter income data isn’t available for a market, CMHC accepts income data from comparable centres, provincial data or comparable rural centres.CMHC MLI Select pageas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
Where to look it up
- Open the MLI Select page, find the “Affordability criteria” section and follow the “median renter income” link.CMHC MLI Select pageas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
- Or open CMHC’s workbook directly (XLSX) and find your market’s row.CMHC median renter income workbookas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
Current figures for Alberta markets
| Area in CMHC’s workbook | Median renter household income |
|---|---|
| Canada | $46,900 |
| Alberta (province) | $61,500 |
| Alberta rural centres (provincial median excluding CMAs) | $45,300 |
| Calgary | $69,500 |
| Edmonton | $66,600 |
| Lethbridge | $43,000 |
| Red Deer | $35,900 |
| Wood Buffalo | $72,400 |
The same workbook lists other provinces, rural centres and urban centres. If your market is not listed, see the fallback rule above.
Worked arithmetic
Worked arithmetic, not a CMHC-published rent: 30% of Edmonton’s $66,600 is $19,980 a year, or $1,665 a month.CMHC median renter income workbookas of Oct 15, 2026(opens official source in a new tab)
Illustrative only. This is this site’s arithmetic on a CMHC income figure. CMHC does not publish monthly rent ceilings on its MLI Select pages, and your lender or CMHC confirms the figure used for a file.
What the workbook does not say
Verify: The workbook does not say whether “30% of median renter income” covers rent alone or rent plus utilities. Ask your lender before working out a rent for a specific building.
Next: how rent increases are limited during the commitment, or the Alberta summary.