If you're thinking about selling the family home in Kitchener and moving to a bungalow, the first questions are usually about money. Will a bungalow cost less than the house I'm selling? What will the move itself cost? And where do I start?
Here are the real numbers from the MLS® system as of October 27, 2026. No guesses about where prices are going. Just what sold, what's for sale, and what it means for your move.
The short version
- A typical Kitchener detached home that isn't a bungalow (mostly two-storeys) sold for $730,000 from October 1 to 27, 2026. That's the median of 70 sales.
- A typical detached bungalow sold for $683,000, the median of 25 sales.
- That's a gap of about $47,000, or about 6%.
- 101 bungalows are for sale in Kitchener right now, at a median asking price of $679,000.
- Ontario land transfer tax on a $679,000 bungalow is about $10,055.
Source: ITSO MLS® data, sold October 1–27, 2026; for sale as of October 27, 2026.
The downsizing gap in Kitchener
To compare like with like, we looked only at detached houses in the City of Kitchener that sold firm between October 1 and 27, 2026. On one side, homes with 1.5 storeys or more that aren't listed as a bungalow: two-storeys, storey-and-a-half homes and split levels. On the other side, detached bungalows, raised bungalows and bungalofts.
| Sold Oct 1–27, 2026 | Detached, not a bungalow | Detached bungalow |
|---|---|---|
| Number sold | 70 | 25 |
| Median sale price | $730,000 | $683,000 |
| Average days to sell | 27 | 19 |
| Sold under $700,000 | 29 | 13 |
| Sold $700,000 to $899,999 | 22 | 9 |
| Sold $900,000 and up | 19 | 3 |
Source: ITSO MLS® data, October 1–27, 2026. Detached houses in the City of Kitchener. Sales counted by the date they went firm.
What the gap means. The middle bungalow sold for about $47,000 less than the middle two-storey. That's a smaller gap than many people expect. Bungalows were also quicker to sell this month: 19 days on average, against 27.
What it doesn't mean. A median is the middle of a group, not your house. Every home is different: size, lot, age, condition and street all change the price. Your house could sell well above or below the middle, and so could the bungalow you buy. And once selling costs and closing costs come off, a gap of this size can shrink a lot. The only way to know your own gap is to price your house and the bungalows you'd actually buy.
What a bungalow costs in Kitchener now
There are 101 bungalows for sale in Kitchener, at a median asking price of $679,000:
- Under $600,000: 27
- $600,000 to $699,999: 32
- $700,000 to $799,999: 19
- $800,000 to $899,999: 3
- $900,000 and up: 20
Freehold or condo: 96 are freehold and only 5 are condominium bungalows. By building type, 92 are houses and 9 are row or townhouse bungalows.
What's scarce: only 3 bungalows are priced between $800,000 and $899,999. Only 10 have a double garage or bigger and ask under $900,000. And there are just 5 condo bungalows, for the downsizer who wants someone else to handle the snow and the lawn.
If your budget is under $600,000, see the Kitchener bungalows under $600K map. Condo and townhouse bungalows are on the Kitchener condo and townhouse bungalow map.
Source: ITSO MLS® data, as of October 27, 2026. All bungalow styles in the City of Kitchener.
Closing costs, in plain words
When you buy, the biggest closing cost is usually Ontario land transfer tax. On a $679,000 bungalow it's about $10,055. Kitchener is outside the City of Toronto, so there's no second, municipal land transfer tax. If you've owned a home before, the first-time buyer refund won't apply. (Ontario charges 0.5% on the first $55,000, 1% up to $250,000, 1.5% up to $400,000 and 2% up to $2 million.)
The other costs to plan for:
- Legal fees and title insurance. You'll need a real estate lawyer for the sale and for the purchase. Ask for a written quote that covers both.
- Selling costs. Commission is negotiated, and HST is added to it. Get it in writing before you list.
- Moving. Get two or three written quotes. Distance, how much you're taking and the time of year all change the price.
These are "about" numbers. Check your own numbers with your lawyer and lender before you decide.
Sell first or buy first?
This is the biggest timing question in any downsize, and there's no single right answer. We walk through the pros, cons and real Ontario examples in Sell First or Buy First When Downsizing?
To see what you might walk away with, try the BungalowBoss downsizing calculator. Put in your own sale price, mortgage and bungalow price, and it shows what's left.
Find your bungalow in Kitchener
Every bungalow for sale in Kitchener is on one map, updated as new ones list: the Kitchener Bungalow Map. For where they are by neighbourhood and what sold this month, read Bungalows for Sale in Kitchener: October 2026 Guide.
Want to know your own downsizing gap? Book a downsizing consultation. We'll go through your numbers with you. Or call Marcus at (226) 907-4448.
Source: ITSO MLS® data. Sales: detached houses in the City of Kitchener that went firm October 1–27, 2026. "Detached, not a bungalow" means 1.5 storeys or more above grade and not listed as Bungalow, Bungalow Raised or Bungaloft; "detached bungalow" means listed as one of those three styles. For sale: all bungalow styles, Active as of October 27, 2026. Land transfer tax uses Ontario's published rates. Data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Numbers are totals and medians only and are not a prediction of future prices or financial advice.
Marcus Umana, REALTOR®, Real Broker Ontario Ltd., Brokerage. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers already under contract.
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