Best 5-year variable mortgage rates in Alberta.
Today’s best 5-year variable rate in Alberta is 3.00% — about $1,965/month on a $519,033 home with 20% down. A 5-year variable is the term for borrowers who expect rates flat-to-lower and want the cheapest exit.
Who has the best 5-year variable rate in Alberta?
Marathon Mortgage Corp, at 3.00%. The lowest rates are usually insured pricing.
Insured vs uninsured: the lowest 5-year variable rates are usually insured pricing: a purchase with less than 20% down, backed by CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty. Uninsured files (20%+ down, homes over $1.5M, refinances) typically price higher. APR is shown only where the lender publishes one that differs from the rate. Rates illustrative; your file (credit, income, LTV) sets your personalized rate. See all Alberta rates →
What would my payment be?
About $1,965/month. That’s Alberta’s average price of $519,033 with 20% down ($103,807), a $415,226 mortgage at today’s best 5-year variable rate of 3.00%, over 25 years with Canadian semi-annual compounding. That payment moves with prime over the term. Model your own price in the payment calculator.
| Term | Best rate | Est. monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Year Fixed | 4.19% | $2,227/mo |
| 5-Year VariableLowest | 3.00% | $1,965/mo |
| 3-Year Fixed | 4.04% | $2,193/mo |
| 3-Year Variable | 3.55% | $2,084/mo |
| 2-Year Fixed | 3.99% | $2,182/mo |
| 1-Year Fixed | 4.19% | $2,227/mo |
| 4-Year Fixed | 4.24% | $2,239/mo |
| 7-Year Fixed | 5.00% | $2,415/mo |
| 10-Year Fixed | 5.34% | $2,496/mo |
What does a 5-year variable cost on a typical Alberta home?
With the minimum down ($26,904), you pay about $2,422/month and $70,985 in interest over the 5-year term. Lenders test your income at 5.25%.
See the full 5-year cost: down payment, insurance, interest and balance
Worked on Alberta’s average price of $519,033 (Province of Alberta total residential average price, Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA)) at today’s best 5-year variable rate of 3.00%, a 25-year amortization and Canadian semi-annual compounding. The term figures cover the 5-year term only, and assume the rate stays at 3.00% throughout: a variable rate moves with prime.
| Minimum down (insured) | 20% down (uninsured) | |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | $26,904 (5.2%) | $103,807 (20.0%) |
| Default insurance premium (added to the mortgage) | $19,685 | None |
| Mortgage amount | $511,814 | $415,226 |
| Monthly payment | $2,422/mo | $1,965/mo |
| Interest paid over the 5-year term | $70,985 | $57,589 |
| Principal repaid over the term | $74,343 | $60,313 |
| Balance owing at renewal (year 5) | $437,471 | $354,913 |
| Payment you must qualify at (5.25% stress-test rate) | $3,050/mo | $2,474/mo |
Alberta — No Land Transfer Tax on this price: $1,040. Paid in cash at closing, on top of the down payment.
Qualifying: lenders test your income at 5.25% (the higher of your rate + 2% or 5.25%), not at 3.00%, so the qualifying payment above is the one your income must support, together with property tax, heating and other debts. Run your own numbers in the affordability calculator.
Is a 5-year variable right for you in Alberta?
Who it suits: Borrowers comfortable with some payment movement in exchange for a usually-lower starting rate and a far cheaper break cost. It suits people who might move, refinance, or sell within the term, and those who believe the Bank of Canada's next moves are cuts rather than hikes.
What drives the rate, and what breaking it costs
What drives the rate. A 5-year variable moves with your lender's prime rate, which tracks the Bank of Canada's overnight policy rate. When the Bank cuts, your rate (and often your payment) falls within weeks; when it hikes, it rises. The variable-versus-fixed gap (the 'spread') widens and narrows with the market's rate outlook.
Breaking it early. The break penalty is only three months' interest, typically a fraction of a fixed mortgage's IRD, which is the single biggest reason mobile or uncertain borrowers choose variable.
The most popular variable term; its share swings with the rate cycle. You accept payment uncertainty in exchange for a cheaper exit and upside if rates fall.
What’s specific to Alberta?
Alberta has ATB Financial as a unique provincial Crown lender competing aggressively on rate alongside the Big-6 and monolines. Commission-income (energy/oilfield) and bonus-heavy income files are common — we shop lenders that average bonus income properly rather than discount it.
Alberta lenders and closing costs
Top Alberta lenders to compare. Alberta’s 5-year variable pricing is shaped by a distinct lender mix: ATB Financial, RBC, TD, Scotiabank, Equitable Bank and others all bid for files here, and we shop the whole panel on one application.
Closing costs. On top of the rate, budget for alberta — no land transfer tax — alberta has no Land Transfer Tax. You pay Land Titles registration fees instead — $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of value on the transfer, and $50 plus $5 per $5,000 on the mortgage. Alberta raised both legs to $5 on 20 October 2024, so any figure quoted before then understates it by more than half. No LTT means no rebate needed. First-time buyers in Alberta enjoy materially lower closing costs than any other major Canadian market. Run the full number in our Alberta land transfer tax calculator.
Why get your Alberta 5-year variable rate through a broker?
Because 100+ lenders compete for your file instead of one. We can help you save money.
100+ lenders compete, not one
An Alberta bank shows you one 5-year variable rate sheet. We put your file in front of 100+ lenders, including ATB Financial and RBC.
Broker pricing
The rate brokers get is typically 15-30 bps below a bank's posted rate. You can't get it at a branch.
Built for Alberta
Alberta has ATB Financial as a unique provincial Crown lender competing aggressively on rate alongside the Big-6 and monolines. Land transfer tax, rebates and local lender fit are built in.
Your rate held 90-120 days
A pre-approval locks your 5-year variable rate while you shop, and many lenders honour a drop before you close.
No credit pull to start
We shop your Alberta 5-year variable rate and pre-qualify you without a hard credit check. FSRA-licensed advice in 15+ languages.
Bring us a written offer from a big bank. We’ll try to beat it. If we can’t, we pay you $500. Conditions apply. See the conditions
Whatever your situation in Alberta
First home, renewal, refinance, self-employed or bruised credit: there’s a 5-year variable path for your file, with the same 100+ lender network.
First-time buyers
5% down to your first Alberta home, with FHSA + RRSP HBP optimization.
Refinancing
Tap your Alberta home equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or investing.
Renewing
Don't auto-renew. Compare your bank's offer against the market.
Self-employed
Business-for-self files priced right, with A-lender, alt-A and private compared.
Bruised credit
B-lender and private paths now, with a mapped exit back to A-pricing.
New to Canada
Newcomer programs at the big banks; international credit accepted.
Alberta 5-year variable rates — FAQ
What is the best 5-year variable mortgage rate in Alberta right now?
The best 5-year variable rate in our 100+ lender network for Alberta is approximately 3.00% as of Oct 24, 2026, which is about $1,965/month on the Alberta average price of $519,033 with 20% down over 25 years. Your personalized Alberta rate depends on your file — income, credit, loan-to-value, and property type. We shop every lender on one application to find your lowest.
Are Alberta 5-year variable rates different from the rest of Canada?
The headline rate is set nationally, but what you can actually get in Alberta differs: the provincial lender mix, Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) regulation, and local credit unions all shape pricing and qualification. Alberta has ATB Financial as a unique provincial Crown lender competing aggressively on rate alongside the Big-6 and monolines. Commission-income (energy/oilfield) and bonus-heavy income files are common — we shop lenders that average bonus income properly rather than discount it.
Is a 5-year variable a good idea in Alberta?
Borrowers comfortable with some payment movement in exchange for a usually-lower starting rate and a far cheaper break cost. It suits people who might move, refinance, or sell within the term, and those who believe the Bank of Canada's next moves are cuts rather than hikes. You accept payment uncertainty in exchange for a cheaper exit and upside if rates fall.
How does breaking a 5-year variable mortgage work?
The break penalty is only three months' interest, typically a fraction of a fixed mortgage's IRD, which is the single biggest reason mobile or uncertain borrowers choose variable.
What land transfer tax will I pay in Alberta?
Alberta has no Land Transfer Tax. You pay Land Titles registration fees instead — $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of value on the transfer, and $50 plus $5 per $5,000 on the mortgage. Alberta raised both legs to $5 on 20 October 2024, so any figure quoted before then understates it by more than half. No LTT means no rebate needed. First-time buyers in Alberta enjoy materially lower closing costs than any other major Canadian market.
Can I lock this Alberta rate before I buy?
Yes. Most lenders offer a 90-120 day rate hold on a pre-approval, so a rising market can't catch you (and many honour a lower rate if they drop). Start a pre-approval (no bureau pull to begin) and we'll hold your best Alberta 5-year variable rate.
Lock your best Alberta 5-year variable rate.
Free, no credit pull to begin. We shop 100+ lenders and hold your rate while you shop for the home.