Half Duplex vs Condo in Vancouver: Which Is Right for You?
A "duplex condo" or half duplex is one of the two homes in a duplex building, usually owned as a strata home with its own title. Compared with a condo apartment, it usually gives you your own front door, more floors and some outdoor space, and you share decisions with one other owner instead of many. On November 13, 2026 the median Vancouver half duplex listing asked $1,769,999; the September 2026 apartment benchmark was $682,500.
Questions about this guide: Gary Paul, REALTOR®, Personal Real Estate Corporation, Grand Central Realty, 778-828-7476
Key Topics
Front door and outdoor space
A half duplex usually opens straight to the outside, often over two or three floors, with a yard or patio. A condo apartment usually shares a lobby, hallways and an elevator.
One neighbour, both must agree
Each home has one vote. With two owners voting, a majority or a 3/4 vote both need the two of you, so every strata decision in a duplex needs agreement.
Strata fees
Most half duplexes for sale list a strata fee of $0, by our count. StrataCalc gives $0.45 to $0.70 a square foot a month as general estimates for Metro Vancouver condos.
Price data
There is no published benchmark for half duplexes; we show the median asking price of Vancouver listings instead. The September 2026 apartment benchmark was $682,500.
Renting
A strata cannot restrict renting your home (section 141), whether condo or duplex. Owning a half duplex does not let you rent the other half; that needs owning both.
Repair planning
A duplex strata does not have to get a depreciation report. A condo building of 5 or more homes must, every 5 years. In a duplex, ask how the two owners plan for repairs.
Half Duplex vs Condo: Head to Head
| Factor | Half duplex | Condo apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Price data | Median asking $1,769,999, Vancouver listings, November 13, 2026 | Benchmark $682,500, September 2026 |
| Strata fee | $0 on 270 of 334 listings (our count) | $0.45 to $0.70 a sq ft a month (StrataCalc estimates) |
| Entrance | Usually its own front door | Usually a lobby, hallway and elevator |
| Owners sharing decisions | Two, so both must agree | Many |
| Depreciation report | Not required | Required if 5 or more homes |
| Renting your home | The strata cannot restrict it | The strata cannot restrict it |
Our view
For a family that wants a yard and a front door, a half duplex is often the better home. The part to take seriously is the second owner, since every decision about the building is made by the two of you.
If the words are new to you, start with our guide to what a duplex is, which explains the whole building and the half duplex inside it.
Weighing a townhouse as well? Our duplex vs townhouse comparison sets out how the strata rules, repairs and prices differ.
Browse duplexes for sale in Vancouver or duplexes for sale in Burnaby, or talk to our team about the homes you are comparing.
Where these rules come from
- Greater Vancouver REALTORS monthly market report and MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026, Greater Vancouver REALTORS. Released October 2, 2026, accessed October 9, 2026.
- Average Strata Fees in Vancouver: What's Normal?, StrataCalc. Updated March 25, 2026, accessed October 8, 2026.
- Strata Property Act, Part 4: Governance (sections 25 to 65), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
- Strata Property Act, Schedule of Standard Bylaws (bylaw 9, council size), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
- Strata Property Act, Part 8: Rentals (section 141), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
- Strata depreciation report requirements, Government of British Columbia. Published November 12, 2025, accessed October 8, 2026.
- Half duplex asking prices and strata fee counts: MultiLiving, from active MLS® listings, November 13, 2026.
General information only. The asking prices, strata fee counts, condo fee estimates and price benchmark on this page are as counted or published on the dates noted and change over time. They are not financial, mortgage or legal advice, and not an estimate of what any home is worth. Talk to a licensed mortgage broker, a licensed realtor and an independent real estate lawyer before you make any purchase decision.
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Key Takeaways
- A duplex condo, or half duplex, is one of the two homes in a duplex building.
- On November 13, 2026, the median Vancouver half duplex listing asked $1,769,999.
- The September 2026 Greater Vancouver apartment benchmark was $682,500.
- Most half duplexes for sale list a strata fee of $0.
- In a duplex strata, both owners must agree on most decisions.
- A strata cannot restrict renting, but a half duplex does not include the other half.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a duplex condo?
A duplex condo, more often called a half duplex, is one of the two homes in a duplex building, usually owned as a strata home with its own title. You own your home and share the roof, outside walls and grounds with the owner of the other half through a two-home strata. It differs from a condo apartment mainly in layout: it usually has its own front door, two or three floors and some outdoor space.
Is a half duplex or a condo a better buy in Vancouver?
In our view, a half duplex suits a family that wants a front door, more floors and a yard, and is comfortable making every building decision with one neighbour. A condo suits a buyer who wants a lower entry price, an elevator and a building run by many owners. Compare the price, floor area, strata fee and strata documents of the exact homes you are considering before you decide.
How much does a half duplex cost in Vancouver right now?
On November 13, 2026, the median asking price of the 387 Vancouver homes for sale listed as half duplexes on MLS® was $1,769,999, counted from our own copy of the listings. Some listings may cover a whole building, so check each one. For condos, Greater Vancouver REALTORS put the apartment benchmark at $682,500 in September 2026. A benchmark is a different measure from an asking price.
What are the strata fees for a half duplex in Vancouver?
Most half duplexes list no strata fee. On November 13, 2026, 270 of the 334 half duplexes for sale in Vancouver and Burnaby that we counted listed a fee of $0, and 58 left it blank. StrataCalc, a fee tool for condo buyers, gives $0.45 to $0.70 per square foot per month as general estimates for Metro Vancouver condos. A $0 fee still leaves insurance and repairs to be paid, so ask how.
Can I rent out the second unit if I buy a half duplex?
No. A half duplex is one strata home, and the other half belongs to its own owner, so you cannot rent it unless you buy it too. You can rent out your own half: section 141 of BC's Strata Property Act says a strata must not restrict the rental of a strata lot. Renting makes you a landlord under BC's Residential Tenancy Act, with its own rules on rent increases and notice.
How are decisions made in a duplex strata?
Each home has one vote at owners' meetings. With two owners voting, a majority needs both of you, and so does the 3/4 vote needed for a bylaw change or a special levy. Under BC's Standard Bylaw 9, both owners are on the council. That makes decisions quick when you agree, and means there is no third vote when you do not, so meet the other owner if you can.
Does a duplex strata need a depreciation report?
No. Since July 1, 2024, BC requires a depreciation report every 5 years only for a strata of 5 or more homes, so a duplex strata is exempt, while a condo building of 5 or more homes must get one. In a duplex, ask the other owner or the seller how the two of you would pay for a new roof or other large repair, and check the contingency reserve fund balance.
What should I check before buying a half duplex?
Check whether the home is a strata or owned another way, the strata plan for what belongs to your half, the bylaws on pets and changes to your home, the budget and contingency reserve fund, the building insurance and its deductible, and any minutes of owners' meetings. Make your offer subject to reading these documents, so you can cancel if they show a problem.
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