Average Rent in Canada by City 2026 (Complete Guide)
By Wealthvieu
·
Updated
The national average rent for a 1-bedroom in Canada is approximately $1,800/month in 2026. Here’s the complete breakdown by city.
Average Rent by Major City
| City |
Studio |
1-Bedroom |
2-Bedroom |
| Toronto |
$1,900 |
$2,400 |
$3,100 |
| Vancouver |
$2,100 |
$2,600 |
$3,400 |
| Calgary |
$1,300 |
$1,700 |
$2,100 |
| Ottawa |
$1,500 |
$1,900 |
$2,400 |
| Montreal |
$1,200 |
$1,600 |
$2,000 |
| Edmonton |
$1,100 |
$1,400 |
$1,700 |
| Winnipeg |
$1,000 |
$1,300 |
$1,600 |
| Halifax |
$1,500 |
$1,900 |
$2,400 |
| Victoria |
$1,600 |
$2,100 |
$2,700 |
| Quebec City |
$900 |
$1,200 |
$1,500 |
Rent Growth Over Time
| Year |
National 1-BR Avg |
YoY Change |
| 2020 |
$1,400 |
— |
| 2021 |
$1,450 |
+3.6% |
| 2022 |
$1,600 |
+10.3% |
| 2023 |
$1,700 |
+6.3% |
| 2024 |
$1,750 |
+2.9% |
| 2025 |
$1,800 |
+2.9% |
| 2026 |
$1,850 |
+2.8% |
Rent has increased 30%+ since 2020.
Most Expensive Cities
| Rank |
City |
1-BR Average |
| 1 |
Vancouver |
$2,600 |
| 2 |
Toronto |
$2,400 |
| 3 |
Victoria |
$2,100 |
| 4 |
Ottawa |
$1,900 |
| 5 |
Halifax |
$1,900 |
Most Affordable Cities
| Rank |
City |
1-BR Average |
| 1 |
Quebec City |
$1,200 |
| 2 |
Winnipeg |
$1,300 |
| 3 |
Edmonton |
$1,400 |
| 4 |
Saskatoon |
$1,350 |
| 5 |
Regina |
$1,250 |
Salary Needed to Afford Average Rent
| City |
1-BR Rent |
Salary Needed (30% Rule) |
| Toronto |
$2,400 |
$96,000 |
| Vancouver |
$2,600 |
$104,000 |
| Calgary |
$1,700 |
$68,000 |
| Montreal |
$1,600 |
$64,000 |
| Ottawa |
$1,900 |
$76,000 |
| Edmonton |
$1,400 |
$56,000 |
| Winnipeg |
$1,300 |
$52,000 |
| Quebec City |
$1,200 |
$48,000 |
Purpose-Built vs Condo Rental
| Type |
Pros |
Cons |
| Purpose-built |
Rent control, stability |
Often older |
| Condo rental |
Newer, amenities |
N4 risk, less stable |
| Basement suite |
Cheapest |
Less space, light |
Rent Control by Province
| Province |
Rent Control |
| Ontario |
Yes (pre-2018 buildings) |
| BC |
Yes (annual cap) |
| Quebec |
Yes (strong) |
| Alberta |
No |
| Manitoba |
Yes |
| Nova Scotia |
Temporary cap |
Toronto Rent by Neighborhood
| Neighborhood |
1-BR Average |
| Downtown Core |
$2,600-$3,000 |
| Midtown |
$2,400-$2,800 |
| North York |
$2,100-$2,500 |
| Scarborough |
$1,800-$2,200 |
| Etobicoke |
$2,000-$2,400 |
Vancouver Rent by Area
| Area |
1-BR Average |
| Downtown |
$2,800-$3,200 |
| West End |
$2,500-$2,900 |
| Kitsilano |
$2,400-$2,800 |
| Burnaby |
$2,200-$2,600 |
| Surrey |
$1,800-$2,200 |
Tips for Finding Affordable Rent
| Strategy |
Savings Potential |
| Move-in winter |
5-10% lower |
| Look for rent-controlled |
Below market |
| Negotiate |
$50-$100/month |
| Longer lease |
Stability discount |
| Basement or garden level |
20-30% less |
| Further from downtown |
$200-$500/month |
