Canada's trending city for renters is unexpected and people are looking to leave Toronto

A new report revealed that renters are flocking to the Canadian Prairie province hubs, overtaking the typical trending markets like Toronto and Vancouver.

RentCafe analyzed its website data to look at what Canadian cities are trending for renting in the third quarter of 2024, creating a ranking of the cities that are "attracting the most interest from apartment hunters."

They considered apartment availability, listing views, apartments saved as favourites, and saved personalized searches.

In a surprising twist, Winnipeg, MB took the top spot for the trending cities for renting in Canada. Saskatoon, SK was second, and Edmonton, AB was third.

Not only that, but people are looking to move from big cities like Toronto to Winnipeg.

"Winnipeg's diverse economy, including sectors like manufacturing, education, and healthcare, attracts workers who often start as renters. Besides local renters, those interested in Winnipeg apartments hail from Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver," the ranking said.

It seems like people are ready to give up the big city life, as Edmonton was the only major Canadian city to make the top 10 in the ranking. The mid-sized cities appear to be gaining interest thanks to more affordable options and quality of life. "This indicates that larger cities, which already have established rental markets, may have hit a peak when it comes to renter interest," the ranking said.

All in all it's clear Canadian renters have their eyes on the Prairies right now, although fourth place broke the streak. Victoria, BC come in fourth, followed by Ottawa.

Overall it seems like Winnipeg is the place to be!