Rental Costs Vary So Much Across Canada's Busiest Cities & Some Are Super Affordable

You could save over $1,000 per month by moving!🏠 💰
Managing Editor, Canada

If you’ve ever wondered if you could get more bang for your buck living in another Canadian city — this data has got answers for you!

Rental company PadMapper has shared their research into the average rent cost in Canada’s busiest cities and the price difference between the top and bottom of the list is pretty staggering.

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PadMapper

To obtain their data, the company considered the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment rental in Canada’s top 24 most populous metro areas.

The spots were then ranked from most to least expensive, depending on the average cost in each area in February 2021.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Vancouver and Toronto took the top two spots, where one-bedroom apartments cost as much as $1,940 and $1,770 per month respectively.

Burnaby (B.C.), Barrie (Ontario) and Victoria (B.C.) round off the top five, with monthly rentals costing between $1,680 and $1,570 for a smaller apartment.

Almost all of the cities listed in the top ten are located in Ontario and B.C., with the exception of Montreal in ninth place. 

There, renters can expect to pay around $1,380 per month for a one-bedroom space.

At the other end of the list, some of Canada’s busiest cities seemed surprisingly affordable for a one-bedroom apartment rental.

St John's (Newfoundland and Labrador) and Regina (Saskatchewan) ranked as the cheapest cities on the list, with renters paying around $850 per month on average for a similar space.

That’s a difference of $1,090 per month from top-spot Vancouver — a saving of $13,080 over a 12 month period.

Quebec City, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Winnipeg were also listed as more affordable options, with costs ranging between $870 and $1,000 per month.

  • Managing Editor

    Helena Hanson (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Canada for Narcity and MTL Blog, where she brings her expertise in dreamy, aspirational travel journalism to life. A first-class graduate of Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Helena has a passion for inspiring readers to discover the magic in their own backyards. Originally from the U.K., Helena has spent years uncovering hidden gems and must-see destinations across countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and more. Having lived in both Canada and Australia, she's become a seasoned expert in off-the-beaten-path adventures and bucket-list experiences that don't break the bank. Whether she's writing about things to do in Ottawa, Montreal, or her favourite spot—Disney World—Helena hopes to leave readers dreaming of their next adventure.

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