Rent Actually Went Down In These 8 Canadian Cities & You Might Want To Consider Moving

Rent... going... down?

Senior Writer

The price of rent in Canada might be taking a toll on your wallet, but there are a handful of cities across the country that have actually caught a break and have seen the cost go down month over month.

According to the February 2022 Canadian Rent Report by Zumper, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment has actually declined from December to January in eight different cities.

Victoria, B.C. saw the largest decrease month-over-month with the median cost of a single bedroom falling 4.9% to $1,750. Oshawa, Ontario also saw a nice drop with rent decreasing 2.5% to cost just $1,550. Abbotsford, B.C. saw a similar decline of 2.1% in price with a one-bedroom coming in at $1,390.

Other cities that experienced a decline in the median price of a one-bedroom in January were:

  • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at $980 (-1%)
  • Kingston, Ontario at $1,320 (-0.80%)
  • Kitchener, Ontario at $1,460 (-0.70%)
  • Barrie, Ontario at $1,610 (-0.60%)
  • Toronto at $1,840 (-0.50%)

Of the 23 cities listed in the report, four spots remained flat month-over-month for a one-bedroom apartment: Halifax; Hamilton, Ontario; London, Ontario; and Regina all saw no change.

In terms of increases, quite a few cities experienced an upward trend.

"In the top markets, Vancouver rent continued to climb, settling at $2,200, which is a high it has not reached since early 2021," the report read.

Kelowna also saw a significant increase with rent increasing by 4.9% for a one-bedroom, which clocked in at $1,710 a month. Quebec City also saw a pretty heft increase with rent going up by 4.6% meaning a one-bedroom is about $910.

So if you're a renter, fingers crossed that your city will catch a break in the next report!

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

  • Senior Writer

    Sarah Rohoman (she/her) was a Senior Writer with Narcity Media. She has worked at BuzzFeed Canada, Yahoo Canada, and CBC Radio in news, lifestyle, ecommerce, and social media. She has an MA in Journalism from Western University and a BA from McGill. She loves libraries, alpacas, and all things witchy.

I moved from Ontario to Alberta and these 6 things cost me way less now

Calgary is WAY cheaper than Ottawa, allow me to explain...💰

Here's how much it actually costs to live in Toronto vs. 9 other spots in Ontario

You could save over $11K a year by moving an hour and a half away. 👀

The best employers in Canada were named and this is why they're the top places to work

Sabbaticals for travel, extra days off, work-from-anywhere policies, and more perks! 👀

University of Toronto is hiring for these high-paying jobs with salaries up to $200,000

There are openings at the St. George, Scarborough and Mississauga campuses.

Canadian detained by ICE for 3 weeks with her child describes 'mentally torturing' treatment

Despite getting released last week, the B.C. native says she still has to wear an "illegal" ankle monitor.

18 rare Canadian coins you might have in your change that could be worth money someday

These coins are "more exclusive" than regular loonies and toonies.

Another Conservative MP just crossed the floor to join Mark Carney's Liberal government

The Liberals now have 171 seats in the House of Commons, with three more by-elections on Monday.

Canada's gas prices are surging amid the Iran war and Carney says relief could be coming

The PM says his government is looking at ways to "cushion the blow" of rising costs for Canadians.

Ontario Trillium Benefit is paying out this week and you could get hundreds of dollars

Even though it's a provincial benefit, look for a payment from the CRA.