Canadian Rental Market Crisis 2026
Analysis of rental affordability across major Canadian cities. With the national average rent hitting $1,911 and vacancy rates averaging 1.7%, finding affordable housing has never been harder.
Avg National Rent
+3.5% from last year
Crisis Level
Vacancy rate under 2% in 62 cities
Most Expensive
$2,950 / month
City-by-City Rental Data
Compare average rents, vacancy rates, and rent-to-income ratios. A rent-to-income ratio above 30% is considered unaffordable.
| Trend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VancouverBritish Columbia | $2,980 | 1.1% | 38.2% | worsening |
| AbbotsfordBritish Columbia | $2,400 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| ChilliwackBritish Columbia | $2,400 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| KamloopsBritish Columbia | $1,800 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| Prince GeorgeBritish Columbia | $1,800 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| SurreyBritish Columbia | $3,120 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| BurnabyBritish Columbia | $3,120 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| RichmondBritish Columbia | $3,120 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| CoquitlamBritish Columbia | $3,120 | 1.5% | 33.9% | stable |
| HalifaxNova Scotia | $2,200 | 1% | 33.8% | stable |
| VictoriaBritish Columbia | $2,380 | 1.4% | 33.2% | stable |
| TorontoOntario | $2,850 | 1.4% | 33% | improving |
| KelownaBritish Columbia | $2,220 | 1.5% | 32.8% | stable |
| NanaimoBritish Columbia | $2,180 | 1.2% | 32.5% | stable |
| Niagara FallsOntario | $1,730 | 1.5% | 31.5% | stable |
| WindsorOntario | $1,730 | 1.5% | 31.5% | stable |
| Thunder BayOntario | $1,730 | 1.5% | 31.5% | stable |
| PeterboroughOntario | $1,730 | 1.5% | 31.5% | stable |
| BellevilleOntario | $1,730 | 1.5% | 31.5% | stable |
| MississaugaOntario | $2,990 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| BramptonOntario | $2,990 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| MarkhamOntario | $2,990 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| VaughanOntario | $2,990 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| OshawaOntario | $2,300 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| BarrieOntario | $2,300 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| St. CatharinesOntario | $2,300 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| BurlingtonOntario | $2,990 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| OakvilleOntario | $2,990 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| NewmarketOntario | $2,300 | 1.5% | 31.4% | stable |
| IqaluitNunavut | $2,500 | 1.1% | 29.4% | stable |
| GuelphOntario | $2,480 | 1.5% | 28.6% | improving |
| MontrealQuebec | $1,920 | 1.5% | 28.1% | stable |
| OttawaOntario | $2,280 | 2% | 27.5% | stable |
| CharlottetownPrince Edward Island | $1,650 | 1.5% | 27.5% | stable |
| HamiltonOntario | $2,120 | 1.8% | 27.2% | improving |
| LondonOntario | $1,880 | 2.3% | 27.1% | improving |
| KingstonOntario | $1,950 | 1.4% | 26.6% | stable |
| MonctonNew Brunswick | $1,550 | 2.5% | 25.8% | worsening |
| Kitchener-WaterlooOntario | $2,080 | 1.9% | 25.6% | stable |
| SudburyOntario | $1,820 | 2.1% | 25.3% | stable |
| CalgaryAlberta | $2,180 | 1.2% | 24.2% | worsening |
| Saint JohnNew Brunswick | $1,350 | 2.9% | 23.8% | worsening |
| Quebec CityQuebec | $1,520 | 3.4% | 23.4% | improving |
| Moose JawSaskatchewan | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| Prince AlbertSaskatchewan | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| Swift CurrentSaskatchewan | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| ThompsonManitoba | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| SydneyNova Scotia | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| TruroNova Scotia | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| SummersidePrince Edward Island | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| Corner BrookNewfoundland and Labrador | $1,130 | 1.5% | 22.6% | stable |
| LethbridgeAlberta | $1,680 | 1.9% | 22.5% | worsening |
| BrandonManitoba | $1,500 | 1.5% | 22.5% | stable |
| FrederictonNew Brunswick | $1,500 | 1.5% | 22.5% | stable |
| LavalQuebec | $1,820 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| LongueuilQuebec | $1,400 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| GatineauQuebec | $1,400 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| LévisQuebec | $1,400 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| ChicoutimiQuebec | $1,050 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| DrummondvilleQuebec | $1,050 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| Saint-JérômeQuebec | $1,050 | 1.5% | 22.1% | stable |
| WhitehorseYukon | $1,750 | 2.2% | 21.9% | stable |
| YellowknifeNorthwest Territories | $1,950 | 3.5% | 21.7% | stable |
| AirdrieAlberta | $1,700 | 1.5% | 21.5% | stable |
| St. AlbertAlberta | $2,210 | 1.5% | 21.5% | stable |
| Grande PrairieAlberta | $1,700 | 1.5% | 21.5% | stable |
| Medicine HatAlberta | $1,280 | 1.5% | 21.5% | stable |
| LeducAlberta | $1,700 | 1.5% | 21.5% | stable |
| WinnipegManitoba | $1,500 | 3.1% | 21.2% | stable |
| SherbrookeQuebec | $1,250 | 1.2% | 20.3% | worsening |
| Red DeerAlberta | $1,550 | 2.8% | 20.2% | worsening |
| Trois-RivièresQuebec | $1,180 | 1.8% | 19.9% | worsening |
| EdmontonAlberta | $1,720 | 2.5% | 19.6% | worsening |
| St. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador | $1,300 | 3% | 19% | stable |
| SaskatoonSaskatchewan | $1,450 | 3.5% | 18.9% | stable |
| ReginaSaskatchewan | $1,350 | 3.8% | 18% | stable |
Methodology
Rent-to-Income Ratio: Calculated using the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom unit annualized, divided by the median household income for the specific city.
Vacancy Rate: Sourced from CMHC 2025/2026 rental market reports and aggregated listings data. Rates below 3% are considered a "landlord's market".
2026 Market Outlook
The rental market remains extremely tight in Vancouver and Toronto, pushing demand to secondary markets like Calgary and Halifax. While mortgage rates have stabilized, the "lock-in" effect continues to keep would-be buyers in the rental pool, sustaining high demand.