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Before you arrive in Canada, it鈥檚 crucial to at least have somewhere lined up for your first few days or weeks. Hostels and hotels are plentiful in urban areas, though you may wish to book well in advance to ensure you have the widest choice of temporary accommodation in Canada available to you. If your budget is limited while you stay in temporary accommodation, of short-term accommodation to suit any budget.
Booking self-catering accommodation 鈥� perhaps for a few weeks, or even a month or two 鈥� is also a practical way to line up temporary accommodation in Canada for your arrival. The major player in this market is Airbnb, but there are also temporary apartment rental companies that provide excellent temporary accommodation for newcomers to Canada.
Get immigration updates & new resources to help you move to Canada and succeed after arrival.
There are several types of rental accommodation in Canada, including houses, condominiums, and apartments.
Some houses will be available to rent in their entirety, while some will be divided into several units. A house divided into two units is called a 鈥榙uplex鈥�. Split in three, it鈥檚 known as a 鈥榯riplex鈥�. In other houses for rent in Canada, rental rooms are available, with shared living and bathroom facilities.
Apartments for rent in Canada range from 鈥榖achelor鈥� units, where a single room serves as both the bedroom and living area, to those with multiple bedrooms and separate living areas.
The cost of utilities, such as electricity and water, may or may not be included in your rent. Visit our internet service providers in Canada and utilities in Canada articles for information on service providers in your area. You can find houses and apartments for rent in Canada in the classifieds section of local newspapers, libraries, and on websites such as and . Facebook groups for newcomers to Canada are also useful. In many cities, you can simply walk around your preferred neighbourhood, as landlords will post signs outside their property advertising available vacancies.
When getting longer-term accommodation in Canada, landlords will usually request information about your ability to pay rent before offering you a lease. Documents that may be requested include:
Many landlords will prefer Canadian documentation, which can be cumbersome or impossible for new arrivals. However, there are landlords out there who are willing to rent their houses and apartments for rent in Canada to newcomers, so if you don鈥檛 succeed at first, keep trying!
Important things to keep in mind when looking for accommodation in Canada:
In a country as large and diverse as Canada, it can be difficult to answer this question. However, we are nothing if not resourceful and with that in mind, we will seek to provide you with the answer to how much rent in Canada is.
As of November, 2023, shows that the cost of renting in Canada’s most popular destination cities can vary significantly. For example, a good 1-bedroom apartment in the city of Edmonton would probably cost around $1,300 a month, but in Vancouver you’re looking at more than $2,700 for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city. Between these ranges you may find that Calgary, Montreal, and Hamilton are close to the lower end, while Ottawa and Toronto are closer to the more expensive end, with Toronto’s rental market in particular having become more expensive over recent years.
The November 2023 reveals that the top 12 most expensive cities to rent in are all in Ontario and B.C. Perhaps not surprisingly, Toronto, ON Burnaby, BC and Vancouver, BC are on the top of this list.
According to cost of living comparison site 鈥� which we highly recommend you refer to before and after arriving in Canada 鈥� one-bedroom downtown apartments in both Toronto and Vancouver are now topping $2,600 per month. Therefore you may need to compromise in some area; maybe there’s a more affordable neighbourhood outside the city centre with good public transit links, or maybe you might consider sharing on address with others, at least for starters. Or, you could consider moving to another city altogether.
Of the larger Canadian cities, Montreal remains the most affordable big city in Canada to rent. The average price of a month’s rent in Canada’s second-largest city is cheaper, and can be much less if you are sharing accommodation. This compares favourably with other large Canadian cities. Other cities in Quebec, such as Quebec City and Gatineau, are even more affordable when it comes to rent.
Their data also makes clear that while Ontario is home to Canada’s most expensive cities for renting, it’s also home to some of the most affordable. Newcomers seeking more affordable rentals should look towards smaller cities in Ontario and Quebec.
Newcomers to Canada seeking more affordable rentals may look towards smaller cities in Ontario and Quebec.
Unless otherwise agreed, you will likely have signed a lease for a fixed-term, often one year. Once the fixed-term elapses, the term may renew for a further year, or switch to a 鈥榤onth-to-month鈥� arrangement. Discuss with your landlord before signing a lease.
Rules on rent increases vary from province to province.
In Ontario, rent increases must occur at least 12 months apart, and tenants need to receive at least 90 days of notice. The provincial government sets the maximum allowable rent increase 鈥� for 2023, the guideline on is 2.5%.
Similar rules apply in British Columbia, where the .
Rents in Alberta may also only be increased if it has been more than one year since the previous increase. However, there is no cap on the amount of increase like in Ontario and British Columbia.
You鈥檇 understand that when navigating the housing market, regardless of the city you landed in, it is important to keep a close eye on your financial stability and especially on your credit score. As a key factor in rental agreements, it can influence your ability to negotiate better lease terms. Free services like are a great support to provide financial confidence in your journey.
The search for houses and apartments for rent in Canada begins with choosing the right neighbourhood. Visit these resources to help you learn more about your new surroundings.
If you’re considering a move, we recommend getting started with . The Relocator will search a database of more than 500 shipping companies worldwide to find you free quotes for your move. This is a free service that can save you tons of money on international shipping! .
In addition to finding accommodation, here are some of the essential things you鈥檒l need to do during your first week in Canada.
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