Quarterly rent statistics, second quarter 2026
Released: 2026-09-09
The average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment across all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) combined was $2,130 per month in the second quarter of 2026, down 3.6% from the second quarter of 2025.
These findings are from the Quarterly Rent Statistics program for the second quarter of 2026. These new data are compiled for CMAs across Canada's 10 provinces.
In the second quarter, asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment decreased year over year in many CMAs, such as Abbotsford–Mission (-6.4%), Calgary (-6.4%), Montréal (-5.2%) and Vancouver (-4.1%); however, it increased year over year in other CMAs, such as Thunder Bay (+6.5%), Sherbrooke (+5.7%), Halifax (+5.3%) and Saskatoon (+5.2%). Average monthly asking rent was highest in Vancouver ($3,030), Toronto ($2,650), Victoria ($2,640) and Halifax ($2,400).
Where available, the concept of paid rent has been added to the estimates from the first quarter of 2019 onward. While asking rent refers to the price posted on major rental listing platforms, paid rent reflects the current amount paid by existing renters, typically based on a formal lease agreement and, if applicable, subsequent rent increases. Paid rent estimates for the second quarter of 2026 are available for 18 CMAs.
In the second quarter, the average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment was higher than the average paid rent in almost all CMAs where both figures were available. The only exceptions were Calgary (asking rent of $1,890 per month and paid rent of $1,930 per month), Regina (asking rent of $1,480 and paid rent of $1,580) and Edmonton ($1,570 each). Average monthly paid rent for a two-bedroom apartment was highest in Vancouver ($2,470) and Toronto ($2,160) in the second quarter.
Differences between asking and paid rent can be explained by existing lease agreements signed in the past that are subject to price controls in some provinces. Differences between the characteristics of apartments that are available and occupied, such as age of building, location and other rent inclusions, may also explain differences between asking and paid rent estimates.
Chart 1
Average monthly asking rent and average monthly paid rent for a two-bedroom apartment, by census metropolitan area, second quarter of 2026
Note to readers
The Quarterly Rent Statistics (QRS) program is conducted with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The average asking rent is derived from listings posted on major rental listing platforms. It offers a picture of what prospective tenants are asked to pay based on the type of housing they are searching for (rental unit type, number of rooms and location).
Estimates include purpose-built (primary) rental units and units available in the secondary rental market. Collective dwellings, vacation homes, mobile homes and subsidized housing units are not included in these estimates.
Although estimates of average asking rent are presented for different types of rental units, they do not account for variations in their quality. This means that variations in average asking rent levels can be influenced by changes in the quality attributes of rental units, such as the inclusion of utilities, upgraded finishes or parking.
Some asking rent estimates should be used with caution because of missing data from one provider. Modelling techniques were used to adjust the estimates for the second quarter of 2025 for all areas, as well as for the third quarter of 2025 for Calgary and for the measure of all census metropolitan areas combined.
For the QRS program, paid rent refers to the average amount paid by renter households in private dwellings. To complement data reported for asking rent, paid rent estimates are available for selected rental apartment unit types in regions where confidentiality and data quality standards are met. Paid rent estimates from the QRS program are derived from the rent component of the Labour Force Survey. The estimates exclude renter households living in social and affordable housing.
Other sources also report on rent prices using different concepts or measurement strategies. For example, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation produces data on paid rent, vacancy rates and turnover rates in the Rental Market Survey (RMS). The survey targets rental units in row houses and apartment structures with three or more units that have been on the market for at least three months. The RMS is conducted every October on a sample basis in urban areas with populations of 10,000 or more. The average rent reported by the RMS represents rent levels and is a weighted average of all units combined, whether vacant or occupied, by rental unit type and geography.
Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index (CPI) includes a component for rent that measures the change in prices over time, produced on a monthly basis. In contrast to the QRS and the RMS, the CPI's rent index produces a measure of pure price change, using a hedonic model to account for changes in the quality of the units over time and in the evolving sample, such as the age of the building, the number of bedrooms, the neighbourhood (using the forward sortation area, a component of postal codes) and whether the rent includes additional services such as furniture, a washing machine, a refrigerator, cable or heat. The CPI's rent index also includes a wider range of bedroom counts and rented dwelling types (e.g., single-detached houses, row houses, duplexes and apartments).
QRS data are experimental and subject to revision.
All data are expressed in current dollars and are based on the 2021 Standard Geographical Classification.
Definitions
A census metropolitan area (CMA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a population centre (known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000, of which 50,000 or more must live in the core. To be included in the CMA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows derived from data on place of work from the previous census.
Asking rent refers to the monthly amount for which a rental unit is advertised, regardless of what is included in the rent.
Paid rent refers to the average amount paid by renter households in private dwellings.
Rental unit refers to a private dwelling or a set of living quarters in a private dwelling that is rented or for rent.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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