Quarterly rent statistics, first quarter 2026
Released: 2026-06-09
Today, Statistics Canada is publishing estimates from the Quarterly Rent Statistics program for the first quarter of 2026 for census metropolitan areas (CMAs). The program provides experimental estimates of asking rent for available rental units listed on major rental platforms in Canada.
A new geographical classification, all census metropolitan areas, has been added to the series. This means that a new composite measure of all CMAs combined is available from the first quarter of 2019 to the current reference period.
According to this composite measure, the average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $2,150 in the first quarter of 2026, down 0.9% from the first quarter of 2025, when the figure was $2,170.
Over the same period, average asking rent for two-bedroom apartments decreased in most major Canadian metropolitan areas. In the first quarter of 2026, asking rent averaged $2,660 in Toronto (-1.1%), $1,900 in Montréal (-1.6%), $3,100 in Vancouver (-2.2%) and $2,350 in Ottawa–Gatineau (Ontario part) (-5.6%). CMAs in the Prairies saw smaller declines in average asking rent, with Calgary standing at $1,900 (-1.0%) and Edmonton at $1,580 (-0.6%). In contrast, Halifax recorded growth in average asking rent, reaching $2,350, a 5.4% increase compared with the same quarter in 2025.
Chart 1
Year-over-year change in the average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment, by census metropolitan area, first quarter of 2026
Note to readers
The Quarterly Rent Statistics 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 can expect 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 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 combined all census metropolitan areas measure.
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.
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).
- Date modified: