5 cheapest cities in which to rent an apartment in Ontario and Canada

Those looking for a new place may want to check out Canada’s cheapest cities for rentals.

Rental website liv.rent’s 2025 Canada Rental Market Trend Report is out and it includes insights for renters including places to find a bargain.

In the last few months, rents declined across Canada to an average of $2,100 January or down 4.4 per cent compared to a year ago to reach an 18-month low, according to the last rent report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation.

With more properties on the market, some landlords are even offering giveaways and incentives to lure new tenants.

Ontario’s average monthly rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom unit is $1,939, up just 0.99 per cent year-over-year a sharp drop from 2023’s 13.05 per cent increase, according to the liv.rent report.

This could be a good time for renters to look for a better deal, and those with some flexibility may want to check out less expensive cities. While the GTA remains expensive, three of the cheapest cities for rent are in Ontario, according to the liv.rent report.

Here are the top five cheapest cities to rent in Canada (one-bedroom rents):

1. Edmonton: $1,316
2. St. Catharines: $1,602
3. London: $1,628
4. Abbotsford: $1,630
5. Niagara Falls: $1,634

Here are the most expensive:

1. West Vancouver: $2,751
2. North Vancouver: $2,675
3. Vancouver: $2,571
4. Burnaby: $2,431
5. Richmond: $2,401

The most expensive places in Ontario aren’t far behind B.C. with Markham at $2,369, Mississauga at $2,279, and Toronto at $2,235, according to the report.

See the full report here.

Lead photo of St. Catharines: Niagara Falls Tourism