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Rent and Move-In Cost Explorer

Filter by province, then choose a city to see typical asking rents, likely move-in costs, and neighbourhood examples before you start messaging landlords.

Toronto, ON

Balanced, still competitive · Estimated all-in 1BR: $2,735/mo · CMHC vacancy: 3.0%

Typical monthly asking rent

Studio

$1,850

1 Bedroom

$2,300

2 Bedroom

$2,900

3 Bedroom

$3,500

Cash to plan for before move-in day

Last month's rent only

Budget for first month's rent, last month's rent, key deposits if refundable, utility setup, and tenant insurance.

Estimated cash needed for a typical 1-bedroom

First month's rent$2,300

Required deposit$2,300

Utility and setup cushion$435

Total before any pet deposit$5,035

Utilities that may already be included

Water is often included in apartment buildings, but hydro, internet, parking, and air conditioning fees are often separate.

Expect hydro account setup, renter's insurance, and internet installation before move-in or within the first week.

Things to double-check before you apply

Competition is high in Toronto, Ottawa, and university cities.
Limited Canadian credit history can push landlords to ask for guarantors or more documents.
Basement apartments and room rentals may operate outside standard leasing practices, so verify legality and safety.

How landlords often screen renters in this market

Ontario landlords often ask newcomers for employment letters, bank statements, or a guarantor because they rely heavily on credit scores and rental history.

A landlord can collect a rent deposit only up to one rental period, usually one month, and it must go to the last month of rent.
Damage deposits are not allowed. Key deposits should only reflect replacement cost and should be refundable.

Utility costs and lease details to confirm before you pay

Ask whether hydro is separately metered and whether air conditioning or parking fees are billed on top of base rent.
If the landlord says utilities are extra, ask for the most recent winter and summer bills before signing.

Ontario standard lease is mandatory for most private rentals.
No damage deposit is allowed, only last month's rent.
Ask whether the unit is rent controlled before you sign.

Recent market snapshot for this city

CMHC 2025 primary rental market

Average occupied rents, not current listing prices

Vacancy Rate

3.0%

CMHC 1BR Average

$1,761

CMHC 2BR Average

$2,046

This is CMHC average occupied rent for purpose-built apartments. It is usually lower than asking-rent listings because existing tenants often pay less than new movers.

Compare nearby city costs before you commit to a search area

Use this to compare asking 1-bedroom rents, 2-bedroom rents, and an estimated all-in monthly cost after utilities.

Showing 12 lower-cost cities by asking 1-bedroom rent

Neighbourhood Examples

Downtown Core

Studio: $2,100

1BR: $2,600

2BR: $3,300

3BR: $4,000

North York

Studio: $1,700

1BR: $2,100

2BR: $2,650

3BR: $3,200

Scarborough

Studio: $1,500

1BR: $1,900

2BR: $2,400

3BR: $2,900

Etobicoke

Studio: $1,600

1BR: $2,000

2BR: $2,500

3BR: $3,000

Midtown (Yonge & Eglinton)

Studio: $1,900

1BR: $2,400

2BR: $3,000

3BR: $3,600

Rental prices are average asking rents from Rentals.ca (July 2026) and CMHC data; studio figures are estimated from one-bedroom rents. Actual prices may vary. Rent-increase guidelines and tenant rights were last checked against provincial sources on August 28, 2026 and is for general information only. For a specific dispute, contact your provincial tenancy board or a legal professional. This tool is not legal advice.

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Rent and Move-In Cost Explorer

Filter by province, then choose a city to see typical asking rents, likely move-in costs, and neighbourhood examples before you start messaging landlords.