Canada's average rent prices are dropping but not in Montreal

Montreal tenants may be feeling the pinch a little more than most, even as rent prices cool across the country.

According to Zumper's latest Canadian Rent Report, released on April 14, median rent prices fell across Canada for the sixth month in a row. One-bedroom units dropped by 0.8% to $1,835, and two-bedroom pads slipped 0.9% to $2,265. Year-over-year, those prices are down by nearly 3%.

But in Montreal, things aren't quite following the national trend.

The city ranked as the 12th most expensive rental market in the country last month, and while two-bedroom prices dipped slightly by 0.5% to $2,190, one-bedrooms actually saw a bump — rising 1.8% to a median of $1,720.

That makes Montreal one of just a few major cities in Canada where prices for smaller units are still trending upward, even as the national average continues to slide. For context, both Vancouver and Toronto saw rent prices drop again in March, with one-bedroom units in both cities now sitting below $2,600.

Meanwhile, the most dramatic rent decreases occurred in Quebec City, where averages for one- and two-bedrooms dropped by 5.7% and 5.8%, respectively, month-over-month.

Zumper's data is based on hundreds of thousands of active listings and gives a broad look at where the market is heading — and for Montrealers, the message seems clear: the squeeze is still on, especially for renters looking to downsize or live solo.

You can read the full report and national breakdown here.

Median one-bedroom rent (April 2025):

• Vancouver, BC – $2,500
• Burnaby, BC – $2,300
• Toronto, ON – $2,300
• Victoria, BC – $2,070
• Halifax, NS – $2,010
• Ottawa, ON – $1,980
• Barrie, ON – $1,850
• Kelowna, BC – $1,850
• Oshawa, ON – $1,820
• Kitchener, ON – $1,790
• Kingston, ON – $1,760
• Montreal, QC – $1,720
• Hamilton, ON – $1,700
• London, ON – $1,700
• Calgary, AB – $1,650

Median two-bedroom rent (April 2025):

• Vancouver, BC – $3,450
• Burnaby, BC – $2,990
• Toronto, ON – $2,900
• Victoria, BC – $2,750
• Ottawa, ON – $2,480
• Halifax, NS – $2,450
• Kelowna, BC – $2,250
• Montreal, QC – $2,190
• Oshawa, ON – $2,130
• London, ON – $2,070
• Kitchener, ON – $2,100
• Calgary, AB – $1,990
• Hamilton, ON – $1,980
• St. Catharines, ON – $1,920
• Abbotsford, BC – $1,900

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