Montreal's Average Rent Is Dropping — Here's Which Neighbourhoods Are Cheapest

The average hovered around $1,500 throughout 2022.

A row of colourful buildings in Montreal during winter.

A row of colourful buildings in Montreal during winter.

Staff Writer

After a November peak at $1,555, the average Montreal rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment has dropped to $1,524 in December, according to a recent report by liv.rent.

The highest rent in the city is downtown, where the same apartment type averages $1,750 per month — a steep price despite being markedly lower than Toronto's citywide average, which has remained over $2,000 for months.

The only comparably expensive apartments in Montreal are either multi-bedroom or in the Plateau, where furnished one-bedrooms cost an average of $2,016 per month.

It's worth noting that the difference in price between furnished and unfurnished apartments in Montreal is much closer than in Toronto — in Montreal, the average furnished apartment is only $70 more expensive than the average unfurnished. In Toronto, though, that gap is closer to $300, with an average furnished one-bedroom going for $2,381.

While raw rent averages can't capture the entirety of a housing market, it's clear that Toronto's tenants are facing a tough scene, compared to Montreal. It's small comfort, especially if you're one of Montreal's many international students hoping to make that anglophone MTL-to-TO move in light of Quebec's latest language laws (and general attitude towards immigration).

If you're looking for a cheap place to live, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is still reigning supreme with an average rent of $1,231 for an unfurnished one-bedroom.

For a furnished one-bedroom, try Villeray-Parc-Extension, where an apartment will run you $1,283 — not much more than the cheapest unfurnished place.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

  • Willa Holt
  • Creator

    Willa Holt (they/she) was a Creator for MTL Blog. They have edited for Ricochet Media and The McGill Daily, with leadership experience at the Canadian University Press. They have an undergraduate degree in anthropology with a minor in French translation, and they are the proud owner of a trilingual cat named Ivy.

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