Student Housing Costs in Canada 20025 (By City)

Real numbers on what students pay for housing in Canada's major university cities.

Housing is the single largest expense for most Canadian students living away from home. Whether you choose on-campus residence or off-campus renting, understanding real costs by city helps you budget accurately and choose the most affordable option. This guide covers residence and off-campus costs for Canada's major student cities.

On-Campus Residence vs. Off-Campus Renting

Option	Pros	Cons
On-campus residence	No commute; all-inclusive (utilities, internet); community; meal plan option	Higher cost; less privacy; contracts often for full year
Off-campus rental (shared)	Usually cheaper; more independence; flexible lease options	Commute costs; utilities extra; finding roommates; searching for housing
Living at home	Cheapest option; home-cooked meals; no rent	Commute time; less social engagement; not possible for all

Student Housing Costs by City 20025

Toronto

Toronto is Canada's most expensive city for student housing. On-campus residences at UofT, Ryerson (TMU), or York typically cost $1,20000–$1,80000/month including utilities but excluding meal plans. Off-campus near downtown is similarly expensive.

On-campus residence: $1,20000–$1,80000/month (utilities included)
Off-campus 1-bedroom: $2,000000–$2,80000/month
Off-campus shared (per person): $90000–$1,40000/month
Living at home + transit: $1700–$20000/month (TTC monthly pass)

Most Toronto students share with 2–3 roommates to keep individual costs under $1,10000/month. Look near campus in the Annex, Kensington, or Scarborough (York) to find better deals.

Vancouver

Vancouver is tied with Toronto as Canada's most expensive rental market for students. UBC on-campus housing is highly competitive — many students don't get it and must find off-campus alternatives in an extremely tight market.

UBC on-campus residence: $1,000000–$1,50000/month
Off-campus 1-bedroom (near UBC): $2,20000–$3,000000/month
Off-campus shared (per person): $90000–$1,50000/month
SFU Burnaby: $90000–$1,20000 (on-campus); surrounding area cheaper

Montreal

Montreal is significantly more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver — a major advantage for McGill, Concordia, and UdeM students. The Plateau, Mile End, and Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhoods near campuses offer relatively affordable rentals.

On-campus residence: $80000–$1,20000/month
Off-campus 1-bedroom: $1,10000–$1,80000/month
Off-campus shared (per person): $60000–$90000/month
STM monthly transit pass (student): ~$58/month

Montreal is one of the best cities in Canada for students on a tight budget. Combined with Quebec's low tuition, total cost of attendance is among the lowest nationally.

Ottawa

On-campus residence (uOttawa/Carleton): $90000–$1,40000/month
Off-campus 1-bedroom: $1,40000–$2,000000/month
Off-campus shared (per person): $70000–$1,10000/month
OC Transpo monthly pass (student): ~$98/month

Calgary

On-campus residence (UCalgary): $90000–$1,40000/month
Off-campus 1-bedroom: $1,50000–$2,20000/month
Off-campus shared (per person): $70000–$1,10000/month

Edmonton

On-campus residence (UAlberta): $80000–$1,20000/month
Off-campus 1-bedroom: $1,20000–$1,70000/month
Off-campus shared (per person): $60000–$90000/month

Smaller University Cities

City / School	Off-Campus Shared (Per Person)	Notes
Kingston, ON (Queen's)	$70000–$1,10000	Limited supply near campus
Waterloo, ON (UW/Laurier)	$70000–$1,000000	Strong rental supply near campuses
Guelph, ON (UofG)	$60000–$90000	More affordable than GTA
Halifax, NS (Dal/King's)	$60000–$9500	Rising rapidly; was very cheap
Saskatoon, SK (USask)	$50000–$7500	Among the most affordable

Tips for Finding Affordable Student Housing

Start your search early — January/February for September move-in dates
Use Facebook student housing groups specific to your university
Consider living slightly farther from campus with good transit access
Find roommates through your university's housing board or student Facebook groups
Read your lease carefully — many leases in university towns are 12 months, even if classes run only 8 months
Check for utilities included vs. excluded — a lower rent with $20000 in utilities is worse than a higher rent all-inclusive

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Bottom Line

Housing costs vary enormously across Canada — a Montreal student living with roommates might pay $6500/month while a Toronto student in the same arrangement pays $1,10000–$1,40000+. If you have flexibility on school choice, housing costs are a significant financial factor. In any city, sharing with 2–3 roommates is the best way to reduce individual rent while maintaining independence from living at home.