How much is a 1 bedroom apartment in Montreal?

The average rent for a 1 bedroom purpose-built apartment in Montreal is approximately $1,150 per month (CMHC, October 2025). Asking rents on listing platforms average around $1,650. Montreal remains the most affordable of Canada's three largest cities.

What is the vacancy rate in Montreal?

The Montreal CMA vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments was 2.9% in October 2025, up from 1.8% in October 2024. This increase reflects a significant easing of market pressure, driven by slowing immigration and above-average new supply.

Is Montreal affordable to rent in?

Yes, Montreal is among the most affordable major cities in Canada for renters. Purpose-built 2-bedroom apartments average around $1,200 per month, well below Toronto or Vancouver. However, asking rents on listing platforms have climbed to around $2,050 for a 2-bedroom, reflecting the gap between in-place and market rents.

Does Montreal have rent control?

Quebec has a unique system where the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) publishes recommended rent increase ranges each year. Tenants can contest increases they consider excessive before the TAL. For 2025, the recommended adjustments depend on the type of heating and building costs. There is no fixed guideline percentage like in Ontario.

Are Montreal rents going up?

Montreal rents are still rising but more slowly. CMHC reported that vacancy rose sharply from 1.8% to 2.9% in 2025 as immigration-driven demand cooled and new supply was delivered. Rents continued to grow but the pace moderated, especially for turnover rents in older buildings.

Montreal Rental Market Data 2025–2026 | Average Rent & Vacancy Rates

Montreal rental market data

Montréal’s rental market loosened significantly in 2025, with the vacancy rate jumping to 2.9% from 1.8% — the largest single-year increase among Canada’s big three cities. Slowing immigration and stronger-than-expected supply completions helped rebalance the market.

Montréal remains Canada’s most affordable large metro for renters, with purpose-built 2-bedroom apartments averaging roughly $1,200/month — about 40% cheaper than Toronto and 43% cheaper than Vancouver.

Data source: CMHC Rental Market Survey (October 2025), published December 2025. This is the most recent CMHC rental data available — the survey is conducted once per year every October. Next update expected December 2026.

Metric	October 2025	Year-over-year
Vacancy rate	2.9%	Up from 1.8%
Average 2-bedroom rent	~$1,200	Moderate growth
Rent growth (turnover)	Slowing	Down from prior year

For national context, see the Canada rental market overview.

Average rent by bedroom type

Bedroom Type	Estimated Average (purpose-built)	Asking Rent (listings)
Studio	~$850	~$1,200
1 Bedroom	~$1,150	~$1,650
2 Bedroom	~$1,200	~$2,050
3 Bedroom+	~$1,350	~$2,400

The gap between CMHC purpose-built averages and asking rents on listing platforms is particularly wide in Montréal due to Quebec’s tenant-protection system, which keeps long-term tenants’ rents well below market rates. Turnover units are priced much higher.

Vacancy rate trends

Montréal’s vacancy rate has swung from extremely tight to more balanced:

Montréal CMA Vacancy Rate — Purpose-Built Rentals (2015–2025)

The vacancy rate tightened dramatically in 2019 (1.5%) and 2023 (1.5%) before easing in 2025 as new supply and slower population growth restored balance.

Rent affordability in Montreal

Bedroom Type	Monthly Rent (asking)	Annual Cost	Income Needed (30% rule)	Montréal Median HHI
1 Bedroom	~$1,650	$19,800	$66,000	~$79,000
2 Bedroom	~$2,050	$24,600	$82,000	~$79,000

Based on asking rents, a 2-bedroom apartment is approaching the affordability threshold for a median-income household. However, the large stock of older, rent-controlled units means most in-place renters pay well below asking prices.

Use our rent affordability calculator for a personalized estimate.

Quebec rent rules

Quebec has a distinctive tenant-protection framework:

No fixed guideline percentage — The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) publishes recommended adjustment ranges based on building expenses
Tenant can contest — If a tenant considers a rent increase excessive, they can apply to the TAL for a ruling
Lease renewal — Tenants have automatic lease-renewal rights; landlords cannot refuse to renew except in specific circumstances (e.g., personal use, major renovations)
Assignment and subletting — Tenants can assign or sublet their lease, helping stabilize rents
New construction exemption — Buildings less than 5 years old were previously exempt from TAL recommendations, though this has been subject to legislative discussion

This system keeps long-term tenants’ rents well below market, but contributes to a growing gap between in-place and turnover rents.

Key market drivers

Immigration slowdown: After years of rapid population growth that fueled demand, immigration-driven rental demand cooled in 2025, contributing to the vacancy rate increase from 1.8% to 2.9%.

Supply response: Montréal saw meaningful rental completions, especially in the Griffintown, Pointe-Saint-Charles, and South Shore areas.

Affordable gateway: Montréal attracts renters priced out of Toronto and Vancouver, acting as a release valve for national rental pressure — particularly among remote workers and newcomers.

Student market: With McGill University, Université de Montréal, Concordia University, and multiple CEGEPs, student demand remains a significant market driver in the Plateau, Mile End, and Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhoods.

Canada Rental Market Data — national vacancy rates and average rent
Toronto Rental Market — how Montréal compares
Montreal Housing Market — home prices and market trends
Income in Montreal — household income data
Average Rent in Canada — rent comparison by city

Sources

CMHC Rental Market Survey — Housing Market Information Portal
CMHC 2025 Rental Market Report — December 2025
Tribunal administratif du logement — Quebec rent adjustment framework