What is the average rent in Ontario?

The average asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Ontario is approximately $2,050 per month, while a 2-bedroom averages around $2,500. Purpose-built rents from CMHC data are lower — typically $1,400–$1,700 for a 1-bedroom — because they include long-term tenants paying below-market rates under rent control.

Does Ontario have rent control?

Ontario has partial rent control. Buildings first occupied before November 15, 2018 are subject to the annual rent increase guideline (2.5% for 2025). Newer buildings are exempt from rent control. All landlords must give 90 days notice for rent increases.

What is the cheapest city to rent in Ontario?

Among Ontario CMAs tracked by CMHC, smaller cities like Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Windsor tend to have the cheapest rents. Among major cities, London (~$1,500 for a 2-bedroom purpose-built) and Hamilton (~$1,600) are significantly cheaper than Toronto (~$2,046) or Ottawa (~$1,800).

What is the Ontario rent increase guideline for 2025?

The Ontario rent increase guideline for 2025 is 2.5%. This applies to most residential rental units first occupied before November 15, 2018. Landlords can apply for above-guideline increases if they can demonstrate higher capital or operating costs.

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

Ontario rental market data

Ontario is Canada’s largest rental market, home to more purpose-built rental apartments than any other province. The market is dominated by the Toronto CMA, but cities like Ottawa, Hamilton, and London are significant rental centres in their own right.

In 2025, Ontario’s rental market eased across most CMAs as new supply — particularly purpose-built rental construction at levels not seen in decades — began to absorb excess demand.

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.

Average rent by city (Ontario)

City	2BR Purpose-Built	2BR Asking Rent	Vacancy Rate
Toronto	~$2,046	~$3,100	3.0%
Ottawa	~$1,800	~$2,300	2.7%
Hamilton	~$1,600	~$2,200	~3.0%
London	~$1,500	~$2,000	~3.2%

Ontario asking rents average approximately $2,050 for a 1-bedroom and $2,500 for a 2-bedroom across the province — driven upward by the GTA’s high prices.

Ontario rent control rules

Ontario has a split rent-control system:

Year	Guideline
2020	2.2%
2021	0.0% (frozen)
2022	1.2%
2023	2.5%
2024	2.5%
2025	2.5%

Key rules:

Pre-November 2018 buildings — Subject to the annual guideline
Post-November 2018 buildings — Exempt from rent control (no cap on increases)
90 days written notice required for any rent increase
Once per 12 months — Only one increase per year
Above-guideline increases — Landlords can apply for more based on capital expenditures, extraordinary operating costs, or security services

The November 2018 cutoff creates a two-tier market where older buildings have below-market rents while newer buildings price at full market rates.

Vacancy rate trends across Ontario

Vacancy Rate by Ontario CMA (2023–2025)

All four major Ontario CMAs saw vacancy rates increase in 2025, reflecting the province-wide trend of improving supply conditions.

Key market drivers

Population growth: Ontario remains the top destination for immigrants to Canada, driving rental demand — particularly in the GTA and Ottawa.

New supply wave: Purpose-built rental construction has surged across Ontario, with Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton all seeing significant completions. CMHC noted Ottawa experienced “the largest rise in new rental supply in the city in almost 50 years.”

International student policy: Changes to international student visa policies may reduce demand in university cities like London, Hamilton, and Ottawa.

Remote work: The shift to remote and hybrid work has redistributed some demand from Toronto to smaller Ontario cities, narrowing the rent gap.

Ontario city rental market pages

Toronto Rental Market — Canada’s largest rental market
Ottawa Rental Market — Canada’s capital city
Hamilton Rental Market — GTA spillover market
London Rental Market — southwestern Ontario hub

Canada Rental Market Data — national overview
Average Rent in Canada — rent comparison by city and province
Income in Ontario — provincial income data
Ontario Housing Market — home prices and trends

Sources

CMHC Rental Market Survey — Housing Market Information Portal
CMHC 2025 Rental Market Report — December 2025
Ontario Rent Increase Guideline — 2025