Moving into your first apartment costs more than the first month’s rent: deposits, moving, furniture and the first bills all land at once. This guide covers the full move-in cost, a first budget, searching, applications, the lease and the move-in inspection. The tenant rules that come with renting are covered across the renting in Canada hub.
True Cost of Your First Apartment
The rent amount is just the beginning. Here is what you actually need to budget.
Upfront Move-In Costs
| Cost | Example amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First month’s rent | $1,500 to $2,600 | Paid before you move in |
| Last month’s rent deposit | $1,500 to $2,600 | Allowed in Ontario instead of a damage deposit; not allowed in some provinces |
| Security or damage deposit | Up to the provincial limit | Capped by provincial law (half a month’s rent in some provinces, a full month in others) |
| Key or fob deposit | $100 to $300 | Usually refundable |
| Moving | $200 to $2,000 | Doing it yourself vs hiring movers |
| Total upfront | $3,300 to $7,500 or more | Depends on province, city and rent |
Which deposits a landlord can ask for, how much, and when they must be returned depend on the province: the rules are on deposit rules by province.
Ongoing Monthly Costs
| Expense | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,050–$2,600 | Varies widely by city |
| Electricity | $50–$120 | If not included in rent |
| Internet | $60–$100 | Shop around for deals |
| Renters insurance | About $21.74 | APOLLO Insurance average (see below); often required by the lease |
| Tenant’s share of heat | $0–$150 | Often included in older buildings |
| Parking | $0–$250 | If applicable |
| Total monthly estimate | $1,182–$3,242 |
See average rent by province for current prices in your city.
The Apartment Budget Template
For a $1,800/month apartment in a mid-sized city:
| Category | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent | $1,800 |
| Electricity | $80 |
| Internet | $70 |
| Renters insurance | $25 |
| Groceries | $400 |
| Transportation | $150 |
| Phone | $60 |
| Total necessities | $2,585 |
To cover this comfortably (keeping housing at 30% of income), you need a gross income of about $72,000/year.
Use our rent affordability calculator to find your number.
Searching for Your First Apartment
Where to Look
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| Rentals.ca | All property types, Canada-wide |
| Kijiji | Private landlords, good deals |
| Facebook Marketplace | Social connections, local |
| Zumper | Urban apartments, newer buildings |
| PadMapper | Map-based search |
| Craigslist | Careful: verify listings |
What to Look For in a Listing
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| Utilities included | Affects true monthly cost |
| Lease length | 12 months vs month-to-month |
| Parking included | Save $100–$250/month |
| Pets allowed | If applicable |
| Laundry (in-unit vs shared vs none) | Convenience and cost |
| Neighbourhood safety | Walk at different times |
Viewing Apartments: Questions to Ask
| Category | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Utilities | Which utilities are included? What is average monthly hydro cost? |
| Building | Is there in-suite laundry? Is there secure bike storage? |
| Landlord | How quickly do you respond to maintenance requests? |
| Lease | Is the lease 12 months? Month-to-month after that? |
| Rent increases | When was the last increase? What is the provincial guideline? |
| Move-in | What is included (appliances, window coverings)? Any parking? |
Completing a Rental Application
What Landlords Look For
| Factor | What They Want |
|---|---|
| Income | Rent that is a manageable share of gross income; many landlords look for about a third or less |
| Credit score | A history of paying on time; each landlord sets its own threshold |
| Rental history | References from previous landlords |
| Employment | Stable employment or proof of income |
| References | Personal/professional character references |
Income rule of thumb: the rent affordability calculator shows the income a given rent needs under the 30% guideline and other shares.
Documents Commonly Requested
- Government-issued photo ID
- Credit check authorization (SIN not required for rental in Canada)
- Recent pay stubs (2–3 months)
- Letter of employment or offer letter
- T4 slips or Notice of Assessment (self-employed)
- Previous landlord reference and contact
- Personal references
Credit Check Rules
A landlord needs your consent to check your credit, and you can usually give consent without giving your SIN. If you have little or no credit history, other evidence can help an application: proof of savings or income, a co-signer or guarantor, or references. Reporting your rent to the credit bureaus can build a history for the next application (see rent reporting services).
Tenant insurance
Tenant insurance (also called renters insurance) is one of the smaller items in a renter’s budget, and some landlords require it in the lease. APOLLO Insurance reports that the tenant policies it issued from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 averaged $21.74 a month across the provinces in its data (Quebec and Yukon excluded). That is one insurer’s customers, not a market-wide figure, and your price depends on your city, building, contents limit and deductible. A policy covers:
| Coverage | What It Protects |
|---|---|
| Contents insurance | Your belongings (theft, fire, water damage) |
| Personal liability | If you accidentally cause damage or injury |
| Additional living expenses | Hotel and meals if your unit is uninhabitable |
Your landlord’s insurance covers the building, not your belongings or your liability to others. What a policy covers and how to choose one are on the tenant insurance guide.
Setting Up Your New Apartment
Before Move-In
- Confirm utilities included vs your responsibility
- Set up electricity account (contact local provider)
- Set up internet (book 2 weeks in advance)
- Get renters insurance (send confirmation to landlord)
- Set up mail forwarding from previous address
- Take photos/video of every room before moving in (document pre-existing damage)
Essential First Apartment Purchases (Budget)
| Item | Cost Range | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Bed frame + mattress | $400–$1,500 | Critical |
| Basic kitchen supplies | $150–$400 | Critical |
| Cleaning supplies | $50–$100 | Critical |
| Shower curtain + rod | $30–$80 | Critical |
| Basic tools (hammer, screwdriver set) | $40–$80 | High |
| Vacuum and mop | $80–$200 | High |
| Lamps | $50–$200 | Medium |
Budget tip: second-hand marketplaces and thrift stores can cut the cost of furnishing a first apartment.
Moving In: The Inspection Report
A move-in inspection report, completed on the first day and signed by both of you, is your record of the unit’s condition, and in some provinces it is required before a landlord can keep any of your deposit (see deposit rules by province).
- Walk through the unit with the landlord (or their agent)
- Document all existing damage: scratches, scuffs, broken blinds, stains
- Take photos and video with timestamps
- Both parties sign the inspection report
- Keep your copy
At move-out, this report is your proof that damage existed before you arrived.
Understanding Your Lease
| Clause | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Term | Fixed period (usually 12 months) or month-to-month |
| Rent amount | Base rent: confirm what is included |
| Damage deposit rules | How and when it is returned |
| Notice to vacate | How much notice you must give, which provincial law sets (ending early is covered on breaking a lease) |
| Pet policy | Allowed, not allowed, or with deposit |
| Subletting | Whether and how you can sublet or assign (see subletting rules) |
| Rent increase notice | When and how increases are communicated |
Province-specific rules matter. Your province’s tenancy law overrides any lease clause that conflicts with it; the province guides for BC, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec cover the main rules.
When rent can go up
Each province sets how often and with how much notice a landlord can raise the rent for a sitting tenant, and some also cap the yearly increase. The province-by-province comparison, including what a valid notice must include, is on rent increase rules by province.
Tax credits available to renters
Several provinces give renters a credit or benefit through the tax return, such as Ontario’s energy and property tax credit, BC’s renter’s tax credit and Quebec’s solidarity tax credit, and low-income renters may also qualify for federal benefits. They are paid only if you file a return. Which credits exist and who qualifies are on renter tax credits in Canada.
Your Rights as a Tenant
Provincial law gives every tenant a right to quiet enjoyment of the unit, a unit kept in good repair, written notice before a landlord enters except in emergencies, and the return of a deposit within a set time. The notice rules are on landlord entry rules, and each province’s tribunal and full set of rules are in the province guides linked above. Building a credit history with your rent payments is covered on rent reporting services.