Renting in Canada: A Guide for Working Holiday Participants

Table of contents

Intro to the Canadian rental market

Finding housing can be a challenge for those arriving in Canada on a Working Holiday permit, or frankly any newcomer in general.

Many Canadian cities are notoriously expensive and while there is a shortage of homes, there is no shortage of scams to beware of.

This guide will help you navigate everything from starting the search to signing the lease.

Rent prices by province

Canada is a huge country but most of its population is concentrated in a few major urban centres. As a result, in many places, high demand coupled with limited housing supply leads to high rents.

Among working holiday makers, the most popular provinces are Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. On the map below, you can see the average rents by province in July 2026 according to Rentals.ca.

average rent by province canada

For a one-bedroom apartment in a few of Canada’s major cities, the averages in July 2026 were:

$2,392 in Vancouver, BC
$2,258 in Victoria, BC
$2,213 in Toronto, ON
$1,956 in Ottawa, ON
$1,780 in Montreal, QC
$1,515 in Calgary, AB
$1,292 in Edmonton, AB
$1,292 in Quebec City, QC

Source: Rentals.ca.

In the surrounding suburbs of these cities, you can typically expect to pay a bit less.

Which city to choose

If you’re envisioning a more sedentary working holiday where you’ll mainly be based in one city, then you may be wondering which city to choose.

There are a few important questions to consider:

1. What is your budget?

Housing is the biggest factor in cost of living and as you can see, it varies significantly by city.

The cost of food is the second biggest expense for most people, but there is far less variation across the country so that should be a secondary consideration.

2. Which cities offer the job opportunities that you are looking for?

Bigger cities generally have more opportunities but also more competition. If you are looking for non-specialized jobs in retail or hospitality, those can be found across the country, as turnover is high.

If you are targeting qualified roles in specific industries, you should do more research. At a high level,

Toronto: finance, business services, healthcare
Vancouver: film and TV, tech, tourism
Montreal: fashion, aerospace, tech, video games, culture
Calgary: energy
Ottawa: federal government

3. What kind of lifestyle do you want?

More nature or more urban? More modern or more history? Canadian cities are diverse so there is something for everyone.

4. Which city has the direct flights that you care about?

Check the routes that matter to you. The busiest airports in Canada are:

Toronto YYZ
Vancouver YVR
Montreal YUL
Calgary YYC
Edmonton YEG
Ottawa YOW

5. How important is climate to you?

The mildest climate in Canada is in Vancouver and the surrounding region. Just about everywhere else in Canada, the winters can be very harsh.

6. Do you prefer English or French?

Remember that Canada has two official languages. All provinces are officially anglophone with the exception of Quebec, which is officially francophone, and New Brunswick, which is officially bilingual.

And finally, if you want to settle long term, which province has the most favourable immigration paths for candidates with your profile?

For more information, read the Pros and Cons of 11 Canadian Cities For Your Working Holiday.

Before you arrive

For your arrival in Canada, we recommend that you book temporary accommodation for at least the first few weeks (or even the first couple of months) on the following platforms:

For more ideas, read Booking housing for your arrival.

We advise against signing a lease or sending money to anyone before arriving in Canada. It is important to visit homes in person, as there are lots of housing scams online. Read Common scams to avoid during your working holiday abroad.