Average rent increases $49 a month in Ottawa in January, Kanata rents among highest in Ontario

For Canadian renters, it may feel like the years since the COVID-19 pandemic have brought one hit after another. A for rent sign is displayed on a house in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The average cost to rent an apartment in Ottawa increased $49 a month in the first month of the year, while a new report shows rents in Kanata are among the highest in Ontario.

The February rent report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation shows the average cost of an apartment in Ottawa was $2,214 a month in January, up from $2,165 in December and $2,171 in November. In January 2024, the average cost to rent an apartment in Ottawa was $2,228 a month.

A one-bedroom apartment costs $2,030 to rent in January, up from $2,016 in December and $2,019 in November.

Rents in Ottawa in January ranged from $1,638 for a bachelor to $2,553 a month for a two-bedroom apartment and $2,618 for a three-bedroom apartment. The cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment increased $55 a month in January from December.

The monthly rental report shows the average cost to rent an apartment in Kanata was $2,646 a month in January, down from $2,662 in December. Kanata has the highest monthly rental rate for mid-sized markets in Canada outside of Toronto and Vancouver.

The average asking rent for all residential properties in Canada was $2,100, down from $2,109 in December. Rental rates dropped 4.4 per cent across Canada in January compared to January 2024.

Vancouver has the highest average rent in Canada, at $2,896 a month. A one-bedroom costs $2,542 a month, while a two-bedroom costs $3,517.

Toronto has the second-highest rent in Canada at $2,615 a month, with a one-bedroom apartment rental rate costing $2,364 a month.

Gatineau, Que. has the 14th highest average rent in Canada, at $1,988 a month. A one-bedroom apartment costs an average of $1,722 a month in January.

The average monthly rent in Kingston was $1,907 in January, with a one-bedroom apartment renting for an average of $1,812 a month.

The report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation says the average rental rate for all residential properties in Canada fell 4.4 per cent in January compared to January 2024. It was the fourth consecutive month of annual rent decreases in Canada.

However, the report says average asking rents remain 5.2 per cent higher than two years ago.

“The downward trend for rents in Canada accelerated during the first month of 2025,” Shaun Hildebrand, president of Urbanation, said in a statement.

“Heightened downside risks for the economy, combined with declining international population inflows and multi-decade highs for apartment completions, suggest rents will continue to weaken in the months ahead. This will result in improved affordability for renters.”