The Hidden Costs of Renting in Canada: How Extras Can Add Up to a 13th Month of Rent

When scanning rental listing sites, the base rents listed for apartments represent only a starting point — an entry figure before additional costs come into play. While additional utility costs are expected, there are often other costs that need to be considered when budgeting for a rental. 

Rentals.ca delved into its data to find out what these additional costs typically include, resulting in a more accurate calculation of the cost of renting in Canada’s largest cities. By using weighted averages for additional costs associated with renting, Rentals.ca found that in some cities, the add-ons alone are equal to an extra month or more of rent every year.

The added fees that were considered in this analysis include:

• Parking (indoor, outdoor, covered, and underground)
• Storage fees, where available
• Internet costs, averaging $95/month nationally
• Renter’s insurance, typically around $25/month

In addition to these common expenses, renters must also consider utilities when planning their monthly budgets. These can include electricity, water, heating, and other building fees such as laundry costs and pet fees.

The cost of utilities varies widely depending on the city, building type, and individual usage. In some cases, landlords cover certain utilities, while in others, tenants are responsible for setting up and paying these bills on their own. Renters are encouraged to look into all related costs and factor them into their budgeting when choosing a rental. 

Canadian cities: before and after extras

Just like listed rent prices, average monthly rent assessments typically only review base rent costs. As of October 2025, base rents in some of Canada’s major cities include:

• Vancouver: $2,738
• Toronto: $2,559
• Halifax: $2,293
• Victoria: $2,287
• Ottawa: $2,199

The story is as expected: Vancouver and Toronto are Canada’s priciest rental markets, with other major cities like Halifax, Victoria, and Ottawa costing significantly less.

But when you include ancillary costs like parking, storage, internet, and insurance, the cost of living in each city becomes closer than you might expect.

Although normally considered a more affordable city for renters, the cost of renting in Ottawa becomes equal with Victoria once add-ons are included. What looked like a $2,200 apartment in Ottawa actually costs over $2,500, with Ottawa having some of the most expensive parking rates in the country. Halifax renters, mainly due to higher storage costs, end up paying almost $100 per month more than Victoria renters, even though base rents are roughly equal.  

The “13th Month of Rent” Effect

Monthly add-ons may seem insignificant, but over the course of a year, they can accumulate to a substantial amount. Here’s the breakdown of annual extras by city:

City	Avg. Rent (Monthly)	Monthly Extras	Annual Extras	Equivalent Months of Rent (Annual)
Edmonton	$1,637	$263	$3,161	1.93 months
Calgary	$1,910	$295	$3,539	1.85 months
Ottawa	$2,199	$331	$3,970	1.81 months
Halifax	$2,293	$330	$3,954	1.72 months
Kitchener	$2,036	$260	$3,121	1.53 months
Toronto	$2,559	$294	$3,528	1.38 months
Victoria	$2,287	$241	$2,888	1.26 months
Vancouver	$2,738	$282	$3,387	1.23 months

While Toronto and Vancouver still remain the most expensive cities to rent in Canada, the cost of monthly extras represents a smaller overall portion of the total price. However, in cities like Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Halifax, planning for these costs is essential to avoid straining your monthly housing budget.

Budgeting for Extras

The Canadian rental market currently remains in a prolonged softening phase, where demand remains low and supply relatively high. Typically, this leads to move-in incentives such as free months of rent, gift cards, or utility discounts being offered to prospective renters. When visiting Rentals.ca, it is encouraged to spend time scrolling through the listings in search of move-in incentives that can help balance these additional costs and put more money back into your pocket.

When looking for a new place to rent, rather than budgeting for the rent price alone, try to come up with an “all-in” amount that you can afford to spend on housing and other monthly extras. Adding up the total cost of everything you need for each listing will help you to make an “apples-to-apples” comparison of different options, and give you a better idea of the actual value provided by listings that include things like parking or wireless internet in the cost of rent.

Conclusion

In Canada’s rental market, the total cost of renting extends beyond just the advertised price of a rental unit. By accounting for parking, storage, internet, and insurance, you can gain a clearer picture of your total monthly expenses, and avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. Understanding your costs upfront can make the difference between a manageable budget and one that stretches too thin, especially in Canada’s largest cities.