A new analysis from Rentals.ca suggests that Canadian and Ottawa renters may be paying the equivalent of 13 or even 14 months of rent annually once unavoidable add-on costs are factored in. The report, released November 18, shows that fees for parking, storage, internet, and insurance push real monthly housing costs far beyond advertised rents in every major city.
Across the country, these extra charges amount to thousands of dollars per year. For many tenants, the gap between the rent they think they’re paying and the rent they’re actually paying is widening.
Ottawa Renters Hit With Nearly $4,000 in Annual Extras
Ottawa, where the average advertised rent sits at $2,199, sees one of the steepest increases once common add-ons are included. The typical renter pays an estimated additional $331 per month for essentials like parking and internet, bringing the real monthly cost to $2,530. Over a year, that’s nearly $4,000 extra—or the equivalent of 1.8 additional months of rent.
Halifax renters face almost the same burden, with average extras of roughly $3,950 annually.
Even Lower-Cost Cities Aren’t Spared
Cities like Calgary and Edmonton often market themselves as more affordable alternatives, but the data paints a more complicated picture. Because advertised rents are lower, the added fees represent a larger share of total housing costs:
- Edmonton: $1,637 average rent + $263 in monthly extras = 1.93 months of additional rent each year.
- Calgary: $1,910 average rent + $295 in extras = 1.85 months of additional rent.
In fact, while Vancouver and Toronto remain the most expensive rental markets in Canada in absolute terms, they rank relatively low in the percentage increase once add-ons are calculated. In other words: already-expensive cities get more expensive, but moderately priced cities can see sharper jumps in the final bill.
Where Ottawa and Halifax Stand
When extras are added, Ottawa and Halifax close in on Victoria’s overall rental costs. A unit advertised at $2,200 in Ottawa is actually closer to $2,530 once the basic add-ons are applied—and that’s before utilities like hydro, water, and heat. Halifax’s totals land in a similar range, despite its lower profile in national housing discussions.
Breakdown: Before and After Extras
All-in monthly costs in major Canadian cities:
- Vancouver: $2,738 advertised → $3,021 all-in
- Toronto: $2,559 advertised → $2,853 all-in
- Halifax: $2,293 advertised → $2,623 all-in
- Ottawa: $2,199 advertised → $2,530 all-in
- Victoria: $2,287 advertised → $2,528 all-in
And when converted to annual totals, renters in many cities are paying the equivalent of more than an extra month of rent—sometimes almost two:
- Edmonton: 1.93 months
- Calgary: 1.85 months
- Ottawa: 1.81 months
- Halifax: 1.72 months
“Affordable” Isn’t Always Affordable
The Rentals.ca analysis highlights something many renters already feel: the gap between advertised affordability and real affordability is growing. Renters are advised to budget not only for the typical extras measured in the report but also for utilities and building-specific charges such as laundry fees, move-in deposits, and pet fees. These can add hundreds more to monthly housing expenses.
The full analysis, including detailed city breakdowns and raw data, is available through Rentals.ca.
