Kingston students grapple with fourth highest rent in Canada

A place for rent in Kingston's University District. Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News)

In Kingston, On., the rental market is dominated by university students.

Third year Queens University student Johnny Clasby has spent two years at his student house in the University District, just a few blocks away from school.

“Our rooms certainly aren’t glamorous,” Clasby told CTV News.

“They’re very small. Our kitchen is quite old. It’s certainly not the belle of the ball.”

Despite minimal upkeep by the landlord, Clasby says his rent increased this school year to levels even he can’t believe he pays.

“Originally it was $1040 a month per person, and now it’s gone up to $1077.”

The catch, he’s one of six students who live in the house and split the rent equally, for a total of $6462 of rent each month.

“It’s insane,” he said.

Clasby’s case serves as a firsthand example of Kingston’s expensive rental market.

A recent report by Rentals.ca labelled Kingston as the fourth most expensive city in Canada to rent, at an average of $2390 per month.

“Kingston rental units have been really undersupplied,” says Giacomo Ladas, associate director of communications for Rentals.ca.

“The housing stock has been old for purpose-built rentals. So now when we’ve seen all this new supply come in, there has been a big jump in listing volume. But typically, these are now set at market rates.”

Kingston trails only Vancouver, Toronto, and Mississauga as the priciest places in Canada to rent. Kingston is also more than $200 above the national rent average, which sits at $2123 per month.

“Wow, not even Montreal,” remarks Clasby after learning of Canada’s rent hierarchy.

“That’s insane. I know people who are paying a lot more, which I find absurd, but what can you do? I guess it’s the Manhattan of the north.”

Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson says rent in Kingston has historically always been high, a trend driven by the coming and going of post-secondary students.

Paterson says the city is rolling out programs to address the need of affordable rental housing.

“Obviously, we’re interested in building all forms of housing, but a specific focus on purpose built rental housing,” says Paterson.

“So, we’ve introduced, for example, property tax reductions for purpose built rental housing, as long as it’s built within a quick period of time.”

Another recent report by Zoocasa says for a person in Kingston to comfortably afford a one-bedroom apartment on a single income, they would need to make $40 per hour, or $79,575 per year, incomes out of the range of most students.

“I guess with the students, at the end of the day, it’s a business,” says Clasby. “These places around here close to campus are in high demand.”

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