Ottawa sees small drop in rental rates in December

A for rent sign is displayed on a house in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa renters received some relief in the rental market at the end of the year, as rents for one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments dropped in December.

The National Rent Report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation shows the average cost of rent was $2,173 in December, down from $2,188 in November.

The average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment was $1,947 in Ottawa in December, down from $1,957 in November. A two-bedroom apartment rented for $2,455 in Ottawa last month, down from $2,491 in November.

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While the average rent dropped in Ottawa, it increased in Kanata. The average rent was $2,495 in Kanata in December, up from $2,485 in November. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Kanata was $2,255, while a two-bedroom apartment rents for $2,572.

Renters in Kingston also saw a drop in rental rates in December. The average rent was $2,295 in December, down from $2,323 in November. A one-bedroom apartment cost an average of $1,972 in December, while a two-bedroom apartment cost $2,550.

North Vancouver has the highest average rent in Canada, at $2,974 a month, followed by Vancouver at $2,664, Oakville at $2,545 and Toronto at $2,503.

The report by Rentals.ca and Urbanation says rents across Canada dropped to their lowest level in 30 months.

“After a sharp run-up coming out of COVID, rents in Canada have been on a downward trend for more than a year,” Shaun Hildebrand, president of Urbanation, said in a statement.

“The demand and supply factors that were pushing rents higher between 2022 and 2024 reversed during 2025. A combination of record-high apartment completions, population growth slowing down, economic uncertainty, and affordability challenges has worked together to push down rents. Looking ahead, rents are likely to continue trending down in the near-term as these conditions persist.”

Kanata has the highest average rent outside of the Vancouver and Toronto areas.