Most international students in Canada start in a university or college residence and move off campus after their first year. Apply for residence as early as your school allows — the University of Toronto's first-year deadline was 31 March 2026. Off campus, a one-bedroom in a purpose-built apartment averaged about $1,761 a month in Toronto, $1,806 in Vancouver and $1,131 in Montreal. Deposit rules depend on the province: Quebec bans deposits, Ontario allows only a last-month's-rent deposit, and BC caps deposits at half a month's rent. You don't need to give your SIN to rent, and you should never send money before you have seen the place.
Residence or off campus?
- Residence (dorms, student residences): the easiest start, often with a meal plan. Many universities guarantee a room to first-year students who apply by a deadline: the University of Toronto's St. George campus asked for applications by 31 March 2026, and UBC guarantees a room to first-year students from high school who apply by 1 May and accept their offer by 1 June. Upper-year students usually join waitlists.
- Off campus: a room in a shared house, a basement suite or an apartment. More choice and often cheaper, but you deal with a landlord and a lease.
- Homestay: living with a host family, often arranged through your school or a homestay agency.
Residence rooms are often outside tenancy law: Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act doesn't cover many college and university residences, or a room where you share the kitchen or bathroom with the owner, and BC's Act excludes housing a school provides to its students. Read your residence contract carefully.
What rent costs
Average rents in purpose-built apartments, from CMHC's Rental Market Survey of October 2025:
| City | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Vacancy rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $1,761 | $2,046 | 3.0 % |
| Vancouver | $1,806 | $2,363 | 3.7 % |
| Montreal | $1,131 | $1,346 | 2.9 % |
Rents for new tenants are usually higher than these averages, which include long-term tenants. A room in a shared house costs less than a whole apartment; check local listings and your school's off-campus housing office.
Budget for the visa as well: for a study permit applied for on or after 1 September 2026, a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 a year for living costs, on top of tuition and travel (Quebec sets its own amount, $24,617 for 2026). Students can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during term and without a limit in scheduled breaks.
Deposits and leases by province
| Province | Deposit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Only a rent deposit of up to one month, used for your last month's rent — no damage or pet deposits | Landlords must use the standard lease; 2026 rent increase guideline 2.1 % (most units first occupied before 15 Nov 2018) |
| British Columbia | Up to half a month's rent (plus half a month for a pet) | Move-in and move-out inspections are required; deposit back within 15 days of your forwarding address; 2026 increase limit 2.3 % |
| Quebec | No deposit allowed — only the first month's rent in advance | The TAL lease form is mandatory; you can refuse a rent increase within one month |
| Alberta | Up to one month's rent, held in trust | Move-in and move-out inspection reports are required; no rent cap |
| Nova Scotia | Up to half a month's rent | Deposit back within 10 days; 5 % cap on renewals until the end of 2027 |
In Ontario, if your landlord doesn't give you the standard lease, ask for it in writing: after 21 days without it you may withhold one month's rent.
Renting with no Canadian credit history
New students rarely have a Canadian credit file. According to CMHC, landlords will often accept a letter from a guarantor (such as a parent) instead, together with references and any rental history.
You don't have to give your Social Insurance Number to rent a place, fill in a rental application or sign a lease. If a landlord asks for it, it should be optional — a date of birth can be used for a credit check instead.
Tenant insurance isn't required by law, but a lease can require it, and the landlord's insurance doesn't cover your belongings.
Rental scams
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns about fake ads in good locations at low prices, photos copied from real ads, and pressure to pay quickly to "secure" a place. Never send money before you have viewed the place in person, and do a reverse image search on the photos. Report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and your local police. Our guide to renting safely lists more warning signs.
Use the free currency converter to budget in your home currency, and the bill split calculator to share costs with roommates.
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change each year — check the official pages below and your school's housing office.
Frequently asked questions
Can international students rent an apartment in Canada?
Yes. Without a Canadian credit history, landlords often accept a guarantor's letter, references and proof of funds. You don't have to give your SIN to rent.
How much is rent for international students in Canada?
It depends on the city. A one-bedroom apartment averaged about $1,761 a month in Toronto, $1,806 in Vancouver and $1,131 in Montreal in October 2025. A room in a shared house costs less.
Can a landlord in Canada ask for a security deposit?
It depends on the province. Quebec bans deposits, Ontario allows only a last month's rent deposit, and BC allows up to half a month's rent.
How much money do I need for a Canadian study permit in 2026?
For applications from 1 September 2026, a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 a year for living costs, plus tuition and travel.
When should I apply for residence?
As early as your school allows. Many schools guarantee first-year rooms only to students who apply by a deadline in spring.
Sources
- First-year residence guarantee — University of Toronto
- Getting started: residence — UBC Vancouver
- Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act — Landlord and Tenant Board, Ontario.html)
- Types of tenancies (Residential Tenancy Act exclusions) — Government of British Columbia
- Rental market highlights, Toronto — CMHC
- Proof of financial support — IRCC
- Work off campus — IRCC
- Renting in Ontario: your rights — Government of Ontario
- Guide to Ontario's standard lease — Government of Ontario
- Rent increase guideline — Government of Ontario
- Deposits and fees — Government of British Columbia
- Requiring a security deposit is illegal — Gouvernement du Québec
- Security deposits — Government of Alberta
- Credit checks and bad credit — CMHC
- Social Insurance Number code of practice — Government of Canada
- Scams and fraud — Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Calculators in this guide
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