Almost half of all Canadian renters say they spend over 50% of income on rent
A recent report by online marketplace Rentals.ca shows that many Canadian renters are putting more of their income towards housing costs, with high rent prices a top concern across the country.
The Winter 2025 Renter Feedback Survey surveyed hundreds of Canadian renters and discovered that nearly half are spending over 50 per cent of their net income on rent.
“Rent increases are being felt across both large cities and smaller markets, compounding affordability challenges for renters already dedicating a significant share of their income to housing,” said Rentals.ca in its report.
Shutterstock
- You might also like:
- 'Immediately stop using': Power inverter recalled in Canada due to fire hazard
- Canada is rolling out three major immigration changes in 2026
- Federal transport minister defends Canada's high airfares, blaming structural challenges
“When asked about the biggest challenge in their rental search, renters overwhelmingly pointed to cost. High rent prices ranked as the top challenge in every region, reinforcing that affordability is a national issue — not just a big-city problem.”
The survey of over 500 renters shows that 33 per cent of respondents spend more than 50 per cent of their net income on rent.
An additional 12 per cent say they spend more than 70 per cent of their net income.
The Winter 2025 Renter Feedback Survey also revealed that recent rent increases are putting additional pressure on renters, with 63 per cent of them sharing that their rent has increased since the summer.
Jack Landau
“When asked about their budget for their next rental, most renters reported price ranges below prevailing asking rents in many markets,” reported Rentals.ca. “Taken together, 70 per cent of renters say their budget for their next rental is under $2,000. However, budgets vary by region.
“Renters looking to rent in Toronto are more likely to report budgets in the $1,500 to $3,000 range, while renters targeting Vancouver show a more polarized pattern, with many reporting budgets that fall well below prevailing asking rents.”
Some age groups are shown to be more affected by affordability challenges across the country, with renters aged 18 to 24 more likely to report a large portion of their rent going towards rent.
For ages 25 to 34, 43 per cent of renters revealed that over half of their net income was spent on rent. And in the next age bracket, renters ages 35 to 54, 37 per cent put over half of their income towards housing costs.
“These age-based patterns appear across regions, suggesting that high housing costs are affecting renters at multiple life stages, regardless of location.”
The full Winter 2025 Renter Feedback Survey can be found online.