How much is a 1 bedroom apartment in Ottawa?

The average rent for a 1 bedroom purpose-built apartment in Ottawa is approximately $1,500 per month (CMHC, October 2025). Asking rents on listing platforms average around $1,850. Ottawa rents are below Toronto but above most other Ontario cities.

What is the vacancy rate in Ottawa?

The Ottawa CMA vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments was 2.7% in October 2025, up from 2.0% in October 2024. This increase reflects the largest rise in new rental supply in the city in almost 50 years.

Is Ottawa affordable to rent in?

Ottawa is moderately affordable by Ontario standards. With a median household income of approximately $119,000 and 2-bedroom asking rents around $2,300, Ottawa households are in a better position than Toronto renters. The federal public service provides stable demand but Ottawa lacks the extreme rent pressures seen in the GTA.

Are Ottawa rents going up?

Ottawa rent growth has moderated in 2025. CMHC noted that Ottawa saw its largest rise in new rental supply in almost 50 years, which helped push the vacancy rate up to 2.7% from 2.0%. While rents have continued to increase, growth has slowed. The Ontario 2025 rent increase guideline is 2.5%.

Does Ottawa have rent control?

Ottawa follows Ontario rent control rules. Buildings first occupied before November 15, 2018 are subject to the annual rent increase guideline (2.5% for 2025). Newer buildings are exempt from rent control but still require 90 days notice for increases.

Ottawa Rental Market Data 2026 | Average Rent & Vacancy Rates

Ottawa rental market data

Ottawa’s rental market saw a significant shift in 2025 as the capital experienced its largest rise in new rental supply in almost 50 years. The vacancy rate climbed to 2.7% from 2.0%, creating a more balanced market for tenants.

As the seat of the federal government, Ottawa benefits from stable public-sector employment that provides a reliable demand base for rental housing.

Data source: CMHC Rental Market Survey (October 2025), published December 2025. This is the most recent CMHC rental data available — the survey is conducted once per year every October. Next update expected December 2026.

Metric	October 2025	Year-over-year
Vacancy rate	2.7%	Up from 2.0%
Average 2-bedroom rent	~$1,800	Moderate growth
Supply growth	Largest in ~50 years	Well above trend

For national context, see the Canada rental market overview.

Average rent by bedroom type

Bedroom Type	Estimated Average (purpose-built)	Asking Rent (listings)
Studio	~$1,250	~$1,500
1 Bedroom	~$1,500	~$1,850
2 Bedroom	~$1,800	~$2,300
3 Bedroom+	~$2,050	~$2,600

Ottawa 2-bedroom purpose-built rents (~$1,800) are roughly 12% cheaper than Toronto (~$2,046) and about 14% cheaper than Vancouver (~$2,100), while significantly higher than Edmonton (~$1,500).

Vacancy rate trends

Ottawa’s vacancy rate has moved between tight and balanced over the past decade:

Ottawa CMA Vacancy Rate — Purpose-Built Rentals (2015–2025)

The vacancy rate peaked during the pandemic (2020–2021) as remote work shifted demand, then tightened before easing again in 2025 as record new supply hit the market.

Rent affordability in Ottawa

Bedroom Type	Monthly Rent (asking)	Annual Cost	Income Needed (30% rule)	Ottawa Median HHI
1 Bedroom	~$1,850	$22,200	$74,000	~$119,000
2 Bedroom	~$2,300	$27,600	$92,000	~$119,000

With a median household income in Ottawa of approximately $119,000, a typical household spends roughly 23% of gross income on a 2-bedroom apartment — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold.

Use our rent affordability calculator for a personalized estimate.

Ontario rent control rules (Ottawa)

Ottawa follows Ontario’s rent increase guidelines:

Year	Guideline
2020	2.2%
2021	0.0% (frozen)
2022	1.2%
2023	2.5%
2024	2.5%
2025	2.5%

Pre-November 2018 buildings are subject to the annual guideline
Post-November 2018 buildings are exempt from rent control
90 days notice required for any rent increase
Landlords can apply for above-guideline increases for capital expenditures

Key market drivers

Record new supply: CMHC noted Ottawa experienced “the largest rise in new rental supply in the city in almost 50 years,” which eased the vacancy rate from 2.0% to 2.7%.

Public sector stability: The federal government remains Ottawa’s largest employer, providing a steady baseline of rental demand even during economic downturns.

Gatineau spillover: Renters seeking lower prices often look across the river to Gatineau, QC, which offers notably cheaper rents and is accessible via public transit.

Student demand: The University of Ottawa and Carleton University generate significant student rental demand in the Centretown and Sandy Hill neighbourhoods.

Ottawa rental market outlook and tips

2026 outlook: Ottawa’’s rental market is influenced heavily by federal government employment cycles. Vacancy rates of approximately 2.5% reflect steady demand from government workers, diplomats, and university students (University of Ottawa, Carleton, Algonquin). New light rail (Confederation Line extensions) has expanded desirable areas beyond the traditional downtown core.

Renting in Ottawa: practical tips:

Gatineau option: Across the river in Quebec, Gatineau offers rents 20–30% lower than comparable Ottawa units with easy bus and car access to federal government buildings. Note: Quebec tenant protections and language rules apply
LRT Corridor: Confederation Line and Trillium Line stations have become rental hotspots; units within walking distance of O-Train stations command premiums but offer car-free commuting
Federal employment stability: Ottawa’’s economy is more recession-resistant than most Canadian cities due to government employment; this supports consistent rental demand and limits vacancy spikes during economic downturns
Ontario rent control: Units occupied before November 15, 2018 are subject to Ontario’’s 2.5% annual guideline; newer downtown condo rentals are exempt

Frequently asked questions

Is Ottawa or Gatineau better for renters? Gatineau offers lower rents and strong tenant protections (Quebec’’s TAL system). The tradeoffs are language (primarily French-speaking community and services), Quebec provincial income taxes (higher than Ontario), and perception issues. For bilingual renters comfortable with French, Gatineau offers excellent value with quick access to Ottawa employers.

Ottawa rental market by neighbourhood

Neighbourhood	Avg 1BR	Character	O-Train
Centretown	~$1,800	Downtown, walkable	Confederation Line
Westboro	~$1,850	Trendy, boutiques	Confederation Line
Glebe	~$1,900	Upscale, canal-side	Trillium Line nearby
Hintonburg	~$1,750	Artsy, growing	Confederation Line
Barrhaven	~$1,600	Suburban, family	Trillium Line
Kanata	~$1,650	Tech hub, suburban	Bus/future LRT
Gatineau (QC)	~$1,400	French, across river	STO bus

Official CMHC apartment universe averages (6+ unit buildings)

For a quick, single-number cross-check, Statistics Canada also publishes CMHC’s blended average rent (all tenants combined) for apartment buildings of six units and over:

Unit Type	Average Rent (2025)	Y/Y Change
Bachelor	$1,299	+5.4%
1 Bedroom	$1,559	+4.1%
3 Bedroom+	$1,915	+5.9%
2 Bedroom	$1,793	+3.5%

Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada Table 34-10-0133, apartment structures of six units and over, 2025. This is a blended average across new and existing tenants, not a turnover-only rent.

Metric	2025	Prior Year
Vacancy rate (apartments, 6+ units)	3.4%	2.5%

Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada Table 34-10-0127, 2025.

Canada Rental Market Data — national vacancy rates and average rent
Toronto Rental Market — Ontario’s largest rental market
Ottawa Housing Market — home prices and market trends
Income in Ottawa — household income data
Average Rent in Canada — rent comparison by city

Sources

CMHC Rental Market Survey — Housing Market Information Portal
CMHC 2025 Rental Market Report — December 2025
Ontario Rent Increase Guideline — 2025 guideline