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Find student housing in Toronto: the 3 options open to you

Residence, shared flat or living alone: the options for a student in Toronto, rents, neighbourhoods and lease rules in Ontario.

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The Remoters editorial team
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As a student in Toronto, you have three options: a place in a university residence, a room in a shared flat, or a home for yourself. The residence is the simplest on arrival but places are limited. Living alone is the most expensive: according to Remoters' Toronto page, a studio rents for around CAD 1,700 per month and a one-bedroom apartment for around CAD 2,100. In between, a shared flat in a two- or three-bedroom remains the most accessible option on a student budget.

The market has eased a little. According to the rental market report published by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in December 2025, the average rent of a two-bedroom re-let to a new tenant in the Toronto area fell from CAD 2,612 in October 2024 to CAD 2,547 in October 2025. Landlords lowered rents on new leases to stay competitive, notably against condos put up for rent.

This guide compares the three options, presents the neighbourhoods to look at and details the Ontario rules that protect tenants, and those that do not apply to university residences.

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Residence, shared flat or living alone

The university residence

Residences offer a furnished room, often with a meal plan, close to campus. Places are limited and allocated by priority according to rules specific to each institution: ask as soon as you are admitted and respect the application deadlines. Note that, according to the Ontario government, much of the rent rules do not apply to university and college residences: read the residence agreement carefully, along with its payment and departure terms.

The shared flat

This is the most common solution among students without a residence place. A two-bedroom rented on average for CAD 2,547 to a new tenant in October 2025 according to CMHC, and CAD 2,719 according to the figures on the Toronto page. Between two, each share therefore comes to around CAD 1,300 to 1,400 per month, excluding charges. Electricity, internet and parking are often added to the rent, at CAD 100 to CAD 300 per month according to the page.

Living alone

A studio (bachelor) costs about CAD 1,700 per month and a one-bedroom about CAD 2,100, with rents above CAD 2,400 in Downtown. It is the most comfortable solution, but it requires a budget well above that of most students.

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Neighborhoods to look at

  • Downtown Toronto: the most expensive area, with condos and recent buildings. You can get everywhere on foot or by transit, but the budget goes up with it.
  • Midtown: between Bloor and Eglinton, with rents a bit lower than downtown and good subway service.
  • North York: an economic hub with many residential buildings, directly connected to the center by the Yonge-University line.
  • East York: residential and quiet, with more affordable rents.
  • Scarborough: the most affordable area of Toronto, very diverse, served by the Bloor-Danforth line.
  • Etobicoke: green spaces, more spacious homes and rents lower than downtown.

These descriptions come from the Toronto city sheet. For a student, the right neighborhood is first of all the one that lets you reach your campus in a reasonable time: check the public transport trip (TTC network, PRESTO card) before you commit.

The rules that protect tenants in Ontario

Ontario's residential tenancies law (Residential Tenancies Act, 2006) applies to most private rental housing: apartments, condos, houses and secondary units such as basements.

  • The standard lease: most private landlords must use Ontario's standard lease for any new lease. If you haven't received it, ask for it in writing: the landlord must provide it within 21 days. Otherwise, you can withhold one month's rent.
  • Rent increases: for most tenants, rent cannot go up by more than the legal rate once a year. That rate is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027, and the landlord must give written notice at least 90 days before the increase.
  • The deposit: according to the Toronto city sheet, the only deposit allowed is the last month's rent. No damage deposit or application fee can be required.
  • Eviction: the landlord can only evict you in specific cases, with written notice on the form of the Landlord and Tenant Board, which settles disputes.

The application to prepare

The landlord may ask for references from previous landlords, a credit report, proof of income and a rental history. A student arriving from abroad often has neither a Canadian credit history nor a local landlord: prepare a certificate of enrollment, proof of your resources (scholarship, bank statement, commitment from a relative) and, if possible, a reference letter from a former landlord.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Don't pay anything before you have viewed the home, in person or through someone you trust, and checked the landlord's identity.
  • Refuse deposits not provided for by law: a damage deposit, an application fee or several months in advance demanded as a condition.
  • In a flatshare, clarify who signs the lease and put the split of rent and bills in writing.
  • Compare rents: with turnover rents falling according to CMHC, a price well above neighborhood levels can be negotiated.
  • Plan ahead: demand peaks before the September start of term. Start your search several weeks before you arrive.

Getting help searching from abroad

Preparing for your start of term from France, without being able to view, exposes you to fraudulent listings and bad surprises. A Remoters home finder based in Toronto can search for you based on your campus and budget, view homes, prepare your application and review the lease before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions our readers ask, written to stand on their own.

Sources cited in this article

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