The 6 areas of Toronto for renting an apartment

Downtown, Midtown, North York, Etobicoke, East York, Scarborough: where to rent in Toronto, at what price and under what rules.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

2 August 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

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To rent an apartment in Toronto, six areas come up in most searches: Downtown, Midtown, North York, Etobicoke, East York and Scarborough. Downtown is the most expensive, Scarborough the most affordable; in between, each area offers a different balance between rent, commute and quality of life.

The market has eased a little. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments in the Greater Toronto area rose to 3% in 2025, driven by lower international immigration, competition from condos put up for rent and a less favourable economic climate. Rents are still among the highest in Canada: expect around 2,100 Canadian dollars (CAD) per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

This guide presents the six areas, the budget to plan for, the rental rules in Ontario and the pitfalls to avoid when searching from abroad.

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The 6 areas for renting an apartment in Toronto

1. Downtown Toronto

This is the most expensive area, with condos and recent buildings, ideal if you work in the financial district. An unfurnished one-bedroom rents here for around 2,428 CAD per month. CMHC observes that tenants are coming back towards the centre, pushed by the return to the office required by large employers and by the concessions landlords are offering. In some central neighbourhoods, however, the vacancy rate has risen: 3.1% in the Church-Yonge corridor and 3.6% in the Waterfront Communities area in 2025.

2. Midtown Toronto

Between Bloor and Eglinton, Midtown offers rents slightly below Downtown and good metro service. The University/Annex area had a vacancy rate of 3.1% in 2025, compared with 2.2% in 2023.

3. North York

An economic hub in the north, North York has many residential buildings and a direct link to the centre via the Yonge-University metro line. Downsview, home to York University's Keele campus, saw its vacancy rate go from 0.7% in 2023 to 3.1% in 2025, as the number of international students fell.

4. Etobicoke

In the west, Etobicoke offers more green space, larger homes and rents below the city centre. It is a good option for a couple or a family.

5. East York

A quiet residential neighbourhood popular with families, East York offers more accessible rents than Downtown while staying close to the centre.

6. Scarborough

The most affordable area of Toronto, with great cultural diversity, linked to the centre by the Bloor-Danforth metro line. The commute is longer, but the rent gap can be significant.

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What budget for renting in Toronto?

Rents vary with the size of the home and the area. Average benchmarks:

Studio (bachelor): around 1,700 CAD per month.
One bedroom: around 2,100 CAD per month, up to 2,428 CAD Downtown.
Two bedrooms: around 2,719 CAD per month.
Charges (electricity, internet, parking): often extra, 100 to 300 CAD per month.

According to CMHC, a two-bedroom condo put up for rent rented for 2,904 CAD per month on average in 2025, and the vacancy rate of these condos remained very low, at 1%. Condo owners, less inclined to leave a home empty, are more open to negotiation.

The easing mainly benefits new tenants: in 2025, the asking rent on re-letting a two-bedroom fell by 2.5% on average in the region. In buildings completed since 2022, the vacancy rate was close to 7%, and 75% of these buildings offered at least one incentive, most often one or two months of free rent. Ask for it every time in a new building.

Be careful, though: these recent homes are not subject to the annual cap on increases. In Ontario, homes occupied for the first time after 15 November 2018 are exempt from the guideline. For the others, the maximum increase is set at 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027, and the landlord must give at least 90 days' written notice.

Application and lease: the rules in Ontario

Renting is governed by Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act. A few rules to know before signing:

The standard lease is mandatory for most private housing. If the landlord does not give it to you, you can request it in writing; they have 21 days to provide it, failing which you can withhold one month's rent.
The only deposit allowed is the equivalent of the last month's rent. No damage deposit can be required.
No application fees are legally permitted for submitting an application.
The application generally includes proof of income, references from former landlords and sometimes a credit report. The landlord cannot require your social insurance number.
In case of a dispute, the Landlord and Tenant Board is the competent tribunal.

For searching, the most widely used platforms are Kijiji, Zumper, Rentals.ca, PadMapper and liv.rent, as well as the websites of the large management companies. Homes close to metro lines go fastest: allow four to eight weeks of active searching.

Scams: the warning signs

You are asked to pay application fees or a deposit before any viewing.
The rent is well below the going prices for a central home in the area.
The supposed landlord is abroad and cannot arrange a viewing.
No standard lease is offered to you.

Always view, in person or through someone you trust, and pay only the deposit provided for by law, against a receipt.

Searching from France

From abroad, it is hard to view and react fast enough. A Remoters home finder based in Toronto can search for you according to your budget and workplace, view apartments, put together your application and review the lease. The first conversation and the quote are free.