Canadian Renters Flock to Atlantic and Prairie Provinces for Affordable Housing
New data from early 2026 indicates a significant shift in the Canadian rental market, with renters expanding their geographic search beyond major urban centers in pursuit of better value and affordability. According to recent figures from RentCafe, a prominent rental listings and apartment search platform, this trend is reshaping housing demand across the country.
Moncton Tops National Rankings for Renter Interest
Moncton, New Brunswick, has emerged as the top destination for renter-interest in Canada, according to RentCafe's latest report. The city is followed closely by Halifax, Saskatoon, and Regina in the rankings. Notably, only three major markets—Vancouver, Ottawa, and Edmonton—appear in the top ten, highlighting a growing momentum toward smaller Atlantic and Prairie cities.
Florin Petrut, author of RentCafe's Renter Interest Report, emphasized that cost differences between markets are a key driver of this movement. "Rent prices in smaller cities like Moncton or Regina tend to be lower than what you’d typically pay in Toronto or Vancouver, and that gap is driving a lot of movement," Petrut explained.
Affordability Pressures Fuel Geographic Expansion
The shift toward smaller markets is largely driven by persistent affordability pressures in Canada's largest and most expensive cities. RentCafe's analysis shows that renters are increasingly willing to look beyond traditional hubs to find better value. For instance, page views for Moncton rose 34 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, with much of that traffic originating from prospective renters in Toronto and Montréal.
Mid-sized Ontario cities also saw notable gains in renter engagement metrics. Hamilton and Kitchener recorded the fastest rises in the national rankings, climbing ten and nine spots, respectively. Engagement in these markets surged sharply, with favourited listings more than tripling in Hamilton and increasing by 160 percent in Kitchener—increases that RentCafe described as uncommon.
Changing Patterns in Major Markets
While smaller cities gain traction, Canada's largest rental markets are experiencing moderated engagement patterns. Toronto and Vancouver both reported double-digit declines in page views and saved searches, which RentCafe suggests may indicate renters are spending less time browsing before taking action. Despite this, Vancouver climbed four spots to seventh place in the rankings due to a sharp drop in available listings, prompting renters to act more quickly when suitable units appear.
Calgary followed a different trajectory, dropping six spots to 15th place after ranking among Canada's most competitive rental markets in recent years. Petrut attributed this decline to a wave of new purpose-built rental supply coming online in the city, rather than a pullback in demand. "With more apartments available, renters faced less pressure to act quickly," he said, noting that greater choice typically leads to fewer repeat visits, saved searches, and favourited listings.
Intentional Search Behavior Among Renters
Petrut highlighted that renters are becoming more intentional in their searches, with only five of the 25 cities included in the report showing an increase in favourited listings. This trend underscores a strategic approach to housing decisions, as affordability and supply dynamics continue to influence the rental landscape across Canada.
The data from RentCafe paints a clear picture of a rental market in flux, with affordability driving Canadians toward smaller cities in the Atlantic and Prairie provinces. As high home prices keep many households in the rental market longer, this geographic expansion is likely to persist, reshaping housing demand and urban growth patterns nationwide.
