The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Ottawa reached $2,100 in June 2026, marking a 4% increase compared to the same month last year, according to a new report from Rentals.ca. The data highlights ongoing affordability challenges in the capital city's rental market.
Rental Prices by Unit Type
For two-bedroom apartments, the average rent climbed to $2,650, up 3.5% year-over-year. Studio units saw the largest increase, with average rents rising 5% to $1,550. The report analyzed listings across Ottawa, including downtown, suburban areas, and surrounding communities.
“Ottawa remains one of the more expensive rental markets in Ontario, though it still lags behind Toronto and Vancouver,” said Rentals.ca spokesperson Sarah Johnson. “The demand continues to outpace supply, especially for affordable units.”
Neighbourhood Variations
Downtown Ottawa commanded the highest rents, with one-bedroom units averaging $2,300 per month. By contrast, neighbourhoods like Vanier and Overbrook offered lower averages, around $1,800 for a one-bedroom. The report noted that newer buildings with amenities like gyms and concierge services commanded premiums of 10-15%.
Rent increases were most pronounced in the Glebe and Westboro areas, where one-bedroom rents rose 6% year-over-year. Suburban areas such as Barrhaven and Orleans saw more modest increases of 2-3%.
Impact on Tenants
The rising costs are straining household budgets. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), nearly 40% of Ottawa renters spend more than 30% of their pre-tax income on housing, a threshold considered unaffordable. The vacancy rate in Ottawa remained tight at 2.1% in 2025, the latest data available, down from 2.5% in 2024.
“We are seeing more tenants seeking roommates or moving to cheaper areas outside the city core,” said local housing advocate Mark Tremblay. “The lack of purpose-built rental supply is a key driver of these increases.”
Market Outlook
Rentals.ca projects continued upward pressure on rents through 2027, with average one-bedroom rents expected to exceed $2,200. The City of Ottawa's recent approval of several apartment developments may help ease supply constraints, but most projects will not be completed until 2028 or later.
Provincial rent control rules, which limit annual increases to 2.5% for units occupied before 2018, do not apply to newer buildings, leaving many tenants exposed to larger hikes. The report advises renters to negotiate lease terms and consider signing longer leases to lock in rates.
