Estimated monthly costs
Cash you’ll need in your first month
Many landlords in Ontario ask for first and last month’s rent up front. Setup includes basic furniture, kitchen items and winter clothing. Estimates, not quotes.
How we estimate
Rent defaults to the middle of our range for a one-bedroom (one adult) or two-bedroom (larger households) in each city. Groceries assume about $450 per adult and $250 per child each month; transit is one adult monthly pass per adult (in Toronto, the TTC monthly fare cap); phone is $50 per adult. Utilities, internet and tenant insurance use typical costs. Your costs will differ.
Rent ranges sit around average asking rents from the Rentals.ca/Urbanation National Rent Report (July–August 2026); individual listings vary widely by neighbourhood and building. Transit: TTC fares, TransLink fares, Calgary Transit fares, STM fares, OC Transpo fares (2026 adult fares; Toronto uses the TTC monthly fare cap, 47 × $3.30). Groceries, phone, utilities and internet are SettleCanada estimates. Checked September 2026.