Canadians are turning to smaller cities in the search for more affordable rent. (Credit: Getty Images)
Renters are looking for housing beyond Canada’s largest urban centres, with early-2026 data pointing to a widening geographic search area shaped largely by affordability and shifting supply.
New figures from RentCafe, a rental listings and apartment search platform, have Moncton, N.B., topping the national rankings for renter-interest, followed by Halifax, Saskatoon and Regina. Only three major markets (Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton) appear in the top 10, highlighting growing momentum in smaller Atlantic and Prairie cities.
The shift toward smaller markets comes as affordability pressures persist in Canada’s largest and most expensive cities, according to RentCafe’s analysis. Florin Petrut, author of the platform’s Renter Interest Report, said cost differences between markets remain a key driver.
“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 said.
RentCafe’s data suggests renters are increasingly willing to look beyond traditional hubs in search of better value. Page views for Moncton rose 34 per cent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, with much of that traffic coming from prospective renters in Toronto and Montréal.
Mid-sized Ontario cities also had notable gains in renter engagement metrics, including favourited listings, according to RentCafe’s data. Hamilton and Kitchener recorded the fastest rises in the national rankings, climbing 10 and nine spots, respectively. Engagement rose sharply in those markets, with favourited listings more than tripling in Hamilton and rising 160 per cent in Kitchener — increases RentCafe said were uncommon.
“Renters are being far more intentional in their searches,” Petrut said, noting that only five of the 25 cities included in the report had an increase in favourited listings.
Calgary followed a different pattern. After ranking among Canada’s most competitive rental markets in recent years, the city dropped six spots to 15th place. Petrut attributed the drop 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, adding that greater choice typically translates into fewer repeat visits, saved searches and favourited listings. “It’s not necessarily weaker demand, but a more relaxed search pace.”
Canada’s largest rental markets remain active, though engagement patterns appear to be moderating. Toronto and Vancouver both had double-digit declines in page views and saved searches, which RentCafe said may indicate renters are spending less time browsing before acting.
Vancouver nonetheless climbed four spots to seventh place in RentCafe’s rankings, as available listings dropped sharply. Petrut said tighter supply has contributed to renters moving more quickly when suitable units appear, while high home prices continue to keep many households in the rental market longer.
Separate data from Zumper, a digital rental marketplace that tracks asking rents across major Canadian cities, reinforces the affordability divide emerging across the country. Zumper’s latest national rent report said Canada’s rent index remained negative year-over-year for the 16th consecutive month, with growing divergence between large and secondary markets.
The Toronto and Halifax markets illustrate that split. While one-bedroom rents in Toronto fell 6.5 per cent year-over-year to $2,150, Halifax climbed two spots nationally as rents rose seven per cent annually.
• Email: shcampbell@postmedia.com