LaSalle: The River, the Canal, Stable Rents — Montreal's Most Balanced Borough

LaSalle is one of Montreal Island's best-kept residential secrets. Located in the southwest of the island, between Verdun to the east and Lachine to the west, the borough is bordered to the south by the St. Lawrence River and its spectacular rapids, and to the west by the Lachine Canal. It's a riverfront, green, family-friendly, well-connected neighbourhood — and unlike its neighbours that have seen rents skyrocket — relatively stable in terms of housing costs.

Long perceived as a quiet island suburb, LaSalle has quietly accomplished what many neighbourhoods are still striving to achieve: proximity to downtown, access to nature, spacious units and complete services — without Verdun's or Saint-Henri's price tag. With rents among Montreal's most stable and an exceptional living environment along the river and Parc des Rapides, LaSalle deserves far more attention than it currently receives.

This complete guide covers current prices, the neighbourhood's strengths, ongoing projects and transportation options.

LaSalle offers a remarkably stable rental market, sitting between Lachine's pre-boom affordability and Verdun's already-elevated prices.

Studio / bachelor (2½): $900 to $1,200 per month

1 bedroom (3½): $1,183 to $1,500 per month

2 bedrooms (4½): $1,400 to $1,700 per month (average at $1,560, +3.77% in 2025)

3+ bedrooms (5½+): $1,700 to $2,200 per month

According to Centris data from early 2025, the average rent for a 2-bedroom in LaSalle is $1,560, up 3.77% year-over-year — a moderate, controlled increase well below Lachine (+18.7%) or the Plateau. For a 1-bedroom, the average sits around $1,183, up 2.09%. Units are available from $800 per month according to REALTOR.ca, reflecting a market that still has meaningful price diversity.

New rental condos along the riverfront or near Angrignon metro can exceed $1,900 for a two-bedroom. Old duplexes and triplexes in central or Riverside LaSalle represent the best value.

Parc des Rapides is one of Montreal Island's most remarkable natural spaces. Located along the St. Lawrence River, it offers a direct view of the Lachine Rapids — a spectacular natural phenomenon where the river crashes through rocks in powerful turbulence. In summer, whitewater surfers come to ride these natural rapids, a sight unique in the world. The park also hosts kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, outdoor yoga, hiking and community outdoor events throughout the warm season. It is an exceptional blue-green lung for riverside residents.

Boulevard LaSalle runs along the river for several kilometres and forms one of Montreal's most pleasant promenades. Residents in Riverside LaSalle can access the river directly from their street. Walking paths and cycling routes line the riverbank toward Verdun in one direction and Lachine in the other. In season, cultural pop-ups, paddle-boarding events and community gatherings animate the riverside public space. This quality of life is hard to find elsewhere at this price point.

At LaSalle's eastern edge sits Angrignon metro station, the Green Line terminus, and Parc Angrignon — one of Montreal's largest urban parks at 97 hectares, with an artificial lake, walking paths, a farm zoo and seasonal activities. The park is a true green lung for borough residents. Angrignon metro gives access to the full Green Line network, reaching downtown in 15 to 20 minutes.

LaSalle is one of the Montreal boroughs closest to Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport, accessible in 10 to 15 minutes by car. For frequently travelling professionals, international commuters or families that regularly receive visitors from abroad, this is a concrete logistical advantage that doesn't exist in most other Montreal neighbourhoods.

LaSalle features a diverse housing stock: post-war bungalows, duplexes, triplexes, low-rise buildings and new condos. Unlike central neighbourhoods where space is tight, LaSalle regularly offers units with backyards, garages, washer-dryer hookups and parking — rare features at similar price points in more central areas.

The revitalization of the Lachine Canal and Saint-Henri has begun spilling over into LaSalle. New microbreweries, restaurants, cafés and shops are opening along main arteries. The small-town-on-the-water atmosphere, combined with authentic neighbourhood life and complete services, creates a quality of life that is remarkable for a borough still so little known.

New condo and rental unit projects have emerged in the Riverside LaSalle sector, capitalizing on the river's appeal. These developments, often low-rise to integrate with the existing fabric, target young professionals and families seeking a natural living environment.

Several former industrial sites in LaSalle are being reconverted for residential or commercial use. These requalification projects run in parallel with the Lachine-Est eco-neighbourhood project and contribute to the progressive transformation of the southwest island's industrial sector.

Regular investments are made in Parc des Rapides infrastructure and the riverside promenade, including improved cycling and pedestrian access, updated nautical facilities and green space maintenance.

LaSalle is improving its cycling connections with Verdun and Lachine, enabling active travel on both the Lachine Canal and St. Lawrence River banks. The long-term goal is a continuous cycling path linking LaSalle east and west across the island.

LaSalle has approximately 80,000 residents across 16.9 km². The borough has a diverse demographic composition: long-established families, new residents attracted by still-accessible rents and the natural setting, and young professionals seeking an alternative to Verdun and Saint-Henri.

Typical resident profiles:

- Established families in the bungalows and duplexes of central LaSalle

- Young professionals and couples drawn to the Riverside sector and the river

- Outdoor enthusiasts: surfers, kayakers, cyclists, runners

- Frequently travelling professionals who appreciate airport proximity

- Long-term residents attached to LaSalle's village-on-the-water culture

Angrignon station, the Green Line terminus, is accessible by bus or bike in minutes from most parts of LaSalle. From there, downtown is 15 to 20 minutes away. Jolicœur and De l'Église stations (Green Line, in Verdun) are also accessible on foot or by bike from the eastern part of the borough.

Several bus routes cross the borough, including routes 58, 109, 110 and 112, connecting LaSalle's sectors to Angrignon, Jolicœur and De l'Église metro stations. The network is dense enough for car-free living in most parts of the neighbourhood.

- Highway 20: east-west access across the island, toward downtown (15–20 min) and the west

- Mercier Bridge: access to the South Shore (Châteauguay, Kahnawake) — 10 to 15 minutes

- Montreal-Trudeau Airport: 10 to 15 minutes via the highways

- Downtown Montreal: 15 to 20 minutes by car or 20 to 25 minutes by metro

The Lachine Canal cycling path borders the borough and allows the trip to Old Montreal by bike in 45 to 60 minutes. Boulevard LaSalle also offers a scenic riverside ride toward Verdun, accessible to cyclists of all levels.

LaSalle is Montreal's most balanced borough. Neither as expensive as Verdun, nor as unknown as Lachine was just a few years ago, it offers an exceptional natural living environment (river, rapids, Parc Angrignon), reasonable connectivity (metro, highways, airport) and still-contained rents. For families wanting space and nature without leaving the island, and for young professionals seeking the balance between urban and outdoor life, LaSalle is a choice that deserves to be far better known.

Sources: Centris, REALTOR.ca, Zumper, Immovision, Ville de Montréal, STM, Statistics Canada (2021)

Last updated: May 2026