Montreal's average rent is $1,291 a month, but almost no one pays "Montreal" rent. They pay Plateau rent, Verdun rent or Ahuntsic rent, and the gap between neighbourhoods is wider than the gap between most Quebec cities. An average 2-bedroom in Ville-Marie costs $2,250 a month; the same apartment in Verdun costs $1,217. That's a difference of more than $12,000 a year.
We compared 15 of Montreal's best-known neighbourhoods using CMHC's latest neighbourhood-level rent survey, then added current listing prices and the income you would need to live in each one comfortably. If you're still deciding between cities, start with our cost of living comparison of Quebec's major cities.
The short answer
- Most expensive: Ville-Marie (downtown and Old Montreal), at $1,724 on average across all unit sizes, and $2,250 for a 2-bedroom.
- Most affordable: Parc-Extension ($1,028), Ahuntsic ($1,110) and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce ($1,121).
- Biggest surprise: Villeray ($1,439) now costs as much as the Plateau ($1,433).
- Best value near the centre: Verdun, where a 2-bedroom averages $1,217, about $1,000 a month less than downtown and a short ride away on the green line.
Average rent in 15 Montreal neighbourhoods
The figures below come from CMHC's October 2025 Rental Market Survey, which reports average rents for purpose-built rental apartments in each neighbourhood. In Quebec terms, a 1-bedroom is a 3½ and a 2-bedroom is a 4½.
Neighbourhoods ranked from most to least expensive (average rent, all units · 1-bedroom · 2-bedroom):
- Ville-Marie (downtown, Old Montreal): $1,724 · $1,642 · $2,250
- Westmount: $1,675 · $1,313 · $1,788
- Villeray: $1,439 · $1,019 · $1,504
- Le Sud-Ouest (Griffintown, Saint-Henri, Pointe-Saint-Charles): $1,434 · $1,250 · $1,563
- Plateau-Mont-Royal: $1,433 · $1,298 · 2-bedroom not published
- Centre-Sud and the Village (East Ville-Marie): $1,347 · $1,202 · $1,304
- Saint-Laurent: $1,270 · $1,163 · $1,365
- Hochelaga-Maisonneuve: $1,251 · $1,142 · $1,333
- Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie: $1,237 · $1,055 · $1,348
- Côte-des-Neiges: $1,227 · $1,123 · $1,349
- Verdun: $1,226 · $1,105 · $1,217
- Montréal-Nord: $1,150 · $1,050 · $1,126
- Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: $1,121 · $1,021 · $1,303
- Ahuntsic: $1,110 · $937 · $1,290
- Parc-Extension: $1,028 · $941 · 2-bedroom not published
For comparison, the average across the whole Montreal metro area is $1,291 (all units), $1,131 for a 1-bedroom and $1,346 for a 2-bedroom.
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025. "Not published" means CMHC withheld the figure because the sample was too small to be reliable.
Browse current listings by size: 1-bedroom apartments in Montreal, 2-bedroom apartments or 3-bedroom apartments.
What the averages don't tell you
The rent on a listing is higher than the average. CMHC's figures include tenants who have lived in the same apartment for years, with increases limited by the TAL. When a unit changes hands, it is usually re-rented at a higher price. Listing data from Zumper for September 2026 shows how wide that gap can be:
- Old Montreal: $2,385 average asking rent
- Ville-Marie: $1,995
- Le Sud-Ouest: $1,920, about $490 above CMHC's neighbourhood average
- Côte-des-Neiges: $1,886, about $660 above CMHC's average
- Snowdon: $1,765
- Sainte-Marie (Centre-Sud): $1,640
- Milton-Parc: $1,500
Treat the CMHC averages as what your neighbours pay, and the listing prices as what you'll pay.
New buildings drive the top of the market. On the island of Montreal, apartments built since 2015 averaged $1,882 a month in October 2025, and 5.6% of them were empty. That is why vacancy is highest where construction is concentrated: 4.5% in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and 4.2% on the Plateau, versus 0.7% in Montréal-Nord. If you're comfortable with a newer building, these are the neighbourhoods where landlords are most likely to offer a free month or other incentives. For a closer look at where the new supply is going, see our posts on Griffintown and Downtown's rental construction boom and the major rental projects of 2026–2027.
Averages can hide unit mix. Villeray's overall average is high partly because its 2-bedrooms ($1,504) cost more than Rosemont's ($1,348), while its 1-bedrooms are among the cheapest on the list ($1,019). If you only need a 3½, Villeray is still a good deal.
The income you need in each neighbourhood
The common affordability rule says rent should take no more than 30% of gross income. Applied to an average 2-bedroom, the annual income needed in each neighbourhood is:
- Ville-Marie: $90,000
- Westmount: $71,520
- Le Sud-Ouest: $62,520
- Villeray: $60,160
- Saint-Laurent: $54,600
- Côte-des-Neiges: $53,960
- Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie: $53,920
- Hochelaga-Maisonneuve: $53,320
- Centre-Sud: $52,160
- Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: $52,120
- Ahuntsic: $51,600
- Verdun: $48,680
- Montréal-Nord: $45,040
Rentack calculation: 2-bedroom average rent × 12 ÷ 0.30. Plateau and Parc-Extension are left out because CMHC did not publish a 2-bedroom figure.
Want to run the numbers for your own salary? Try our rent calculator.
Costs that don't change with the neighbourhood
A few big costs are the same wherever you live on the island. A monthly STM pass is $110 in every neighbourhood (zone A), and Hydro-Québec rates are identical across the province. What does change is whether you need a car. From Verdun, Rosemont, Villeray or Côte-des-Neiges, you're on a metro line. In parts of Ahuntsic, Saint-Laurent and Montréal-Nord, you're more likely to rely on buses, which can make a lower rent less of a saving than it looks.
Also check what the rent includes. In older buildings on the Plateau, in Rosemont and in Villeray, heating is often not included, while newer buildings downtown and in Griffintown frequently include heat and hot water. A "chauffé" or "tout inclus" apartment can justify a higher rent once you count the winter heating bill you won't pay.
Which neighbourhood fits your budget?
- Up to $1,150 a month: Parc-Extension, Ahuntsic, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Montréal-Nord. Look here for the lowest average rents on the island.
- $1,150 to $1,300: Verdun, Côte-des-Neiges, Rosemont, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Saint-Laurent. This is the middle of the market, and most of these neighbourhoods have metro access.
- $1,300 to $1,450: Centre-Sud, the Plateau, the Sud-Ouest and Villeray. You're paying for location and character.
- Over $1,450: Westmount and Ville-Marie, where new towers and prime locations set the price.
Montreal's map is still changing fast. Read our look at the six major districts reshaping Montreal by 2050 to see where new neighbourhoods are being built.
Ready to start looking? Browse verified apartments for rent in Montreal and filter by neighbourhood, price and move-in date.
FAQ
What is the cheapest neighbourhood to rent in Montreal?
Among the neighbourhoods CMHC publishes, Parc-Extension has the lowest average rent ($1,028 across all unit sizes in October 2025), followed by Ahuntsic ($1,110) and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce ($1,121).
What is the most expensive neighbourhood to rent in Montreal?
Ville-Marie, which includes downtown and Old Montreal. The average rent there is $1,724, and an average 2-bedroom costs $2,250. Westmount is second at $1,675.
How much is rent on the Plateau-Mont-Royal?
The average rent on the Plateau was $1,433 in October 2025, and $1,298 for a 1-bedroom (3½). Asking rents on listings are typically higher, since apartments are re-rented at market price when tenants move out.
Is Verdun cheaper than the Plateau?
Yes. Verdun's average rent is $1,226, about $200 a month less than the Plateau's $1,433, and a 2-bedroom in Verdun averages $1,217.
How much should I earn to rent a 2-bedroom in Montreal?
Using the 30% rule, you need about $53,800 a year for an average Montreal 2-bedroom. That ranges from about $45,000 in Montréal-Nord to $90,000 in Ville-Marie.
