Alberta Market Rent Estimator (2026)

Each Alberta city has a baseline rent for a standard, well-maintained 2-bedroom apartment sourced from the most recent SQRFT rent report (June 2026) and the CMHC October 2025 Rental Market Survey. We then apply three multipliers:

Bedroom adjustment

Per-city 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR baseline rents are set from CMHC data. Studios estimate at roughly 85 percent of 1BR; 4+ bedrooms extrapolate above 3BR.

Unit type multiplier

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  Apartment (purpose-built or older walkup):baseline (1.00x).
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  Condo:typical +5%. Newer amenities, smaller building density.
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  Townhouse:typical +8%. More space and outdoor access.
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  Single-family house:typical +12%. Full house premium.
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  Basement suite:typical -15%. Legal or unregistered, lower daylight.

Condition multiplier

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  New or luxury (built 2020+):+15%. Modern finishes, in-suite laundry, dishwasher, amenities.
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  Well-maintained (default):baseline. Reasonable condition, functional appliances, no major issues.
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  Older but basic:-10%. Dated finishes, older appliances, still fully functional.
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  Needs updating:-20%. Cosmetic issues or dated systems affecting rentability.

The result gives you a low-mid-high range. Low is the 8th percentile expectation; mid is the market midpoint; high is the 92nd percentile you can reach with a premium unit and quality marketing.

Use this before you list a rental or renew a lease. Set your asking rent within the range this calculator returns, then adjust based on:

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  Current market softening or tightening.Calgary vacancy climbed above 5% in 2026; asking rents dipped 4% YoY. Adjust down 3-5% if you want to lease fast in a soft market.
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  Neighborhood premium.A Beltline or Bridgeland listing may command a premium over the Calgary citywide baseline. Central neighborhoods, transit access, and school catchments all shift the number.
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  Seasonality.August through October is peak leasing season. Winter listings often accept 3-5% less than summer.
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  Utility inclusions.All-utilities-included buildings can charge 5-8% more than utilities-excluded buildings of the same size and condition.
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  Vacancy tolerance.If you can accept 2-4 weeks of vacancy, ask at the high end. If you need to lease fast, ask at the mid or low end.

Once you have a target rent, the next step is to list the property with a strong description, real photos, and correct information. Set your ask, screen applicants carefully, and get an Alberta RTA compliant lease in writing.

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  List your property free on SQRFT.Free listings with photos, floor plans, and applicant management.
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  Compare against live listings.Browse comparable rentals on SQRFT to see how your target rent stacks up.
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  Read the city rent report.For deeper context on your local market, read the monthly SQRFT rent report for your city.

• CMHC Rental Market Survey Data Tables
• SQRFT June 2026 rent reports (Calgary, Edmonton)
• Zumper Alberta rent research (June 2026)