Market Overview
Edmonton remained one of Canada's more affordable big-city rental markets through August 2026. The average asking rent for apartments and condominiums was $1,520 per month, up 0.7% from July but down 4.1% from a year earlier, according to the Rentals.ca and Urbanation National Rent Report published September 9, 2026. Edmonton was one of four of Canada's six largest markets where rents rose month over month, alongside Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal.
Nationwide, the average asking rent for apartments and condos was $2,040 in August, and the average across all property types was $2,035, down 4.8% year over year in the 23rd consecutive month of annual declines. Alberta apartment and condo rents fell 4.3% over the year, one of the largest provincial declines alongside B.C. and Ontario.
On the purpose-built side, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recorded an overall apartment vacancy rate of 3.8% in October 2025. A vacancy rate in that range points to a broadly balanced market, with enough available units to give tenants real choice without the extreme tightness seen in some other Canadian cities.
Average Rents by Unit Size
The table below shows CMHC's in-place averages for Edmonton's existing purpose-built rental stock as of October 2025. All Edmonton per-bedroom cells carry CMHC's highest reliability rating. For a current read on one-bedroom asking rents, liv.rent's August 2026 report tracks unfurnished and furnished listings separately.
- Studio (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,108 / month
- 1 Bedroom (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,301 / month
- 1 Bedroom, unfurnished (liv.rent asking, August 2026): $1,264 / month, up 2.25% from July and down 2.91% from $1,301 a year earlier
- 1 Bedroom, furnished (liv.rent asking, August 2026): $1,413 / month, down 8.80% from $1,549 a year earlier
- 2 Bedroom (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,598 / month
- 3 Bedroom+ (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,802 / month
- All apartments (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,493 / month
Rentals.ca's $1,520 August average for apartments and condos sits close to CMHC's $1,493 overall purpose-built average. Edmonton's unfurnished one-bedroom asking rents have also fallen far less than Calgary's over the past year (down 2.91% versus 7.46% in liv.rent's data), a sign of the steadier market Edmonton is known for.
Neighborhood Breakdown
Central and university-adjacent neighbourhoods continue to command Edmonton's higher rents, while established suburban and outer communities offer the best value per bedroom. Walkable, amenity-rich areas near transit and the river valley have historically drawn strong demand from students, young professionals and downtown workers.
One-bedroom asking rents by sector (liv.rent, August 2026)
- Southwest: the priciest sector for an unfurnished one-bedroom at $1,344
- West: the most affordable sector at $1,197
- Northeast: the largest monthly increase, up 6.68% from July
- Southeast: the only sector where unfurnished one-bedroom rents fell from July, down 0.82%
Higher-priced and high-demand areas
- Downtown and Oliver (now Wîhkwêntôwin), the walkable core and office district
- Whyte Avenue / Old Strathcona, the city's lively entertainment and dining strip
- Garneau, university-adjacent and popular with students and faculty
- Windermere and the newer south-side suburbs, modern master-planned communities
Best-value areas
- Mill Woods, an established southeast community that typically lists below the core
- Clareview and the northeast, value-oriented neighbourhoods with transit access
Neighbourhood-level rent averages fluctuate month to month based on listing mix. For in-place rents by area, see the CMHC Edmonton rent tables which are updated on CMHC's schedule.
Supply and Vacancy
Edmonton's purpose-built rental market sat in broadly balanced territory as of CMHC's October 2025 survey, with an overall vacancy rate of 3.8%. A rate in that range gives tenants a reasonable selection of units without the pressure of an extremely tight market.
Vacancy by unit type (CMHC, October 2025)
- Studio: 3.5%
- 1 bedroom: 4.0%
- 2 bedroom: 3.8%
- 3 bedroom or more: 3.5%
- Overall: 3.8%
Vacancy is fairly even across unit types in Edmonton, a sign of a market in balance rather than one skewed toward a shortage or a glut in any single segment. Shared accommodation shows the same steadiness: the average asking rent for a room in Edmonton fell just 2.1% over the year to $776, the smallest decline among Canada's six largest markets, according to Rentals.ca.
Outlook
The near-term outlook for Edmonton points to continued affordability and stability. Rentals.ca describes the national outlook as increasingly uncertain, citing new US tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs, the record volume of apartment completions and a declining population as headwinds, partly offset by pent-up demand entering the market as affordability improves. Edmonton's August uptick from July, against a 4.1% annual decline, fits its pattern of smaller swings than faster-moving markets.
Because Alberta has no rent control, there is no cap on how much rent can rise between tenancies. Alberta.ca confirms there is no limit on the amount of an increase, but rent can only go up once every 365 days and never during a fixed term, and a month-to-month tenant must get three full tenancy months of written notice. A written move-in inspection under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act is the best protection for a tenant's deposit and a landlord's ability to claim for genuine damage.
What this means for renters
- Edmonton stretches a housing budget further than most large Canadian cities
- A roughly balanced 3.8% vacancy rate gives real choice across neighbourhoods
- Compare sectors: one-bedroom asking rents varied by about $150 a month across the city in August
- Insist on a written move-in inspection to protect your deposit
What this means for landlords
- Realistic pricing matters, Edmonton renters compare across a wide, affordable market
- Quality photos and detailed listings win the competition for eyeballs
- Renewals are cheaper than turnover, offer existing tenants a fair renewal rate
- A written move-in inspection under the Alberta RTA is your best defence in a deposit dispute
SQRFT's September 2026 report will follow the next Rentals.ca National Rent Report, which covers September data.
What it means for you
Turn the market shift into a smarter decision
If you own a rental
LandlordsPrice to the market you're in. Edmonton's average asking rent ticked up 0.7% from July to $1,520 but is still 4.1% lower than a year ago, and purpose-built vacancy is near 3.8%. Realistic pricing fills units faster than holding out for a premium.
Compete on retention. Renewing an existing tenant beats the turnover cost of a vacancy. Offer a fair renewal ahead of the next term.
Get the paperwork right. Alberta has no rent control, but a written move-in inspection is still your best defence against a deposit dispute at move-out.
If you rent
TenantsEdmonton stretches your budget further. At $1,520, Edmonton's average apartment and condo asking rent sits more than $500 below the national average of $2,040, so the same budget usually buys more space or a better location.
Compare sectors. In liv.rent's August data, an unfurnished one-bedroom averaged $1,197 in Edmonton's West sector versus $1,344 in the Southwest, so it pays to compare across the city before you sign.
Protect your deposit. Insist on a written move-in inspection under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act. Without one, a landlord cannot lawfully deduct for damage when you leave.
MOVING MEANS DISPUTES
Every move-in and move-out is a moment a rental dispute can start.
Most cluster in Calgary and Edmonton. Deposits and possession are the common flashpoints, right around move-in and move-out. sqrft.ca helps landlords and tenants handle the whole tenancy in one place: sign an Alberta RTA compliant lease, run a timestamped move-in and move-out inspection, and track maintenance and rent.