Rent-to-Income Calculator
CMHC considers housing affordable when it costs less than 30% of before-tax household income. Enter your rent and income to see where you stand.
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Share of income spent on rent and utilities
30.4%
At or above CMHC's 30% affordability standard
Rent that keeps shelter costs under 30%
$1,975
After the utilities you entered
| Metro | Average 2-bedroom rent | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | $2,364 | $94,560 |
| Victoria | $2,121 | $84,840 |
| Kelowna | $2,098 | $83,920 |
| Toronto | $2,045 | $81,800 |
| Calgary | $1,908 | $76,320 |
| Nanaimo | $1,895 | $75,800 |
| Halifax | $1,828 | $73,120 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | $1,816 | $72,640 |
| Kingston | $1,763 | $70,520 |
| Oshawa | $1,762 | $70,480 |
| Ottawa–Gatineau | $1,757 | $70,280 |
| Barrie | $1,749 | $69,960 |
| Kamloops | $1,673 | $66,920 |
| Hamilton | $1,659 | $66,360 |
| London | $1,645 | $65,800 |
| Abbotsford–Mission | $1,623 | $64,920 |
| Brantford | $1,604 | $64,160 |
| Edmonton | $1,598 | $63,920 |
| Lethbridge | $1,593 | $63,720 |
| Winnipeg | $1,570 | $62,800 |
| Saskatoon | $1,559 | $62,360 |
| St. Catharines–Niagara | $1,527 | $61,080 |
| Peterborough | $1,513 | $60,520 |
| Regina | $1,478 | $59,120 |
| Moncton | $1,452 | $58,080 |
| Windsor | $1,451 | $58,040 |
| Fredericton | $1,431 | $57,240 |
| Red Deer | $1,418 | $56,720 |
| St. John's | $1,348 | $53,920 |
| Montréal | $1,346 | $53,840 |
| Saint John | $1,290 | $51,600 |
| Québec City | $1,276 | $51,040 |
| Medicine Hat | $1,217 | $48,680 |
| Sherbrooke | $1,062 | $42,480 |
| Trois-Rivières | $1,017 | $40,680 |
About the standard
The 30% threshold is one of three standards CMHC uses to identify core housing need, along with adequacy (no major repairs needed) and suitability (enough bedrooms). It's a benchmark for public policy, not a landlord's approval rule.
About the metro rents
The table uses CMHC's October Rental Market Survey average for 2-bedroom units in purpose-built rental buildings. Rents asked for vacant units are usually higher; see asking rents for that measure.
Sources
Rules are summarized in our own words from official publications. Check the source and talk to your lender or a licensed professional before making a decision.
Informational only, not financial advice. Data as of the release snapshot generated 2026-11-12.