CMHC’s October 2025 survey puts average rent in Greater Victoria at $1,349 for a bachelor, $1,625 for a 1 bedroom, $2,120 for a 2 bedroom and $2,886 for 3 bedrooms or more, with a 3.3% vacancy rate. These are averages of what tenants pay now, not asking rents, and a new tenant can pay more: a vacant 2-bedroom averaged $2,426 against $2,110 for an occupied one. In BC rent can rise by at most 2.3% in 2026 (2.2% in 2027) with three months’ written notice, and each deposit is capped at half a month’s rent.
Average rent in Greater Victoria, October 2025
| Unit | Average rent, October 2025 | October 2024 | Same buildings, change | Vacancy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | $1,349 | $1,366 | 3% | 4.2% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,625 | $1,528 | 5.2% | 3.5% |
| 2 bedroom | $2,120 | $1,993 | 5.1% | 3% |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $2,886 | $2,389 | 3.9% | 1.5% |
| All apartments | $1,805 | $1,687 | 4.9% | 3.3% |
| Area (CMHC zone) | Bachelor | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom | 3 bedrooms or more | All | Vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook St. Area | $1,366 | $1,568 | $1,959 | not published | $1,672 | 1% |
| Fort St. Area | $1,195 | $1,510 | $1,868 | not published | $1,593 | 1.4% |
| James Bay Area | $1,413 | $1,622 | $2,073 | not published | $1,734 | 2.5% |
| Remainder of City of Victoria | $1,286 | $1,644 | $2,284 | $3,253 | $1,793 | 5.3% |
| City of Victoria (Zones 1-4) | $1,311 | $1,595 | $2,078 | $3,035 | $1,714 | 3.2% |
| Saanich/Central Saanich | $1,462 | $1,594 | $2,097 | $2,241 | $1,853 | 3.6% |
| Esquimalt | $1,153 | $1,474 | $1,775 | $2,512 | $1,622 | 2.9% |
| Langford/Vw Royal/Colwood/Sooke | $1,585 | $1,874 | $2,378 | $3,181 | $2,157 | 4% |
| Oak Bay | $1,221 | $1,573 | $1,958 | $2,865 | $1,721 | 2.4% |
| Sidney | $1,704 | $1,984 | $2,515 | $3,316 | $2,268 | 4.7% |
| Remainder of CMA (Zones 5-10) | $1,443 | $1,679 | $2,154 | $2,817 | $1,925 | 3.6% |
| Victoria CMA | $1,349 | $1,625 | $2,120 | $2,886 | $1,805 | 3.3% |
| Renter household income | Monthly rent at 30% of income | Surveyed units in that range | Vacancy rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| <$45K | <$1124 | 4,579 | 0.7% |
| $45K-63K | $1125-1574 | 7,813 | 1.4% |
| $63K-87K | $1575-2174 | 13,243 | 4.4% |
| $87K-126K | $2175-3149 | 7,403 | 5.3% |
| $126K+ | $3150+ | not published | 2.4% |
Check a rent increase
What the rent figures are
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) surveys private apartment buildings every October. The tables here are its Victoria figures for October 2025, published in the 2025 Rental Market Report, set beside October 2024. They cover Greater Victoria from Sooke to Sidney, divided into CMHC’s zones, and a cell is shown as “not published” where CMHC suppressed it.
Two cautions. First, an average of what everyone pays is not what a new tenant pays: people who have lived in a unit for years pay less, and CMHC’s own table for vacant units is higher for most sizes. Second, the survey does not include houses, basement suites or most condo rentals, so the rent for those can differ. This site does not publish listings or asking rents.
Rules that affect renters in BC
| Rule | What the BC Government says |
|---|---|
| Rent increase limit | 2.3% in 2026 and 2.2% in 2027; a landlord cannot round it up |
| Notice | At least three full months’ written notice on Form RTB-7, stating the dollar amount and date |
| How often | Once every 12 months |
| Security deposit | No more than half of the first month’s rent |
| Pet damage deposit | No more than half of the first month’s rent, whatever the number of pets; no monthly pet fee |
| Application fee | Not allowed |
| Move-in or move-out fee | Only in multi-tenanted buildings, up to $15 or 3% of monthly rent, if the tenancy agreement says so |
If something is wrong
Tell the landlord in writing first. If that does not settle it, apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for dispute resolution online with a basic BCeID account, or on paper. The Branch says there is no fixed wait for a hearing and that it tries to schedule expedited hearings within 12 days, and that tenants must keep paying rent during a dispute. The page does not state a fee or a filing deadline, so ask the Branch.
Next steps
Work out what fits your income with the rent affordability calculator, learn the warning signs in the rental scam checklist, and see what buying would cost in closing costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Victoria BC?
According to the CMHC Rental Market Survey of October 2025, the average was $1,805 across all surveyed apartments in the Victoria area, and $1,625 for a 1 bedroom and $2,120 for a 2 bedroom. CMHC’s averages cover every surveyed unit, including long-term tenancies at lower rents, so a unit that is vacant now can cost more: CMHC’s average for vacant 2-bedrooms was $2,426.
How much can my landlord raise the rent in BC?
The BC Government says the limit is 2.3% for 2026 and 2.2% for 2027. Rent can go up once every 12 months, with at least three full months’ written notice on Form RTB-7 that states the exact dollar amount and the effective date. A landlord cannot round up the allowable amount.
How big can a security deposit be?
No more than half of the first month’s rent, and a pet damage deposit is capped at half a month’s rent as well, whatever the number of pets. A landlord cannot charge a monthly pet fee or a fee to process an application, according to the BC Government.
What can I do if I think an increase is wrong?
The BC Government says you do not have to pay an increase above the limit or without proper notice. Raise it with the landlord first, then you can apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for dispute resolution, online with a basic BCeID account or on paper. Keep paying your rent while the dispute is open.
Where are the listings?
There are none here. This site does not list rentals or quote asking rents, because we have no published source for them. Use the averages as a guide to what is realistic, and read the scam checklist before you pay anyone.
More in Moving to Victoria
- Moving to Victoria BCHub
- BC property transfer tax calculatorGuide
- Closing costs in BCGuide
- Rent affordability calculatorGuide
- Rental scam checklistGuide
- First-time home buyer in BCGuide
- Cost of livingGuide
- Victoria vs VancouverGuide
- UVic and Camosun student housingGuide
- Victoria house pricesGuide
- Rent vs buy calculatorGuide
- Neighbourhood factsGuide
- Moving to Victoria checklistGuide