With Montreal's average listing rent exceeding $1,600 this year, your chances of finding a home for less may be dwindling. But that doesn't mean there aren't cheaper apartments out there, though they might not be downtown or in Westmount. For those who are comfortable sharing a home with a stranger, the prospects are a little better, but this list is primarily composed of apartments for one.
Renting in Montreal is an extreme sport, with obstacles everywhere and a barrier to entry higher than the tallest outdoor staircase. There is little positive news to be gleaned from the real estate market these days, but if you're looking for cheaper rents than in Toronto, you're ever-so-slightly in luck but maybe not for much longer.
As average rent creeps up, finding quality, affordable Montreal apartments is becoming increasingly difficult, even for people who have lived here their whole lives. The abundance of suspicious listings and sketchy landlords poses an additional challenge.
According to a recent liv.rent report, Montreal's average rent is now well over the $1,000 mark, but plenty of renters pay just around one grand each month to keep themselves sheltered. Not every $1,000 apartment is made equal, though different neighbourhoods have vastly different rental markets, with floor space, number of rooms and other amenities varying widely across the island, even at a similar price point.