Nova Scotia has overtaken British Columbia as the most expensive province in Canada for apartment and condominium rentals, according to a new report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation.
The June report found average asking rents for apartments and condos in Nova Scotia reached $2,343 in May, up 2.6 per cent from a year earlier. By comparison, average asking rents in British Columbia were $2,328.
The report says Nova Scotia’s position at the top of the rankings is being driven largely by the Halifax-Dartmouth market.
Researchers point to a high concentration of newly constructed rental units in the region, which generally command higher rents than older buildings. The report also notes Nova Scotia has a larger proportion of two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments available compared to provinces such as British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.
Halifax among Canada’s most expensive rental markets
The report found Halifax remains the most expensive rental market in Atlantic Canada.
Average asking rent in Halifax reached $2,319 in May, ranking 13th among major Canadian markets. One-bedroom units averaged $2,064 while two-bedroom units averaged $2,570.
Dartmouth was also listed among the country’s fastest-growing rental markets, posting a 5.2 per cent annual increase in asking rents. Halifax saw a smaller increase of 1.7 per cent.
The report notes Halifax is now more expensive than several of Canada’s largest cities, including Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton.
National rents continue to fall
While Nova Scotia saw rent increases, the national trend moved in the opposite direction.
Across Canada, average asking rents fell 4.7 per cent compared to May 2025, dropping to $2,029. The report marks the 20th consecutive month of year-over-year rent declines nationally.
Researchers attribute the decline to increasing rental supply, slowing population growth, reduced immigration levels and weaker demand from international students.
Despite those broader trends, Nova Scotia remains an outlier, with rents continuing to rise as demand in the Halifax-Dartmouth region remains strong.
