Report shows Victoria renters may unknowingly pay for ‘hidden month’ of rent every year

Renting in Victoria already comes with a steep price tag, and a new report shows the cost is even higher than most people see advertised.

A national report from Rentals.ca found that Victoria renters pay an average of $2,287 a month before add-ons.

Once common charges like parking, storage, internet, and insurance are included, that total rises to roughly $2,528 a month.

Over a year, the difference adds up to almost $2,900 in extra costs. That’s the equivalent of paying more than a full extra month of rent annually, without most renters realizing it’s happening.

Victoria isn’t alone in this, as this matter impacts cities across all of Canada.

Ottawa’s average advertised rent is slightly lower than Victoria’s, yet renters there end up paying nearly $4,000 a year in extra fees. Halifax renters face a similar jump.

Even cities that are cheaper alternatives to Victoria—like Edmonton and Calgary—see increases large enough to equal nearly two full extra months of rent once fees are included.

The report also points out that the expenses don’t stop there.

Renters are still responsible for utilities such as hydro, heating, and water, and some buildings charge extra for laundry, pets, storage lockers, or even move-in fees.

See also:

• Victoria climbing the charts as renter interest shifts across Canada
• Report shows rent in Victoria is down since this time last year

Those costs can push monthly housing budgets significantly higher than what’s advertised.

Monthly add-ons may seem insignificant, but over the course of a year, they can accumulate to a substantial amount.

Here’s the breakdown of annual extras by city:

The full Rentals.ca analysis is available to the public and includes detailed rental breakdowns for cities across the country.