Average rent in B.C. over $2,000 in January

British Columbians are paying the highest average rent for housing in Canada.

The February 2022 Rent Report from Rentals.ca put the average rent for B.C. at $2,181 in January.

That marks an annual increase of 9.6 per cent from the average of $1,990 in January of 2021. However it is noted that the rent is relatively unchanged from the average of $2,182 recorded in December of 2021.

Vancouver was the primary factor in that increase as the rent was recorded at $2,550 in January, up 16.2 per cent from the same month the year prior. The average rent recorded in Vancouver was also the highest in the country.

Ontario had the second highest average rent in January at $2,110, up 9.7 per cent from the year prior. Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest average rent at $969.

Nationally, the average rent for January was recorded at $1,807, up 4.4 per cent annually and one per cent on a month-to-month basis.

The website tracks rents for 20 larger cities in Canada, with Vancouver the only B.C. city.