Vancouver has long been one of Canada’s most expensive cities to rent in, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be found on rentals – even within the city itself. There are plenty of Vancouver neighbourhoods with average rent prices that are well below the city’s average, offering an opportunity for budget-minded renters to secure a place within the notoriously costly city. In this post, we’ll look at 8 of the cheapest Vancouver neighbourhoods, highlighting their location, key features, and more to help you decide where to look for your next home.

Table of Contents

1. Sunset-Victoria Fraserview

Average rent in Sunset-Victoria Fraserview

Average rent prices in the Sunset-Victoria Fraserview area are typically well below the city of Vancouver’s average. This January, unfurnished rentals average $1,952 for a one-bedroom and $2,551 for a two-bedroom unit.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Sunset-Victoria Fraserview

About: Sunset-Victoria Fraserview encompasses two distinct neighbourhoods which each has its own diverse features. Sunset is the home of Little India on Main Street, where Southeast Asian flavours and fashions abound in markets, grocers, textile shops and restaurants. Victoria-Fraserview is likewise a global village, with one of the city’s most diverse populations and plenty of delicious smells wafting from the restaurants and bakeries along its namesake street, Victoria Drive.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 25 to 30 minutes by car and 40 to 50 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver

Rental types: The Sunset-Victoria Fraserview area is home to plenty of multi-family homes, as well as more recently developed apartment buildings. The centrally-located neighbourhood offers something for every renter and is definitely worth checking out for those who are searching for reasonable rent within city limits.

• Studio apartments for rent: Sunset-Victoria Fraserview
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Sunset-Victoria Fraserview
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Sunset-Victoria Fraserview

2. Kerrisdale

Average rent in Kerrisdale

In spite of its reputation as one of Vancouver’s premier neighbourhoods, Kerrisdale’s rent prices are significantly lower than the city’s average this month. Compared to Vancouver’s city-wide average rate of $2,488 for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit and $3,444 for an unfurnished, two-bedroom unit, the same types of units can be had for a monthly average of $2,183 for a one-bedroom and $2,650 for a two-bedroom unit as of January 2023.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Kerrisdale

About: Kerrisdale is known across the city for its gorgeous, tree-lined streets, large older homes, and its quaint streets filled with boutique shops and local restaurants. The neighbourhood, which is centred around West 41st Avenue, has often enjoyed a reputation as the home of the city’s elite – but has since broadened its appeal as more and more people of all demographics move into the area.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 15 to 25 minutes by car and 30 to 40 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver.

Rental types: Kerrisdale is primarily a residential area with mostly stately older homes and some newer builds, with a smattering of newer low- and mid-rise apartment buildings throughout the neighbourhood.

• Studio apartments for rent: Kerrisdale
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Kerrisdale
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Kerrisdale

3. Hastings-Sunrise

Average rent in Hastings-Sunrise

As of liv.rent’s January 2023 Rent Report, the average rent for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood was $2,243 – over $200 below the city-wide average. Rates for two-bedroom, unfurnished units also offer great value compared to Vancouver’s average rates, at $2,675 per month.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Hastings-Sunrise

About: The Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood is a renter’s dream, combining quiet, residential streets with a trendy commercial district, great transit, and easy access to surrounding communities and beyond via Highway 1. Among locals, the area is perhaps best known for being home to the Pacific National Exhibition (P.N.E. for short), which occurs every summer. Geographically, the neighbourhood borders Burnaby along Boundary Road in the east, all the way to Nanaimo Street in the west, and spans from Broadway to the water from north-south.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 10 to 15 minutes by car and 25-35 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver.

Rental types: Hastings-Sunrise has a rich history as a residential neighbourhood, housing a good mix of single-family detached residences as well as primarily low-rise residential buildings.

• Studio apartments for rent: Hastings-Sunrise
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Hastings-Sunrise
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Hastings-Sunrise

4. Renfrew-Collingwood

Average rent in Renfrew-Collingwood

Renfrew offers great value given its central location and the variety of rentals available. As of January 2023, the average cost of rent in this trendy neighbourhood is just $2,278 per month for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit. Two-bedroom, unfurnished units offer particularly good value compared to the city-wide average, at $2,851 per month compared to $3,444 in Vancouver as a whole.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Renfrew-Collingwood

About: Renfrew-Collingwood is a geographically large neighbourhood in Vancouver with an outsized population of families and a largely residential community. The area makes up the far east end of the city, bordering Burnaby along Boundary Road between Broadway to the north and Kingsway to the south, all the way to Nanaimo to the west. With the convenience of Kingsway and proximity to the best of Burnaby as well, there’s a wide range of family-friendly activities, shopping, dining and more within reach. Nature too is just outside your door at Renfrew Ravine Park and the Still Creek watershed, and there are plenty of parks in the neighbourhood as well.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 15 to 25 minutes by car and 15 to 20 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver

Rental types: Renfrew-Collingwood is primarily a residential neighbourhood and offers all manner of low- and high-rise apartment buildings as well as older ‘Vancouver Special’ homes.

• Studio apartments for rent: Renfrew-Collingwood
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Renfrew-Collingwood
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Renfrew-Colllingwood

5. South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage

Average rent in South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage

As of January 2023, the average monthly rent for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit in South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage is $2,297. Two-bedroom units are also less expensive than Vancouver’s average rate, at $3,045.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage

About: Amalgamating three distinct Vancouver neighbourhoods, this area is characterized by a laid-back feel, abundant green space, and a variety of urban amenities within each individual community. Queen Elizabeth Park is at the intersection of the South Cambie and Riley Park neighbourhoods, offering the perfect spot for a picnic or a weekend stroll. Along Main Street and throughout Kingsway, residents will find plenty of options for shopping – from trendy clothes stores on Main to a diverse selection of restaurants.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 15 to 25 minutes by car and 15 to 40 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver

Rental types: All three of these neighbourhoods are desirable residential areas and feature a broad selection of older homes, townhouses, and multi-family residences with plenty of new & old developments.

• Studio apartments for rent: South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: South Cambie-Riley Park-Kensington Cedar Cottage

6. Killarney

Average rent in Killarney

As of January 2023, the average monthly rent for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit in Killarney is $2,300. Two-bedroom units are significantly less expensive than Vancouver’s average rate, at $2,875.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Killarney

About: Killarney is a lush, mostly residential neighbourhood in Vancouver’s southeast corner that’s known for its multicultural heritage and tight-knit community feel. The neighbourhood runs north from the Fraser River, all the way to 41st Avenue, and stretches from Boundary Road to Vivian Drive in the west. Within this expansive area are plenty of green spaces, as Killarney was one of the last parts of Vancouver to see significant development and is still mostly full of single-family houses and comparatively few multi-residential buildings.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 20 to 25 minutes by car and 30 to 40 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver

Rental types: Killarney is mostly filled with older, single-family residences though there has been more development activity in the area recently, bringing some low- and mid-rise apartment buildings into the mix.

• Studio apartments for rent: Killarney
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Killarney
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Killarney

7. Marpole

Average rent in Marpole

As of January 2023, the average monthly rent for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit in Marpole is $2,353. Two-bedroom, unfurnished units are also comparatively cheap, at an average of $3,177 per month.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Marpole

About: Marpole is on Vancouver’s southern end, forming a residential corridor between the city and neighbouring Richmond – as well as Vancouver International Airport. The neighbourhood is centered around Granville Street which is also its main commercial district, spanning from 41st Avenue south to the Fraser River. The area is rapidly growing thanks to its below-average rent prices and a constantly increasing number of local shopping, dining, and amenity destinations.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 15 to 20 minutes by car and 30 to 40 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver

Rental types: Most of Marpole’s residences are older homes built between 1960 and the 1990s, though increased interest in the neighbourhood has seen plenty of multi-residential projects come to the area.

• Studio apartments for rent: Marpole
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Marpole
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Marpole

8. Strathcona-Grandview Woodland

Average rent in Strathcona-Grandview Woodland

As of January 2023, the average monthly rent for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit in Marpole is $2,385 – just over $100 below the average for Vancouver neighbourhoods. Two-bedroom, unfurnished units are also relatively inexpensive, at an average of $3,039 per month.

Neighbourhood Breakdown: Strathcona-Grandview Woodland

About: The Strathcona and Grandview Woodland neighbourhoods are located on the northeastern side of Vancouver, and are each diverse & eclectic neighbourhoods in their own right. Grandview Woodland is characterized by its main street, Commercial Drive, which offers residents & visitors alike all manner of trendy boutique shops, thrift shops, restaurants, and neighbourhood pubs. Strathcona on the other hand is one of the ity’s oldest neighbourhoods, with plenty of restored homes from Vancouver’s past and lots to do with a central location bordering Chinatown.

Proximity to Downtown Vancouver: 5 to 15 minutes by car and 15 to 25 minutes by public transit to Downtown Vancouver

Rental types: The Strathcona-Grandview Woodland area is best known for its gorgeous older homes, with some newer multi-residential buildings throughout the two neighbourhoods.

• Studio apartments for rent: Strathcona-Grandview Woodland
• One-bedroom apartments for rent: Strathcona-Grandview Woodland
• Two-bedroom apartments for rent: Strathcona-Grandview Woodland

Average rent in the city of Vancouver

The average rent in Vancouver varies greatly depending on the area you’re looking to rent in. Typically, rent is highest in the city’s downtown core and its surrounding neighbourhoods, while Vancouver neighbourhoods further from the centre of the city tend to offer a little more value. The graphic below breaks down the average rent for unfurnished, one-bedroom units across various Vancouver neighbourhoods as of January 2023 – including many of the options listed in this post to help you compare prices for different types of units. For more of the latest rental data for Vancouver, be sure to take a look at our monthly rent reports.

Where is the cheapest rent in Vancouver?

According to our latest liv.rent Rent Report, the three cheapest neighbourhoods to rent in Vancouver are Sunset-Victoria Fraserview, Kerrisdale, and Hastings-Sunrise. That’s certainly not to say that other areas don’t offer value, but rather that these neighbourhoods’ average rental costs are considerably lower than most.

There are plenty of great neighbourhoods for budget-savvy renters in Vancouver, and the above list should be viewed as a starting point rather than a definitive guide – especially as rent prices are so prone to fluctuation.

How to find cheap rent in Vancouver

While Vancouver has a reputation as the most expensive city in Canada to rent or buy real estate in, there is still some great value to be found for those willing to do their homework. Vancouver renters should make liv.rent their starting point for any home search. The all-in-one platform allows you to easily search for verified rental properties throughout the lower mainland, and connect with trusted landlords to help avoid the uncertainty of the usual rental process.

There are a number of other sites where Vancouver renters can find and secure relatively affordable rent, including Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook Groups made specifically for Vancouver renters. For some top tips on reducing your rent in Vancouver, check out our post here.

Resources for Metro Vancouver renters

Renting in BC

For more information on renting in B.C., you can refer to these extensive resource posts to help you in your rental journey.

• BC Residential Tenancy Agreement Explained
• 15 Tips for Finding an Apartment in Vancouver
• Vancouver Rental Vacancy Rate
• Guide to BC Tenancy Forms

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