A new report from real estate marketplace Zumper leaves a dire impression: the housing crisis in Halifax is far from over, but there’s a chance rents will continue to cool.
Zumper’s Canadian Rent Report median rent prices in cities across the country for the month of May 2026. Out of Canada’s 23 largest cities, Halifax is the fourth most expensive. More expensive than Ottawa, Victoria, Montreal, Kingston and more.
The median rent for a one-bedroom unit in Halifax is $2,000. The two-bedroom rate is $2,500.
On the plus side, the one-bedroom rate decreased by 2.4 percent. Two-bedroom rental costs stayed the same as last month. Zumper also reports that rents are broadly cooling across Canada, with Halifax experiencing a 2 to 5 percent decrease in rent costs year-over-year.
Annually, one-bedroom units in Halifax are seeing a year-over-year decrease by 4.8% while two-bedroom units have decreased by 2.8 percent.
How far is Halifax from the top median rental costs in the country? Zumper’s list sees Toronto in third place at $2,100 for a one-bedroom and $2,700 for a two-bedroom. Burnaby is in second with $2,200 for a one-bedroom and $2,700 for a two-bedroom. Vancouver has the highest median rent in the country, with $2,370 for a one-bedroom and $3,330 for a two-bedroom.
According to Zumper, British Columbia is facing a decline due to high construction costs and weakening demand. Ontario has similarly been declining, according to the report. While Nova Scotia saw an increase after a soaring demand from folks moving to Atlantic Canada from Ontario and British Columbia, it has since cooled and is also expected to continue to decrease, according to Zumper.
