“Monthly occupancy costs” (rent to landlords and charges for utilities) of Toronto Affordable Housing is related to the “Average Market Rents” (AMRs) of other rental accommodation in the city. AMRs are published yearly by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in the Rental Market Report.

To view Toronto’s AMRs, view tables 1.1.2 and 2.1.2, Zones 1-17, in the Rental Market Report Data Tables – Greater Toronto Area.

Monthly Occupancy Costs

Average Market Rent figures published annually are used to set Affordable Housing monthly occupancy costs for the 2023 year, with different Affordable Housing programs charging 100 per cent, 80 per cent or other percentages of Average Market Rent (AMR), depending on their agreement. Occupancy costs equal to 80 per cent of AMR are common and for this reason, included in the table below.

Table 1 – 2023 City of Toronto Average Market Rent (AMR)
Unit Size

2023
Average Market Rent

2023
80% of Average Market Rent

Hostel/dwelling room $1,024 $819
Bachelor/studio apartment $1,317 $1,054
1 bedroom apartment $1,538 $1,230
2 bedroom apartment $1,811 $1,449
3 bedroom apartment $2,096 $1,677
4 bedroom apartment $2,387 $1,910
5 bedroom apartment $2,669 $2,135
6 bedroom apartment $2,669 $2,135
1 bedroom townhouse $1,663 $1,330
2 bedroom townhouse $1,780 $1,424
3 bedroom townhouse $1,942 $1,553
4 bedroom townhouse $2,587 $2,069
5 bedroom townhouse $2,992 $2,393
6 bedroom townhouse $3,397 $2,717

Initial Income Limits

To rent an Affordable Housing unit, households must have a net annual income which is less than the “initial income limit”, an amount equal to four times the monthly occupancy cost for the housing unit multiplied by 12.

Utility Allowance

In Affordable Housing units where tenants pay for any utility cost, they are entitled to a utility allowance deduction from their monthly occupancy cost. This includes tenants who pay separately or are bulk/suite-metered. Utility allowances are adjusted annually based on the related Consumer Price Indices published each year by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Table 2 – 2023 Affordable Housing Utility Allowances

Unit Size

Hydro

Heat

Water

Hot Water

Hostel/dwelling room

$42

$35

$12

$25
Bachelor/studio apartment

$42

$35

$12

$25
1 bedroom apartment

$42

$35

$12

$25
2 bedroom apartment

$61

$40

$22

$30
3 bedroom apartment

$70

$42

$27

$44
4 bedroom apartment

$75

$42

$30

$54
5 bedroom apartment

$75

$42

$30

$54
6 bedroom apartment

$75

$42

$30

$54
1 bedroom townhouse

$61

$40

$22

$35
2 bedroom townhouse

$61

$40

$22

$35
3 bedroom townhouse

$70

$42

$27

$44
4 bedroom townhouse

$75

$42

$30

$54
5 bedroom townhouse

$75

$42

$30

$54
6 bedroom townhouse

$75

$42

$30

$54

Previous Average Market Rents

Table 3 – City of Toronto Average Market Rents, 2013 to 2022

Effective Year

Unit Size 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Hostel/

dwelling room

$961 $942 $894 $839 $796  $770  $756  $728  $712  $690

Bachelor/

studio apartment

$1,225 $1,211 $1,148 $1,089 $1,019  $962  $942  $899  $876  $840
1 bedroom apartment $1,446 $1,431 $1,374 $1,270 $1,202  $1,137  $1,110  $1,071  $1,035  $1,010
2 bedroom apartment $1,703 $1,661 $1,591 $1,492 $1,426  $1,341  $1,301  $1,264  $1,225  $1,194
3 bedroom apartment $1,961 $1,896 $1,766 $1,664 $1,595  $1,544  $1,540  $1,484  $1,488  $1,443
4 bedroom apartment $2,239 $2,194 $2,083 $1,954 $1,854  $1,795  $1,761  $1,696  $1,659  $1,609
5 bedroom apartment $2,504 $2,454 $2,329 $2,185 $2,074  $2,008  $1,970  $1,898  $1,856  $1,800
6 bedroom apartment N/A
1 bedroom townhouse

N/A

2 bedroom townhouse $1,948 $1,988 $1,683 $1,660 $1,430  $1,318  $1,289  $1,265  $1,231  $1,204
3 bedroom townhouse $2,029 $1,928 $1,749 $1,731 $1,698  $1,581  $1,572  $1,512  $1,521  $1,442
4 bedroom townhouse $2,587 $2,546 $2,230 $2,203 $2,021  $1,899  $1,872  $1,819  $1,799  $1,732
5 bedroom townhouse $2,992 $2,945 $2,579 $2,548 $2,337  $2,195  $2,165  $2,103  $2,080  $2,003
6 bedroom townhouse $3,397 $3,344

Previous Affordable Housing Utility Allowances

Table 4 – Previous Affordable Housing Utility Allowances (2022 and 2021)

Utility and Effective Year

Unit Size Hydro 2022 Hydro 2021 Heat 2022 Heat 2021  Water 2022  Water 2021 Hot Water 2022 Hot Water 2021
Hostel/dwelling room $41 $34 $30 $26 $12 $11 $22 $19
Bachelor/studio apartment $41 $34 $30 $26 $12 $11 $22 $19
1 bedroom apartment $41 $34 $30 $26 $12 $11 $22 $19
2 bedroom apartment $58 $49 $35 $30 $22 $21 $30 $26
3 bedroom apartment $68 $57 $36 $31 $26 $25 $38 $32
4 bedroom apartment $72 $61 $36 $31 $29 $28 $46 $40
5 bedroom apartment $72 $61 $36 $31 $29 $28 $46 $40
6 bedroom apartment $72 N/A $36 N/A $29 N/A $46 N/A
1 bedroom townhouse N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2 bedroom townhouse $58 $49 $35 $30 $22 $21 $30 $26
3 bedroom townhouse $68 $57 $36 $31 $26 $25 $38 $32
4 bedroom townhouse $72 $61 $36 $31 $29 $28 $46 $40
5 bedroom townhouse $72 $61 $36 $31 $29 $28 $46 $40
6 bedroom townhouse $72 $61 $36 $31 $29 $28 $46 $40

 

Last updated March 06, 2023