Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
A one-bedroom condo in Scarborough leased for about $2,102 a month in Q2 2026 and a two-bedroom for about $2,565, based on 823 TRREB leases across districts E04 to E11. Three-bedroom townhouses averaged about $2,937. No source publishes basement averages; liv.rent’s unfurnished one-bedroom asking rent was $1,884 in October 2026.
This guide is for anyone renting in Scarborough in 2027, and for owners pricing a unit there. You will get the latest lease numbers for condos and townhouses by bedroom count and by district, an honest answer on basement rents, where rents are heading, and what the 2027 rules let a landlord charge.
What is the average rent in Scarborough right now?
Across Scarborough’s eight TRREB districts (E04 to E11), a one-bedroom condo apartment leased for about $2,102 a month in the second quarter of 2026 (April to June). A two-bedroom leased for about $2,565 and a three-bedroom for about $2,999. These are my lease-weighted averages of the district figures in TRREB’s Rental Market Report, based on 823 condo leases signed through the MLS System.
TRREB publishes its rental report a few months after each quarter ends. When I checked its rental page on 9 November 2026, the Q3 report was still not posted, so Q2 is the newest lease data available.
Other sources give different numbers because they count different things. Some track asking rents on new listings. CMHC surveys whole rental buildings in October, including tenants who have stayed for years at older rents.
| Source and date | What it counts | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRREB, Q2 2026 (E04 to E11) | Condo apartments actually leased (average) | $2,102 | $2,565 | $2,999 |
| liv.rent, October 2026 | Unfurnished asking rents, Scarborough | $1,884 | $2,291 | $2,778 |
| CMHC, October 2025 | Rented condo apartments, Scarborough (average) | $2,100 | $2,532 | $2,764 |
| CMHC, October 2025 | Purpose-built rental apartments, Scarborough (average) | $1,617 | $1,832 | $1,978 |
Source: TRREB Rental Market Report Q2 2026 (my lease-weighted average of district averages for E04 to E11); liv.rent October 2026 Ontario rent report; CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025, Scarborough zones 10 to 12 and Scarborough condo sub-area.
For context, the City of Toronto as a whole averaged $2,316 for a one-bedroom condo and $3,154 for a two-bedroom in the same quarter. A Scarborough two-bedroom costs roughly $590 a month less than the city average. My guide to the average rent in Toronto for 2027 has the city-wide picture.
How much does a condo cost to rent in each part of Scarborough?
TRREB splits Scarborough into eight districts. Here is what condo apartments leased for in each one in Q2 2026, with the community names TRREB uses for each district.
| District | TRREB communities | Condo leases | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E04 | Clairlea-Birchmount, Dorset Park, Ionview, Kennedy Park, Wexford-Maryvale | 70 | $2,142 | $2,420 |
| E05 | L’Amoreaux, Steeles, Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan | 101 | $2,142 | $2,660 |
| E06 | Birchcliffe-Cliffside, Oakridge | 47 | $2,006 | $2,673 |
| E07 | Agincourt North, Agincourt South-Malvern West, Milliken | 160 | $2,119 | $2,564 |
| E08 | Cliffcrest, Eglinton East, Guildwood, Scarborough Village | 31 | $2,085 | $2,579 |
| E09 | Bendale, Morningside, Woburn | 234 | $2,134 | $2,633 |
| E10 | Centennial Scarborough, Highland Creek, Rouge, West Hill | 104 | $2,117 | $2,449 |
| E11 | Malvern, Rouge | 76 | $1,979 | $2,422 |
Source: TRREB Rental Market Report Q2 2026, City of Toronto municipal breakdown (average lease rates, condo apartments). Community names from TRREB community reports.
Two things stand out. First, one-bedroom rents are tightly bunched. Every district sits between $1,979 (E11) and $2,142 (E04 and E05), a spread of only about $160. Second, two-bedrooms vary more. E05 and E06 averaged about $2,660 to $2,670, while E10 and E11 averaged about $2,420 to $2,450.
Sample size matters here. E09 had 234 condo leases and E07 had 160, so those averages are solid. E08 had only 31 and E06 had 47, so a few unusual leases can move them. If you want specific buildings, my guide to condos to rent in Scarborough City Centre goes building by building.
Supply is on the renter’s side for now. TRREB counted 1,196 Scarborough condo units listed for lease in the quarter and 823 leased, so roughly three in ten listings did not lease in that quarter.
How much does it cost to rent a townhouse or house in Scarborough?
TRREB recorded 100 townhouse leases across E04 to E11 in Q2 2026. Two-bedroom townhouses averaged about $2,492 (44 leases) and three-bedrooms about $2,937 (47 leases). E05 and E11 were the busiest districts, with 30 leases each. In E05, three-bedroom townhouses averaged $3,003.
CMHC’s survey of purpose-built rental townhouses, which are older complexes owned by one landlord, showed far lower rents in October 2025: $1,800 for two bedrooms and $1,718 for three or more. Their vacancy rate was just 0.8%, so these units almost never come up. Do not budget around them.
No public source publishes an average rent for a whole detached house in Scarborough. If that is what you want, start from the three-bedroom townhouse figure and ask an agent to pull houses actually leased on MLS near the streets you like. For owners weighing a lease against a sale, detached medians from January to October 2026 ranged from $866,500 in E09 to $1,148,250 in E05 (TRREB MLS data via REALM). My Scarborough housing market outlook covers sale prices in more depth.
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What does a basement apartment rent for in Scarborough?
No public source publishes an average basement rent for Scarborough. liv.rent and Rentals.ca both include basement units in their data, but neither reports them as a separate number. Anyone quoting a precise “average basement rent” for Scarborough is estimating.
Here is a fair way to judge one. Start with liv.rent’s unfurnished one-bedroom asking rent for Scarborough, $1,884 in October 2026. Then move the number up or down based on what the unit offers:
- Height and light: Ontario’s guide for second units calls for a ceiling height of at least 1.95 metres over the required floor area of a basement unit, and window area of 5% of the floor area in living rooms.
- A way out in a fire: a basement bedroom escape window needs an unobstructed opening of at least 0.38 square metres, with no side narrower than 460 millimetres.
- Entrance, laundry and utilities: a private entrance, in-suite laundry and included heat and hydro are each worth real money every month.
A bright, legal unit with its own laundry can price near a condo one-bedroom. A dark unit with shared laundry and split utilities should sit well below it. My post on whether a basement apartment is safe lists what to inspect before you sign.
Ontario’s rent increase guideline does not cover most new basement apartments first occupied for residential purposes after 15 November 2018. If your unit is one of them, the landlord can raise the rent by more than 1.9% in 2027, though only after 12 months and with 90 days’ written notice. Ask when the unit was first rented before you sign.
Are Scarborough rents going up or down in 2027?
The signals are mixed, and that is the honest answer. liv.rent showed Scarborough’s unfurnished one-bedroom asking rent 6.93% lower than a year earlier in October 2026, yet up 1.67% from September. Rentals.ca and Urbanation reported Toronto’s average apartment and condo asking rent up 1.6% year over year in October, to $2,590. That was Toronto’s first annual increase after 32 months of decline, and Urbanation’s president linked it to shrinking new supply.
TRREB’s Q2 report found GTA one-bedroom condo rents down 2.3% from a year earlier and two-bedrooms down 1.7%. TRREB expected conditions to keep favouring renters in the near term, but said the market could tighten gradually because leases were growing faster than listings.
CMHC’s October 2025 survey showed vacancy in Scarborough purpose-built rentals rising from 1.5% to 2.4% in a year. Rented condos in Scarborough had a vacancy rate of 1.0%.
My view, and it is only a view: Scarborough rents are more likely to move slowly in 2027 than to jump or crash. Falling new supply argues for firmer rents, while the number of listings still gives renters room to negotiate.
How much can a Scarborough landlord raise the rent in 2027?
For most units, the limit is 1.9% for increases that take effect in 2027. That is Ontario’s rent increase guideline. Your landlord must wait at least 12 months since your last increase or move-in date and must give you at least 90 days’ written notice on the proper form.
On a $2,102 one-bedroom, a 1.9% increase adds about $40 a month. The guideline does not apply to units first occupied after 15 November 2018, and it does not limit the rent a landlord sets for a new tenant. My guide to the 2027 rent increase guideline explains the forms and exceptions.
How much income do you need to rent in Scarborough?
CMHC treats housing as affordable when it costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax income. Using that test with the TRREB Q2 figures:
- A one-bedroom condo at about $2,102 needs roughly $84,000 a year in household income.
- A two-bedroom condo at about $2,565 needs roughly $102,600.
- A three-bedroom townhouse at about $2,937 needs roughly $117,500.
Landlords set their own screening standards, but most ask for proof of income and a credit check. Having pay stubs, an employment letter and references ready makes you a stronger applicant when a good unit lists.
Should you rent or buy in Scarborough in 2027?
Buying has become cheaper while renting has not. From January to October 2026, median condo apartment sale prices fell year over year in every Scarborough district: down 15.0% to $415,786 in E04, 13.8% to $450,000 in E07, 11.8% to $450,000 in E09 and 17.0% to $440,000 in E08 (TRREB MLS data via REALM). Rents over the same period moved far less.
That does not make buying right for everyone. Owning adds a down payment, closing costs, condo fees and property tax, and rates rose in October 2026 when the Bank of Canada lifted its policy rate to 2.50%. If you plan to stay five years or more, run the numbers both ways. My rent or buy guide for 2027 walks through that comparison.
If you rent in Scarborough, use the district table, not a city-wide number. A two-bedroom in E10 or E11 has been leasing for about $210 to $250 less a month than one in E05 or E06. Listings still outnumber leases, so ask for a better price or a free month on units that have sat for three weeks or more. If you own a unit, price it to the leased averages, not the highest asking rent you can find. An empty month costs more than a slightly lower rent.
What to do next
- Pick the two or three Scarborough districts that suit your commute and compare their averages in the table above.
- Set your budget using the 30% income test, then add parking, utilities and tenant insurance.
- For a basement unit, ask when it was first rented, whether it was built with a permit, and check the ceiling, windows and exits.
- If you are thinking of buying instead, get the value of your target home or condo with the estimator above and compare the monthly cost with your rent.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent for a 1-bedroom in Scarborough?
About $2,102 a month for a one-bedroom condo apartment, based on 823 condo leases across Scarborough’s districts E04 to E11 in Q2 2026 (TRREB). Unfurnished asking rents on liv.rent were lower, at $1,884 in October 2026. Older purpose-built rental buildings averaged $1,617 in CMHC’s October 2025 survey, but those units rarely become available to new tenants.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Scarborough?
A two-bedroom condo in Scarborough leased for about $2,565 a month in Q2 2026, based on TRREB lease data for districts E04 to E11. District averages ranged from about $2,422 in E11 to $2,673 in E06. liv.rent’s unfurnished two-bedroom asking rent for Scarborough was $2,291 in October 2026, so asking rents can be lower than signed leases.
How much is a basement apartment in Scarborough?
No public source publishes an average basement rent for Scarborough as of November 2026. TRREB, CMHC, liv.rent and Rentals.ca either leave basements out or mix them into wider figures. A practical starting point is liv.rent’s unfurnished one-bedroom asking rent of $1,884 (October 2026), adjusted down for low ceilings, shared laundry or split utilities.
Is rent cheaper in Scarborough than in the rest of Toronto?
Yes. In Q2 2026, a Scarborough one-bedroom condo leased for about $2,102 against $2,316 for the City of Toronto, and a two-bedroom for about $2,565 against $3,154 (TRREB). The gap is widest for larger units, where Scarborough saves a renter roughly $590 a month compared with the city-wide two-bedroom average.
Are rents going down in Scarborough?
Asking rents in Scarborough were lower than a year earlier in October 2026: liv.rent reported unfurnished one-bedrooms down 6.93% year over year. But they rose 1.67% from September, and Toronto-wide asking rents rose 1.6% year over year (Rentals.ca and Urbanation). The fall appears to be slowing heading into 2027, though no one can promise the direction.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Scarborough in 2027?
For most tenants, 1.9%. That is Ontario’s rent increase guideline for increases taking effect in 2027. The landlord must wait 12 months since the last increase and give 90 days’ written notice. Units first occupied after 15 November 2018, including most newer basement apartments, are exempt, so their rent can rise by more.
How much does it cost to rent a townhouse in Scarborough?
About $2,937 a month for a three-bedroom townhouse and about $2,492 for a two-bedroom, based on 100 townhouse leases in districts E04 to E11 in Q2 2026 (TRREB). In E05, three-bedroom townhouses averaged $3,003. Older purpose-built rental townhouses were much cheaper in CMHC’s 2025 survey, but their vacancy rate was only 0.8%.
What salary do I need to rent in Scarborough?
Roughly $84,000 a year in household income for a one-bedroom condo at about $2,102 a month, using CMHC’s guide that housing is affordable below 30% of before-tax income. A two-bedroom at about $2,565 needs roughly $102,600. Landlords in Scarborough set their own screening rules, so treat these as guides for 2027, not fixed cut-offs.
Which part of Scarborough has the cheapest rent?
E11 (Malvern and Rouge) had the lowest condo rents in Q2 2026: about $1,979 for a one-bedroom and $2,422 for a two-bedroom (TRREB). E10 (West Hill, Highland Creek, Centennial Scarborough and Rouge) was close behind for two-bedrooms at $2,449. Both districts had smaller lease counts than E09, so check current listings too.
Is a basement apartment in Scarborough rent controlled?
It depends on when it was first rented. Ontario’s guideline does not apply to most new basement apartments first occupied for residential purposes after 15 November 2018. Older basement units are covered, so their rent can rise by no more than 1.9% in 2027 without Landlord and Tenant Board approval. Ask the landlord for the first-occupancy date in writing.
Sources
- TRREB Rental Market Report, Q2 2026 (PDF)
- TRREB: Rental Market Report page (Q2 2026 still the latest posted, checked 9 November 2026)
- CMHC Rental Market Survey data tables, Toronto CMA, October 2025 (XLSX)
- Rentals.ca and Urbanation National Rent Report, October 2026 (released 5 November 2026)
- liv.rent: October 2026 Ontario rent report
- Government of Ontario: Rent increase guideline
- Government of Ontario: Add a second unit in your house
- CMHC: About affordable housing in Canada
Related reading
- Can My Landlord Enter Without Notice in Ontario?
- Can a Landlord Evict You Without Going to the LTB in Ontario?
- Can My Landlord Raise the Rent Every Year in Ontario? 2027 Rules
- Can a Landlord Put Security Cameras in or Outside a Rental in Ontario?
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.