The cost of renting an apartment vs. condo

Apartment hunting season is upon city-dwelling renters. With the hustle of combing through the listings and rushing off to viewings, it can be confusing to figure out which type of unit offers the best value for you.

Different price tags often come with different perks so it’s not always an apples-to-apples comparison. Condos usually cost more to rent, but typically there’s more included in that higher price tag. Depending on your lifestyle, many of the extras (unlimited utilities, laundry, fitness centre, movie screening and party room) rolled into the condo rental rates could be things that you would wind up paying for anyway.

So how do you find out if a higher rent is worth it?

Conrad Rygier is a Toronto real estate sales representative for By The Park Realty Inc. Brokerage and says April to June are the busiest months for apartment hunting in the city. Tenants need to evaluate their priorities, before competing for units, he says.

“If a person is on a tight budget, then an apartment is the better deal,” Rygier says. “If they have a healthy budget, then other priorities come into play like proximity to work.” He elaborates saying that since condos are often in the downtown core, you might be able to scrap the transit pass and walk or cycle to work.

En suite laundry facilities are typically included in condos as well so you don’t have to lug your load to the coin laundromat. Condo fitness centres are more convenient and often more quiet than private clubs that cost upwards of $60 per month. And many condo buildings have movie screening and party rooms that can accommodate large groups so you and your friends can skip a costly outing to the theatre and/or bar.

MoneySense crunched the numbers and found it costs just $42 more on average in Calgary to rent a condo compared to an apartment and roughly $200 more in Toronto when you factor in the cost of a gym membership, transit pass, laundry and entertainment facilities. Condo rentals typically cost most, relatively speaking, in Montreal ($310) but in Vancouver it costs just $104-$183 more depending on where you live in the city. For more details, see the chart below.

To figure out whether you can afford these convenient extras, make sure your potential new home isn’t exorbitantly priced outside of your income. The Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CHMC) says that renters should spend 30% or less of their pre-tax income on rent and utilities.

“I’d say that’s probably a safe bet,” says Rygier. “You’re putting yourself in a dangerous situation if you’re spending a good chunk on rent. What happens if you don’t have enough savings or you lose your job?”

Especially be aware if you live in a city with declining vacancy rates. A 2011 CHMC report stated that vacancy rates across Canada were falling and that rental rates were rising as a result.

Statistics Canada reported in 2012 that Canada’s overall vacancy rate was 2.8% and of the major urban centres, Calgary’s was the lowest at 1.3%. CHMC data from the April 2010 to April 2011 year saw a drop in Toronto vacancy rates to 1.6% from 2.7%. During that time, Vancouver rates increased to 2.8% from 2.5% and Montreal’s fell just slightly to 2.5% from 2.8%.

There are some ways to ease the anxiety that seems to accompany apartment shopping. Rygier recommends a few tips for anyone who is looking:

• decide when you need to move out by and give your landlord appropriate notice;
• figure out where in your city you want to live;
• and make sure you have good credit.

Rygier says most landlords will ask for a recent credit check. TransUnion and Equifax are two of the most popular credit score and credit history providers. You can order your documentation online for between $15 and $23.

“Make sure you have money on the side because you need to provide first and last month’s rent,” he adds.

Ask lots of questions and do your own math, especially when it comes to utilities. Some condos include unlimited utilities (this is typical when renting from property management companies) whereas others (usually those owned privately) include unlimited water usage but you’re responsible for your electrical bill.

Once you do sign your lease, remember that no matter how good your new pad is, no place is fully safe from potential damages. Replacing or repairing valuables can be a costly burden. Consider protecting yourself by getting tenant insurance—it could save you a lot later on!

* Sign-up fees averaged into monthly fee

** Based on seeing one movie a month with a partner

***depending on how many zones you’re travelling in