Key Takeaways<\/strong>:<\/p>\n To pinpoint Canada\u2019s top-trending rental markets, we analyzed millions of interactions on\u00a0RentCafe.com<\/a>\u00a0for the first quarter of 2025. Specifically, we focused on four key indicators from Canadian properties listed on our website to rank the cities attracting the most interest from apartment-hunters:<\/p>\n There\u2019s been significant reshuffling in the rankings since last quarter: Winnipeg, MB, slides down one spot to become runner-up, while Moncton, NB, leaps five spots to become Canada\u2019s most sought-after city for apartment-hunters.<\/strong><\/p>\n Not to be outdone, Saskatoon, SK, jumps 18 spots to secure third place, climbing back into the top three after ranking 21st this winter. Rounding out the top five are Edmonton, AB, which dips two positions, and Halifax, NS, maintaining its spot.<\/p>\n Zooming out to the provincial level, Ontario sees 11 of its cities in our ranking <\/strong>\u2014 the most of any province. However, only two Ontario cities made it to the top 10 (Ottawa and London)<\/strong>. The other provinces to feature more than one location are Saskatchewan with Saskatoon and Regina, and Alberta with Edmonton and Calgary. Meanwhile, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia each see only one city in the top 10.<\/p>\n This report showcases trending Canadian cities experiencing growing renter interest in the first quarter of the year. While major hubs like Toronto and Vancouver maintain their strong appeal for apartment-hunters, their year-over-year changes remain moderate due to their already well-established rental markets.<\/em><\/p>\n Moncton, NB, climbs five spots to become the city drawing the most interest from renters in the first quarter of 2025. It also ranks first in Canada for page views with a whopping 213% year-over-year increase.<\/p>\n With a good quality of life and a growing economy<\/a>, Moncton attracts plenty of renters. Besides locals (who drive a significant amount of demand here), most of the interest in apartments in Moncton<\/a>\u00a0comes from Halifax, NS; Toronto; and nearby\u00a0Dieppe, NB<\/a>.<\/p>\n Winnipeg, MB, holds second place with a score of 96.21, after slipping one spot since the start of the year. Although the city continues to lead the country in saved searches and favourited listings, both metrics have declined. This suggests that renters interested in apartments in Winnipeg<\/a>\u00a0are becoming more decisive as they narrow their search for their ideal home.<\/p>\n Most interest in Winnipeg comes from renters in Toronto; Calgary, AB; and Estevan, SK<\/a>.<\/p>\n Saskatoon, SK, makes a strong comeback after falling out of the top 10 in early 2025, climbing an impressive 10 spots to land in third place this quarter<\/span>. With a score of 84.89, the city has seen a dip in overall online engagement, but still ranks second for page views and fifth for saved searches.<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Canada](\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/01\/Canada-Renter-Interest-Report-Banner.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Canada's](\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/05\/Canada-Top-10-Cities-for-Renter-Interest-Q1-2025.png\")
<\/p>\nMoncton, NB, overtakes Winnipeg, MB, as Canada\u2019s top city for renter interest<\/h2>\n
1. Moncton, NB<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/05\/Moncton-NB-Canada-RIR-Q1-2025.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Winnipeg, MB<\/h3>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/05\/Winnipeg-MB-Canada-RIR-Q1-2025.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Saskatoon, SK<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/05\/Saskatoon-SK-Canada-RIR-Q1-2025.jpg\")
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