Why a 2-Bedroom Apartment is a Smart Choice for Newcomers

A 2-bedroom apartment is often the right rental accommodation choice for newcomers to Canada and international students for many reasons. 

The primary advantage, however, is having a roommate to share the cost of the rent. 

Currently, a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto, according to Rentals.ca, rents for $3,287 dollars per month (a one-bedroom is $2,495).

That’s expensive.

The good news is that a two-bedroom in Hamilton rents for $2,201, and in Windsor, Ontario, it’s $1,904. Go further west in Canada, and a two-bedroom in Edmonton, Alberta, costs $1,639.

So, there are many 2-bedroom options nationwide for newcomers and students. Check out Rentals for Newcomers for current listings across Canada.

Two-bedroom units appeal to younger Millennial and GenZ renters (the newcomer demographic!) and immigrants arriving with families. So, it’s no wonder it has the highest rent demand in urban areas. 

There are more than 2.13 million apartment units across Canada, and according to Statistica, the majority are two-bedroom. 

The decision regarding how many bedrooms you need to house your family should be based on your needs and finances.

Normally, a family of 5 can live in a 2-bedroom apartment, depending on the landlord’s wishes. Be sure to be upfront with the landlord when applying, but know that landlords cannot refuse to rent out their property because of the size of your family.

Also, when choosing a two-bedroom, consider the apartment’s size and your family’s needs. It’s a good idea to check the apartment’s specific layout and size to ensure everyone can live comfortably and well. 

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In addition to giving you and your roommate/family more living (and closet) space, a two-bedroom layout gives you more design options for furniture. Basically, it gives you more freedom to customize your living space.

Some of the other reasons why a 2-bedroom floor plan is preferable include:

• Room for setting up a dedicated work-from-home office
• A larger common area to seat up to four people.
• Sharing utility costs with a roommate
• Sharing means you can likely live closer to work or school
• Some offer a main bedroom with a private bathroom
• An extra room/space for visiting family and friends
• It may include a larger balcony, handy in the summer
• It is much preferable than a one-bedroom if you’re planning to start a family in Canada
• It gives you more flexibility regarding your lifestyle
• If you plan to buy a home within 3 to 5 years, a two-bedroom allows you to remain in one spot until you do—in other words, no moving.

Here are the four common layout plans for 2-bedroom apartments:

1. The smallest 2-bedroom apartment floor plan usually has two bedrooms and one full bathroom with access to the bathroom from a hallway outside of either bedroom, thus allowing anyone to access the bathroom without going through a bedroom. This is considered the perfect layout for two roommates. In addition, the two bedrooms are (almost) equal in size. Be sure to check out the amount of storage.

2. The medium-sized version may contain two bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms and be on one or two floors. The two-story layout often has a living room, kitchen, and half bathroom downstairs and two bedrooms and a separate full bathroom upstairs. If it’s a one-story layout, there may be a half bath near the living room and kitchen and a full bath near the bedrooms. An extra half bathroom is a useful feature for newcomers with families or lots of guests.

3. The larger two-bedroom apartment plan, usually found in many condo rentals, features two bedrooms and two bathrooms. In this layout, the main bedroom has an attached full bathroom, while the second bedroom does not. The second full bathroom is usually off of a hallway, which allows guests to use it without walking through the bedroom.

4. Finally, the 2-bedroom deluxe layout, common to condo rentals, may have 2.5 bathrooms. It usually includes walk-in closets for the main bedroom. and may include fixture upgrades and a larger kitchen/dining area.

A 2-bedroom apartment offers newcomer renters the chance to balance affordability, maximize living space, and maintain flexibility while doing longer-term life planning, such as buying a home.

It’s no wonder 2-bedroom apartments are in such demand in Canada

*Rent prices were accurate when this article was published but may change over time.

Stephen Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at both the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in the writing of this story, and all sources are cited and credited where possible.

© Prepare for Canada 2024