How much rent can I afford in Victoria?
Rent affordability guide for Victoria, British Columbia, using the local 1-bedroom rent and monthly income rules.
Advertised 1-bedroom rent
$2,040
Statistics Canada Quarterly Rent Statistics, April 2026.
30% gross rule
$81,600
Approximate annual salary to keep rent near 30% gross.
Monthly essentials
$2,595
Rent, groceries, and transport baseline.
Open this scenario in the income calculator ($81,600 in Victoria), then try your own salary, city or pay frequency.
Change salary or province| Gross salary | 30% | 35% | 40% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $1,500 | $1,750 | $2,000 |
| $80,000 | $2,000 | $2,333 | $2,667 |
| $100,000 | $2,500 | $2,917 | $3,333 |
| $120,000 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,000 |
How much rent can I afford making $16 to $40 an hour in Victoria?
Using the 30% rule: rent should stay near 30% of gross monthly income, with 35% and 40% as stretch limits. Hourly pay is converted at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours a year).
At the 30% rule, a $2,040 1-bedroom in Victoria needs about $39.23 an hour ($81,600 a year).
| Hourly wage | Rent at 30% | Local 1-bed rent share |
|---|---|---|
| $16/h | $832 | 74% |
| $18/h | $936 | 65% |
| $20/h | $1,040 | 59% |
| $22/h | $1,144 | 54% |
| $24/h | $1,248 | 49% |
| $26/h | $1,352 | 45% |
| $28/h | $1,456 | 42% |
| $30/h | $1,560 | 39% |
| $32/h | $1,664 | 37% |
| $34/h | $1,768 | 35% |
| $36/h | $1,872 | 33% |
| $38/h | $1,976 | 31% |
| $40/h | $2,080 | 29% |
Rent affordability questions
- What is typical rent in Victoria?
- A typical advertised 1-bedroom apartment in Victoria rents for about $2,040 a month (Statistics Canada Quarterly Rent Statistics, April 2026). At 30% of gross income, that rent needs about $81,600 a year.
- How much rent can I afford making $18 an hour in Victoria?
- At $18 an hour (40 hours a week), gross income is about $3,120 a month, so the 30% rule suggests rent of about $936. A 1-bedroom in Victoria rents for about $2,040, or 65% of that gross income.
- How much rent can I afford making $22 an hour in Victoria?
- At $22 an hour (40 hours a week), gross income is about $3,813 a month, so the 30% rule suggests rent of about $1,144. A 1-bedroom in Victoria rents for about $2,040, or 53% of that gross income.
- How much rent can I afford making $25 an hour in Victoria?
- At $25 an hour (40 hours a week), gross income is about $4,333 a month, so the 30% rule suggests rent of about $1,300. A 1-bedroom in Victoria rents for about $2,040, or 47% of that gross income.
- What hourly wage do I need to rent a 1-bedroom in Victoria?
- To keep a $2,040 1-bedroom at 30% of gross income, you need about $39.23 an hour, or $81,600 a year, working 40 hours a week.
- What rent rule is used here?
- Rent is compared with gross (before-tax) income: 30% is the planning target, while 35% and 40% are stretch limits. Hourly pay assumes 40 hours a week for 52 weeks.
Next steps
Calculate your exact after-tax income and plan your budget.