Rents have risen 70% in ten years
Rents in Montreal have risen by 70% over ten years. The Gazette blames “population growth, gentrification and a game of catch-up with other markets” in the deck to this piece, the first of a two‑parter, but it doesn’t note the utter failure of the TAL to keep rents reasonable.
Joey 09:40 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
Feels like they are setting up the next instalment in the series to deal with the public policy failure here (which includes, but is not limited, to the TAL’s conduct).
Kate 10:41 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
I find the mention of “markets” also tone deaf. If you live in Montreal it doesn’t help you if the “market” in some other city is “more competitive” or whatever. You work here, you live here, the rental situation is what it is, it isn’t a “market”. You can’t easily pick and choose between global cities like buying veg in the market. Must everything be seen in the language of business college?
steph 11:15 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
At least the Montreal market comes with higher salaries…. right? right??
Nicholas 16:24 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
Yes, disposable income is higher in the Montreal area than it is in the rest of the province. Urban area agglomeration effects make this a standard pattern worldwide that big cities (and suburbs) have higher incomes than small cities and rural areas. Whether it’s enough to counteract higher housing costs varies, but it absolutely did not surprise me that incomes are higher here before actually checking.
Kate 16:39 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
Higher than the rest of Quebec maybe, but seen from a global point of view, not so much.
Chris 17:16 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
Wait, what? Montreal/Quebec/Canada absolutely have higher wages, income, wealth, and disposable income than the global average (or median). Surely I’ve misunderstood what you’re saying?
Kate 17:20 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
Context, Chris. Do you really think the Gazette was comparing Montreal’s market with Port‑au‑Prince or Lagos? If you look at our income levels compared to London, Paris, New York – even Toronto or Vancouver – they’re lagging, while our rents catch up to these bigger and more prosperous cities.
Chris 18:59 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
Kate, I see. But still, you can’t just exclude the places around the globe that are poorer, and point to the remaining and say ‘see, they’re all richer’.
Kate 19:16 on 2026-05-17 Permalink
If we’re “playing catch-up with other markets” – the direct quote I plucked from the Gazette – that isn’t going to mean poorer cities, is it. By implication it means places where things are more expensive.
qatzelok 21:59 on 2026-05-18 Permalink
Most commercial media is tethered to the landlord classes so they are likely to suggest that there is no alternative to what we have now.
It’s working out great for the people who fund commercial media.