Why Alberta Is Outperforming Canada’s Rental Market — And What It Means for Investors
- Calley Erickson Team
- Dec 30, 2025
- 2 min read
Alberta has become one of the strongest and most investable rental markets in Canada. The drivers behind this shift are structural — not temporary — and they are reshaping the long-term opportunities for multifamily investors.
Let's break down the three forces powering Alberta’s outperformance, why they matter, and how MetroLiving REIT is positioning capital to benefit.
Alberta Leads Canada in Population Growth
Alberta’s population growth is at multi-year highs, driven by:
Interprovincial migration from Ontario and BC
International immigration outpacing supply growth
Economic momentum across tech, logistics, energy, trades, and services
The key insight: People follow affordability and opportunity — and both are strongest in Alberta.
When population grows faster than housing supply, rental demand rises.
Alberta Rent Growth Is Outpacing the National Average
Rents in Calgary have been rising faster than many major cities in Canada.
Why?
A growing population
Lower household ownership rates among newcomers
Limited new rental supply
A large cohort of renters by choice
For investors, this means: Income growth + stronger asset values.
Alberta Is the Most Affordable Major Housing Market in the Country
This is the quiet engine behind Alberta’s outperformance.
Ontario and BC renters are burdened by high housing costs. Alberta renters spend less on housing, less on debt, and have more disposable income — which stabilizes the entire rental ecosystem.
For assets, this means:
Lower delinquencies
Stronger occupancy
Room for rent growth
Longer tenant tenures
More resilient cash flow
What This Means for Investors
Three factors — migration, rent growth, and affordability — create a tailwind that is rare in Canadian real estate cycles.
Investors benefit from:
Stronger NOI growth
Higher stabilized values
Lower vacancy volatility
Better long-term return potential
This is why MetroLiving focuses exclusively on Alberta multifamily. The fundamentals simply outperform the rest of the country.
How MetroLiving Is Positioned
Alberta-only acquisition strategy
Conservative underwriting
CMHC-insured long-term debt
Operational excellence
Focus on tenant experience and sustainable value creation
This is not speculation. It is a strategic, fundamentals-first approach.
The Window Is Open
Alberta is early in its cycle — and early investors tend to capture the strongest gains.
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Calley Erickson
