Ottawa Rent Split Calculator
This Ottawa rent split calculator is a roommate calculator preloaded with CMHC sitting rent — not Craigslist asking.
Half the rent is shared space (equal). Half is bedrooms (sq ft + ensuite).
- Alex
- $1,106$1,046 rent + $60 bills
- 55% of rent · +$88 vs equal · 22% of take-home · $1,046 of last month's rent
- Sam
- $930$870 rent + $60 bills
- 45% of rent · -$88 vs equal · 26% of take-home · $870 of last month's rent
- Move-in (first month + deposit)
- $3,952
Ontario allows a last-month rent deposit only — not a damage or pet deposit. Split it the same way you split rent. The landlord can still chase any one named tenant for the full cheque. Hydro is split equally, even when rent is not.
Preloaded at the CMHC sitting 2-bed of $1,916. Split equally two ways that is about $958 each, before hydro. Last month's rent is 1× rent, allocated with the rent split.
Sharing a place in Ottawa
CMHC October 2025 Ottawa CMA: studio $1,332, 1-bed $1,593, 2-bed $1,916, 3-bed+ $2,090. Turnover 2-beds $2,155. Sandy Hill and Lowertown loosened with fewer international students — a 3-bed house share there is not the CMA average.
Sitting vs asking, by bedroom
Sitting is CMHC October 2025 purpose-built. Asking is a vacant listing print where we have one. Turnover 2-bed in the 2025 RMR was $2,155.
| Unit | Sitting | Asking | Equal, 2 ways |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor / studio | $1,332 | — | $666 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,593 | $1,900 | $797 |
| 2 bedroom | $1,916 | $2,350 | $958 |
| 3 bedroom | $2,090 | $2,750 | $1,045 |
Lease and last month's rent
Ontario's standard form of lease says that if more than one tenant signs, each is responsible for all tenant obligations, including the full amount of rent. An equal / income / sqft split is a private deal. The landlord can collect the whole cheque from whoever is on page 1.
Ontario allows a last-month rent deposit only — not a damage or pet deposit. Split it the same way you split rent. The landlord can still chase any one named tenant for the full cheque.
How Ottawa compares
Sitting 2-bed split equally two ways. Ottawa is highlighted. Asking rent is not on these bars.
CMHC sitting 2-bed, split equally two ways. Asking rent — where we have a city listing print — is not on these bars on purpose.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 2-bedroom in Ottawa?
CMHC's October 2025 purpose-built sitting average is $1,916. A vacant listing in the same city often asks around $2,350. Sitting rent is what current tenants pay. Asking rent is what a new lease costs.
What is the fairest way to split rent?
Equal when rooms and incomes are close. Square footage when one bedroom is clearly larger. Income when paycheques differ by a lot. Hybrid (half equal, half by room) is the compromise that prices shared space separately from the ensuite.
Does the landlord care how we split it?
Usually no. Whoever is named on the lease owes the full rent. A roommate who is only an occupant has a contract with you, not with the landlord.
More Ottawa resources
Before you pick a unit, run how much rent you can afford against take-home, not against the listing.
Selling? The Ottawa home sale proceeds calculator nets commission, tax on the fee, legal, and the mortgage payout on this city's typical structure.
Estimate your annual bill with the Ottawa property tax calculator, preloaded with the city's current residential rate, rebates, and payment deadlines.
Buying a condo instead? Sanity-check the maintenance fees with the Ottawa condo fee calculator, including the red flags that precede special assessments.
Deciding whether to keep renting? The Ottawa rent vs own calculator compares owning against renting and investing over your time horizon.
Before you make an offer, budget the one-time purchase costs with the Ontario closing costs calculator, from land transfer tax to legal fees.
Selling at the same time? The Ontario real estate commission calculator estimates realtor fees and the tax charged on them.
When you're ready to act, compare the top real estate agents in Ottawa using verified reviews and closed transactions.
Rent split calculators for other cities
Sources
- CMHC Housing Market Information Portal: Ontario average rent by bedroom (Oct 2025)
- Ontario standard form of lease
- CMHC 2025 Rental Market Report (turnover 2-bed $2,155)
Sitting rents are CMHC purpose-built averages for October 2025, not a quote on a specific unit. Asking figures are listing prints where published. Confirm the lease, deposit, and who is named on page 1 before you transfer anything.