# Centennial College student housing: residence & off-campus costs Centennial Place is the college's own residence at Progress Campus, and off-campus rent in Scarborough runs cheaper than most of Toronto. What both actually cost in 2026. --- Housing is the biggest line in most Centennial students' budgets, and unlike most colleges, Centennial runs its own residence: Centennial Place at Progress Campus, with about 740 students in shared suites. If residence doesn't fit your budget or your campus, Scarborough's rental market is one of the more affordable corners of Toronto. This guide breaks down what residence costs, what off-campus runs near each campus, and how to keep housing from eating your budget. ## Centennial Place: what it is and how to get in Centennial Place is an 8-storey residence at 937 Progress Avenue, next to Progress Campus. Suites come in 2- and 4-bedroom layouts, and every student gets a private bedroom, plus a shared bathroom and kitchen. It's purpose-built student housing, not a converted apartment block, and it's a two-minute walk from the Progress campus buildings. Allocation is **first come, first served**, and it fills for September. You apply directly on the [Centennial Place site](https://centennial-place.ca/). If you're starting in winter or transferring campuses, apply as soon as you're admitted; there's no lottery, just an order of applications. Rates change by room type and academic year, so check the site for the current number before you budget. The listed rate covers furniture, utilities, and internet, which matters when you compare it against off-campus rent that leaves those out. ## Off-campus: the cheapest places to live near each campus Most Centennial students live off campus, and the neighbourhood you pick changes your rent by hundreds of dollars a month. Centennial's campuses spread across Scarborough and North York, so match your neighbourhood to your campus. **Near Progress Campus** (Scarborough): the apartment towers around Progress Avenue and Markham Road, and areas toward Ellesmere and Lawrence, keep you within a short bus ride. One-bedrooms in this part of Scarborough run about **$1,600 to $2,100 a month** in 2026, with studios and room shares starting closer to $1,200. **Near Ashtonbee Campus** (East York/Cliffside): quieter residential streets with basement apartments and older walk-ups. Rents here compete with Progress-area prices, and the area connects downtown by the Bloor-Danforth line at Main Street or Warden stations. **Near Morningside Campus** (east Scarborough): among the cheapest rents in the city for this proximity to a campus. The trade-off is a longer commute if your program runs out of Progress. **Downtown-adjacent options**: some students live along the Line 2 subway corridor for access to multiple campuses, and accept the higher rent. The TTC post-secondary pass at $128.15 a month, plus the One Fare program's free TTC connection to GO, makes a longer commute cheaper than it looks. ## What a room or apartment costs If you're willing to share, off-campus housing gets cheaper than anything Centennial or Toronto offers solo. Here's the realistic 2026 range for a Centennial student: | Option | Monthly cost | Notes | |---|---|---| | Room in a shared house/apartment | $800 to $1,200 | Utilities sometimes included. The cheapest way to live near any campus. | | Studio | $1,200 to $1,500 | Scarborough studios sit at the low end of this range. | | 1-bedroom | $1,600 to $2,100 | Progress and Ellesmere areas sit at the low end. | | 2-bedroom (split) | $900 to $1,200 per person | Splitting a two-bed beats most solo options. | The math is simple: a shared room near Progress beats the solo options by hundreds a month, and it's money you can put toward [an emergency fund](/learn/budget-student-income/) instead. ## The hidden costs to budget for Rent is only part of the picture. Budget for: - **Utilities** (heat, power, water): $100 to $200 a month if the lease doesn't include them - **Internet**: $50 to $100 a month, often bundled in residence - **Tenant insurance**: $20 to $30 a month off campus; residence includes it in the rate - **Furniture**: Centennial Place suites are furnished, most off-campus rentals are not - **Transit**: no UPass in Toronto, but the post-secondary TTC pass runs $128.15 a month, and CCSAI can get you 40% off GO Transit fares with a student ID A $1,600 one-bedroom becomes $1,900 once you add utilities, internet, and insurance. Centennial Place's rate bundles all three, which is part of what you're comparing. ## Residence or off-campus: which is right for you? Residence makes sense if you're new to Toronto, want a furnished room with everything bundled, and want to walk to class at Progress. The trade-off is a higher monthly number than a shared off-campus room, and first-come-first-served allocation means you need to apply early. Off-campus makes sense if you're watching every dollar, want to cook, and don't mind a commute. The trade-off is a lease, setup costs, and a longer trip if your program sits at a campus your neighbourhood isn't near. There's no wrong answer, only the one that fits your budget. Add up residence's bundled rate against off-campus rent plus utilities and groceries, then pick. For most students, sharing off campus comes out lower, and the difference goes toward groceries or [your first week's costs](/universities/centennial-college/first-week-centennial/). ## The bottom line Centennial Place is one of the few college residences in Toronto, and it's the simplest option if Progress is your home campus. Sharing an apartment off campus is usually cheaper, and Scarborough's rental market gives you more room than downtown does. Whichever you pick, apply or search early, and read the lease before you sign. Related: [the cheapest food on campus](/universities/centennial-college/cheapest-food-on-campus-centennial/) and [how to split rent with roommates](/learn/split-rent-with-roommate/) cover the other big pieces of your monthly budget.