# Laurier student housing: residence costs and off-campus rent in Waterloo

Laurier residence runs $8,373 to $11,760 a year for 2026–27, guaranteed if you apply with the $600 deposit by June 1. Room prices, meal plan rules, and off-campus rent.

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**Short answer: Laurier residence costs $8,373 to $11,760 for the year depending on room, guaranteed to first-years who apply with the $600 deposit by June 1. Off campus, shared apartments near campus run $750 to $1,000 per room.**

Laurier's Waterloo campus sits in a residential neighbourhood, so your options split cleanly: residence in first year, then shared housing off campus. Here's what each costs.

## Residence rates for 2026–27

Residence fees are per year, paid in two terms:

| Room type | Per term | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional double (dorm) | $4,186.29 | $8,373 |
| Traditional single (dorm) | $4,724.47 | $9,449 |
| Semi-private double (dorm) | $5,022.16 | $10,044 |
| Semi-private single (dorm) | $5,237.43 | $10,475 |
| Apartment double | $4,511.19 | $9,022 |
| Apartment single (premium) | $5,608.16 | $11,216 |
| Apartment single, premium-plus | $5,743.99 | $11,488 |
| Apartment single with ensuite | $5,879.84 | $11,760 |

Traditional dorm rooms are cheaper because they don't have kitchens, so everyone there is on a full meal plan. Apartment-style rooms have kitchens, which changes your food math, though the apartment meal plan still exists for students who want some campus meals.

## The meal plan rule

Every residence student on the Waterloo campus picks a meal plan. The 5-day all-access plan runs $3,580.79 per term with $900 in flex dollars for the year. Apartment residents can pick the smaller apartment plan instead. All plans are tax exempt.

## Getting a room: the June 1 deadline

Laurier guarantees residence to every student attending post-secondary for the first time who applies and pays the $600 deposit by June 1. Applications open in early April. The deposit is non-refundable but applies to your fees.

Miss June 1 and you're on the waitlist. Waterloo's rental market is tight, so the waitlist is a real risk, not a formality.

## Off campus

Waterloo rents, per recent market data:

| Option | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Room in a shared apartment near campus | $750 to $1,000 |
| One-bedroom apartment | $1,500 to $1,900 |
| Two-bedroom (split with a roommate) | $2,000, about $1,000 each |

A few things to know about renting in Waterloo:

- **Leases start when you sign, not when you move in.** Housing near Laurier books up by spring for September. Start looking in February or March.
- **Budget for more than rent.** Hydro, internet, and groceries add roughly $250 to $350 a month on top of a $900 room.
- **Watch for scams on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.** Never send a deposit before seeing the unit in person or on a live video call. Ads priced far below market are the usual bait.

## Residence or off campus?

| | Residence | Off campus |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly housing cost | $8,373 to $11,760 + meal plan | $9,000 to $12,000 all in |
| Convenience | One payment, walk to class | Cooking, leases, landlords |
| Contract | One year, no obligation beyond | 12-month lease, you own the risk |

First-year residence costs about the same as a good shared apartment once you add the mandatory meal plan. The real trade is convenience: residence handles everything, off campus is cheaper per person if you split well and can commit to a lease before you know the city.

## The bottom line

Apply for residence with the $600 deposit before June 1 even if you're undecided. A traditional double at $8,373 plus the 5-day meal plan runs about $15,600 all in for the year, which is roughly what off-campus living costs once groceries are counted, with far less admin.

For the full first-year bill, see our [Laurier tuition and costs](/universities/wilfrid-laurier-university/laurier-tuition-and-costs/) breakdown.