Housing is the biggest line in most York University students’ budgets, and it’s the one you have to decide on before you even get to campus. Toronto is one of the pricier rental markets in Canada, but the Keele campus sits next to a range of neighbourhoods that fit different budgets. This guide breaks down what on-campus residence costs, what you’ll pay off campus, and where the cheap places to live as a York student are.
On-Campus Residence: What It Costs
York runs about 4,000 residence beds across ten undergraduate residences, eight on the Keele campus and two on Glendon. Residence rent includes utilities and high-speed internet, which makes the monthly number look higher than an off-campus rent that leaves those out. The 2026-27 rates are quoted for the full 8-month academic year:
| Residence style | Room type | Rate (8 months) | Meal plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Double | $9,336 | Required |
| Traditional | Single | $11,002 | Required |
| Traditional | Super Single | $12,102 | Required |
| Suite (4 students) | Double | $11,882 | Optional |
| Suite (4 students) | Single | $13,294 | Optional |
| Suite (12 students) | Single | $11,896 | Optional |
| Suite (6 students) | Double | $11,462 | Optional |
| Suite (6 students) | Single | $12,770 | Optional |
The cheapest on-campus option is a traditional double room at $9,336 for the year, which works out to about $1,167 a month. But there’s a catch: in the traditional-style residences the meal plan is mandatory. The 2026-27 Entry plan runs $6,450, which adds about $806 a month on top of your room. That pushes the real cost of the cheapest traditional double to about $1,973 a month for the school year.
Suite-style residences, where you share a kitchenette with your suite-mates, make the meal plan optional. That’s where the savings come in. If you want the on-campus community without the dining-hall price tag, a suite double at $11,462 for the year plus groceries beats a traditional double plus a mandatory $6,450 meal plan.
Meal Plan Options
If you live in a traditional-style residence, you must choose a York dining plan. The plans load Meal Plan dollars and Meal Plan Plus dollars onto your YU-card, which you spend at dining locations across campus:
| Plan | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $6,450 | $4,600 Meal Plan + $1,550 Meal Plan Plus |
| Standard | $7,180 | $4,600 Meal Plan + $2,280 Meal Plan Plus |
| Premium | $7,930 | $4,600 Meal Plan + $3,030 Meal Plan Plus |
All three plans include a $300 Operation Enhancement Fee. The Entry plan is the minimum for traditional residents; Standard and Premium add more Meal Plan Plus dollars to spend on top of the same $4,600 in Meal Plan dollars.
Suite-style residents and off-campus students aren’t required to buy a plan, but York offers a Convenience dining plan (around $4,180 to $4,330) for students who don’t live in a residence where a dining plan is mandatory and still want the benefits.
Off-Campus: The Cheapest Places to Live Near York
Most York students live off campus, and the neighbourhood you pick changes your rent by hundreds of dollars a month. The Keele campus sits in North York, and two TTC subway stations, York University Station and Pioneer Village Station, sit right on campus on Line 1. A short subway or bus ride gets you much cheaper rent.
The Village is the classic student neighbourhood, directly south of the Keele campus boundary. It’s a five to ten minute walk to most of campus, and it’s mostly townhomes converted into student rooming houses. It’s the most convenient and the most student-dense. Rooms here run from about $700 up to $1,600 a month, with the higher end common in the converted rooming houses.
Jane and Finch is the budget pick. It’s a densely populated North York neighbourhood with some of the more affordable rentals near campus, and the 95 and 36A buses connect it to Keele in 25 to 35 minutes. Shared rooms here run about $700 to $1,100 a month, and studios and bachelors run about $1,500 to $2,000.
Downsview is the value pick for newer buildings. It’s a 15 to 25 minute transit ride from campus, with newer condos and quieter residential streets than the student-dense zones. Average rents run about $1,800 to $2,600 a month, and it’s popular with upper-year and graduate students.
North York / York University Heights is the main off-campus hub, with high-rise apartments and easy access to the Line 1 subway stations. Rents run about $1,800 to $2,500 a month.
Vaughan sits north of campus on the subway line. It’s further out, so you trade a longer commute for newer buildings and lower rent.
What a Room or Apartment Actually Costs
If you’re willing to share, off-campus housing gets much cheaper than residence. Here’s the realistic 2026 range for a York student:
| Option | Monthly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a shared house/apartment | $700 to $1,100 | The cheapest way to live near campus, especially in Jane and Finch. |
| Studio / bachelor | $1,500 to $2,000 | Cheapest solo option, mostly in Jane and Finch. |
| 1-bedroom | $1,800 to $2,200 | North York and York University Heights sit in this range. |
| 2-bedroom (split) | $1,100 to $1,300 per person | Splitting a two-bed is cheaper per person than a one-bed. |
The math is simple: a room in a shared place at $800 a month beats the cheapest residence double at $1,167, and you’re not locked into a $6,450 meal plan. For most students, sharing off campus is the single biggest money-saver available.
The Hidden Costs to Budget For
Rent is only part of the picture. Off-campus rentals in Toronto often don’t include utilities, and the ones that do charge more for it. Budget for:
- Utilities (heat, power, water): $100 to $200 a month
- Internet: $50 to $100 a month
- Tenant insurance: $20 to $30 a month (residence includes this; off-campus you buy it)
- Furniture: residence is furnished, most off-campus rentals are not
- Transit: the TTC is not included in your student fees, so budget for a monthly pass or Presto fares
A $1,800 one-bedroom can become $2,000 a month once you add utilities, internet, and insurance. Compare that against residence, where the listed rate already includes utilities and internet.
How to Keep Housing From Eating Your Budget
A common rule of thumb is to keep housing at or under 30% of your income. On a student budget that’s often not realistic, so aim for the cheapest option that still works for you and treat the rest as a trade-off.
- Share with roommates. Splitting a two or three-bedroom is cheaper per person than living alone.
- Look beyond The Village. A 25-minute bus ride to Jane and Finch can cut your rent by hundreds of dollars a month.
- Check York’s off-campus housing partners. York’s off-campus housing page points to the 4stay marketplace and The Quad, a purpose-built student residence steps from campus.
- Start your search early. The best-priced rooms near campus go fast in the spring for a September move-in.
- Read the lease before you sign. Know whether utilities are included, whether it’s furnished, and what the notice period is.
Residence or Off-Campus: Which Is Right for You?
Residence makes sense if you want the built-in community, the walk to class, and the support of living with other first-years. It’s the easiest transition, and the meal plan removes the cooking and grocery shopping entirely. It’s also the most expensive option, especially in the traditional residences where the meal plan is mandatory.
Off-campus makes sense if you want to save money, cook your own food, and have more independence. The trade-off is a commute, a lease, and the work of setting up utilities and furniture.
There’s no wrong answer, only the one that fits your budget. If you’re weighing the full cost of the year, add up residence rent plus the meal plan, then compare it to off-campus rent plus utilities and groceries. For most students, the off-campus number comes out lower, and the difference is money you can put toward an emergency fund or a TFSA instead.
Sources: York Food & Vending Services 2026-27 dining plan, York residence rates, York off-campus housing, Places4Students York guide, Zumper rent research.
Related: your first week at York and the cheapest food on campus cover the other big first-year costs.
This guide is general information for Canadian students, not personalized financial advice. Program rules and dollar amounts change, so confirm the details with the official government source before acting on them.
