Senior Housing in Canada
Senior housing in Canada runs from age-restricted 50+ and 55+ communities and seniors' apartments, where you rent or own and look after yourself, to retirement homes and assisted living with meals and care included. SeniorHome.ca lists 5,565 senior housing options in 1,234 Canadian cities and towns, and this page also explains each province's subsidized seniors housing programs.
Top-rated senior housing in Canada
Shamrock Non-Profit Homes
Greater Sudbury, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Guhbawin Co-Operative
Greater Sudbury, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Walden Non Profit Housing
Greater Sudbury, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Davidson Manor Lounge
North Battleford, SK
5.0Contact for pricing: (236) 239-2909
Bloom Aurora Retirement Living by Cogir Residences
Aurora, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Origin Retirement Communities
Bolton, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Knox Heritage Place
Oakville, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Oddfellows Towers
Portage la Prairie, MB
5.0Contact for pricing: (431) 300-5675
Maranatha Homes
Burlington, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Silo Co-Operative Homes
Greater Sudbury, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Residenza Italia
London, ON
5.0Contact for pricing: (365) 298-0013
Heritage Place
Moose Jaw, SK
5.0Contact for pricing: (236) 239-2909
Senior housing by province
Estimated median starting monthly cost (SeniorHome.ca estimates, not quotes). Care is often extra.
| Province | Listings | Est. median starting cost |
|---|---|---|
| Senior housing in Quebec | 1,650 | $1,761 |
| Senior housing in Ontario | 1,513 | $4,000 |
| Senior housing in British Columbia | 718 | $3,550 |
| Senior housing in Alberta | 620 | $3,195 |
| Senior housing in New Brunswick | 346 | $1,800 |
| Senior housing in Saskatchewan | 338 | $2,100 |
| Senior housing in Manitoba | 150 | $1,470 |
| Senior housing in Nova Scotia | 116 | $2,147 |
| Senior housing in Newfoundland and Labrador | 80 | $1,866 |
| Senior housing in Prince Edward Island | 27 | $2,433 |
| Senior housing in Northwest Territories | 4 | — |
| Senior housing in Nunavut | 2 | — |
| Senior housing in Yukon | 1 | — |
Senior housing in popular cities
Types of senior housing
From the most independent to the most supported:
- 50+ and 55+ communities: age-restricted neighbourhoods of houses, bungalows, townhomes or manufactured homes, often on leased land (land-lease), with a clubhouse and activities. You buy the home and pay a monthly site fee. No care is included
- Seniors' apartments: apartment buildings for older adults, rented at market rates or, in non-profit and public buildings, at a rent geared to income
- Life-lease housing: you pay a lump sum for the right to occupy a unit for life, plus a monthly fee, and get most of it back when you leave. Common with non-profit and faith-based sponsors in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- Housing co-operatives for seniors: members run the building together and pay a housing charge rather than rent
- Independent living residences: suites with meals, housekeeping and activities available, for seniors who don't need daily care
- Retirement homes and assisted living: private-pay residences with meals, housekeeping and personal care on site
- Long-term care homes (nursing homes): 24-hour nursing care, publicly funded, accessed through a provincial assessment rather than by renting
What senior housing costs
Costs depend on how much is included. In a 55+ community you buy the home (often well below the price of a comparable house in town) and pay a monthly fee for the land lease and amenities. Seniors' apartments rent at market rates, or at about 25 to 30 percent of income in subsidized buildings. Independent living and retirement homes charge a single monthly rate that includes meals and services; the table below shows SeniorHome.ca's estimated median starting cost by province for those residences. These are estimates, not quotes.
Federal benefits help with the rent: Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement for low-income seniors, and in several provinces a rent supplement for seniors who pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing (BC's SAFER, Quebec's Allocation-logement, Manitoba's Rent Assist).
How to choose senior housing
Decide first how much help you want now and in a few years, then compare options on the same points:
- The full monthly cost, including site fees, condo fees or service packages, and how much it rises each year
- What happens if you need care later: can home care come in, is there a residence with care nearby, or would you have to move
- For land-lease and life-lease homes: the lease terms, resale rules and what you get back when you leave
- Age rules (50+, 55+ or 65+), guest policies and whether younger family members can live with you
- Transit, groceries, doctors and family nearby, especially if you may stop driving
- For subsidized housing: the waiting list in that area, which can run from months to years
Subsidized seniors housing by province
Every province and territory runs seniors housing with rent geared to income, and several add a rent supplement for seniors renting privately. Programs as published on each province's own page, checked October 2026. Apply through the office named in the source.
Seniors housing in Quebec
- HLM (habitations à loyer modique) : logements pour ménages à faible revenu, avec un loyer correspondant à 25 % du revenu.
- Programme Allocation-logement : 100 $, 150 $ ou 170 $ par mois pour les personnes de 50 ans et plus à faible revenu qui consacrent une trop grande part de leur budget au logement.
- AccèsLogis Québec : logements communautaires et abordables, dont plusieurs milliers pour les aînés.
- Programme d'adaptation de domicile : aide financière pour adapter son domicile et y vieillir en sécurité.
Official information: Programmes d'habitation pour les aînés, Société d'habitation du Québec
Seniors housing in Ontario
- Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing through your municipality's housing office: rent is about 30% of income.
- Ontario Renovates: forgivable loans for low- to moderate-income homeowners to make repairs or improve accessibility.
- Life lease housing and housing co-ops, often with seniors-only buildings and some RGI units.
Official information: Home and housing: guide to programs and services for seniors, Government of Ontario
Seniors housing in British Columbia
- SAFER (Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters), run by BC Housing: monthly payments for seniors who pay more than 30% of their income on rent.
- Seniors' Supportive Housing: rental homes for low-income seniors who need some help, with 24-hour response, meals, light housekeeping and activities.
- BC RAHA rebates of up to $20,000 per home for accessible home adaptations.
Official information: Seniors housing, Province of British Columbia
Seniors housing in Alberta
- Seniors Self-Contained Housing: apartments for functionally independent seniors 65+, with rent set at about 30% of income.
- Seniors Lodge program: rooms with meals and housekeeping for functionally independent seniors.
- Both are run by local housing management bodies (foundations) across the province.
Official information: Affordable housing programs, Government of Alberta
Seniors housing in New Brunswick
- Housing NB public housing for seniors: subsidized apartments with rent geared to income.
- Rent supplements that cover part of the rent in private apartments.
Official information: Affordable rental housing program, Government of New Brunswick
Seniors housing in Saskatchewan
- Seniors Housing Program: rental housing for people 55+ who can live independently, run by local housing authorities for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.
- Life Lease Program: affordable apartment-style homes for moderate-income seniors, for a deposit and a monthly occupancy fee, in select communities.
Official information: Rental housing for seniors, Government of Saskatchewan
Seniors housing in Manitoba
- Manitoba Housing rents apartments to seniors 55 and over, with affordable and subsidized options for low to moderate incomes.
- Social Housing Assisted Living (SHAL) at Ellice Place in Winnipeg: affordable assisted living for seniors 60+, with meals, housekeeping and activities.
Official information: Manitoba Housing, Province of Manitoba
Seniors housing in Nova Scotia
- Seniors public housing for people 58+ with low incomes, with rent based on income, through the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency.
- You can choose several buildings or areas; wait times can run 6 to 18 months where demand is high.
Official information: Apply for housing, Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency
Seniors housing in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation social housing, with rent based on 25% of net income; most partner-managed units are home to seniors.
Official information: Housing programs, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
Seniors housing in Prince Edward Island
- Seniors Housing Program: apartments in 32 communities for Islanders 60+ (or 55+ with a disability), with rent at 25% of income.
- Or a rent supplement with a private landlord in any community.
Official information: Seniors Housing Program, Government of Prince Edward Island
Seniors housing in Northwest Territories
- Housing NWT public housing, including about 356 units designated for seniors with accessibility modifications.
- Seniors get up to $1,000 a month deducted from income when public housing rent is calculated.
Official information: Public Housing Program, Housing NWT
Seniors housing in Nunavut
- Elders Homes in Arviat and Iqaluit: assisted living (levels 2 and 3) for Nunavummiut 55+.
- The Nunavut Housing Corporation's Elders Housing Program helps Elders maintain, repair and adapt their homes.
Official information: Elders Homes, Government of Nunavut
Seniors housing in Yukon
- Yukon Housing Corporation seniors' supportive housing, including Normandy Living in Whitehorse, where eligible seniors and Elders pay 25% of income for rent and 40% for services such as meals and housekeeping.
Official information: Supportive housing for seniors and Elders, Government of Yukon
Frequently asked questions
What is senior housing?
Senior housing is any housing built for older adults: 50+ and 55+ communities, seniors' apartments, life-lease and co-op buildings, independent living, retirement homes and assisted living. The main difference between them is how much is included, from nothing but an age restriction to meals and daily care.
What is a 55+ community?
A 55+ (or 50+) community is an age-restricted neighbourhood of houses, bungalows, townhomes or manufactured homes, often with a clubhouse, pool and activities. Residents own their home and usually pay a monthly fee for the land lease or amenities. No care is included, so most residents arrange home care themselves if they need it later.
How much does senior housing cost in Canada?
It depends on the type. Subsidized seniors' apartments charge about 25 to 30 percent of income. Market-rent seniors' apartments cost about what other apartments in the area do. A home in a 55+ community is bought, with a monthly site fee on top. SeniorHome.ca estimates the median starting cost of independent living and retirement homes at $2,995 a month, with meals and services included.
How do I get subsidized seniors housing?
Apply through your province or municipality's housing office: BC Housing, Alberta's local housing management bodies, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, Manitoba Housing, your Ontario municipality's housing access centre, Quebec's offices d'habitation, and the provincial housing agencies in Atlantic Canada. Rent is set at about 25 to 30 percent of income, and waiting lists can be long, so apply early. Each province's programs are listed below.
How do I find senior housing near me?
This page shows senior housing closest to you first. You can also search any city above, or browse by province and city below.