Student Housing in New Brunswick: Residence, Rentals and What It Costs
By Muntasir • Published Jun 15, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Student Housing, Money & Budgeting, Canadian Universities & Colleges
UNB Fredericton's 2026-2027 residence rates run from $5,720 for a classic double to $10,143 for a one-bedroom suite, plus a required meal plan starting at $6,262 and an $800 deposit.
🏠 First-year students usually live in traditional or suite-style residence on campus.
💵 Off-campus rent in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton costs less than in Toronto or Vancouver.
📩 New Brunswick's Residential Tenancies Act sets rules for deposits, notice and lease disputes.
⏱️ Book residence early. Popular room types fill months before the fall term.
On-campus residence costs at UNB Fredericton
The University of New Brunswick's Fredericton campus publishes its residence rates by building and room type for the 2026-2027 academic year. Renovated residences (Aitken, Lady Dunn, Joy Kidd, Tibbits, Neville-Jones) and classic residences (Bridges, Harrison, Lady Beaverbrook, Mackenzie) both split the annual fee across a fall payment and a winter payment. Renovated buildings cost more because of private or semi-private bathrooms and newer common spaces, while classic buildings keep costs down with shared washrooms on each floor.
| Room type | 2026-2027 annual rate |
|---|---|
| Classic double | $5,720 |
| Classic single | $7,758 |
| Renovated single | $8,631 |
| Renovated single, private bathroom | $9,785 |
| EPJ one-bedroom suite | $10,143 |
On top of the room, most residences require a meal plan. UNB Fredericton's Infinite Plan costs $6,262 for the year and includes $100 in flex cash, and the Infinite Plus and Infinite Max plans cost more and load on extra cash instead. Two buildings, Neill House and Elizabeth Parr Johnson, do not require a meal plan. Applying for residence needs an $800 deposit, non-refundable once you accept your offer. See UNB Fredericton's residence fee page for the full building list.
UNB's Saint John campus and Universite de Moncton run their own residences too, each with rates set by that campus's housing office. Check directly with the campus you plan to attend, since Fredericton's numbers do not carry over to another city.
Off-campus rentals in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton
New Brunswick's three main university cities cost less to rent in than Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. Prices still vary block by block within each city: a unit within walking distance of UNB, STU or Universite de Moncton usually costs more than a similar size unit a bus ride away.
Most student rentals run on a twelve-month lease starting in September, though some landlords near campus offer a shorter lease timed closer to the school year. Ask directly whether heat and electricity are included, since a unit that looks cheap on paper often costs more once you add a New Brunswick winter heating bill.
Furnished units cost more upfront but save you from buying a bed, desk and kitchen basics for a short stay. If you plan to stay in New Brunswick for your whole program, an unfurnished unit usually works out cheaper over time, and secondhand furniture is easy to find near any of the three cities' campuses close to the start of September, when outgoing students sell what incoming students need.
Leases and tenant rights
New Brunswick's Residential Tenancies Act sets the rules for damage deposits, notice periods and how a landlord ends a lease. Before you sign, ask for the deposit amount and how it gets returned, then walk through the unit with the landlord and note existing damage in writing. Keep a copy for yourself.
If a dispute comes up over a deposit, a repair, or an early move-out, New Brunswick's residential tenancies tribunal handles the complaint outside of court. Contact your campus student union first. Most run a housing or legal information service that points you to the right form before you go further.
Roommates and commuting trade-offs
Splitting a house or apartment with roommates is the standard way New Brunswick students cut rent. A four-bedroom house near campus, split four ways, usually costs less per person than a studio alone, though you give up privacy and take on shared utility bills. Talk through habits like guests, cleaning and quiet hours before you sign a lease together, since the lease binds you financially to people you might not know well yet.
Living further from campus to save on rent means budgeting for a bus pass or a car, and in New Brunswick's winter that commute gets harder in January and February. Weigh the rent you save against the time and cost of getting to class through snow and ice for a full winter term.
How to plan your housing search
Apply for residence as soon as you accept your admission offer. Popular room types fill months before the fall term.
If you plan to live off campus, start looking in spring or early summer for a September move-in.
Budget first and last month's rent plus a damage deposit before you sign anything.
Read the lease fully and ask about heat, electricity and internet before you commit.
Take photos at move-in and keep them with your copy of the lease.