Best Surrey BC Neighbourhoods for Renting

For newcomers to Canada and international students, Surrey, B.C., is a slightly more affordable housing alternative to Vancouver.

It's also popular with new arrivals to Canada. Over 41 percent of new immigrants to Surrey are from India, and South Asians form 37 percent of this fast-growing city's overall population.

For commuters, Surrey is just 23 kilometres from the heart of Vancouver, where housing options are much more expensive.

Rental savings available in Surrey

For example, as of July 2024, a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver was $2,761 per month, and a one-bedroom in Surrey was $2,462. Compared to most other cities, both are expensive, but there are definitely rent savings to be found in Surrey.

If you're ultimately looking to buy, the average house price in Vancouver was $1,280,879, while Surrey's average price was slightly lower, somewhere between $1 and 1.1 million.

In addition to housing and diverse neighbourhoods, Surrey features:

six town centres
parks and beaches
sports facilities
a mild climate
proximity to mountains and nature
community and civic pride
seven different neighbourhoods
B.C.'s second-largest population
the third largest land area in B.C. cities

RELATED STORY: What to know about living in Surrey

Best and Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Surrey, B.C.

Here are some of the best and most popular neighbourhoods to rent in Surrey:

Whalley / Surrey City Centre Neighbourhood

Renters will discover the revitalized civic centre in the Whalley/ Surrey City Centre, which features the City Centre Library, Surrey City Hall, and Simon Fraser University’s beautiful Surrey campus. Central City Shopping Centre has lots of shops and services. Nearby Holland Park has trails, manicured gardens, and the Royal Kwantlen Park.

The 200,000 square foot City Hall has a plaza, a performing arts venue, and Red Racer beer, Central City Brewery & Distillery. This neighbourhood is home to Holland Park, a popular concert venue, and the Surrey Urban Farmers Market.

South Surrey Neighbourhood

South Surrey boasts excellent schools, including two private schools, recreational facilities, beautiful properties and an easy 35-minute access to the Canada/US border. The average household income is the highest of all the Surrey town centres. Whiterock's small and separate community is bordered on 3 sides by South Surrey and the ocean on the fourth. Here, residents and visitors enjoy the sea at the expansive Crescent Beach or nearby Blackie Spit Park, as well as the charming shopping shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Enjoy some oysters with your view at Five Kitchen & Oyster Bar or enchiladas and a Mezcal Negroni at Zapoteca Mexican Grill.

South Surrey also has acres of urban forest, agricultural land and parks, including Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest and Elgin Heritage Park, where you’ll find the historic and charming Stewart Heritage Farm.

Surrey B.C. features lots of rental housing options

Cloverdale Neighbourhood

Cloverdale is Surrey’s third largest community, historic centre and home to the Cloverdale Rodeo. Western Canada’s largest Canada Day celebrations welcome thousands for festivities annually in the same exhibition fairgrounds as the rodeo. This is also where you’ll find the Museum of Surrey and the unique BC Vintage Truck Museum.

Cloverdale’s rodeo charm is reflected in the western character of its main street, which has been carefully preserved despite the considerable commercial expansion that has taken place around the town. It is a busy hub of activity due in part to its strategic location and railway crossroads. Cloverdale was founded as a small farming community in 1870 and boasts a profitable agricultural industry.

In addition, residential areas like Clayton Heights have also experienced significant growth in recent years, with new developments springing up and offering additional housing options. To support this growth, many new facilities and amenities have popped up to serve the community. An approved SkyTrain expansion will see three new stations established in Cloverdale, connecting to Vancouver in the west and Langley to the southeast.

Fleetwood Neighbourhood

Located in the northeastern part of Surrey, the Fleetwood neighbourhood attracts many families thanks to nearby services, countless schools, and Skytrain access in Guildford. It also offers residents easy access to beautiful dog-friendly walking and hiking trails, sports fields, and a track at Bear Creek Train & Mini Golf Park. Kids will love the historic train, mini-golf, water, and skate parks.

Fleetwood, which is mostly residential, comprises welcoming communities with great schools, excellent sports and recreation facilities, a community centre, and notable annual events like the Greek Food Festival and the Fleetwood Festival.

Rental apartments are popular in Surrey, B.C.

Guildford Neighbourhood

Guildford is a diverse residential neighbourhood surrounding Guildford Town Centre, one of BC’s most extensive shopping and commercial centres. Known as the gateway to Surrey, its northern boundary runs along the Fraser River from about Surrey Road to its border with Langley at 196th Street.

A family-friendly neighbourhood, Guildford boasts excellent schools, recreational facilities and, most importantly, affordable housing. Recent revitalization has resulted in many new townhomes and condo developments close to shops and other amenities in the area. Meanwhile, older, more established neighbourhoods feature primarily single-family homes.

Tynehead Regional Park provides the perfect natural retreat for residents and visitors. Enjoy acres of dog-friendly parkland, an elaborate trail system, a fish hatchery, a butterfly garden, campsites and the bucolic Serpentine River in this impressive regional park. Consider visiting the historic “Charlie’s Tree” – a memorial and beautiful tribute to WW1 veterans created by Surrey Resident and fellow WW1 vet Charlie Perkins.

Newton Neighbourhood

Newton has suffered notoriety for many years, but thankfully, the City of Surrey has committed time and resources to revitalizing this neighbourhood and boosting its reputation. The town centre has seen significant investment recently and boasts some of Surrey’s best South Asian shopping options. The relatively new West Newton Community Centre is located amidst a 9-acre park featuring a cricket pitch with a spectator stand, an outdoor pavilion, a community walking track and an elaborate playground.

Check out these Surrey rentals currently available on rentalsfornewcomers.ca.

*Rentals for Newcomers used no AI-generated content in the writing of this story, and all sources are cited and credited where possible.