Rent Facts

Pineapples were such a status symbol in 18th century England that you could rent one for the evening to take to a party.

UBC student Tim Chen realises it is cheaper to fly to class than pay rent. So he lives with his parents in Calgary and flies to Vancouver for class. Flights: $1,200 CAD/month. Vancouver one-bed: $2,700 CAD. He pockets the $1,500 difference. "It's a one-hour flight - same as taking a bus."

Kaitlin Jorgensen, a 30-year-old hairstylist in New York City, moved to Charlotte and kept her job. She flies to NYC every other week, splits rent in Charlotte for under $1,000, and pays around $1,000 a month for the commute. Total $2,000. Manhattan rent alone would be $4,000. She called it the happiest she has ever been.