Flat-rate quotes, what's included, what most companies hide, and how to avoid getting overcharged on your first month in a new place.
I run a cleaning business based in Scarborough. Most of our calls in the last 60 days have been move-in cleans, not move-outs. So I dug into the pricing landscape across the four most-requested cities — Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York — and compiled what an honest move-in clean actually costs in 2026.
If you're moving into a new place in the GTA this spring or summer, this is the article I wish I'd had.
Why move-in cleaning is different from regular cleaning
A move-in clean is a one-time deep clean of an empty unit before your furniture arrives. The big difference:
- No one cleans behind the previous tenant's stove
- No one cleans inside the cabinets they left behind
- The "professional cleaning" promised by the landlord almost never includes appliances, windows, or baseboards
When you walk into your new place on move-in day, the surfaces look fine but the kitchen cabinets have crumbs, the oven has grease, the windowsills have dust the previous tenant never touched. A move-in clean strips all of that out before you fill the space with your own stuff.
What you should actually be paying — by city
I called or got quotes from 14 cleaning companies across the GTA last week. Here's the honest range for a standard 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom condo or townhouse, empty unit, including inside appliances:
| City | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto (core) | $280 | $330 | $445 |
| Scarborough | $260 | $310 | $415 |
| Etobicoke | $275 | $325 | $445 |
| North York | $275 | $325 | $440 |
Toronto core trends highest because of condo elevator booking complexity and parking surcharges. Scarborough trends lowest because there's the most family-run independent competition. The "low end" is usually a trap. When I called the $260 listings, every single one had a separate $40-$80 charge for "inside appliances" or "inside cabinets" that wasn't disclosed until after booking.
The realistic budget for a clean move-in with inside-appliance work, run by a legit insured company, is roughly $300-$340 for a 2-bedroom anywhere in the GTA core.
What a real move-in clean should include
Kitchen: inside and outside of oven, microwave, fridge, freezer. Inside and outside all cabinets and drawers. Counters, backsplash, sink, stovetop, range hood. Dishwasher exterior and filter rinse.
Bathrooms: toilet bowl, base, and behind. Shower, tub, glass — scale and soap-scum removed. Mirror, vanity, faucets, drains. Inside medicine cabinet.
Whole unit: baseboards, doorframes, light switches, outlet plates. Closet shelves wiped inside. Window sills, tracks, and inside windows where reachable. Floors vacuumed and mopped. Cobweb removal, vents wiped.
How to actually compare quotes
Three questions cut through the marketing:
- Is it a flat rate or hourly? Flat rate is almost always better for a move-in. Hourly creates an incentive to work slowly.
- Are inside appliances included or extra? If they hesitate, it's extra.
- What if the unit takes longer than estimated? A real company doesn't charge you more. The bait-and-switch tier will.
The companies that answer these clearly in 30 seconds are the ones to book.
What I quote for each city
For full transparency, here's our flat-rate move-in pricing across these four cities — 2-bedroom 1-bath empty unit, all inside-appliance work included, non-toxic products by default:
- Toronto — $315 flat, full scope — details here
- Scarborough — $299 flat — details here
- Etobicoke — $315 flat — details here
- North York — $315 flat — details here
What to avoid
A few patterns I've seen burn customers in the GTA this year:
- "Free quote — call now" with no website pricing. If they won't publish numbers, they're price-shopping you on the call.
- Gigantic "Move-In Special" discounts. Real cleaners don't discount move-ins. A 50% off promo usually means the regular price was inflated.
- "We use eco-friendly products" without naming them. If they can't name a brand, it's marketing copy.
- No insurance proof. A legit Toronto cleaning company has WSIB and commercial liability. Ask for a certificate before booking.
Bottom line
For a 2-bedroom move-in clean in Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, or North York in 2026, budget $295-$340 from a real, insured company. Below that, you're being lied to about scope. Above $400, you're paying for someone's branding.
Get three quotes, ask the three questions above, and book the company that answers cleanly.
If you want a flat-rate quote in 60 seconds with no follow-up call, you can run our form at procleaningpros.ca/get-quote.
Rumy Reyal runs Pro Cleaning Pros, a family-operated cleaning company based in Scarborough serving the GTA.
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