As the Halifax overnight winter parking ban approaches, it's becoming more expensive to pay for parking in the city.

According to the parking rate survey by Colliers International, the average monthly parking rate in Halifax is over $180. Last year, it was $8 less.

Daily rates are increasing as well.

"I park over in Dartmouth because I can't afford to park over on the Halifax side. It would be a lot more convenient to be able to bring your car, but it's just too expensive. It's like paying rent," said commuter Kate Scott.

Finding a parking spot in the city can be tough, which is why parkades are often filled with cars.

They're convenient but they're getting more expensive.

Nicole Mosher works downtown and has been paying $17.50 a day for a spot at Metro Park for the last three months.

"So five days a week times $17.50, it ends up being quite a lot," she said.

"If I find parking on the street, what I find is by the end of the day, 4 o'clock starts rolling around and you miss plugging the meters, so by then you've already paid $10 to $12 in coin out of your pocket and then you end up with a $20 ticket."

Pam MacFarlane, research director for Colliers International, said most parkades in the city have a waitlist for monthly parking passes.

"We've had new development that have taken away surface parking lots and more tenants are trying to find other parking spots which have moved them into the covered areas, so demand always forces a rise in the rate," she said.

MacFarlane said it can take years to get a space.