Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmonton and Ottawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmonton and Ottawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,173 per month in Edmonton vs $2,445 in Ottawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,239 per month in Edmonton vs $3,628 in Ottawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,304 per month in Edmonton vs $4,812 in Ottawa, rent included.

Edmonton is about 11% cheaper than Ottawa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Edmonton and Ottawa sit above the global median – Edmonton by 58%, Ottawa by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.07 CA$25.00

$19.57 CA$27.08

-7.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.0 CA$108

$76.1 CA$105

2.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.23 CA$14.16

$10.94 CA$15.13

-6.49%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.38

$3.99 CA$5.52

-2.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$2.06 CA$2.85

13.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.76 CA$2.44

11.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 CA$8.12

$5.75 CA$7.96

2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.57 CA$9.09

$6.31 CA$8.73

4.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 CA$2.30

$2.26 CA$3.13

-26.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 CA$3.08

$3.03 CA$4.20

-26.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.09

$3.29 CA$4.55

-10.03%

Eggs

$3.60 CA$4.98

$3.41 CA$4.72

5.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 CA$15.40

$10.98 CA$15.19

1.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.75

$11.34 CA$15.69

0.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 CA$25.74

$17.69 CA$24.47

5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.15

$3.78 CA$5.23

17.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.91

$3.88 CA$5.36

10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 CA$5.63

$3.79 CA$5.25

7.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 CA$3.10

$2.73 CA$3.78

-17.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$2.42 CA$3.34

-18.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 CA$3.39

$2.70 CA$3.73

-9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 CA$2.54

$1.58 CA$2.19

16.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.35

$14.58 CA$20.18

0.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 CA$16.07

$12.15 CA$16.81

-4.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.51 CA$4.86

$2.77 CA$3.84

26.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.03

$3.62 CA$5.02

-19.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.95 CA$4.09

-6.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 CA$102

$97.3 CA$135

-24.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$2.76 CA$3.82

5.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.94

$1.55 CA$2.14

-9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.29 CA$29.46

$19.22 CA$26.59

10.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.20 CA$1.66

-1.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K CA$40.1K

-0.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K CA$28.1K

$22.2K CA$30.7K

-8.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 CA$317

$141 CA$195

62.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.12 CA$55.5

$37.17 CA$51.4

7.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 CA$77.4

$51.5 CA$71.3

8.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.17 CA$65.3

$46.10 CA$63.8

2.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 CA$25.53

$28.94 CA$40.05

-36.25%

Cinema Ticket

$12.93 CA$17.89

$12.91 CA$17.86

0.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$782 CA$1,082

$959 CA$1,327

-18.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,665 CA$13.4K

$16.4K CA$22.7K

-41.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.40 CA$62.8

$62.9 CA$87.1

-27.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.92 CA$64.9

$38.84 CA$53.7

20.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 CA$117

$107 CA$149

-21.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 CA$134

$101 CA$139

-3.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,126 CA$1,558

$1,501 CA$2,077

-25.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$919 CA$1,271

$1,258 CA$1,741

-27.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,733 CA$2,397

$2,326 CA$3,218

-25.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 CA$1,989

$1,916 CA$2,652

-25.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 CA$3,174

$4,418 CA$6,113

-48.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,128 CA$2,945

$4,702 CA$6,507

-54.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,730 CA$5,161

$3,760 CA$5,203

-0.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.32

4.17

3.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Edmonton: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,126 in Edmonton versus $1,501 in Ottawa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Ottawa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Edmonton versus $76.0 in Ottawa. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in Edmonton vs $372 in Ottawa – so Edmonton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Edmonton vs Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,173 in Edmonton, $2,445 in Ottawa – roughly 13% apart. Ottawa costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,259 per month in Edmonton and $3,667 in Ottawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Edmonton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,173 in Edmonton and $2,445 in Ottawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Edmonton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,173, than in Ottawa at $2,445. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ottawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ottawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,173 in Edmonton to $2,445 in Ottawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Edmonton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ottawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.