Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ottawa, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Ottawa, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $2,488 in Ottawa, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $3,483 in Ottawa, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $4,479 in Ottawa, IL, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 78% more than Ottawa, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Ottawa, IL sit above the global median – New York, NY by 231%, Ottawa, IL by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$15.28 $15.28

95.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$50.9 $50.9

182.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.08 $11.08

11.19%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$4.19 $4.19

43.91%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.03 $2.03

67.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.46 $1.46

75.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$3.58 $3.58

129.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$2.91 $2.91

310.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.69 $0.69

123.19%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.71 $2.71

90.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$2.68 $2.68

214.55%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$2.66 $2.66

162.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$11.24 $11.24

53.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$6.28 $6.28

158.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$13.19 $13.19

51.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$2.24 $2.24

232.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.57 $1.57

54.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$3.48 $3.48

68.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.11 $4.11

53.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.36 $2.36

57.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.36 $2.36

69.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.98 $1.98

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.45 $1.45

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$9.06 $9.06

110.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$15.06 $15.06

34.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.12 $2.12

41.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.01 $2.01

92.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.97 $1.97

49.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.54 $3.54

44.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.42 $1.42

54.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$29.51 $29.51

44.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.93 $0.93

2.15%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$40.4K $40.4K

-14.68%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

22.90%

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

$182 $182

$214 $214

-14.97%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$42.57 $42.57

41.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$62.4 $62.4

-0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$42.57 $42.57

228.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

$27.17 $27.17

137.06%

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$12.12 $12.12

67.74%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,198 $1,198

169.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

143.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$45.17 $45.17

45.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$39.64 $39.64

19.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$89.5 $89.5

24.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$150 $150

15.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,585 $1,585

165.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,379 $1,379

91.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,583 $2,583

225.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,215 $2,215

133.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,721 $2,721

638.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,372 $2,372

268.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

$2,388 $2,388

115.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.56

-1.83%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ottawa, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,585 in Ottawa, IL. 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 115% higher in New York, NY, 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 $144 in New York, NY versus $51 in Ottawa, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $297 – making Ottawa, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

New York, NY vs Ottawa, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 78% more than Ottawa, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $3,732 in Ottawa, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ottawa, IL, 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 $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,488 in Ottawa, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,222 per month in New York, NY and $1,198 in Ottawa, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,438 in New York, NY and $2,488 in Ottawa, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ottawa, IL costs $2,488 versus $4,438 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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