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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,449 per month in Ottawa, IL vs $4,459 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,479 per month in Ottawa, IL vs $6,988 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,509 per month in Ottawa, IL vs $9,517 in New York, NY, rent included.

Ottawa, IL is about 45% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ottawa, IL and New York, NY sit above the global median – Ottawa, IL by 83%, New York, NY by 234%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.79 $14.79

$30.11 $30.11

-50.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.97 $49.97

$143 $143

-64.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 $10.81

$12.67 $12.67

-14.68%

Cappuccino

$4.42 $4.42

$6.07 $6.07

-27.18%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$3.27 $3.27

-40.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.60 $2.60

-43.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 $3.53

$7.97 $7.97

-55.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$12.18 $12.18

-75.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$1.54 $1.54

-55.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 $2.65

$5.07 $5.07

-47.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$8.39 $8.39

-68.06%

Eggs

$2.63 $2.63

$7.11 $7.11

-63.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

$17.70 $17.70

-35.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$16.71 $16.71

-63.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$19.85 $19.85

-33.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$7.38 $7.38

-69.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.56 $2.56

-37.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$5.84 $5.84

-40.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$6.35 $6.35

-32.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.75 $3.75

-34.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$4.06 $4.06

-40.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.14 $3.14

-37.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.48 $2.48

-38.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$18.70 $18.70

-52.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 $12.74

$19.79 $19.79

-35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.02 $3.02

-32.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.74 $3.74

-45.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.85 $2.85

-30.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.94 $4.94

-30.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.23 $2.23

-35.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 $29.55

$42.11 $42.11

-29.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.97 $0.97

-6.19%

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

$40.2K $40.2K

$34.8K $34.8K

15.54%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-17.34%

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

$221 $221

$180 $180

22.40%

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

$42.21 $42.21

$60.4 $60.4

-30.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 $61.5

$62.6 $62.6

-1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.77 $42.77

$142 $142

-69.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.13 $27.13

$64.8 $64.8

-58.11%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 $12.12

$19.98 $19.98

-39.34%

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

$1,213 $1,213

$3,220 $3,220

-62.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$57.0K $57.0K

-59.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.20 $44.20

$67.3 $67.3

-34.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.57 $40.57

$48.36 $48.36

-16.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$113 $113

-21.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$171 $171

-13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$4,136 $4,136

-61.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 $1,334

$2,635 $2,635

-49.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 $2,670

$8,333 $8,333

-67.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,258 $2,258

$5,118 $5,118

-55.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,929 $2,929

$18.7K $18.7K

-84.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,476 $2,476

$6,464 $6,464

-61.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,387 $2,387

$5,420 $5,420

-55.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.44

1.86%

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

Last update for Ottawa, IL: July 21, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,609 in Ottawa, IL versus $4,136 in New York, NY. 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 127% 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 $50.0 in Ottawa, IL versus $143 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $555 – 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

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

New York, NY costs about 82% 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 $3,674 per month in Ottawa, IL and $6,688 in New York, NY. 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 $2,449 in Ottawa, IL and $4,459 in New York, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,213 per month in Ottawa, IL and $3,220 in New York, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ottawa, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,449, than in New York, NY at $4,459. In Ottawa, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ottawa, IL costs $2,449 versus $4,459 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.