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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Ottawa costs about 13% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.57 CA$27.08

$18.07 CA$25.00

8.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 CA$105

$78.0 CA$108

-2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.13

$10.23 CA$14.16

6.94%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.52

$3.89 CA$5.38

2.57%

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

$2.06 CA$2.85

$2.33 CA$3.22

-11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$1.97 CA$2.73

-10.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.96

$5.87 CA$8.12

-2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.31 CA$8.73

$6.57 CA$9.09

-3.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$1.66 CA$2.30

36.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 CA$4.20

$2.23 CA$3.08

35.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.55

$2.96 CA$4.09

11.15%

Eggs

$3.41 CA$4.72

$3.60 CA$4.98

-5.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.98 CA$15.19

$11.13 CA$15.40

-1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.34 CA$15.69

$11.39 CA$15.75

-0.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.69 CA$24.47

$18.61 CA$25.74

-4.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.23

$4.44 CA$6.15

-14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.36

$4.27 CA$5.91

-9.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.25

$4.07 CA$5.63

-6.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$2.24 CA$3.10

21.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.34

$1.97 CA$2.73

22.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 CA$3.73

$2.45 CA$3.39

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.19

$1.84 CA$2.54

-14.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.18

$14.71 CA$20.35

-0.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 CA$16.81

$11.61 CA$16.07

4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CA$3.84

$3.51 CA$4.86

-21.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$2.91 CA$4.03

24.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$2.76 CA$3.82

6.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.3 CA$135

$73.6 CA$102

32.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.92 CA$4.05

-5.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$1.40 CA$1.94

10.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.22 CA$26.59

$21.29 CA$29.46

-9.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.18 CA$1.64

1.69%

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)

$22.2K CA$30.7K

$20.3K CA$28.1K

9.21%

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

$141 CA$195

$229 CA$317

-38.54%

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

$37.17 CA$51.4

$40.12 CA$55.5

-7.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 CA$71.3

$55.9 CA$77.4

-7.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.10 CA$63.8

$47.17 CA$65.3

-2.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.94 CA$40.05

$18.45 CA$25.53

56.86%

Cinema Ticket

$12.91 CA$17.86

$12.93 CA$17.89

-0.15%

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

$959 CA$1,327

$782 CA$1,082

22.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$22.7K

$9,665 CA$13.4K

69.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.1

$45.40 CA$62.8

38.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 CA$53.7

$46.92 CA$64.9

-17.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$149

$84.2 CA$117

27.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$139

$97.2 CA$134

3.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 CA$2,077

$1,126 CA$1,558

33.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 CA$1,741

$919 CA$1,271

37.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 CA$3,218

$1,733 CA$2,397

34.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,916 CA$2,652

$1,437 CA$1,989

33.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,418 CA$6,113

$2,294 CA$3,174

92.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,702 CA$6,507

$2,128 CA$2,945

120.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,760 CA$5,203

$3,730 CA$5,161

0.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.17

4.32

-3.47%

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

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in Ottawa versus $1,126 in Edmonton. 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 $76.0 in Ottawa versus $78.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $372 in Ottawa vs $368 in Edmonton – 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

Ottawa vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,667 per month in Ottawa and $3,259 in Edmonton. 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 $2,445 in Ottawa and $2,173 in Edmonton. 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.