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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,463 per month in Ottawa vs $2,186 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,588 per month in Ottawa vs $3,285 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,713 per month in Ottawa vs $4,385 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 84%, Edmonton by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.61 CA$26.19

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 CA$104

$65.9 CA$92.7

12.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.48 CA$16.15

$11.58 CA$16.29

-0.86%

Cappuccino

$4.01 CA$5.64

$3.69 CA$5.19

8.67%

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

$2.16 CA$3.04

$2.18 CA$3.07

-0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.32

$1.78 CA$2.50

-7.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 CA$8.32

$5.76 CA$8.10

2.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.26

$5.83 CA$8.20

12.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 CA$3.37

$2.03 CA$2.86

18.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 CA$3.90

$2.90 CA$4.08

-4.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 CA$4.65

$3.10 CA$4.36

6.45%

Eggs

$3.67 CA$5.17

$3.72 CA$5.23

-1.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 CA$16.00

$12.23 CA$17.20

-7.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.14 CA$18.50

$12.63 CA$17.78

4.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 CA$22.03

$16.01 CA$22.52

-2.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 CA$6.17

$4.65 CA$6.55

-5.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 CA$1.91

$1.33 CA$1.87

2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 CA$4.92

$3.94 CA$5.55

-11.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.18

$3.62 CA$5.10

1.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.63

$2.46 CA$3.46

4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 CA$4.46

$2.21 CA$3.11

43.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 CA$3.19

$2.72 CA$3.82

-16.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.11

$1.95 CA$2.74

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 CA$19.58

$14.97 CA$21.06

-7.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.70 CA$15.06

$12.15 CA$17.09

-11.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 CA$3.37

$2.94 CA$4.14

-18.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 CA$4.34

$3.29 CA$4.63

-6.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 CA$4.20

$2.51 CA$3.53

18.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.1 CA$139

$74.5 CA$105

33.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 CA$3.96

$3.26 CA$4.59

-13.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.05

$1.65 CA$2.32

-11.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.69 CA$27.71

$23.15 CA$32.57

-14.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.63

$1.06 CA$1.49

9.43%

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

$25.0K CA$35.2K

$25.9K CA$36.4K

-3.32%

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

$22.3K CA$31.4K

$21.9K CA$30.9K

1.79%

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

$158 CA$222

$199 CA$279

-20.39%

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

$43.32 CA$61.0

$44.38 CA$62.5

-2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.3 CA$73.6

$66.2 CA$93.1

-20.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.95 CA$67.5

$48.71 CA$68.5

-1.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.06 CA$22.60

$21.30 CA$29.97

-24.60%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 CA$15.78

$13.02 CA$18.33

-13.90%

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

$891 CA$1,253

$701 CA$986

27.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.4K

$11.8K CA$16.6K

35.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 CA$77.4

$50.3 CA$70.8

9.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.03 CA$57.7

$41.94 CA$59.0

-2.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 CA$127

$83.5 CA$117

8.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.3 CA$134

$104 CA$146

-8.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 CA$2,084

$1,251 CA$1,761

18.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,259 CA$1,771

$931 CA$1,310

35.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 CA$3,272

$1,933 CA$2,721

20.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,936 CA$2,725

$1,587 CA$2,233

22.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,441 CA$6,249

$2,303 CA$3,240

92.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,678 CA$6,583

$2,110 CA$2,969

121.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,546 CA$4,990

$3,313 CA$4,661

7.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.48

6.08

-9.87%

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

Last update for Ottawa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,481 in Ottawa versus $1,251 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 7% 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 $74.0 in Ottawa versus $66.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $370 in Ottawa vs $381 in Edmonton – so Ottawa 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: $2,463 in Ottawa, $2,186 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 $3,694 per month in Ottawa and $3,278 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 $2,463 in Ottawa and $2,186 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% 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 $2,186, than in Ottawa at $2,463. 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 $2,186 in Edmonton to $2,463 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.