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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,534 per month in Ottawa vs $2,194 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Ottawa vs $3,321 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,722 per month in Ottawa vs $4,448 in Edmonton, rent included.

Ottawa costs about 16% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ottawa and Edmonton sit above the global median – Ottawa by 89%, Edmonton by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.49 CA$25.71

$18.25 CA$25.38

1.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 CA$104

$65.5 CA$91.0

13.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.43 CA$15.90

$11.45 CA$15.93

-0.17%

Cappuccino

$3.90 CA$5.43

$3.87 CA$5.38

0.78%

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

$2.06 CA$2.87

$2.08 CA$2.89

-0.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.76 CA$2.44

-2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 CA$8.36

$5.93 CA$8.24

1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 CA$9.07

$5.85 CA$8.13

11.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$2.07 CA$2.88

15.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.79

$2.91 CA$4.05

-6.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 CA$4.61

$3.18 CA$4.42

4.40%

Eggs

$3.58 CA$4.98

$3.76 CA$5.23

-4.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 CA$15.78

$12.48 CA$17.36

-9.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.21 CA$18.37

$12.38 CA$17.22

6.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.73 CA$21.88

$16.32 CA$22.70

-3.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.82

$4.83 CA$6.72

-13.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.32 CA$1.83

3.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.73

$3.85 CA$5.35

-11.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.75 CA$5.22

-3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.48

$2.34 CA$3.26

7.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.43

$2.11 CA$2.94

50.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.16

$2.61 CA$3.62

-12.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.19

$1.92 CA$2.66

-18.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 CA$19.16

$14.87 CA$20.67

-7.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.82 CA$15.04

$12.48 CA$17.36

-13.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 CA$3.34

$3.07 CA$4.27

-21.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$3.27 CA$4.55

-5.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 CA$4.21

$2.57 CA$3.57

17.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.7 CA$136

$72.2 CA$100

35.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.99

$3.21 CA$4.46

-10.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.64 CA$2.27

-14.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.58 CA$27.22

$23.35 CA$32.47

-16.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.54

$1.10 CA$1.53

0.91%

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

$25.3K CA$35.2K

$25.6K CA$35.6K

-1.07%

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

$21.6K CA$30.0K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-1.96%

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

$164 CA$228

$199 CA$277

-17.71%

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

$42.87 CA$59.6

$44.00 CA$61.2

-2.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 CA$71.7

$64.0 CA$89.1

-19.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.92 CA$66.6

$47.62 CA$66.2

0.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.23 CA$22.58

$21.62 CA$30.07

-24.93%

Cinema Ticket

$10.90 CA$15.15

$13.06 CA$18.16

-16.54%

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

$898 CA$1,249

$683 CA$950

31.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K CA$22.3K

$11.9K CA$16.5K

34.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CA$74.3

$48.94 CA$68.1

9.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.53 CA$56.4

$42.19 CA$58.7

-3.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 CA$126

$83.7 CA$116

8.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 CA$132

$104 CA$145

-8.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 CA$2,086

$1,212 CA$1,685

23.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 CA$1,792

$935 CA$1,300

37.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 CA$3,250

$1,878 CA$2,611

24.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 CA$2,651

$1,611 CA$2,241

18.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,478 CA$6,228

$2,397 CA$3,334

86.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,704 CA$6,542

$2,275 CA$3,164

106.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,660 CA$5,091

$3,486 CA$4,848

5.01%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,500 in Ottawa versus $1,212 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 5% 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 $75.0 in Ottawa versus $65.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $369 in Ottawa vs $384 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: $2,534 in Ottawa, $2,194 in Edmonton – roughly 16% apart. Ottawa costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,801 per month in Ottawa and $3,291 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 $2,534 in Ottawa and $2,194 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% 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 $2,194, than in Ottawa at $2,534. 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 $2,194 in Edmonton to $2,534 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.