Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,445 per month in Ottawa vs $2,628 in Toronto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Ottawa vs $3,848 in Toronto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,812 per month in Ottawa vs $5,067 in Toronto, rent included.

Ottawa is about 7% cheaper than Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ottawa and Toronto sit above the global median – Ottawa by 78%, Toronto by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.57 CA$27.08

$17.88 CA$24.75

9.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 CA$105

$87.9 CA$122

-13.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.13

$10.93 CA$15.13

0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.52

$4.06 CA$5.62

-1.72%

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

$2.06 CA$2.85

$2.18 CA$3.02

-5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$1.70 CA$2.35

3.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.96

$6.69 CA$9.25

-14.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.31 CA$8.73

$7.35 CA$10.16

-14.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$2.78 CA$3.85

-18.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 CA$4.20

$2.89 CA$4.00

4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.55

$2.56 CA$3.55

28.52%

Eggs

$3.41 CA$4.72

$3.79 CA$5.24

-10.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.98 CA$15.19

$10.17 CA$14.07

7.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.34 CA$15.69

$11.95 CA$16.53

-5.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.69 CA$24.47

$16.12 CA$22.31

9.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.23

$3.89 CA$5.39

-2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.27 CA$1.76

7.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.36

$3.88 CA$5.37

Tomato (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.25

$4.33 CA$5.99

-12.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$1.83 CA$2.53

49.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.34

$1.50 CA$2.07

61.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 CA$3.73

$2.28 CA$3.15

18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.19

$1.44 CA$1.99

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.18

$14.20 CA$19.64

2.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 CA$16.81

$14.24 CA$19.71

-14.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CA$3.84

$2.25 CA$3.11

23.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$2.53 CA$3.50

43.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$2.47 CA$3.42

19.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.3 CA$135

$112 CA$155

-13.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$3.05 CA$4.22

-9.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$1.24 CA$1.71

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.22 CA$26.59

$22.44 CA$31.05

-14.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.24 CA$1.71

-3.23%

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

$29.0K CA$40.1K

$27.5K CA$38.1K

5.46%

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

$22.2K CA$30.7K

$21.1K CA$29.3K

4.84%

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

$141 CA$195

$128 CA$177

10.35%

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

$37.17 CA$51.4

$33.79 CA$46.75

10.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 CA$71.3

$49.25 CA$68.2

4.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.10 CA$63.8

$40.93 CA$56.6

12.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.94 CA$40.05

$24.62 CA$34.07

17.55%

Cinema Ticket

$12.91 CA$17.86

$13.16 CA$18.21

-1.90%

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

$959 CA$1,327

$792 CA$1,097

21.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$22.7K

$24.1K CA$33.4K

-32.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.1

$54.5 CA$75.4

15.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 CA$53.7

$43.11 CA$59.7

-9.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$149

$102 CA$140

5.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$139

$123 CA$171

-18.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 CA$2,077

$1,653 CA$2,287

-9.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 CA$1,741

$1,452 CA$2,009

-13.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 CA$3,218

$2,694 CA$3,728

-13.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,916 CA$2,652

$2,149 CA$2,974

-10.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,418 CA$6,113

$8,347 CA$11.6K

-47.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,702 CA$6,507

$6,816 CA$9,431

-31.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,760 CA$5,203

$3,614 CA$5,001

4.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.17

4.49

-7.13%

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

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in Ottawa versus $1,653 in Toronto. 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 4% higher in Ottawa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Ottawa versus $88.0 in Toronto. Groceries tell a different story – $372 in Ottawa vs $365 in Toronto – so Toronto 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 Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,445 in Ottawa, $2,628 in Toronto – roughly 8% apart. Toronto 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 $3,942 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ottawa, 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 $2,628 in Toronto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Ottawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,445 in Ottawa and $2,628 in Toronto. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Ottawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,445 in Ottawa to $2,628 in Toronto. 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 Ottawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.