Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,445 per month in Ottawa vs $2,731 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Ottawa vs $3,956 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,812 per month in Ottawa vs $5,181 in Vancouver, rent included.

Ottawa is about 10% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ottawa and Vancouver sit above the global median – Ottawa by 78%, Vancouver by 99%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.57 CA$27.08

$18.36 CA$25.41

6.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 CA$105

$72.9 CA$101

4.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.13

$10.88 CA$15.05

0.55%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.52

$4.25 CA$5.88

-6.12%

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

$2.06 CA$2.85

$2.12 CA$2.93

-2.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$1.69 CA$2.34

4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.96

$5.75 CA$7.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.31 CA$8.73

$6.65 CA$9.21

-5.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$2.14 CA$2.97

5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 CA$4.20

$2.55 CA$3.53

18.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.55

$4.41 CA$6.11

-25.40%

Eggs

$3.41 CA$4.72

$4.24 CA$5.87

-19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.98 CA$15.19

$12.14 CA$16.80

-9.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.34 CA$15.69

$13.66 CA$18.91

-16.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.69 CA$24.47

$20.78 CA$28.76

-14.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.23

$4.31 CA$5.96

-12.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.39 CA$1.93

-1.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.36

$4.00 CA$5.53

-3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.25

$4.06 CA$5.62

-6.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$2.82 CA$3.90

-3.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.34

$2.95 CA$4.08

-17.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 CA$3.73

$2.77 CA$3.83

-2.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.19

$1.63 CA$2.25

-3.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.18

$16.06 CA$22.22

-9.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 CA$16.81

$14.54 CA$20.11

-16.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CA$3.84

$2.73 CA$3.78

1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$3.07 CA$4.25

17.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$2.55 CA$3.52

15.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.3 CA$135

$85.1 CA$118

14.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.71 CA$3.75

1.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$1.64 CA$2.27

-5.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.22 CA$26.59

$31.75 CA$43.93

-39.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.43 CA$1.98

-16.08%

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

$29.0K CA$40.1K

$28.9K CA$40.0K

0.36%

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

$22.2K CA$30.7K

$19.7K CA$27.2K

12.65%

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

$141 CA$195

$77.6 CA$107

81.46%

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

$37.17 CA$51.4

$35.35 CA$48.91

5.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 CA$71.3

$51.6 CA$71.5

-0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.10 CA$63.8

$46.26 CA$64.0

-0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.94 CA$40.05

$13.37 CA$18.51

116.45%

Cinema Ticket

$12.91 CA$17.86

$11.55 CA$15.98

11.77%

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

$959 CA$1,327

$1,137 CA$1,573

-15.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$22.7K

$21.2K CA$29.3K

-22.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.1

$59.3 CA$82.0

6.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.84 CA$53.7

$35.02 CA$48.45

10.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$149

$90.1 CA$125

19.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$139

$96.3 CA$133

4.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 CA$2,077

$1,845 CA$2,553

-18.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 CA$1,741

$1,595 CA$2,206

-21.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 CA$3,218

$3,271 CA$4,527

-28.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,916 CA$2,652

$2,499 CA$3,458

-23.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,418 CA$6,113

$9,039 CA$12.5K

-51.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,702 CA$6,507

$6,985 CA$9,665

-32.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,760 CA$5,203

$3,659 CA$5,062

2.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.17

4.23

-1.42%

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

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in Ottawa versus $1,845 in Vancouver. 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 3% 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 $73.0 in Vancouver. Groceries tell a different story – $372 in Ottawa vs $409 in Vancouver – 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 Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,445 in Ottawa, $2,731 in Vancouver – roughly 12% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,667 per month in Ottawa and $4,097 in Vancouver. 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 $2,731 in Vancouver. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% 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 $2,731 in Vancouver. 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 $2,731 in Vancouver. 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, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.