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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,534 per month in Ottawa vs $2,831 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Ottawa vs $4,231 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,722 per month in Ottawa vs $5,630 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 89%, Vancouver by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.49 CA$25.71

$18.26 CA$25.39

1.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 CA$104

$77.8 CA$108

-4.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.43 CA$15.90

$10.85 CA$15.09

5.35%

Cappuccino

$3.90 CA$5.43

$3.98 CA$5.54

-2.01%

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

$2.06 CA$2.87

$2.12 CA$2.95

-2.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.78 CA$2.47

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 CA$8.36

$5.77 CA$8.02

4.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 CA$9.07

$7.56 CA$10.51

-13.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$2.32 CA$3.23

3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.79

$3.10 CA$4.31

-12.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 CA$4.61

$3.89 CA$5.40

-14.65%

Eggs

$3.58 CA$4.98

$4.53 CA$6.30

-20.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 CA$15.78

$12.92 CA$17.96

-12.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.21 CA$18.37

$14.14 CA$19.67

-6.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.73 CA$21.88

$15.74 CA$21.89

-0.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.82

$4.26 CA$5.92

-1.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.47 CA$2.04

-6.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.73

$4.02 CA$5.59

-15.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$5.06 CA$7.04

-28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.48

$3.02 CA$4.20

-16.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.43

$2.95 CA$4.10

7.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.16

$2.60 CA$3.62

-12.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.19

$1.88 CA$2.62

-16.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 CA$19.16

$15.20 CA$21.14

-9.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.82 CA$15.04

$14.30 CA$19.88

-24.34%

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

$3.74 CA$5.20

-17.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 CA$4.21

$2.44 CA$3.39

23.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.7 CA$136

$84.9 CA$118

15.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.99

$3.74 CA$5.20

-23.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.50 CA$2.09

-6.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.58 CA$27.22

$27.43 CA$38.15

-28.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.54

$1.34 CA$1.86

-17.16%

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

$25.3K CA$35.2K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

0.88%

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

$21.6K CA$30.0K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

4.21%

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

$164 CA$228

$91.8 CA$128

78.84%

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

$42.87 CA$59.6

$39.42 CA$54.8

8.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 CA$71.7

$61.1 CA$84.9

-15.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.92 CA$66.6

$44.89 CA$62.4

6.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.23 CA$22.58

$15.68 CA$21.81

3.51%

Cinema Ticket

$10.90 CA$15.15

$12.37 CA$17.20

-11.88%

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

$898 CA$1,249

$1,180 CA$1,641

-23.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K CA$22.3K

$18.8K CA$26.1K

-14.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CA$74.3

$62.7 CA$87.2

-14.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.53 CA$56.4

$43.13 CA$60.0

-6.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 CA$126

$94.7 CA$132

-4.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 CA$132

$118 CA$165

-19.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 CA$2,086

$1,995 CA$2,774

-24.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 CA$1,792

$1,629 CA$2,266

-20.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 CA$3,250

$3,589 CA$4,991

-34.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 CA$2,651

$2,769 CA$3,851

-31.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,478 CA$6,228

$9,246 CA$12.9K

-51.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,704 CA$6,542

$7,086 CA$9,854

-33.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,660 CA$5,091

$3,474 CA$4,831

5.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.48

5.61

-2.32%

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

Last update for Ottawa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,500 in Ottawa versus $1,995 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 5% 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 $75.0 in Ottawa versus $78.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $415 – making Ottawa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $2,534 in Ottawa, $2,831 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 $3,801 per month in Ottawa and $4,247 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 $2,534 in Ottawa and $2,831 in Vancouver. 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 $2,534 in Ottawa and $2,831 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 $2,534 in Ottawa to $2,831 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.