Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Vienna Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Vienna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,534 per month in Ottawa vs $2,258 in Vienna, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Ottawa vs $3,522 in Vienna, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,722 per month in Ottawa vs $4,786 in Vienna, rent included.

Ottawa costs about 12% more than Vienna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ottawa and Vienna sit above the global median – Ottawa by 89%, Vienna by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.49 CA$25.71
$17.47 €15.04
5.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 CA$104
$84.9 €73.1
-12.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.43 CA$15.90
$11.71 €10.08
-2.39%
Cappuccino
$3.90 CA$5.43
$4.91 €4.22
-20.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 CA$2.87
$3.42 €2.95
-39.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.39
$3.12 €2.69
-44.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.01 CA$8.36
$5.82 €5.01
3.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52 CA$9.07
$5.18 €4.46
25.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.40 CA$3.33
$1.74 €1.50
37.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.79
$2.87 €2.47
-5.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 CA$4.61
$2.76 €2.38
20.29%
Eggs
$3.58 CA$4.98
$4.73 €4.07
-24.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.35 CA$15.78
$17.23 €14.84
-34.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.21 CA$18.37
$14.96 €12.88
-11.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 CA$21.88
$23.96 €20.63
-34.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.82
$2.96 €2.55
41.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 CA$1.90
$2.47 €2.13
-44.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.73
$3.34 €2.87
1.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.63 CA$5.05
$4.07 €3.50
-10.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 CA$3.48
$2.18 €1.87
15.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 CA$4.43
$1.99 €1.71
59.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 CA$3.16
$2.05 €1.76
11.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.19
$0.94 €0.81
67.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.77 CA$19.16
$7.57 €6.52
81.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.82 CA$15.04
$8.65 €7.45
25.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 CA$3.34
$1.49 €1.28
61.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 CA$4.31
$1.93 €1.66
60.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 CA$4.21
$2.73 €2.35
10.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.7 CA$136
$39.81 €34.27
145.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 CA$3.99
$4.72 €4.06
-39.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.96
$2.12 €1.82
-33.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.58 CA$27.22
$38.61 €33.24
-49.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.54
$1.81 €1.56
-38.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$35.2K
$31.7K €27.3K
-20.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$30.0K
$33.4K €28.7K
-35.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 CA$228
$336 €289
-51.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.87 CA$59.6
$16.54 €14.24
159.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.6 CA$71.7
$41.43 €35.67
24.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.92 CA$66.6
$48.55 €41.80
-1.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.23 CA$22.58
$26.32 €22.66
-38.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.90 CA$15.15
$13.66 €11.76
-20.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$898 CA$1,249
$328 €282
174.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.3K
$23.3K €20.1K
-31.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 CA$74.3
$98.2 €84.5
-45.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.53 CA$56.4
$45.22 €38.93
-10.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 CA$126
$102 €88.0
-11.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2 CA$132
$156 €134
-38.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 CA$2,086
$1,232 €1,061
21.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 CA$1,792
$905 €779
42.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,337 CA$3,250
$2,293 €1,974
1.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,906 CA$2,651
$1,662 €1,431
14.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,478 CA$6,228
$15.3K €13.2K
-70.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,704 CA$6,542
$6,823 €5,874
-31.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ottawa
Vienna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,660 CA$5,091
$3,409 €2,934
7.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.48
3.6
52.22%

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

Last update for Ottawa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Vienna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,500 in Ottawa versus $1,232 in Vienna. 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 $75.0 in Ottawa versus $85.0 in Vienna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $396 – 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 Vienna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ottawa and Vienna compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,534 in Ottawa, $2,258 in Vienna – roughly 12% apart. Ottawa costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ottawa compared to Vienna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,801 per month in Ottawa and $3,387 in Vienna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ottawa and Vienna?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vienna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ottawa or Vienna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,534 in Ottawa and $2,258 in Vienna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ottawa and Vienna?
Public transport costs about 145% less in Vienna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Vienna, where all-in costs run around $2,258, than in Ottawa at $2,534. In Vienna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ottawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ottawa and Vienna?
It depends on your priorities. Ottawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,258 in Vienna to $2,534 in Ottawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ottawa or Vienna safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ottawa and Vienna?
If budget matters most, go with Vienna. 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.

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