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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Toronto costs about 8% more than Ottawa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 CA$24.75

$19.57 CA$27.08

-8.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.9 CA$122

$76.1 CA$105

15.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.93 CA$15.13

$10.94 CA$15.13

-0.09%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CA$5.62

$3.99 CA$5.52

1.75%

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

$2.18 CA$3.02

$2.06 CA$2.85

5.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.35

$1.76 CA$2.44

-3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.25

$5.75 CA$7.96

16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 CA$10.16

$6.31 CA$8.73

16.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.78 CA$3.85

$2.26 CA$3.13

23.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$4.00

$3.03 CA$4.20

-4.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.55

$3.29 CA$4.55

-22.19%

Eggs

$3.79 CA$5.24

$3.41 CA$4.72

11.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 CA$14.07

$10.98 CA$15.19

-7.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.53

$11.34 CA$15.69

5.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 CA$22.31

$17.69 CA$24.47

-8.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.39

$3.78 CA$5.23

2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.37 CA$1.90

-7.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.37

$3.88 CA$5.36

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$5.99

$3.79 CA$5.25

14.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 CA$2.53

$2.73 CA$3.78

-32.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$2.42 CA$3.34

-38.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.15

$2.70 CA$3.73

-15.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.99

$1.58 CA$2.19

-8.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.64

$14.58 CA$20.18

-2.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.24 CA$19.71

$12.15 CA$16.81

17.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.11

$2.77 CA$3.84

-18.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.50

$3.62 CA$5.02

-30.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 CA$3.42

$2.95 CA$4.09

-16.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CA$155

$97.3 CA$135

15.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 CA$4.22

$2.76 CA$3.82

10.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 CA$1.71

$1.55 CA$2.14

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 CA$31.05

$19.22 CA$26.59

16.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.71

$1.20 CA$1.66

3.33%

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

$27.5K CA$38.1K

$29.0K CA$40.1K

-5.18%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$22.2K CA$30.7K

-4.61%

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

$128 CA$177

$141 CA$195

-9.38%

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

$33.79 CA$46.75

$37.17 CA$51.4

-9.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.25 CA$68.2

$51.5 CA$71.3

-4.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.93 CA$56.6

$46.10 CA$63.8

-11.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.62 CA$34.07

$28.94 CA$40.05

-14.93%

Cinema Ticket

$13.16 CA$18.21

$12.91 CA$17.86

1.94%

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

$792 CA$1,097

$959 CA$1,327

-17.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K CA$33.4K

$16.4K CA$22.7K

47.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 CA$75.4

$62.9 CA$87.1

-13.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 CA$59.7

$38.84 CA$53.7

10.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$140

$107 CA$149

-5.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$171

$101 CA$139

22.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 CA$2,287

$1,501 CA$2,077

10.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 CA$2,009

$1,258 CA$1,741

15.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 CA$3,728

$2,326 CA$3,218

15.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 CA$2,974

$1,916 CA$2,652

12.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,347 CA$11.6K

$4,418 CA$6,113

88.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,816 CA$9,431

$4,702 CA$6,507

44.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,614 CA$5,001

$3,760 CA$5,203

-3.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.17

7.67%

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

Last update for Toronto: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Toronto versus $1,501 in Ottawa. 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 $88.0 in Toronto versus $76.0 in Ottawa. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Toronto vs $372 in Ottawa – 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

Toronto vs Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,628 in Toronto, $2,445 in Ottawa – roughly 8% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,942 per month in Toronto and $3,667 in Ottawa. 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 $2,628 in Toronto and $2,445 in Ottawa. 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 $2,628 in Toronto and $2,445 in Ottawa. 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.