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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,788 per month in Toronto vs $2,463 in Ottawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,110 per month in Toronto vs $3,588 in Ottawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,432 per month in Toronto vs $4,713 in Ottawa, rent included.

Toronto costs about 13% more than Ottawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Toronto and Ottawa sit above the global median – Toronto by 109%, Ottawa by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$26.05

$18.61 CA$26.19

-0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$74.2 CA$104

12.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.44

$11.48 CA$16.15

-4.44%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.61

$4.01 CA$5.64

-0.50%

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

$2.11 CA$2.98

$2.16 CA$3.04

-2.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.65 CA$2.32

2.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.33

$5.91 CA$8.32

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.11

$6.58 CA$9.26

-1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$2.40 CA$3.37

12.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.02

$2.77 CA$3.90

2.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$5.01

$3.30 CA$4.65

7.88%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.98

$3.67 CA$5.17

-3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.66

$11.37 CA$16.00

16.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.36

$13.14 CA$18.50

-0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.59

$15.66 CA$22.03

7.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$4.39 CA$6.17

-6.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.36 CA$1.91

-16.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$3.50 CA$4.92

-2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.66

$3.68 CA$5.18

9.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.42

$2.58 CA$3.63

-5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.13

$3.17 CA$4.46

-7.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$2.27 CA$3.19

8.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$1.50 CA$2.11

28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.09

$13.92 CA$19.58

7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.17

$10.70 CA$15.06

34.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$2.39 CA$3.37

13.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$3.09 CA$4.34

0.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.45

$2.98 CA$4.20

-17.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$159

$99.1 CA$139

13.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.10

$2.81 CA$3.96

29.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.46 CA$2.05

-8.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.95

$19.69 CA$27.71

29.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.16 CA$1.63

-4.31%

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

$25.3K CA$35.6K

$25.0K CA$35.2K

0.95%

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

$21.8K CA$30.6K

$22.3K CA$31.4K

-2.52%

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

$117 CA$164

$158 CA$222

-26.16%

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

$37.60 CA$52.9

$43.32 CA$61.0

-13.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.6

$52.3 CA$73.6

2.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.3

$47.95 CA$67.5

19.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.35

$16.06 CA$22.60

29.89%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.26

$11.21 CA$15.78

3.12%

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

$1,125 CA$1,583

$891 CA$1,253

26.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$15.9K CA$22.4K

15.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.7

$55.0 CA$77.4

4.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$55.0

$41.03 CA$57.7

-4.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$90.6 CA$127

-3.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$160

$95.3 CA$134

19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,591

$1,481 CA$2,084

24.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,154

$1,259 CA$1,771

21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,116

$2,326 CA$3,272

25.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,521

$1,936 CA$2,725

29.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.3K

$4,441 CA$6,249

96.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,663

$4,678 CA$6,583

46.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,860

$3,546 CA$4,990

-2.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

5.48

-5.84%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,481 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 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 $84.0 in Toronto versus $74.0 in Ottawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $370 – 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

Toronto vs Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,788 in Toronto, $2,463 in Ottawa – roughly 13% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,181 per month in Toronto and $3,694 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 $2,788 in Toronto and $2,463 in Ottawa. 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.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Ottawa, where all-in costs run around $2,463, than in Toronto at $2,788. In Ottawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ottawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,463 in Ottawa to $2,788 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.