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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,811 per month in Toronto vs $2,534 in Ottawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Toronto vs $3,628 in Ottawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,449 per month in Toronto vs $4,722 in Ottawa, rent included.

Toronto costs about 11% more than Ottawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Toronto and Ottawa sit above the global median – Toronto by 110%, Ottawa by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$26.02

$18.49 CA$25.71

1.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$74.5 CA$104

9.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.06

$11.43 CA$15.90

-5.25%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.41

$3.90 CA$5.43

-0.26%

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

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.06 CA$2.87

7.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$1.72 CA$2.39

-4.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.41

$6.01 CA$8.36

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.15

$6.52 CA$9.07

0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.79

$2.40 CA$3.33

13.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.78

$2.72 CA$3.79

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.92

$3.32 CA$4.61

6.63%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.87

$3.58 CA$4.98

-2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.81

$11.35 CA$15.78

19.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.20

$13.21 CA$18.37

-0.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.59

$15.73 CA$21.88

7.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.79

$4.18 CA$5.82

-0.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.37 CA$1.90

-13.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.52

$3.40 CA$4.73

-4.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.73

$3.63 CA$5.05

13.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.48

$2.51 CA$3.48

-0.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$3.18 CA$4.43

-9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.27

$2.28 CA$3.16

3.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$1.57 CA$2.19

27.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.28

$13.77 CA$19.16

5.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.71

$10.82 CA$15.04

31.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.40 CA$3.34

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.53

$3.10 CA$4.31

4.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.34

$3.02 CA$4.21

-20.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$97.7 CA$136

16.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.22

$2.87 CA$3.99

31.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.50

$19.58 CA$27.22

30.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.11 CA$1.54

-0.90%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$25.3K CA$35.2K

-0.36%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$21.6K CA$30.0K

-2.46%

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

$120 CA$166

$164 CA$228

-27.12%

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

$37.54 CA$52.2

$42.87 CA$59.6

-12.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.8

$51.6 CA$71.7

5.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.2

$47.92 CA$66.6

15.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.41

$16.23 CA$22.58

30.31%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.07

$10.90 CA$15.15

6.06%

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

$1,129 CA$1,571

$898 CA$1,249

25.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.0K

$16.0K CA$22.3K

12.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.2

$53.4 CA$74.3

6.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.6

$40.53 CA$56.4

-1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$90.9 CA$126

-1.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$95.2 CA$132

20.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,572

$1,500 CA$2,086

23.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,169

$1,289 CA$1,792

21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,068

$2,337 CA$3,250

25.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,435

$1,906 CA$2,651

29.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$4,478 CA$6,228

102.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,785

$4,704 CA$6,542

49.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,967

$3,660 CA$5,091

-2.42%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,500 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 2% 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 $82.0 in Toronto versus $75.0 in Ottawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $369 – 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: $2,811 in Toronto, $2,534 in Ottawa – roughly 11% apart. Toronto costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,216 per month in Toronto and $3,801 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 $2,811 in Toronto and $2,534 in Ottawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 17% 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 $2,811 in Toronto and $2,534 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 $2,534 in Ottawa to $2,811 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.