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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $4,722 in Ottawa, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 12% more than Ottawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Ottawa sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Ottawa by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.39

$18.49 CA$25.71

-1.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$74.5 CA$104

4.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.09

$11.43 CA$15.90

-5.07%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.54

$3.90 CA$5.43

2.05%

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

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.06 CA$2.87

2.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.72 CA$2.39

3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$6.01 CA$8.36

-3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.51

$6.52 CA$9.07

15.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$2.40 CA$3.33

-3.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$2.72 CA$3.79

13.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$3.32 CA$4.61

17.17%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.30

$3.58 CA$4.98

26.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.96

$11.35 CA$15.78

13.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.67

$13.21 CA$18.37

7.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.89

$15.73 CA$21.88

0.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.92

$4.18 CA$5.82

1.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.37 CA$1.90

7.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$3.40 CA$4.73

18.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.04

$3.63 CA$5.05

39.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$2.51 CA$3.48

20.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.18 CA$4.43

-7.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$2.28 CA$3.16

14.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.57 CA$2.19

19.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.14

$13.77 CA$19.16

10.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.88

$10.82 CA$15.04

32.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$2.40 CA$3.34

27.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.10 CA$4.31

20.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$3.02 CA$4.21

-19.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$97.7 CA$136

-13.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$2.87 CA$3.99

30.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.41 CA$1.96

6.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.15

$19.58 CA$27.22

40.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.11 CA$1.54

20.72%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.2K

-0.87%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$21.6K CA$30.0K

-4.04%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$164 CA$228

-44.08%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$42.87 CA$59.6

-8.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$51.6 CA$71.7

18.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$47.92 CA$66.6

-6.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.81

$16.23 CA$22.58

-3.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.20

$10.90 CA$15.15

13.49%

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

$1,180 CA$1,641

$898 CA$1,249

31.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$16.0K CA$22.3K

16.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.2

$53.4 CA$74.3

17.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.0

$40.53 CA$56.4

6.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$90.9 CA$126

4.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$95.2 CA$132

24.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,774

$1,500 CA$2,086

32.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,266

$1,289 CA$1,792

26.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,991

$2,337 CA$3,250

53.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,851

$1,906 CA$2,651

45.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

$4,478 CA$6,228

106.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,854

$4,704 CA$6,542

50.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,831

$3,660 CA$5,091

-5.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

5.48

2.37%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver 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 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 $78.0 in Vancouver versus $75.0 in Ottawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 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

Vancouver vs Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver, $2,534 in Ottawa – roughly 12% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in Vancouver 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 $2,831 in Vancouver 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 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 $2,831 in Vancouver 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 $2,831 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.