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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,731 per month in Vancouver vs $2,445 in Ottawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,956 per month in Vancouver vs $3,628 in Ottawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,181 per month in Vancouver vs $4,812 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 99%, Ottawa by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.36 CA$25.41

$19.57 CA$27.08

-6.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$101

$76.1 CA$105

-4.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.05

$10.94 CA$15.13

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$4.25 CA$5.88

$3.99 CA$5.52

6.52%

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

$2.12 CA$2.93

$2.06 CA$2.85

2.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.34

$1.76 CA$2.44

-3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.95

$5.75 CA$7.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.21

$6.31 CA$8.73

5.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CA$2.97

$2.26 CA$3.13

-5.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 CA$3.53

$3.03 CA$4.20

-15.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.11

$3.29 CA$4.55

34.04%

Eggs

$4.24 CA$5.87

$3.41 CA$4.72

24.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 CA$16.80

$10.98 CA$15.19

10.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.91

$11.34 CA$15.69

20.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.78 CA$28.76

$17.69 CA$24.47

17.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$5.96

$3.78 CA$5.23

14.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.37 CA$1.90

1.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.53

$3.88 CA$5.36

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.62

$3.79 CA$5.25

7.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$2.73 CA$3.78

3.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.08

$2.42 CA$3.34

21.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 CA$3.83

$2.70 CA$3.73

2.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.25

$1.58 CA$2.19

3.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.06 CA$22.22

$14.58 CA$20.18

10.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.54 CA$20.11

$12.15 CA$16.81

19.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$2.77 CA$3.84

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$3.62 CA$5.02

-15.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 CA$3.52

$2.95 CA$4.09

-13.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.1 CA$118

$97.3 CA$135

-12.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$2.76 CA$3.82

-1.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 CA$2.27

$1.55 CA$2.14

5.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.75 CA$43.93

$19.22 CA$26.59

65.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$1.20 CA$1.66

19.17%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$29.0K CA$40.1K

-0.36%

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

$19.7K CA$27.2K

$22.2K CA$30.7K

-11.23%

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

$77.6 CA$107

$141 CA$195

-44.89%

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

$35.35 CA$48.91

$37.17 CA$51.4

-4.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 CA$71.5

$51.5 CA$71.3

0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.26 CA$64.0

$46.10 CA$63.8

0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.37 CA$18.51

$28.94 CA$40.05

-53.80%

Cinema Ticket

$11.55 CA$15.98

$12.91 CA$17.86

-10.53%

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

$1,137 CA$1,573

$959 CA$1,327

18.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K CA$29.3K

$16.4K CA$22.7K

29.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 CA$82.0

$62.9 CA$87.1

-5.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.02 CA$48.45

$38.84 CA$53.7

-9.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 CA$125

$107 CA$149

-16.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 CA$133

$101 CA$139

-4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 CA$2,553

$1,501 CA$2,077

22.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 CA$2,206

$1,258 CA$1,741

26.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,271 CA$4,527

$2,326 CA$3,218

40.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,499 CA$3,458

$1,916 CA$2,652

30.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,039 CA$12.5K

$4,418 CA$6,113

104.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,985 CA$9,665

$4,702 CA$6,507

48.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,659 CA$5,062

$3,760 CA$5,203

-2.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

4.17

1.44%

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

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,845 in Vancouver 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 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 $73.0 in Vancouver versus $76.0 in Ottawa. Groceries tell a different story – $409 in Vancouver vs $372 in Ottawa – so Ottawa 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

Vancouver vs Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,731 in Vancouver, $2,445 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 $4,097 per month in Vancouver 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 $2,731 in Vancouver 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 14% 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 $2,731 in Vancouver 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 $2,731 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.