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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,906 per month in Vancouver vs $2,463 in Ottawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,209 per month in Vancouver vs $3,588 in Ottawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,513 per month in Vancouver vs $4,713 in Ottawa, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 18% more than Ottawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Ottawa sit above the global median – Vancouver by 118%, Ottawa by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.62 CA$26.20

$18.61 CA$26.19

0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.9 CA$110

$74.2 CA$104

4.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$15.26

$11.48 CA$16.15

-5.57%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.53

$4.01 CA$5.64

-2.00%

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

$2.24 CA$3.16

$2.16 CA$3.04

3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.46

$1.65 CA$2.32

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.51

$5.91 CA$8.32

2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CA$10.27

$6.58 CA$9.26

10.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 CA$3.24

$2.40 CA$3.37

-4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.32

$2.77 CA$3.90

10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.30

$3.30 CA$4.65

14.24%

Eggs

$4.32 CA$6.08

$3.67 CA$5.17

17.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 CA$17.69

$11.37 CA$16.00

10.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.34

$13.14 CA$18.50

4.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 CA$22.49

$15.66 CA$22.03

2.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$6.00

$4.39 CA$6.17

-2.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.14

$1.36 CA$1.91

11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.52

$3.50 CA$4.92

12.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.15

$3.68 CA$5.18

38.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.50

$2.58 CA$3.63

24.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.34

$3.17 CA$4.46

-2.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.65

$2.27 CA$3.19

14.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.65

$1.50 CA$2.11

25.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.45 CA$21.74

$13.92 CA$19.58

10.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 CA$20.95

$10.70 CA$15.06

39.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$2.39 CA$3.37

30.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 CA$5.35

$3.09 CA$4.34

22.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.40

$2.98 CA$4.20

-18.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.0 CA$117

$99.1 CA$139

-16.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.28

$2.81 CA$3.96

33.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$1.46 CA$2.05

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.97 CA$37.95

$19.69 CA$27.71

36.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.16 CA$1.63

12.07%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

$25.0K CA$35.2K

0.62%

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

$20.6K CA$28.9K

$22.3K CA$31.4K

-7.93%

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

$91.8 CA$129

$158 CA$222

-41.90%

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

$39.34 CA$55.4

$43.32 CA$61.0

-9.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CA$85.3

$52.3 CA$73.6

15.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.58 CA$62.7

$47.95 CA$67.5

-7.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.35

$16.06 CA$22.60

-1.12%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 CA$17.13

$11.21 CA$15.78

8.65%

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

$1,185 CA$1,667

$891 CA$1,253

33.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$26.1K

$15.9K CA$22.4K

16.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$87.9

$55.0 CA$77.4

13.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 CA$59.6

$41.03 CA$57.7

3.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 CA$134

$90.6 CA$127

4.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$162

$95.3 CA$134

20.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,979 CA$2,785

$1,481 CA$2,084

33.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 CA$2,313

$1,259 CA$1,771

30.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,577 CA$5,033

$2,326 CA$3,272

53.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 CA$3,915

$1,936 CA$2,725

43.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,754 CA$12.3K

$4,441 CA$6,249

97.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 CA$9,972

$4,678 CA$6,583

51.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,380 CA$4,756

$3,546 CA$4,990

-4.69%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ottawa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,979 in Vancouver 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 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 $74.0 in Ottawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 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

Vancouver vs Ottawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,906 in Vancouver, $2,463 in Ottawa – roughly 18% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,359 per month in Vancouver 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 $2,906 in Vancouver 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 19% 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 Vancouver at $2,906. In Ottawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver 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 $2,906 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.