Capital city in Ontario, Canada
Cost of living in Ottawa
How much a month costs in Ottawa
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $2,460–3,370 (C$3,500–4,800).
Prices in Ottawa
Typical 2026 ranges in CAD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CAD | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | C$1,700–2,300 | $1,190–1,620 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | C$1,300–1,800 | $913–1,260 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | C$40–75 | $28–53 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | C$160–290 | $112–204 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | C$13–20 | $9.1–14.0 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | C$28–50 | $20–35 |
| Cappuccino | C$4–5 | $2.8–3.5 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | C$7–10 | $4.9–7.0 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | C$3–4 | $2.1–2.8 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | C$12–20 | $8.4–14.0 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | C$25–45 | $18–32 |
| Gym membership (month) | C$30–70 | $21–49 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | C$35–60 | $25–42 |
Value for money: 38/100
A value score of 38/100 means Ottawa gives more quality of life per dollar than 37% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 88/100. It's the 5th most affordable of 18 places we cover in Canada.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Canada
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City | $2,110–2,950 | 45/100 |
| Niagara Falls | $2,250–3,090 | 37/100 |
| Halifax | $2,320–3,160 | 37/100 |
| Montreal | $2,460–3,370 | 29/100 |
| Ottawa | $2,460–3,370 | 38/100 |
| Calgary | $2,460–3,370 | 31/100 |
| Victoria | $2,530–3,440 | 37/100 |
| Edmonton | $2,460–3,510 | 29/100 |
| Toronto | $2,950–3,860 | 20/100 |
| Kelowna | $2,810–4,070 | 19/100 |
| Prince Edward Island | $2,810–4,070 | 27/100 |
| Vancouver | $3,020–4,000 | 19/100 |
| Tofino | $3,090–4,210 | 22/100 |
| Jasper | $3,160–4,210 | 21/100 |
| Yellowknife | $3,160–4,560 | 9/100 |
| Banff | $3,370–4,560 | 15/100 |
| Whistler | $3,370–4,780 | 14/100 |
| Mont-Tremblant | $3,860–5,620 | 8/100 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Ottawa?
About $1,540–1,970 on a lean budget, $2,460–3,370 for a comfortable month and $4,210–6,320 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Ottawa?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs C$1,700–2,300 ($1,190–1,620) a month in the center and C$1,300–1,800 ($913–1,260) outside it.
How much does food cost in Ottawa?
A local meal is C$13–20 ($9.1–14.0); a mid-range restaurant is C$28–50 ($20–35) per person.
Is Canada expensive?
Prices in Canada are about 83% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Ottawa
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- OC Transpo
- Ottawa Airport
- NCC
- The Ottawa Hospital
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.