Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Ottawa 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Ottawa is 6.9% lower than in Toronto (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Ottawa is 9.0% lower than in Toronto
Rent Prices in Ottawa are 13.5% lower than in Toronto
Restaurant Prices in Ottawa are 7.3% lower than in Toronto
Groceries Prices in Ottawa are 2.9% lower than in Toronto
Local Purchasing Power in Ottawa is 13.7% higher than in Toronto
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant C$25.00 C$25.00      0.0 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) C$120.00 C$100.00      -16.7 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) C$16.00 C$15.00      -6.2 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) C$9.00 C$8.00      -11.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) C$10.00 C$9.38      -6.2 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) C$5.71 C$5.69      -0.3 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) C$3.00 C$2.96      -1.3 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) C$2.47 C$2.47      -0.1 %
Markets
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) C$3.75 C$3.17      -15.6 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) C$3.62 C$3.51      -3.1 %
White Rice (1 lb) C$1.66 C$2.28      +36.9 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) C$4.97 C$4.43      -10.9 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) C$7.06 C$6.13      -13.2 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) C$7.99 C$6.82      -14.6 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) C$10.51 C$9.96      -5.2 %
Apples (1 lb) C$2.41 C$2.49      +3.3 %
Bananas (1 lb) C$0.79 C$0.77      -2.8 %
Oranges (1 lb) C$2.42 C$2.54      +4.9 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) C$2.55 C$2.40      -5.7 %
Potatoes (1 lb) C$1.31 C$1.44      +10.0 %
Onions (1 lb) C$1.02 C$1.85      +80.9 %
Lettuce (1 Head) C$3.39 C$3.62      +6.8 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) C$1.98 C$2.13      +7.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) C$19.50 C$15.00      -23.1 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) C$3.37 C$3.63      +7.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) C$4.24 C$4.70      +10.8 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) C$20.80 C$20.80      0.0 %
Transportation
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) C$3.35 C$4.05      +20.9 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) C$156.00 C$135.00      -13.5 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) C$4.25 C$3.80      -10.6 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) C$2.82 C$3.38      +20.0 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) C$31.03 C$27.00      -13.0 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) C$1.69 C$1.58      -6.5 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) C$37,790.00 C$39,580.00      +4.7 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) C$28,963.27 C$29,983.18      +3.5 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) C$187.89 C$197.42      +5.1 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) C$49.54 C$49.77      +0.5 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) C$68.72 C$60.66      -11.7 %
Sports And Leisure
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership C$71.45 C$65.67      -8.1 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) C$36.60 C$40.60      +10.9 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) C$19.00 C$15.75      -17.1 %
Childcare
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child C$1,290.11 C$1,244.44      -3.5 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child C$31,416.33 C$23,857.14      -24.1 %
Clothing And Shoes
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) C$83.51 C$88.03      +5.4 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) C$63.79 C$55.02      -13.7 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) C$141.10 C$148.98      +5.6 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes C$179.23 C$131.91      -26.4 %
Rent Per Month
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre C$2,297.14 C$2,070.75      -9.9 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre C$2,033.93 C$1,753.53      -13.8 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre C$3,882.50 C$3,234.62      -16.7 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre C$3,100.00 C$2,726.15      -12.1 %
Buy Apartment Price
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre C$1,154.91 C$582.69      -49.5 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre C$905.01 C$594.17      -34.3 %
Salaries And Financing
Toronto Edit Ottawa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) C$4,904.07 C$5,073.61      +3.5 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 4.72 4.29      -9.1 %
Last update: 12 June 20265 June 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:354139