Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Ottawa 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Ottawa is 36.7% lower than in San Francisco, CA (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Ottawa is 45.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA
Rent Prices in Ottawa are 57.9% lower than in San Francisco, CA
Restaurant Prices in Ottawa are 40.7% lower than in San Francisco, CA
Groceries Prices in Ottawa are 33.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA
Local Purchasing Power in Ottawa is 9.0% lower than in San Francisco, CA
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 30.00 $
(42.10 C$)
17.81 $
(25.00 C$)
     -40.6 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 140.00 $
(196.47 C$)
71.26 $
(100.00 C$)
     -49.1 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 15.00 $
(21.05 C$)
10.69 $
(15.00 C$)
     -28.7 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 8.00 $
(11.23 C$)
5.70 $
(8.00 C$)
     -28.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 9.00 $
(12.63 C$)
6.77 $
(9.50 C$)
     -24.8 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.85 $
(8.21 C$)
3.76 $
(5.27 C$)
     -35.8 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 3.21 $
(4.50 C$)
2.07 $
(2.91 C$)
     -35.5 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.67 $
(3.74 C$)
1.59 $
(2.23 C$)
     -40.5 %
Markets
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.54 $
(2.16 C$)
2.32 $
(3.26 C$)
     +51.3 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 4.69 $
(6.58 C$)
2.48 $
(3.49 C$)
     -47.0 %
White Rice (1 lb) 2.77 $
(3.89 C$)
1.48 $
(2.08 C$)
     -46.5 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 6.18 $
(8.67 C$)
3.47 $
(4.87 C$)
     -43.8 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 10.39 $
(14.58 C$)
5.64 $
(7.92 C$)
     -45.7 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.93 $
(8.32 C$)
5.72 $
(8.03 C$)
     -3.6 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 10.96 $
(15.38 C$)
7.00 $
(9.82 C$)
     -36.1 %
Apples (1 lb) 3.24 $
(4.54 C$)
1.90 $
(2.67 C$)
     -41.2 %
Bananas (1 lb) 1.34 $
(1.89 C$)
0.57 $
(0.80 C$)
     -57.5 %
Oranges (1 lb) 2.53 $
(3.55 C$)
1.58 $
(2.22 C$)
     -37.5 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 3.43 $
(4.82 C$)
1.68 $
(2.36 C$)
     -51.0 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.62 $
(2.27 C$)
1.10 $
(1.54 C$)
     -32.2 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.90 $
(2.67 C$)
1.45 $
(2.03 C$)
     -24.0 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 2.94 $
(4.13 C$)
2.30 $
(3.23 C$)
     -21.7 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.86 $
(4.02 C$)
1.48 $
(2.08 C$)
     -48.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 18.00 $
(25.26 C$)
14.25 $
(20.00 C$)
     -20.8 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 3.15 $
(4.42 C$)
2.41 $
(3.38 C$)
     -23.6 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3.56 $
(5.00 C$)
3.08 $
(4.32 C$)
     -13.7 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 14.00 $
(19.65 C$)
13.54 $
(19.00 C$)
     -3.3 %
Transportation
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 3.00 $
(4.21 C$)
2.85 $
(4.00 C$)
     -5.0 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 90.00 $
(126.30 C$)
96.20 $
(135.00 C$)
     +6.9 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 4.15 $
(5.82 C$)
2.71 $
(3.80 C$)
     -34.8 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 3.25 $
(4.56 C$)
2.41 $
(3.38 C$)
     -25.9 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 39.00 $
(54.73 C$)
19.24 $
(27.00 C$)
     -50.7 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 1.28 $
(1.80 C$)
1.04 $
(1.46 C$)
     -18.8 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 36,753.89 $
(51,578.58 C$)
24,212.06 $
(33,978.00 C$)
     -34.1 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 25,949.06 $
(36,415.61 C$)
21,250.12 $
(29,821.36 C$)
     -18.1 %
Utilities (Monthly)
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 238.25 $
(334.35 C$)
154.67 $
(217.06 C$)
     -35.1 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 67.59 $
(94.85 C$)
39.76 $
(55.79 C$)
     -41.2 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 69.12 $
(96.99 C$)
50.49 $
(70.85 C$)
     -26.9 %
Sports And Leisure
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 114.18 $
(160.24 C$)
46.45 $
(65.18 C$)
     -59.3 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 12.67 $
(17.78 C$)
9.74 $
(13.67 C$)
     -23.1 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 17.00 $
(23.86 C$)
10.69 $
(15.00 C$)
     -37.1 %
Childcare
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 3,286.11 $
(4,611.56 C$)
722.38 $
(1,013.75 C$)
     -78.0 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 42,000.00 $
(58,940.70 C$)
15,603.31 $
(21,896.91 C$)
     -62.8 %
Clothing And Shoes
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 70.00 $
(98.23 C$)
54.26 $
(76.15 C$)
     -22.5 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 47.20 $
(66.24 C$)
38.48 $
(54.00 C$)
     -18.5 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 99.74 $
(139.96 C$)
86.25 $
(121.05 C$)
     -13.5 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 125.38 $
(175.95 C$)
94.32 $
(132.36 C$)
     -24.8 %
Rent Per Month
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 3,324.69 $
(4,665.70 C$)
1,444.37 $
(2,026.96 C$)
     -56.6 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,720.48 $
(3,817.79 C$)
1,230.05 $
(1,726.19 C$)
     -54.8 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 5,569.57 $
(7,816.05 C$)
2,244.93 $
(3,150.42 C$)
     -59.7 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 4,462.50 $
(6,262.45 C$)
1,847.34 $
(2,592.46 C$)
     -58.6 %
Buy Apartment Price
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 995.63 $
(1,397.22 C$)
437.58 $
(614.08 C$)
     -56.1 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 885.08 $
(1,242.08 C$)
289.83 $
(406.73 C$)
     -67.3 %
Salaries And Financing
San Francisco, CA Edit Ottawa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 7,081.47 $
(9,937.79 C$)
3,538.66 $
(4,965.98 C$)
     -50.0 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.39 5.03      -21.3 %
Last update: 15 November 202515 November 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:193212