Cost of living comparison
Ottawa is 1.2% more expensive than Calgary.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.6% less in Ottawa
- Groceries
-
pay 0.7% more in Ottawa
- Transportation
-
pay 14.1% more in Ottawa
- Housing
-
pay 6.9% less in Ottawa
- Childcare
-
pay 8.1% more in Ottawa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.9% less in Ottawa
- Clothing
-
pay 3.1% more in Ottawa
The cost of transportation, childcare, clothing, and groceries in Ottawa are more expensive than in Calgary. Expenses including housing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are lower in Ottawa.
If you lived in Ottawa instead of Calgary, you would:
pay 3.6% less for restaurants
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.90
CA$26.15
|
$17.96
CA$24.86
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.78
CA$14.92
|
$10.78
CA$14.92
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.08
CA$2.88
|
$2.17
CA$3.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.70
CA$2.35
|
$1.53
CA$2.12
|
|
pay 0.7% more for groceries
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.57
CA$3.56
|
$2.65
CA$3.67
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.33
CA$10.14
|
$6.28
CA$8.69
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.31
CA$10.11
|
$9.92
CA$13.74
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.73
CA$5.17
|
$3.31
CA$4.59
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.95
CA$8.24
|
$5.89
CA$8.15
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.95
CA$2.71
|
$1.93
CA$2.68
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63
CA$0.88
|
$0.64
CA$0.88
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.71
CA$2.37
|
$1.44
CA$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.84
CA$2.54
|
$1.69
CA$2.34
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.26
CA$1.75
|
$1.20
CA$1.66
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.05
CA$1.45
|
$1.31
CA$1.81
|
|
pay 14.1% more for transportation
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.21
CA$5.82
|
$4.15
CA$5.74
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$82.63
CA$114.37
|
$92.50
CA$128.04
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,412.64
CA$33,790.41
|
$24,412.64
CA$33,790.41
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.27
CA$19.75
|
$18.80
CA$26.02
|
|
pay 6.9% less for housing
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$61.51
CA$85.14
|
$50.21
CA$69.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,451.73
CA$2,009.39
|
$1,425.51
CA$1,973.10
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,147.78
CA$1,588.68
|
$1,269.57
CA$1,757.25
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$160.15
CA$221.68
|
$131.33
CA$181.78
|
|
pay 8.1% more for childcare
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$914.16
CA$1,265.33
|
$999.72
CA$1,383.75
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,680.58
CA$25,856.46
|
$19,936.07
CA$27,594.24
|
|
pay 6.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.21
CA$7.21
|
$5.75
CA$7.96
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.87
CA$5.35
|
$3.71
CA$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$14.37
CA$19.89
|
$12.93
CA$17.90
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$53.75
CA$74.39
|
$46.27
CA$64.04
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.93
CA$17.90
|
$10.78
CA$14.92
|
|
pay 3.1% more for clothing
|
Calgary
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.78
CA$78.60
|
$57.20
CA$79.17
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.70
CA$64.64
|
$44.39
CA$61.44
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.33
CA$118.11
|
$97.78
CA$135.34
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$108.68
CA$150.43
|
$110.86
CA$153.44
|
|
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