Cost of living comparison
Ottawa is 13.1% more expensive than Des Moines.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.4% less in Ottawa
- Groceries
-
pay 19.7% more in Ottawa
- Transportation
-
pay 36.5% more in Ottawa
- Housing
-
pay 16.1% more in Ottawa
- Childcare
-
pay 21.2% more in Ottawa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.9% more in Ottawa
- Clothing
-
pay 2.1% less in Ottawa
The cost of transportation, childcare, groceries, housing, and entertainment and sports in Ottawa are more expensive than in Des Moines. Expenses including restaurants and clothing are lower in Ottawa.
If you lived in Ottawa instead of Des Moines, you would:
pay 3.4% less for restaurants
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.00
|
$17.96
CA$24.94
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$10.78
CA$14.97
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.36
|
$2.17
CA$3.01
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
|
$1.53
CA$2.13
|
|
pay 19.7% more for groceries
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.86
|
$2.65
CA$3.68
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.99
|
$6.28
CA$8.72
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.92
|
$9.92
CA$13.78
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.09
|
$3.31
CA$4.60
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.38
|
$5.89
CA$8.18
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.93
CA$2.69
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
|
$0.64
CA$0.88
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$1.44
CA$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
|
$1.69
CA$2.34
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$1.20
CA$1.67
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.36
|
$1.31
CA$1.81
|
|
pay 36.5% more for transportation
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.07
|
$4.15
CA$5.76
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.00
|
$92.50
CA$128.46
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,000.00
|
$24,412.64
CA$33,900.61
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.94
|
$18.80
CA$26.10
|
|
pay 16.1% more for housing
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.50
|
$50.21
CA$69.73
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,215.00
|
$1,425.51
CA$1,979.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$912.50
|
$1,269.57
CA$1,762.98
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.16
|
$131.33
CA$182.37
|
|
pay 21.2% more for childcare
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,357.76
|
$999.72
CA$1,388.26
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$11,812.00
|
$19,936.07
CA$27,684.23
|
|
pay 3.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$5.75
CA$7.98
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.51
|
$3.71
CA$5.15
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.14
|
$12.93
CA$17.96
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.67
|
$46.27
CA$64.25
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$10.78
CA$14.97
|
|
pay 2.1% less for clothing
|
Des Moines
|
Ottawa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.43
|
$57.20
CA$79.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.50
|
$44.39
CA$61.64
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.50
|
$97.78
CA$135.78
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.00
|
$110.86
CA$153.94
|
|
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