Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 8.0% cheaper than Ottawa.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Ottawa, you would:
pay 3.4% less for restaurants
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.55
CA$28.55
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.82
CA$15.04
|
$9.50
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.40
CA$3.34
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.63
CA$2.27
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 9.1% less for groceries
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.80
CA$3.89
|
$2.02
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.33
CA$10.18
|
$6.78
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.50
CA$11.81
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.17
CA$4.40
|
$3.00
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.57
CA$7.74
|
$4.00
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.90
CA$2.64
|
$2.14
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.59
CA$0.82
|
$0.77
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.38
CA$1.92
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.80
CA$2.50
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.25
CA$1.74
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.27
CA$1.76
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 24.9% less for transportation
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.21
CA$5.85
|
$3.05
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$94.40
CA$131.14
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,936.06
CA$34,642.42
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.29
CA$26.79
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 13.2% less for housing
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.74
CA$74.66
|
$58.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,428.79
CA$1,984.95
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,314.00
CA$1,825.47
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$137.00
CA$190.33
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 6.2% less for childcare
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.17
CA$1,449.23
|
$1,369.17
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$20,975.09
CA$29,139.64
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 6.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.87
CA$8.16
|
$4.75
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.87
CA$5.37
|
$4.92
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.48
CA$17.33
|
$7.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$48.45
CA$67.31
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.01
CA$15.29
|
$14.50
|
|
pay 5.8% less for clothing
|
Ottawa
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$60.17
CA$83.59
|
$47.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$48.38
CA$67.21
|
$41.25
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$104.51
CA$145.19
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$113.29
CA$157.39
|
$143.00
|
|
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