Cost of living comparison

 Ottawa, Canada
compared to
 Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne vs. Ottawa Cost of Living Summary

Melbourne is 17.1% more expensive than Ottawa.

Restaurants
pay 13.2% more in Melbourne
Groceries
pay 8.0% less in Melbourne
Transportation
pay 16.1% more in Melbourne
Housing
pay 2.0% less in Melbourne
Childcare
pay 43.9% more in Melbourne
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.0% more in Melbourne
Clothing
pay 14.4% more in Melbourne

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, transportation, clothing, and restaurants in Melbourne are more expensive than in Ottawa. Expenses including groceries and housing are lower in Melbourne.

Melbourne vs. Ottawa Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Melbourne instead of Ottawa, you would:

pay 13.2% more for restaurants

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.96
CA$24.90
$16.48
A$26.21
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.78
CA$14.94
$9.89
A$15.73
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.17
CA$3.01
$2.65
A$4.21

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pay 8.0% less for groceries

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Bread
1 loaf
$2.65
CA$3.67
$2.52
A$4.02
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.28
CA$8.71
$4.55
A$7.25
Milk (1 gallon) $9.92
CA$13.76
$5.26
A$8.38

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pay 16.1% more for transportation

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.15
CA$5.75
$4.69
A$7.46
Monthly public transit pass $92.50
CA$128.24
$118.63
A$188.74
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $24,412.64
CA$33,844.46
$29,276.08
A$46,580.88

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pay 2.0% less for housing

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$50.21
CA$69.61
$52.42
A$83.41
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,425.51
CA$1,976.26
$1,479.56
A$2,354.11
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,269.57
CA$1,760.06
$1,242.77
A$1,977.35

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pay 43.9% more for childcare

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $999.72
CA$1,385.96
$1,828.91
A$2,909.96
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $19,936.07
CA$27,638.37
$20,887.75
A$33,234.29

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pay 42.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.75
CA$7.97
$7.91
A$12.58
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.71
CA$5.14
$3.46
A$5.50
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.93
CA$17.93
$29.66
A$47.19

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pay 14.4% more for clothing

 
Ottawa
Melbourne
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$57.20
CA$79.29
$77.15
A$122.76
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$44.39
CA$61.54
$49.87
A$79.35
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$97.78
CA$135.55
$107.61
A$171.22

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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