Cost of living comparison

compared to

New York City vs. Ottawa Cost of Living Summary

New York City is 75.1% more expensive than Ottawa.

Restaurants: pay 45.6% more in New York City
Groceries: pay 44.6% more in New York City
Transportation: pay 24.4% more in New York City
Housing: pay 88.5% more in New York City
Childcare: pay 3.1 times more in New York City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 90.8% more in New York City
Clothing: pay 21.4% more in New York City

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, restaurants, groceries, and transportation in New York City are more expensive than in Ottawa. Notably, childcare, entertainment and sports, and housing are significantly more expensive in New York City.

New York City vs. Ottawa Cost Breakdown

If you lived in New York City instead of Ottawa, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 45.6% more for restaurants

	Ottawa	New York City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$17.96 CA$25.95	$30.00	+67.0%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$10.78 CA$15.57	$12.00	+11.3%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$2.17 CA$3.14	$3.22	+48.5%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$1.53 CA$2.21	$2.39	+55.8%
Average			+45.6%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 44.6% more for groceries

	Ottawa	New York City
Bread 1 loaf	$2.65 CA$3.83	$4.82	+81.8%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$6.28 CA$9.07	$8.52	+35.7%
Milk (1 gallon)	$9.92 CA$14.34	$5.80	-41.6%
Eggs 1 dozen	$3.31 CA$4.79	$5.06	+52.5%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$5.89 CA$8.51	$6.82	+15.9%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.93 CA$2.79	$3.25	+68.0%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.64 CA$0.92	$1.04	+62.6%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.44 CA$2.08	$2.67	+84.8%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.69 CA$2.44	$2.70	+59.8%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.20 CA$1.74	$1.73	+44.4%
Onions (1 lb)	$1.31 CA$1.89	$1.66	+27.1%
Average			+44.6%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of groceries

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pay 24.4% more for transportation

	Ottawa	New York City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.15 CA$6.00	$3.80	-8.4%
Monthly public transit pass	$92.50 CA$133.65	$132.50	+43.2%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$24,412.64 CA$35,270.16	$35,000.00	+43.4%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$18.80 CA$27.15	$22.40	+19.2%
Average			+24.4%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of transportation

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pay 88.5% more for housing

	Ottawa	New York City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$50.21 CA$72.55	$68.20	+35.8%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$1,425.51 CA$2,059.51	$4,097.13	+187.4%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$1,269.57 CA$1,834.21	$2,883.17	+127.1%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$131.33 CA$189.74	$136.26	+3.8%
Average			+88.5%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of housing

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pay 3.1 times more for childcare

	Ottawa	New York City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$999.72 CA$1,444.35	$3,253.56	+225.4%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$19,936.07 CA$28,802.64	$59,000.00	+195.9%
Average			+210.7%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of childcare

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pay 90.8% more for entertainment and sports

	Ottawa	New York City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$5.75 CA$8.30	$9.00	+56.6%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.71 CA$5.36	$5.95	+60.3%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$12.93 CA$18.68	$17.00	+31.4%
Monthly membership at local gym	$46.27 CA$66.85	$148.06	+220.0%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$10.78 CA$15.57	$20.00	+85.6%
Average			+90.8%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 21.4% more for clothing

	Ottawa	New York City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$57.20 CA$82.63	$68.92	+20.5%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$44.39 CA$64.13	$45.62	+2.8%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$97.78 CA$141.26	$107.85	+10.3%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$110.86 CA$160.16	$168.36	+51.9%
Average			+21.4%

Ottawa vs. New York City - Cost of clothing

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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: January 2025

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