Cost of living comparison

 Tucson (AZ), United States
compared to
 Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa vs. Tucson Cost of Living Summary

Ottawa is 29.8% more expensive than Tucson.

Restaurants
pay 15.2% less in Ottawa
Groceries
pay 14.9% more in Ottawa
Transportation
pay 3.1 times more in Ottawa
Housing
pay 14.9% less in Ottawa
Childcare
pay 9.7% more in Ottawa
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.1% more in Ottawa
Clothing
pay 2.3% more in Ottawa

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

Ottawa vs. Tucson Cost Breakdown

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

pay 15.2% less for restaurants

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
 
$17.96
CA$25.09
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.50
 
$10.78
CA$15.06
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.87
 
$2.17
CA$3.03

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pay 14.9% more for groceries

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Bread
1 loaf
$3.46
 
$2.65
CA$3.70
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.96
 
$6.28
CA$8.77
Milk (1 gallon) $3.48
 
$9.92
CA$13.86

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pay 3.1 times more for transportation

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.82
 
$4.15
CA$5.80
Monthly public transit pass $10.00
 
$92.50
CA$129.23
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $36,113.30
 
$24,412.64
CA$34,105.68

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pay 14.9% less for housing

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$85.74
 
$50.21
CA$70.15
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,265.47
 
$1,425.51
CA$1,991.51
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,148.92
 
$1,269.57
CA$1,773.65

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pay 9.7% more for childcare

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,091.67
 
$999.72
CA$1,396.66
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $15,605.00
 
$19,936.07
CA$27,851.69

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pay 2.1% more for entertainment and sports

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.00
 
$5.75
CA$8.03
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.43
 
$3.71
CA$5.18
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.50
 
$12.93
CA$18.07

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pay 2.3% more for clothing

 
Tucson
Ottawa
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$57.50
 
$57.20
CA$79.91
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$45.00
 
$44.39
CA$62.02
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$97.78
 
$97.78
CA$136.60

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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: May 2025
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