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Chicago vs Ottawa cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Chicago
๐จ๐ฆ Ottawa
At a glance
- Where Ottawa is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (49%โ), Haircut (37%โ), Scooter rental (36%โ)
- Where Chicago is clearly cheaper: Street food (16%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Chicago | Ottawa | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 17$17 | C$ 20$14.7 | Ottawa โ13% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8$8 | C$ 13$9.56 | Chicago โ16% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | C$ 45$33.1 | Ottawa โ21% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | C$ 5.5$4.04 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 7.5$7.5 | C$ 8.5$6.25 | Ottawa โ17% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 15$15 | C$ 17$12.5 | Ottawa โ17% |
| Bottled water | $ 1.8$1.8 | C$ 2.5$1.84 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.7$2.7 | C$ 3$2.21 | Ottawa โ18% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | C$ 16$11.8 | Ottawa โ31% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 10$10 | C$ 10$7.35 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.75$2.75 | C$ 4.1$3.01 | Chicago โ9% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 57$57 | C$ 50$36.8 | Ottawa โ36% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 180$180 | C$ 210$154 | Ottawa โ14% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 1,950$1,950 | C$ 1,960$1,441 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | C$ 5$3.68 | Ottawa โ8% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | C$ 35$25.7 | Ottawa โ14% |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | C$ 30$22.1 | Ottawa โ37% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 85$85 | C$ 105$77.2 | Ottawa โ9% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 60$60 | C$ 60$44.1 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 33$33 | C$ 23$16.9 | Ottawa โ49% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chicago or Ottawa?
Ottawa is 21% cheaper than Chicago. Daily budget $334 vs $275; a month $6,737 vs $5,131.
Which is easier to travel, Chicago or Ottawa?
About the same: Chicago 1.4/5, Ottawa 1.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chicago and Ottawa?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chicago is about $6,737 and Ottawa about $5,131 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.