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Ottawa vs Washington, D.C. cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐จ๐ฆ Ottawa
๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C.
At a glance
- Where Washington, D.C. is clearly cheaper: Transit (25%โ)
- Where Ottawa is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (44%โ), Laundry (39%โ), Haircut (37%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 | Ottawa | Washington, D.C. | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | C$ 20$14.7 | $ 22$22 | Ottawa โ33% |
| Street food1 item | C$ 13$9.56 | $ 14$14 | Ottawa โ32% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | C$ 45$33.1 | $ 50$50 | Ottawa โ34% |
| Coffeeone cup | C$ 5.5$4.04 | $ 6$6 | Ottawa โ33% |
| Beerone bottle | C$ 8.5$6.25 | $ 8.5$8.5 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | C$ 17$12.5 | $ 17$17 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Bottled water | C$ 2.5$1.84 | $ 2.3$2.3 | Ottawa โ20% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | C$ 3$2.21 | $ 3$3 | Ottawa โ26% |
| Taxi5 km in town | C$ 16$11.8 | $ 14$14 | Ottawa โ16% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | C$ 10$7.35 | $ 9$9 | Ottawa โ18% |
| Transitone ride | C$ 4.1$3.01 | $ 2.25$2.25 | Washington, D.C. โ25% |
| Scooter rentalper day | C$ 50$36.8 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | C$ 210$154 | $ 230$230 | Ottawa โ33% |
| Studio rent (month) | C$ 1,960$1,441 | $ 2,200$2,200 | Ottawa โ34% |
| Laundry | C$ 5$3.68 | $ 6$6 | Ottawa โ39% |
| SIM card1 week data | C$ 35$25.7 | $ 30$30 | Ottawa โ14% |
| Haircutcut | C$ 30$22.1 | $ 35$35 | Ottawa โ37% |
| Massage1 hour | C$ 105$77.2 | $ 110$110 | Ottawa โ30% |
| Half-day tourper person | C$ 60$44.1 | $ 50$50 | Ottawa โ12% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | C$ 23$16.9 | $ 30$30 | Ottawa โ44% |
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, Ottawa or Washington, D.C.?
Ottawa is 32% cheaper than Washington, D.C.. Daily budget $275 vs $402; a month $5,131 vs $7,631.
Which is easier to travel, Ottawa or Washington, D.C.?
About the same: Ottawa 1.4/5, Washington, D.C. 1.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Ottawa and Washington, D.C.?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ottawa is about $5,131 and Washington, D.C. about $7,631 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.