Ottawa ranks 6th of 10 priced cities in Canada on cost — $2,102 a month in essentials, 38% above Quebec City, the cheapest. The average net salary of $3,626 covers that 1.7×. 98.9 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at census subdivision level. PM2.5 averages 7.6 µg/m³ a year, 2× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages -8°C, Jul 22°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $1,245 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $1,495 |
| Groceries | $203 |
| Dining out | $376 |
| Utilities | $182 |
| Local transport | $96 |
| Essentials / mo | $2,102 |
| Avg net salary | $3,626 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,918 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $2,295 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Ottawa, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $17.74 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $72.98 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $10.64 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $4.17 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $5.68 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $6.65 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $2.06 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $1.70 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $2.32 |
| White bread, 500 g | $3.04 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $3.36 |
| Eggs, 12 | $3.32 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $10.07 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $11.14 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $3.82 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.30 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $3.72 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $2.49 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $2.79 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $1.59 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $2.87 |
| Monthly transit pass | $95.80 |
| Taxi start | $2.70 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $1.49 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.14 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $135.65 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $45.87 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $35.43 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $48.28 |
| Cinema, one seat | $11.35 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Ottawa has 98.9 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (census subdivision level). That is the 8th-highest of 10 Canada cities we track. Canada's national figure is 104.8, so Ottawa runs 6 below the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -8.4°C | -13.2°C | 78% | 73% | 76 mm |
| Feb | -7.5°C | -12.5°C | 74% | 70% | 74 mm |
| Mar | -1.6°C | -6.2°C | 69% | 67% | 82 mm |
| Apr | 6°C | 2.2°C | 63% | 65% | 108 mm |
| May | 14.2°C | 12.3°C | 63% | 61% | 92 mm |
| Jun | 18.5°C | 18.2°C | 70% | 62% | 102 mm |
| Jul | 21.5°C | 22.5°C | 73% | 54% | 106 mm |
| Aug | 20.1°C | 21°C | 78% | 58% | 111 mm |
| Sep | 16.1°C | 15.7°C | 79% | 54% | 72 mm |
| Oct | 9.3°C | 6.7°C | 78% | 67% | 110 mm |
| Nov | 2°C | -2°C | 78% | 72% | 77 mm |
| Dec | -3.7°C | -8.2°C | 81% | 81% | 91 mm |
Need the full Canada model?
Open the gated deep-dive for city shortlist, cost detail, weather, visa, tax, dating-market signals, and subregion rankings.
Unlock Canada deep-dive