How much do groceries cost in Ottawa?

Basic grocery prices: milk (1L) — $2.57, eggs (12) — $3.72, chicken breast (500g) — $7.31.

Cost of Living in Ottawa, Canada

Prices in Canada — Ottawa + 9 more cities, Updated March 2026

Expensive

1 CAD = 0.7133 USD Rate updated July 20, 2026

CAD / USD →

🍜 $18.3 25.6 CAD Business Lunch (incl. drink)

☕ $5.12 7.18 CAD Cappuccino

🚌 $103.1 144.5 CAD Monthly Transport Pass

🏠 $1,146 1,607 CAD Studio 45m² (normal area)

How much does it cost to live in Ottawa alone?

1 person

$1,930

≈ €1,688

To live in Ottawa on a moderate budget, you'll need around $1,930/month. That covers renting a studio in a normal area ($1,146), weekday lunches out ($366), weekend casual meals ($94), a daily coffee, tea, or other cheap drinks ($154), a monthly transit pass ($103), and a few taxi rides ($67). No gym, no dining out every night — just everyday life.

How much does it cost to live in Ottawa for two?

2 persons

$3,081 ≈ €2,696

If there are two of you, plan on around $3,081 ≈ €2,696/month — a proper apartment ($1,514), meals and daily drinks for both, two transit passes, and more taxi rides.

What does it cost to raise a family in Ottawa?

Family

$3,363 ≈ €2,942

With a child, the total comes to around $3,363 ≈ €2,942/month. Kids eat less, rarely pay for transit, but you'll need more taxi rides and little extras add up fast. School fees not included.

🍽️

Food & Drinks

How much does eating out cost in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink) $18.3 25.6 CAD

🍔 Fast Food Combo Meal $11.7 16.4 CAD

🍗 Chicken Breast (500g) $7.31 10.2 CAD

🥛 Milk (1L) $2.57 3.60 CAD

🥚 Eggs (12) $3.72 5.22 CAD

🍅 Tomatoes (1kg) $4.39 6.15 CAD

🧀 Local Cheese (500g) $9.51 13.3 CAD

🍎 Apples (1kg) $3.91 5.48 CAD

🥔 Potatoes (1kg) $2.99 4.19 CAD

🍺 Beer 0.5L (supermarket) $3.12 4.37 CAD

🍷 Wine Bottle (red, table) $13.9 19.5 CAD

🥤 Coca-Cola (2L) $2.82 3.95 CAD

🍞 Bread (2 people, 1 day) $2.23 3.13 CAD

📋

Rent & Housing

How much is rent in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

🏢 Rent 85m² (expensive area) $2,198 3,081 CAD

🏠 Rent 85m² (normal area) $1,514 2,123 CAD

💡 Utilities 85m² (2 persons) $170.4 238.8 CAD

🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $1,681 2,357 CAD

🏠 Studio 45m² (normal area) $1,146 1,607 CAD

💡 Utilities 45m² (1 person) $98.7 138.4 CAD

📶 Internet (monthly) $45.3 63.5 CAD

📺 TV 40" Flat Screen $283.7 397.7 CAD

🔲 Microwave (800/900W) $124.3 174.3 CAD

🧴 Laundry Detergent (3L) $11.7 16.4 CAD

🧹 Cleaning Help (per hour) $22.7 31.8 CAD

👗

Clothing & Shoes

How much do clothes cost in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

👖 Jeans (Levis 501) $66.5 93.3 CAD

👗 Summer Dress (Zara, H&M) $46.8 65.6 CAD

👟 Sport Shoes (Nike, Adidas) $98.7 138.4 CAD

👞 Leather Business Shoes $121.4 170.1 CAD

📋

Transportation

How much does transport cost in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

🚗 VW Golf (new) $21,167 29,675 CAD

⛽ Gasoline (1L) $1.04 1.46 CAD

🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $103.1 144.5 CAD

🚕 Taxi Trip (8km) $16.8 23.6 CAD

💊

Healthcare

How much does healthcare cost in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

💊 Cold Medicine (6 days) $11 15.4 CAD

💉 Antibiotics (12 doses) $15.4 21.5 CAD

🏥 Doctor Visit (15 min) $68 95.3 CAD

💈

Personal Care

How much does personal care cost in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

🧻 Tampons (32 pcs) $5.85 8.20 CAD

🧴 Deodorant (50ml) $4.39 6.15 CAD

🧴 Shampoo (400ml) $4.27 5.99 CAD

🧻 Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $1.97 2.76 CAD

🪥 Toothpaste $2.43 3.41 CAD

💇 Men's Haircut $21.2 29.7 CAD

🎭

Entertainment & Leisure

How much does entertainment cost in Ottawa?

Item USD $ CAD C$

🍺 Dinner for 2 (pub) $49 68.7 CAD

🎬 Cinema (2 tickets) $21.9 30.8 CAD

🎭 Theater (2 tickets, best) $134.5 188.6 CAD

🍝 Italian Dinner for 2 (full) $103.1 144.5 CAD

🍸 Cocktail (downtown) $11 15.4 CAD

☕ Cappuccino $5.12 7.18 CAD

🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $6.58 9.22 CAD

📱 iPad Wi-Fi 128GB $429.2 601.7 CAD

📱 Mobile (1 min, prepaid) $0.24 0.34 CAD

🏋️ Gym Membership (monthly) $47.5 66.6 CAD

🚬 Marlboro Cigarettes $11.7 16.4 CAD

📊

Prices by City

Which city in Canada is the cheapest to live in?

	Ottawa ★	Vancouver	Calgary	Victoria	Toronto	Halifax
🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink)	$18.3 25.6 CAD	$18.3 25.6 CAD	$20.5 28.7 CAD	$19 26.7 CAD	$22.7 31.8 CAD	$18.3 25.6 CAD
☕ Cappuccino	$5.12 7.18 CAD	$4.23 5.93 CAD	$4.39 6.15 CAD	$4.03 5.65 CAD	$4.39 6.15 CAD	$4.21 5.90 CAD
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml)	$6.58 9.22 CAD	$5.85 8.20 CAD	$6.58 9.22 CAD	$5.85 8.20 CAD	$7.31 10.2 CAD	$6.58 9.22 CAD
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass	$103.1 144.5 CAD	$94.3 132.2 CAD	$85.6 119.9 CAD	$61.4 86.1 CAD	$111.9 156.8 CAD	$62.9 88.2 CAD
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive)	$1,681 2,357 CAD	$1,998 2,800 CAD	$1,495 2,095 CAD	$1,637 2,295 CAD	$1,816 2,545 CAD	$1,720 2,411 CAD

🗺️

All Cities in Canada

Average cost of living in other cities

Ottawa ~$1,930 (current) Calgary ~$1,880 Edmonton ~$1,500 Halifax ~$1,950 Montreal ~$1,794 Quebec City ~$1,184 Toronto ~$2,342 Vancouver ~$2,450 Victoria ~$1,914 Winnipeg ~$1,435

✓ Verified by Dmitriy

Know.Travel founder · traveler, more than 80 countries

Profile Google Maps

Canada surprises you with massive price swings - Quebec City's your bargain at $1,184/month while Vancouver crushes your wallet at $2,450/month, with most cities floating around $1,880/month. Housing eats up a huge chunk of your budget, especially in Toronto and Vancouver - it's the eternal pain point for anyone settling there. Fun fact: the Canada-US border is the world's longest, and Canadians fell in love with seriously strong coffee way back during the fur trading days when commerce boomed along the rivers.