Cost of living comparison

compared to

New York City vs. Ottawa Cost of Living Summary

New York City is 89.9% more expensive than Ottawa.

Restaurants
pay 44.6% more in New York City
Groceries
pay 51.4% more in New York City
Transportation
pay 30.4% more in New York City
Housing
pay 86.1% more in New York City
Childcare
pay 3.8 times more in New York City
Entertainment and Sports
pay 92.0% more in New York City
Clothing
pay 42.8% more in New York City

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in New York City are more expensive than in Ottawa. Notably, childcare, entertainment and sports, and housing are significantly more expensive in New York City.

New York City vs. Ottawa Cost Breakdown

If you lived in New York City instead of Ottawa, you would:

pay 44.6% more for restaurants

 
Ottawa
New York City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.99
CA$25.16
$25.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.01
CA$15.40
$13.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.00
CA$2.80
$3.09
 

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pay 51.4% more for groceries

 
Ottawa
New York City
Bread
1 loaf
$2.73
CA$3.82
$4.75
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.85
CA$8.18
$8.89
 
Milk (1 gallon) $8.65
CA$12.10
$6.05
 

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pay 30.4% more for transportation

 
Ottawa
New York City
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.05
CA$5.66
$3.47
 
Monthly public transit pass $97.12
CA$135.85
$132.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $24,444.83
CA$34,192.21
$36,344.69
 

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pay 86.1% more for housing

 
Ottawa
New York City
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$49.93
CA$69.84
$67.59
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,452.55
CA$2,031.76
$4,037.06
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,228.71
CA$1,718.66
$2,496.67
 

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pay 3.8 times more for childcare

 
Ottawa
New York City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $788.18
CA$1,102.46
$3,154.10
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $15,753.32
CA$22,034.96
$57,250.00
 

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pay 92.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
Ottawa
New York City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.76
CA$8.05
$8.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.74
CA$5.24
$5.71
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.95
CA$18.11
$19.00
 

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pay 42.8% more for clothing

 
Ottawa
New York City
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$52.82
CA$73.89
$67.80
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$38.91
CA$54.43
$49.94
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$87.10
CA$121.83
$115.58
 

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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: December 2025
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