Ontario · Updated June 2026
Cost of living in Ottawa
The capital's large public-sector workforce supports steady incomes, with rents meaningfully below Toronto's but transit costs still on the high side.
What it costs each month in Ottawa
Typical figures for a one-person household. Your own number depends on your housing, habits, and income — that’s what the Cost of Living Score assessment works out.
Rent is the CMHC average in-place one-bedroom rent (what current tenants pay), via Statistics Canada (2025-12). New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
Fighting Ottawa’s rising costs?
HarmonyBudget shows you where your money actually goes each week — no bank login, no spreadsheet — so you can cut the waste local inflation hides. Join early access and get in first.
Free to join. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
How Ottawa compares
Common questions about living in Ottawa
How much does it cost to live in Ottawa?
A typical single-person household in Ottawa spends about $2,263 per month on the essentials: $1,543 rent, $405 groceries, $135 transit, and $180 utilities.
What is the average rent in Ottawa?
The CMHC in-place average for a one-bedroom in Ottawa is about $1,543 per month — what current tenants pay, via Statistics Canada. New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
How much are utilities in Ottawa?
Hydro, heating, and internet for a one-bedroom in Ottawa run about $180 per month.
Is Ottawa an affordable place to live?
Ottawa scores 42/100 on our Cost of Living Score, where higher means more affordable — that's "Around average". Its typical monthly essentials run about 6% above the average Canadian city we track.
How this score is calculated
The Cost of Living Score adds up a city’s typical monthly essentials — rent, groceries, transit, and utilities — and compares that total to the average across the Canadian cities we track. A city at the average scores around 50; cheaper cities score higher, pricier ones lower. Higher always means more affordable.
Sources: Rent is the CMHC Rental Market Survey 1-bedroom average (2025, via Statistics Canada); groceries from Canada's Food Price Report 2025; transit is the OC Transpo adult monthly pass; utilities blend Ontario electricity and CRTC internet pricing. Figures are typical city-level estimates for a one-person household, not a personal budget, and shift over time. Last updated June 2026.