Cost of living
Vancouver vs Ottawa: cost of living compared
Compare monthly rent, groceries, transport, dining, and utilities in Vancouver and Ottawa using cited SetTern cost bands — planning only.
Using cited SetTern catalog midpoints, Ottawa is about 29% cheaper per month overall. The breakdown below compares rent, groceries, transport, dining, and utilities. These are planning bands, not live listings — confirm with the linked official cost sources.
Ottawa is ~29% cheaper overall
| Monthly | Vancouver | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1br, catalog) | $2,000 | $1,450 |
| Groceries (band mid) | $350 | $364 |
| Transport (band mid) | $125 | $126 |
| Dining out (band mid) | $320 | $308 |
| Utilities (band mid) | $130 | $182 |
| Living cost avg (catalog) | $3,600 | $2,800 |
Side-by-side uses cited SetTern catalog midpoints for each city — not live listings. Individual costs vary by neighbourhood and lifestyle; confirm with the linked sources.