Can you live in Ottawa with $ 1,000 a month?

Not comfortably. Estimated monthly costs are around $2,871, which exceeds this budget.

Can you live in Ottawa with $ 2,000 a month?

Not comfortably. Estimated monthly costs are around $2,871, which exceeds this budget.

Can you live in Ottawa with $ 3,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,871, you would have roughly $129 left each month (Affordable).

Can you live in Ottawa with $ 5,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,871, you would have roughly $2,129 left each month (Very Comfortable).

Can you live in Ottawa with $ 8,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,871, you would have roughly $5,129 left each month (Premium Lifestyle).

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Ottawa, Canada

How much does it really cost to live in Ottawa? Housing, food, transport, internet and more — plus what salary you need to live comfortably.

North America 👥 1,000,000 people ❄️ Cold climate Medium city 💱 CAD

💰 Can I afford Ottawa? ⚖️ Compare this city Canada →

$ $1,500 1-bedroom rent / mo

87 Quality of life / 100

86 Safety / 100

88 Internet / 100

28 Affordability / 100

Ottawa vs Quebec City ⚖️ Ottawa vs Halifax ⚖️

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Estimated Monthly Cost

Single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Rent (1-bedroom)	$1,500
Food (moderate)	$500
Transport	$85
Utilities	$120
Internet	$50
Healthcare	$100
Entertainment	$240
Total (moderate)	$2,871

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Housing Costs

Typical monthly rent in Ottawa.

Shared accommodation	$600
Studio	$1,100
1-bedroom	$1,500
2-bedroom	$2,100
3-bedroom	$2,800

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City Scores

How Ottawa rates, out of 100.

Cost of living

Safety

Quality of life

Internet

Healthcare

Transport

Nightlife

Climate

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At a Glance

Climate❄️ Cold
City sizeMedium
Near the seaNo
Geography🏙️ Urban
Capital cityOttawa
LanguageEnglish, French
CurrencyCAD
Time zoneAmerica/Toronto

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Pros and Cons of Ottawa

✅ Pros

Relatively safe city
Fast and reliable internet
Good public transport network
Great overall quality of life
Good healthcare options
Vibrant nightlife and entertainment

⚠️ Cons

Higher cost of living

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Monthly Budget by Lifestyle

Based on a single person living in a 1-bedroom apartment.

Budget $2,008 per month Basic $2,310 per month Moderate $2,871 per month Comfortable $3,720 per month Premium $5,587 per month

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Can You Live in Ottawa on These Salaries?

Estimated for a single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Monthly income	Status	Remaining
$ 1,000	Very Difficult	$-1,871 / month
$ 2,000	Very Difficult	$-871 / month
$ 3,000	Affordable	$129 / month
$ 5,000	Very Comfortable	$2,129 / month
$ 8,000	Premium Lifestyle	$5,129 / month