Living in Ottawa vs Gatineau

| Buying

 

Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec come together to form the National Capital Region (NCR). Though these cities are geographically close, they are both in different provinces of Canada. With the Ottawa River as a boundary, the two cities both have a ton of beauty and benefits which attract new residents from all over the world.

Here are some things to consider when deciding if Ottawa or Gatineau is right for you:

 

Living in Gatineau, Quebec

As the fourth biggest city in Quebec, Gatineau is located just a glance across the river from Ottawa. Nestled in Western Quebec, it is a very scenic and beautiful space to explore and unwind. Many people from near and far come to Gatineau for exercise and outdoor activity as the Gatineau Park is home to 165 kilometers of hiking trails and 32.5 kilometers of scenic biking trails.

Once out of the hills, the city of Gatineau has a bit of an Old Montreal, European feel. The French language is an important part of Gatineau as it is the mother tongue of the majority of its residents. If you live in Quebec, it is often more than just an inconvenience if you don’t speak French.

It is a frequently accepted fact that housing is cheaper in Gatineau than in Ottawa. Rent is often cheaper as are house prices. Because Gatineau has higher income taxes than Ottawa (the highest in the country), it’s important to work out your finances to see if it is worth paying higher income taxes to pay lower rent or a lower mortgage. This outcome will be different for people depending on their income if they are a renter or an owner and what their goals are.

 

Living in Ottawa, Ontario

The clean and welcoming city of Ottawa just on the Eastern part of Southern Ontario is Canada’s capital. Ottawa is a bigger city than Gatineau and is known to have quite a bit more going on in the way of cultural events, festivals and attractions. Being a busy city and home to the Public Service of Canada, Ottawa has more employers than Gatineau. The tech sector in Ottawa is also a large employer and contributes to the abundance of jobs in the Nation’s capital.

Healthcare is known to be more readily accessible in Ottawa than in Gatineau. Many residents of Gatineau find themselves seeking doctors in Ottawa. If you speak English, French or both, Ottawa is a very welcoming city because over 37% of Ottawa residents are bilingual.

Though Ottawa housing prices are higher than that of Gatineau, the lower income taxes and great opportunities for both English and French employment make Ottawa an excellent choice for people to call home. With its reasonable cost of living comes a very high quality of life and Ottawa has been voted by MoneySense as the number one Best Place to Live in Canada more than once.

 

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If you are seeking advice on buying a home, more information about living in Ottawa, or have more questions for us, we are happy to provide you with helpful guidance and support. Email us at info@buyandsellottawa.ca or call us at 613-590-3036.