Living in Ottawa vs Montreal

| Buying

 

Being only a two hour drive apart (200 km), Ottawa and Montreal may be close cities in proximity, but living in each city provides a vastly different experience. Neither city is truly better than the other, but looking at your needs and interests, you’ll certainly be able to choose which city is best for you. The French influence gives Montreal, the second largest city in Canada, a unique European feel. The Nation’s capital is one of the cleanest on earth and boasts a high quality of living with a small town feel.

 

Here are some important things to consider when choosing to live in Ottawa vs Montreal:

 

Cost

Ottawa and Montreal each have a similar cost of living. Using Numbeo’s cost of living index which uses up-to-date user-contributed data, Ottawa scores a 63.12 and Montreal scores a 64.45 (July 2018). One area that is slightly less expensive in Montreal is rent. Rent prices in Montreal are approximately 16% lower than in Ottawa (courtesy of Numbeo). On average, most common everyday purchases are quite similar in price in Ottawa vs Montreal, but the most significant difference lies in taxes. Income tax rates in Montreal may take the lead for highest in the country. Montreal sales taxes are also quite high compared to the rest of Canada, coming in at a whopping 14.975%. As your salary grows and you begin to make larger more significant purchases in your life, like a home, Ottawa may be a wiser financial choice to place roots.

 

Language

French remains the dominant language of Montreal with Francophone residents comprising of 60% of the population and Anglo/Allophones being only 40% of the population. As French influence is quite prominent in Montreal, the French culture adds a European quality to the city, but speaking French isn’t just an asset in Montreal. When looking for a job, those who speak only English or are entering the workforce without a pre-existing connection will find the job search quite challenging. If you’re considering moving to Montreal and you’re not bilingual, consider learning French prior to entering the job market so you give yourself a better chance at landing the job you deserve. As English is the dominant language of Ottawa, being bilingual in Ottawa is an asset, but is not required to find a lucrative job.

 

Fun

Montreal is known to have an exciting nightlife with something happening every single night of the week. There are several streets in Montreal that are even dedicated strictly to clubs and restaurants. Having the highest concentration of post-secondary students across major cities in North America, the huge student population in Montreal fill the streets with style and embrace things like permission to drink in public parks and the ability to buy beer and wine at corner stores. Ottawa may have a small town feel, but the entertainment is lively, most notably in our downtown core where one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets the ByWard Market is home to a local farmers’ market and over 500 businesses. Throughout the year, Ottawa hosts many great festivals which range from the family friendly Ottawa Winterlude to sold out music concerts at the Ottawa Bluesfest.

Ottawa has a very strong outdoor activity culture. With its proximity to the Gatineau Hills, the Ottawa River and tons of vast outdoor spaces, Ottawa residents are known to be quite active and spend a lot of time enjoying the outdoors biking, running, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing and skating on the world’s largest skating rink.

 

 

Still debating between Ottawa and Montreal

Check out these statistics…

 

Ottawa

  • Population: 934,243
  • Average Age: 40.1
  • Median Income: $41,857
  • Ranked 2017’s #1 Best Place to Live in Canada by MoneySense 
  • Official Languages (Knowledge Of):
    • English Only: 549,395
    • French Only: 12,680
    • English and French: 347,510

Montreal

  • Population: 1,704,694
  • Average Age: 40.3
  • Median Income: $28,321
  • Ranked 2017’s #12th Most Livable City In The World by the Economist Intelligence Unit
  • Official Languages (Knowledge Of):
    • French Only: 503,105
    • English Only: 170,490
    • French and English: 965,480

 

Takeaway: Ottawa has a high median income, and its reigning position as Canada’s Best Place to Live is hard to compete with. But don’t forget: the language you’re most comfortable speaking in is an important consideration!

 

Real Estate Prices

 

Ottawa (March 2018)

  • Detached House: $447,561
  • Condo: $275,592

Montreal (March 2018)

  • Detached House: $314,900
  • Condo: $240,00

 

Takeaway: The real estate markets in both Ottawa and Montreal are reasonable—especially compared to cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Prices are higher in Ottawa, but it’s important to remember that the median income is also significantly higher in the city. Translation: generally speaking, Ottawans put less of their money towards owning their homes.

It’s also worth noting that averages are just that—averages. The price you’re looking at will depend largely on the area you’re looking in. Case in point: For the first quarter of 2018, detached houses in central Montreal are $686,253 on average.

 

Transit

 

Ottawa

Public Transportation Services:

Monthly Transit Pass: $116.50

Adult Cash Fare: $3.50

Adult Presto Fare: $3.45

 

Montreal

Public Transportation Services:

Adult Monthly Transit Pass: $83

Adult Cash Fare: $3.25
Takeaway: Montreal is known for its inexpensive transit, but getting around Ottawa is pretty affordable too. Plus, we Ottawa locals are pretty excited about the LRT system, which is set to be completed later this year.

Did you like our Living in Ottawa vs Montreal article? Check out our other resources here.

 

If you are seeking advice on buying a home in the Ottawa area, 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.

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