Moving to a new city is always exciting – and, of course, a bit stressful. This is especially true if you are trying to decide between two of Ontario’s top cities: Ottawa and Toronto.
Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from living in Ottawa vs Toronto.
Is Ottawa better than Toronto?
While we may be a bit biased in saying that Ottawa is a fantastic place to live, there are some major benefits (and drawbacks) to living in both cities, and it’s important to weigh them all when making such an important decision.
Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from living in Ottawa vs Toronto:
The Basics of Living in Ottawa vs Toronto
Ottawa
- Population: 934,243
- Average Age: 40.1
- Median Income: $104,070
- Ranked 2017’s #1 Best Place to Live in Canada by MoneySense
Toronto
- Population: 2.809 million
- Average Age: 39.7
- Median Income: $78,280
- Ranked 2017’s 4th Most Livable City In The World by the Economist Intelligence Unit
Takeaway: With a less-dense population and a higher median income, Ottawa’s recent ranking as Canada’s #1 place to live comes as no surprise with its fantastic cost of living in comparison to Toronto!
Real Estate Prices
Latest Real Estate Prices in Ottawa (Nov. 2017)
- Detached House: $418,354
- Condo: $257,212
- Average Monthly Rent (1 bedroom): $1,109
See what’s on the market in Ottawa right now by browsing some of our listings.
Latest Real Estate Prices in Toronto (Nov. 2017)
- Detached House: $1,276,184
- Condo: $555,396
- Average Monthly Rent (1 bedroom): $1,976
Takeaway: Toronto’s high real estate prices aren’t new; it’s much more difficult to purchase property there. If you’re looking to invest in a home, you’ll get into something you love much easier in Ottawa (especially if you work with the right team).
Transit
Public Transport in Ottawa
Public Transportation Services:
- OC Transpo
- Via Rail
- Greyhound
- Coming soon: LRT Confederation Line
Adult Monthly Transit Pass: $113.75
Adult Cash Fare: $3.40
Adult Presto Fare: $3.35
Public Transport in Toronto
Public Transportation Services:
Adult Monthly Transit Pass: $146.25
Adult Cash Fare: $3.25
Adult Presto Fare: $3.00
Takeaway: While Toronto is leading the way in terms of public transit, Ottawa is taking their services to the next level with the currently-under-construction LRT System.
Major Attractions & Amenities
Things to do & see in Ottawa
- Parliament Hill
- Rideau Canal
- Canadian Museum of History
- National Gallery of Canada
- Canadian War Museum
- Canadian Tire Centre
- Top Universities and Colleges: University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and Algonquin College
- Very cyclist friendly city
Things to do & see in Toronto
- CN Tower
- Ripley’s Aquarium
- Toronto Islands
- ROM
- AGO
- Rogers Centre
- Top Universities and Colleges: University of Toronto, Ryerson University, OCAD, and York University
Takeaway: In Toronto, large creative and tech industries attract those who work in film and advertising, while the Financial District attracts business tycoons and bankers. On the other hand, Ottawa’s rich history provides a charming and educational backdrop to explore, while still boasting interesting and trendy pockets that attract students and young professionals. As our country’s capital, Ottawa’s strongest employment attraction is, of course our Goverment and Military.
At the end of the day…
While we know there are many other factors that come into play when deciding where to move to, we’d love to show you how great living in Ottawa vs Toronto is for both work and play:
- Explore all of our neighbourhood guides, from Central Ottawa to Kanata and beyond
- See our featured homes available
- Read our Ultimate Guide to Moving to Ottawa
- Get Ottawa’s newest listings sent to you directly
If you would like to discuss your options a bit further or need a hand looking for homes in Ottawa, we’d love to help. Get started by calling us at 613.590.3036, sending us an email here, or scheduling a meeting.
Sylvain Bourgon says:
Yes, Ottawa has always been a great value city with much to offer!
Quin says:
LRT is crap and extremely unreliable. The constant changing of bus routes, the removal of buses and then the addition of buses after people complain.
Sylvain Bourgon says:
The city is working hard to get these issues resolved. I believe it is a short matter of time and things will be flowing smoothly.