Travel Budget for Ottawa Visit Ottawa on a Budget or Travel in Style

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

How much does it cost to travel to Ottawa?

You should plan to spend around $124 (CA$168) per day on your vacation in Ottawa. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $17 (CA$23) on meals
  • $7.29 (CA$9.94) on local transportation
  • $37 (CA$50) on hotels

A one week trip to Ottawa for two people costs, on average, $1,730 (CA$2,357). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $124
    CA$168
  • One Week Per person
    $865
    CA$1,179
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,730
    CA$2,357
  • One Month Per person
    $3,707
    CA$5,051
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,730
    CA$2,357
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $3,460
    CA$4,714
  • One Month For a couple
    $7,415
    CA$10,102
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Ottawa cost?

A one week trip to Ottawa usually costs around $865 (CA$1,179) for one person and $1,730 (CA$2,357) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Ottawa on average costs around $1,730 (CA$2,357) for one person and $3,460 (CA$4,714) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Ottawa will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Ottawa on average costs around $3,707 (CA$5,051) for one person and $7,415 (CA$10,102) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Ottawa has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Ottawa expensive to visit?

Prices in Ottawa are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Ottawa is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Vernon, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Ottawa Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Ottawa?

The average Ottawa trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Ottawa travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) CA$50 ($37)
Local Transportation 1 CA$9.94 ($7)
Food 2 CA$23 ($17)
Entertainment 1 CA$55 ($40)
Tips and Handouts 1 CA$2 - 5 ($1 - 3)
Alcohol 2 CA$13 - 38 ($9 - 28)
Accommodation Budget in Ottawa
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Ottawa is $18 (CA$25). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Ottawa is $37 (CA$50). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $18
    CA$25
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $37
    CA$50

Hotel Prices in Ottawa

Looking for a hotel in Ottawa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Ottawa based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $122. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Ottawa
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Ottawa is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $7.29 (CA$9.94) per person, per day, on local transportation in Ottawa.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $7.29
    CA$9.94

Recommended Services


Flights to Ottawa
How much does it cost to go to Ottawa? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Ottawa
The price of renting a car in Ottawa will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Ottawa
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Ottawa can vary, the average cost of food in Ottawa is $17 (CA$23) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Ottawa should cost around $6.83 (CA$9.31) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Ottawa is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $17
    CA$23

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Ottawa
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Ottawa typically cost an average of $40 (CA$55) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $40
    CA$55

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Ottawa
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Ottawa is $2.24 (CA$3.05) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Ottawa is 10% - 20%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $2.24
    CA$3.05



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Alcohol Budget in Ottawa
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $18 (CA$25) on alcoholic beverages in Ottawa per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $18
    CA$25

Recommended



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Ottawa On a Budget
Ottawa Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second.  It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
Sights
The primary attraction for most visitors to Ottawa is Parliament Hill. Not only is it a striking monument of Gothic revival architecture, but it is also the home of Canada's national government and the setting for national celebrations year-round. Various tours are available to different parts of Parliament Hill, while visitors also flock to see the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony at 9:00 AM, as well as the Sound and Light Show held daily at 9:30 PM until September.

Ottawa is also home to a vast array of museums and galleries showcasing the nation's story in art, history, nature, at war, in aviation and space, agriculture and food, science, and technology. A few of the more popular museum attractions include the Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of History, Canadian Museum of Nature, Science and Technology Museum, and the Canada Agriculture Museum.

Other must-see sights include the historic ByWard Market and the Rideau Canal, as well as its many performing arts venues like the National Arts Centre, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa Little Theatre, and The Gladstone.
Neighborhoods
A few of Ottawa's many distinctive neighborhoods include Bank Street, ByWard Market, Chinatown, Downtown Rideau, Glebe, Preston Street (Little Italy), Sparks Street, Wellington West, and Westboro Village. Bank Street is the downtown center of commerce, government, culture, and leisure.  ByWard Market, founded in the 1820's, is home to unique shops, fresh produce and artisan stalls, restaurants, and nightclubs. Chinatown is a thriving business and residential area that offers dining, shopping, and entertainment infused with Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Philippino, Spanish, Lebanese, French, and Middle Eastern cultures. Downtown Rideau makes up the arts, fashion, and theatre district. The Glebe is a relaxed and historic neighborhood of shops, restaurants, and pubs. Preston Street is the heart of Little Italy, reflecting Italian heritage in its tree-lined streets, award-winning Italian and international cuisine, and independent boutiques. Sparks Street is home to a mix of long-established local business, unique architecture, and Canada's first pedestrian mall. And finally Wellington West and Westboro Village are both urban villages 5-10 minute's-drive from Parliament buildings, each of which features more than 200 shops, restaurants, and businesses.

Activities
There are plenty of tours and sightseeing options available for experiencing the city of Ottawa-from options on foot, bicycle, or bus, to boat, plane, or helicopter. Tours can be booked on any mode of transportation to experience any unique part of the city by location, history, culinary preference, and more.

Alternatively visitors can explore galleries and museums, experience the music and theatre culture, or venture on the outskirts of the city for some outdoor excursions like whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River.
Food and Dining
Since Ottawa's culture is a reflection of the thousands of immigrants who now call the city home, ethnic foods from around the world are available at a wide variety of restaurants and street vendors. Additionally, there is a hub for each kind of cultural cuisine. Chinatown area, for example, has plenty of Chinese and other Asian food restaurants and is located along Somerset Avenue between Bronson Avenue and Preston Street.  For Italian eats, Little Italy runs along the length of Preston Street, from Carling Avenue to Albert Street. Additionally, the ByWard Market area has a wide selection of different cuisines-from breakfast diners and lunchtime delis to ethnic Mexican or Indian eats. One local novelty, however, is the beavertail-a large, flat doughy, deep-fried pastry usually topped with cinnamon and sugar. Also popular, and located on just about every street corner, is the Tim Horton's fast food chain, best known for its coffee and donuts.

Transportation
Ottawa's main airport is Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, which offers regular arrivals and departures from most major Canadian and many American cities.  Services outside North America are limited to a daily flight to London Heathrow and a daily flight to Frankfurt with Air Canada, as well as seasonal services to London Gatwick.  Shuttle bus services are available between Ottawa and Montreal (2-hour ride) via Air France, KLM, and Swiss International Airlines, which facilitate connections with their flights operated from Trudeau International Airport. Via Rail also operates a free shuttle bus from the Dorval train station to nearby Trudeau International Airport.

To reach downtown Ottawa via public transit from the airport, take the #97 bus (the only bus at the airport) and get out at the Mackenzie King stop (14 stops away) at the Rideau Centre shopping mall.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.