Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cologne or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne or Ottawa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cologne or Ottawa?
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
Ottawa
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Ottawa €114
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is €114. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cologne and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Ottawa €17
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Ottawa €34
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Cologne or Ottawa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cologne Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Ottawa €6.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer in Ottawa Airport : $52
- Private Transfer from Ottawa Airport (YOW) to Ottawa City: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Cologne change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayCologne €50Ottawa €16
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
-
Dinner€14
-
Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cologne €20Ottawa €37
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen City Hall tour (public): $20
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Ancient Echoes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Roman Cologne: $11
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $397
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.57
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.69
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCologne €23Ottawa €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
- Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Ottawa, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cologne is in Europe and Ottawa is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Ottawa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cologne Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Ottawa?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Cologne and Ottawa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Cologne or Ottawa?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cologne or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Cologne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Cologne is cooler than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. In the summer, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyCologne 19°C (66°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In the autumn, Cologne is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cologne in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cologne usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCologne 12°C (54°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Cologne during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cologne for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Cologne. In January, Cologne is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 3°C (37°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCologne 3°C (37°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Cologne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Cologne is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cologne usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilCologne 10°C (50°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Cologne
| Cologne | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.