Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Durham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Durham or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and Ottawa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Durham or Ottawa?
Durham
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
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 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurham $162Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $162, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $122. 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 Durham and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurham $92Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurham $184Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Durham and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Durham 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: Durham Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durham $33Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Durham or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Durham 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
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Food Meals for one dayDurham $44Ottawa $17
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Durham $26Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
- Downtown Durham Historian-Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Durham African American History Tour: $16
- Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20
- True Crime Tour: $13
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: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.42
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- 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
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDurham $34Ottawa $18
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 Durham and Ottawa, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham 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 Durham Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Durham or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Durham is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDurham 79°F (26°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Durham or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Ottawa. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Durham is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).
In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDurham 61°F (16°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Durham or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Ottawa. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ottawa. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In January, Durham is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDurham 40°F (5°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Durham or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Durham is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDurham 60°F (16°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Durham
| Durham | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | -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.