Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Florence?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Florence or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Florence or Ottawa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Florence or Ottawa?
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.
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 Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, 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 dayFlorence €154Ottawa €114
The average daily cost (per person) in Florence is €154, 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 Florence and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorence €87Ottawa €17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorence €174Ottawa €34
Compare Hotels in Florence and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Florence 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: Florence Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florence €22Ottawa €6.75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Florence
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:
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Taxi Ride Within City€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€25
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In City Parking (Full Day)€30
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Bus Pass (Full Day)€5.00
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Bus From Airport€5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence
Also for Florence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Florence - Siena with visit to Chianti and wine tasting: $219
- Transfer Florence - Bologna with stop at the Barberino Outlet: $142
- Transfer Between Florence and Rome with Sightseeing Stop: $1,184
- Private transfer Hotel Florence / Florence Airport: $131
- Private transfer Florence Airport / Hotel Florence: $131
- Private transfer: $257
- Private arrival OR departure transfer in Florence (hotel OR airport pick-up): $85
- Private arrival OR departure transfer in Florence: $115
- Private Transfer: Florence to Florence Firenze-Peretola Airport (FLR): $153
- Private Transfer: Florence City Center to Peretola Airport (FLR): $64
- Private Transfer from Tavarnelle Val di Pesa to Firenze (FLR) Airport: $179
- Private Transfer from Scandicci to Firenze (FLR) Airport: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Ottawa Airport (YOW) to Ottawa City: $66
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer in Ottawa Airport : $52
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Florence or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Florence 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 dayFlorence €36Ottawa €16
Typical Food Prices in Florence
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Florence:
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Panini Sandwich€6.50
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence
For Florence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Florence with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Florence Street Food Tour: Market & City Center: $29
- Florence Street Food Tour, Market and City Center: $31
- Walking Food Tour at Sunset with Tastings: $33
- Virtual Live Cooking Class What Do You Have in Your Pantry: $35
- Virtual Cooking Class: Bruschetta & Tiramisù: $36
- Virtual Italian Meatballs Cooking Class, Live from Tuscany: $37
- Street Food Tour with Local Expert Guide: $41
- Street Food Tour and Sightseeing with Local Expert Guide in 2.5 hours : $41
- Florence Street Food Tour and sightseeing with Central Market: $46
- Eating Florence Street Food Tour Guided Tasting and Sightseeing: $46
- Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine: $59
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florence €30Ottawa €37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florence
For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Admission to Uffizi€11
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Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi€4.00
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Firenze Card (for Two)€100
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Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)€20
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Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee€6.00
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Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee€7.00
Tours and Activities in Florence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florence.
- Accademia Gallery Skip the line Tickets : $34
- Express Early Morning Uffizi Small Group Tour I Max 6 People: $141
- Florence Duomo: VIP After-Hours Dome Tour with Terrace Access: $174
- Florence FoodTour with Local Guide: $192
- Florence-Private bike tour: $99
- Uffizi Skip-the-Line Entry & Guided Tour: $71
- Private Tour of Uffizi and Accademia Gallery with David: $228
- Semi-Private Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour: $71
- Tour Private of Florence in electric car : $42
- VIP Uffizi Gallery Tour: $75
- "Good Morning Chianti Classico" - Tour in 2 wineries with lunch: $197
- 1 Hour guided tour: Accademia Gallery and Michelangelo's David: $38
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Hour Ottawa Express City Bike Tour: $59
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Best of Ottawa Neighbourhoods & Nature Bike Tour: $82
- Best of Ottawa Small Group Tour with River Cruise: $133
- Best of Ottawa Small Group Walking Tour with Boat Cruise: $85
- City Beers: Bus Tour of Ottawa Breweries: $75
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.69
- Full Day Montreal and Cruise Tour from Ottawa: $115
- Gems and Surprises – Ottawa Walking Tour: $186
- Helicopter Private Tour Over Ottawa 70KM in 20 min : $151
- Hidden Ottawa Secrets Walking Tour: $25
- Ottawa Boat Cruise - Paul's Boat Line: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorence €18Ottawa €17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florence
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florence from other travelers:
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Glass of Chianti€4.20
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Bottle of Wine€7.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Florence
Also in Florence, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting by CarusVini in San Casciano in val di Pesa: $16
- Wine Tasting Activity at Chianti Rufina: $23
- Great wine tasting at Tenuta Moriano: $25
- Wine Tasting Experience near Florence: $27
- Biodynamic Wine Tasting with Producer in Vinci: $28
- Sip, Savor, Save! Youth Wine Tasting Tour with Appitisers: $28
- Wine Tasting Experience with Three Types of Tuscan Wine: $29
- From Florence to Chianti Rufina: Wine Tasting Experience: $32
- Private Wine Tasting Experience in the heart of Tuscany: $33
- Classic Wine Tasting in Montalcino: $33
- Discover Artimino wine tasting, a few steps from Florence: $33
- Cellar Wine Tour: $33
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 Florence and Ottawa, we can see that Florence is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florence 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 Florence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florence 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 Florence Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florence or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Florence. When comparing the sizes of Florence 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 Florence or Ottawa?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Florence or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Florence and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Florence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Florence is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Florence in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ottawa this time of the year. In Florence, it's very sunny this time of the year. Florence usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during summer. Florence gets 316 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Florence usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Florence gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFlorence 25°C (77°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Florence or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Florence as well as Ottawa. Most visitors come to Florence for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Florence is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Florence average around 16°C (61°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In the autumn, Florence often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Florence gets 177 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun.
Florence usually gets more rain in October than Ottawa. Florence gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFlorence 16°C (61°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Florence or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Florence are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Florence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. Florence is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Florence averages around 7°C (45°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Florence usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during winter. Florence gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Florence usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Florence gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFlorence 7°C (45°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Florence or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Florence during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Florence this time of year.
In the spring, Florence is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Florence in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
In the spring, Florence often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Florence gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun.
Florence usually gets more rain in April than Ottawa. Florence gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFlorence 14°C (57°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Florence
| Florence | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (45°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 72 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.