Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Hershey?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hershey or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hershey 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: Hershey or Ottawa?
Hershey
Often called "Chocolatetown, USA" and "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, Pennsylvania is most known for being home to the famous Hershey's chocolates. The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey, and has grown to sell products in over sixty countries worldwide. Before the town was named Hershey, it was called Derry Church and was the hometown of the chocolatier. While there are now manufacturing plants in many locations, Hershey, PA, remains the location that draws the crowds. It is the place where the Hershey Company originated and is home to attractions like Hershey Park, Hershey Gardens, and Hershey's Chocolate World.
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 Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHershey $212Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Hershey is $212, 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 Hershey and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHershey $114Ottawa $18
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHershey $228Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Hershey and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Hershey 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: Hershey Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hershey $49Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hershey
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hershey:
- Private transfer from MDT airport to Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Hershey: $150
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Hershey or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Hershey 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 dayHershey $61Ottawa $17
Typical Food Prices in Hershey
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hershey:
-
Frozen Hot Chocolate$4.19
-
Plain and Fancy Farm$46
-
Homemade Apple Butter$7.98
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hershey $53Ottawa $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hershey
Here are a few typical costs in Hershey for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Hershey Chocolate World (for 3)$75
Tours and Activities in Hershey
Here are a few actual costs in Hershey for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip the Line: AACA Museum Admission Ticket: $25
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHershey $27Ottawa $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 Hershey and Ottawa, we can see that Hershey 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 Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey 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 Hershey Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hershey or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Hershey 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 Hershey 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 Hershey or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hershey as well as Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Hershey because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hershey is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Hershey average around 77°F (25°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hershey this time of the year. In the summer, Hershey often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Hershey gets 310 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Hershey usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawa. Hershey gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyHershey 77°F (25°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Hershey or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Hershey are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.
Hershey is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hershey averages around 56°F (13°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Hershey usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Hershey gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hershey usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Hershey gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHershey 56°F (13°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Hershey or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Hershey during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Hershey for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Hershey. In the winter, Hershey is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hershey in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Hershey often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Hershey gets 153 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Hershey usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Hershey gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHershey 30°F (-1°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Hershey or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hershey and Ottawa.
In April, Hershey is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Hershey average around 53°F (12°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
In Hershey, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hershey usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Hershey gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Hershey usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Hershey gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilHershey 53°F (12°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Hershey
| Hershey | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (0°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 53°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 56°F (13°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (82 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.