Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Mazatlan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mazatlan or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mazatlan 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: Mazatlan or Ottawa?
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, 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 dayMazatlan $79Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Mazatlan is $79, 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 Mazatlan and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMazatlan $33Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMazatlan $66Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Mazatlan and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Mazatlan 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: Mazatlan Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mazatlan $21Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
- Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $49
- Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $261
- Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
- Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $296
- Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $236
- Mazatlan Airport (MZT) to Mazatlan Round-Trip Private Transfer: $117
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 Mazatlan or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Mazatlan 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 dayMazatlan $34Ottawa $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mazatlan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mazatlan.
- Mercado walking food tour: $78
- Mazatlan routes of taste food tour: $84
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Mazatlan: $84
- Tacos, Beer and Mezcal Food Tour in Mazatlan: $96
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.Mazatlan $9.59Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Mazatlan
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Barrio Bites tour: $78
- Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
- BeachBlast ATV's & City Tour: $99
- Bird Watching Mazatlán - Birding Tour: $115
- City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
- From Zipline & ATV Adventure with Tequila Tasting: $210
- Half-Day Tour to Tequila Factory and Villages from Mazatlan: $75
- Half-Day Ziplining Experience from Mazatlán: $110
- Jungle and beach ATV tour + lunch + tequila tasting: $120
- Mazatlán: Beach & Jungle ATV Tour w/ Lunch & Tequila Tasting: $126
- Mazatlán: Tequila Factory & Country Sightseeing: $103
- Mazatlán: Zipline Adventure, Sightseeing & Mezcal Tasting: $128
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 dayMazatlan $18Ottawa $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 Mazatlan and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mazatlan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mazatlan 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa than you might in Mazatlan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mazatlan Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mazatlan or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Mazatlan. When comparing the sizes of Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Mazatlan as well as Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Mazatlan is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mazatlan in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Ottawa averages at about 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 Mazatlan this time of the year. In the summer, Mazatlan often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Mazatlan gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Mazatlan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Mazatlan usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Mazatlan gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMazatlan 29°C (83°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Mazatlan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.
In October, Mazatlan is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Mazatlan average around 27°C (81°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. Mazatlan usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Mazatlan gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Mazatlan usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Mazatlan gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMazatlan 27°C (81°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Mazatlan during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mazatlan for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Mazatlan is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Mazatlan averages around 20°C (67°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. In the winter, Mazatlan often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Mazatlan gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Mazatlan usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Mazatlan gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMazatlan 20°C (67°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mazatlan and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Mazatlan in the spring for the beaches.
In the spring, Mazatlan is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mazatlan in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mazatlan usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Mazatlan gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mazatlan usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Mazatlan gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMazatlan 22°C (72°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Mazatlan
| Mazatlan | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 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.