Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Nassau or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau 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: Nassau or Ottawa?
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
-
Nassau Prices
Bahamas PricesOttawa Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNassau $226Ottawa $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $226, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $134. 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 Nassau and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNassau $108Ottawa $18
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNassau $216Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Nassau 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: Nassau Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nassau $32Ottawa $7.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
-
Water Taxi$7.99
-
Taxi to Cable Beach$25
-
Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- S U V Private Transfer, Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood ,Sandals , ATLANTIS : $170
- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $300
- Round trip Airport Private Transfer (Nassau Limousine): $160
- Round Trip Private Airport To Hotel Transfer in Nassau: $175
- Private Transfer from Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Hotel or Cruise Port : $136
- Private SUV One way Airport Transfer/Grocery & Liquor stop included : $200
- Private Roundtrip Sedan Airport Transfer to Palm Cay: $190
- Private Roundtrip Sedan Airport Transfer : $160
- Private Roundtrip Minivan Airport Transfer to Palm Cay: $200
- Private Roundtrip Minivan Airport Transfer: $180
- Private Roundtrip Minibus Transfer to Cable Beach: $200
- Private One-Way Transfer from Lynden Airport to Bahamas: $45
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 Airport YOW Private Transfer to Ottawa/University/Chelsea: $42
- Ottawa Parc Omega Private Tour with Hotel Transfer: $218
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Nassau 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 dayNassau $91Ottawa $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
- Nassau Sunset Dinner Cruise: $129
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $129
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $138
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Saturday Bahamian Cooking Class in Downtown Nassau: $149
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ottawa Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $77
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $78
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $104
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $104
- Guided ByWard Market Food Tour: $107
- A Taste of Canada Food Tour: $108
- Taste of Canada Food Tour with Guide: $113
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nassau $37Ottawa $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
-
Jet Ski$50
-
4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
-
1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- 3 Hour Smart Eco Segway Adventure in Nassau: $99
- 4-Island Tour Swimming Pigs, turtles, snorkeling , rose island, : $180
- Bahamas Adventure: Pigs, Reef, Turtles, and Beach with Lunch: $299
- Bahamas Funtastic Party Bus Tours: $99
- Discover Nassau by Land and Sea Tour: $109
- Fun Atv tour in Nassau with Lunch: Drivers must be 25 years old: $149
- Group City Tour and Beach Experience from Cruise Port: $40
- Sail & Snorkel Adventure with 1 Hr. Open Bar: $120
- 3 Islands Boat Adventure: Swimming Pigs, Snorkeling And Turtles: $149
- 3 V's Guided Scooter or ATV Tour in Nassau: $250
- 3-Hour ATV Tour of New Providence (Inclusive of water & local deserts): $190
- 3-Hour Buggy Tour of New Providence (Inclusive of water & local deserts): $250
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ottawa City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Rockcliffe Exploration Game and Tour: $7.20
- Street Art Exploration Game and Self-Guided Tour in Ottawa: $7.20
- Ottawa Downtown Historic Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Ottawa Mystery Quest: Self-Guided Detective Adventure: $8.40
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $8.99
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.61
- Ottawa Valleyview Little Animal Farm Tour: $10
- Ottawa's Original Historical Highlights Public Walking Tour: $18
- Ottawa : Historic Tour of the Ottawa Jail Hostel: $18
- Aqua Taxi Hop-on and Hop-Off Tour: $18
- Ottawa Senators Ice Hockey Game Ticket: $22
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNassau $19Ottawa $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
-
Cocktail$6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Chelsea: Guided tour of the Square Distillery: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Ottawa, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nassau is in Caribbean Islands 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau 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 Nassau Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nassau or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nassau. When comparing the sizes of Nassau 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 Nassau or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Nassau experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Nassau or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Nassau during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Nassau is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 28°C (82°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nassau. In the summer, Nassau often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Nassau gets 273 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 Nassau. Nassau usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyNassau 28°C (82°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and Ottawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene.
Nassau is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Nassau gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Nassau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nassau usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNassau 26°C (79°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nassau as well as Ottawa. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.
It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. In the winter, Nassau is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nassau in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In the winter, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Nassau gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Nassau usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ottawa. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNassau 21°C (70°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Nassau are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year.
In April, Nassau is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 23°C (74°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Nassau gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Nassau usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilNassau 23°C (74°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Nassau
| Nassau | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.