Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Oslo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Oslo or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oslo 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: Oslo or Ottawa?
Oslo
Oslo is not only the largest city in Norway, and also its capital. It also holds the title as the most expensive city in the world. Oslo is a unique capital city in that its boundaries include much forest and wildlife. The city itself is nestled in an amphitheater type setting. The city's core is in the bottom by the fjord, and the residential areas stretch uphill away from the downtown area.
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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway, 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 dayOslo $137Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Oslo is $137, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Oslo and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOslo $81Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOslo $162Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Oslo and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Oslo 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: Oslo Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oslo $23Ottawa $7.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oslo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Oslo are as follows:
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Tram Ticket$6.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oslo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oslo:
- Trondheim Vaernes Airport (TRD) to Trondheim- Round-Trip Transfer: $81
- Trondheim Vaernes Airport (TRD) to Trondheim - Arrival Transfer : $41
- Trondheim Private Transfer from Trondheim (TRD) Airport to City centre: $215
- Round-Trip Private Transfer Oslo Airport OSL to Oslo City by Business Car: $228
- Private Transfer from Oslo City Centre to Oslo Airport: $142
- Private Transfer from Oslo Airport to Oslo Cruise Port: $90
- Private Transfer from Oslo Airport to Oslo City Centre: $153
- Private Transfer from Olso Airport to Olso Hotels: $82
- Private Oslo Airport and City Transfers: $164
- Private One-way Airport Transfer (Oslo Airport To/From Oslo): $89
- Transfer Between Oslo City Center & Gardermoen Airport: $256
- Oslo hotels to Oslo Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $46
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 Oslo or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Oslo 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 dayOslo $30Ottawa $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oslo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oslo.
- Oslofjord Cruise with Seafood Dinner: $59
- Oslo Alternative Culture and Street Food Tour: $73
- Christmas Street Food Tour with Akevitt and Christmas beer : $111
- 3-course Dinner Cruise in the Oslofjord: $119
- Oslo Fjord 3 Course Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $119
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.Oslo $19Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Oslo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Oslo are as follows:
- 2 Hour Sea Kayak Tour on Oslofjord from Central Oslo: $92
- 2.hr Oslo Kayak Tour “Fjord City”: $92
- 2hr Retro Motorcycle Sidecar Oslo Highlights Tour: $212
- 4 hours Winter View of the Oslofjord Walk Tour : $149
- A Self-Guided Tour of Akershus to Kongen Marina Waterfront: $7.99
- Akerselva River Kayak Tour; An Urban Paddling Adventure: $92
- Akerselva River Tour : $92
- An Oslo Waterfront Stroll: Self-paced Audio Tour: $7.99
- Authentic Oslo bike tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Oslo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $45
- Digging up the Past in Røros: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Discover Christmas Spirit in Oslo Walking Tour: $27
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: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- 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 dayOslo $11Ottawa $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 comparing the travel costs between Oslo and Ottawa, we can see that Oslo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Oslo is in Europe and Ottawa is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oslo Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oslo or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Oslo. When comparing the sizes of Oslo 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 Oslo 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 Oslo or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Oslo during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Oslo in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Oslo is generally cooler than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Oslo average around 18°C (64°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 Oslo. In the summer, Oslo often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Oslo gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Oslo usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawa. Oslo gets 84 mm (3.3 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 JulyOslo 18°C (64°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Oslo or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Oslo and Ottawa. Most visitors come to Oslo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
Oslo is cooler than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Oslo averages around 7°C (45°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Oslo usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Oslo gets 86 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Oslo usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Oslo gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOslo 7°C (45°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Oslo or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Oslo as well as Ottawa. The winter months attract visitors to Oslo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. The weather in Oslo can be very cold. In the winter, Oslo is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Oslo in January average around -4°C (25°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Oslo often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Oslo gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Oslo usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ottawa. Oslo gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOslo -4°C (25°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Oslo or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Oslo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Oslo this time of year.
In April, Oslo is generally cooler than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Oslo average around 6°C (42°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
Oslo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa during spring. Oslo gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Oslo usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Oslo gets 42 mm (1.7 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 AprilOslo 6°C (42°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Oslo
| Oslo | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (25°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | -3°C (26°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (42°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (35°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.