Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paris or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris 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: Paris or Ottawa?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, 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 dayParis €232Ottawa €114
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €232, 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 Paris and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €151Ottawa €17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €302Ottawa €34
Compare Hotels in Paris and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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: Paris Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €21Ottawa €6.75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfer from CDG/ORLY airport to Paris ,multilingual driver: $44
- Versailles: Skip-the-Line Day Tour & Transfer from Paris: $2,583
- Versailles Round-Trip Transfers: Multiple Departures: $53
- Versailles Palace Guided Tour with Coach Transfer from Paris: $99
- VERSAILLES CASTLE Round-Trip Transfer from Paris by Luxury Van: $191
- VERSAILLES CASTLE Private Round-Trip Transfer from Paris in Van: $191
- VERSAILLES CASTLE Private Round-Trip Transfer from Paris by Sedan: $187
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Paris HTL-APT (CDG): $121
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Paris APT-HTL (CDG): $104
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Orly HTL-APT (ORY): $104
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Orly APT-HTL (ORY): $104
- Transfert Privé Aéroport Charles de Gaulle vers Paris: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- 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 Paris or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Paris 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 dayParis €41Ottawa €16
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1h30 Cooking Activity in English: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe Paris with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner : $33
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $49
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $52
- Paris : Seine River Bistronomic Dinner Cruise: $53
- Seine Cruise Departure from Pont Alexandre III with Dinner Included: $64
- Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise: $67
- Eat, play, love Montmartre: 3H Walking Food Tour -Kids friendly-: $68
- No Diet Club - Paris : Night food tour - Montmartre: $68
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
- 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise with Bistro Dinner: $68
- Le Marais Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $69
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.Paris €77Ottawa €37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Île de la Cité: Guided Tour + Sainte-Chapelle Fast Track Entry: $55
- A Day at Parc Saint-Paul Ticket and Transport Included: $208
- Day Tour- Normandy Omaha Beach - Cemetery - Cider Tasting: $260
- Guided Tour to Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Chronicles: $54
- Notre-Dame Walking Tour with Skip The Line Sainte-Chapelle Entry: $61
- Paris Boat River Seine Cruise Sightseeing TICKETS: $22
- Paris Christmas Market Tour: $297
- Paris City Center Self-Guided Walking Tour : $11
- Paris Entrance Ticket to the Aura Invalides Immersive Show: $24
- Paris Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $267
- Paris Sightseeing Tour with Seine River Cruise from Disneyland®: $94
- Private Tour in Medieval Paris with Latin Quarter and Panthéon: $251
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: $6.68
- 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 : $150
- Hidden Ottawa Secrets Walking Tour: $25
- Ottawa Boat Cruise - Paul's Boat Line: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis €24Ottawa €17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $11
- Original Pub Crawl: $16
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $20
- Latin Quarter Guided Pub Crawl to Bars and Clubs: $22
- Paris Bar Crawl: $24
- Paris Pub Crawl: $25
- Audio guided tour and wine tasting at Caves du Louvre: $32
- Paris Craft gin distillery guided Tour & Tasting in French: $32
- Wine Museum Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $39
- Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris: $39
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $43
- Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $43
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 Paris and Ottawa, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paris or Ottawa?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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 Paris 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 Paris or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Paris because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Paris is generally around the same temperature as Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 20°C (68°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ottawa this time of the year. In Paris, it's very sunny this time of the year. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during summer. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Paris usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 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 JulyParis 20°C (68°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Paris or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Paris as well as Ottawa. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Paris this time of year.
Paris is a little warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In the autumn, Paris often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets less rain in October than Ottawa. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberParis 13°C (56°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Paris or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Paris for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Paris. In the winter, Paris is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Paris in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
Paris usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during winter. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Paris usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryParis 5°C (40°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Paris or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Paris during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Paris in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Paris is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 11°C (52°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
In the spring, Paris often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets less rain in April than Ottawa. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 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 AprilParis 11°C (52°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Paris
| Paris | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 55 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.