Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Raleigh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Raleigh or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Raleigh 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: Raleigh or Ottawa?
Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of about 450,000 and is home to many colleges and university including North Carolina State University, Shaw University, Saint Augustine's College, Meredith College and Peace University. The city has a wide range of museums, restaurants, theaters, and parks. There's also an extensive greenway system that is great for biking or running.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, 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 dayRaleigh $189Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Raleigh is $189, 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 Raleigh and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRaleigh $104Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRaleigh $208Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Raleigh and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Raleigh 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: Raleigh Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Raleigh $37Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Raleigh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Raleigh:
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Raleigh Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Raleigh - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Raleigh to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
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 Raleigh or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Raleigh 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 dayRaleigh $57Ottawa $17
Typical Food Prices in Raleigh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Raleigh:
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The Pit Authentic BBQ (for 3)$84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Raleigh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Raleigh.
- Private Cooking Class in Durham with an Expert Home Cook: $104
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.Raleigh $37Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Raleigh
Here are a few actual costs in Raleigh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Create Your Own Lipstick or Lip Gloss Class Experience in Raleigh: $60
- Guided Walking Historian Tour in Downtown Durham: $16
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Chapel Hill, NC: $15
- Private Pedicab Tour of Downtown Raleigh: $60
- Raleigh African American History Tour: $16
- Raleigh Downtown: Historic Walking Tours: $16
- Raleigh Ghost and Urban Legend Tour: $16
- Raleigh Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Tour: $33
- Raleigh Historian-Guided Downtown Walking Tour: $16
- Raleigh Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Walking Tour: $26
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
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 dayRaleigh $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 Raleigh and Ottawa, we can see that Raleigh 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 Raleigh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Raleigh 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 Raleigh Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Raleigh or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Raleigh. When comparing the sizes of Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Raleigh as well as Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Raleigh because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Raleigh is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Raleigh averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, 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 Raleigh this time of the year. In the summer, Raleigh often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Raleigh gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Raleigh receives a lot of rain in the summer. Raleigh usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Raleigh gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRaleigh 79°F (26°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Raleigh or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Raleigh are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Raleigh this time of year.
In the autumn, Raleigh is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Raleigh in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. Raleigh usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Raleigh gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Raleigh usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Raleigh gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRaleigh 61°F (16°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Raleigh or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Raleigh during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Raleigh for the museums and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Raleigh. In January, Raleigh is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Raleigh average around 40°F (5°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Raleigh often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Raleigh gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Raleigh usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Raleigh gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRaleigh 40°F (5°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Raleigh or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Raleigh and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Raleigh in the spring for the activities around the city.
Raleigh is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Raleigh averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
In Raleigh, it's very sunny this time of the year. Raleigh usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Raleigh gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Raleigh usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Raleigh gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRaleigh 60°F (16°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Raleigh
| Raleigh | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 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.