Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Richmond?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Richmond or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Richmond and Ottawa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Richmond or Ottawa?
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
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 Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, 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 dayRichmond $161Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Richmond is $161, 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 Richmond and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRichmond $101Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRichmond $202Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Richmond and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Richmond 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: Richmond Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Richmond $72Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Richmond
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
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 Richmond or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Richmond 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 dayRichmond $21Ottawa $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
- The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour in Richmond, VA: $80
- Church Hill Food Tour: $80
- Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $80
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond: $85
- Arts District Walking Food Tour: $85
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $90
- Pizza & Ice Cream Tour: $90
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.Richmond $13Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond: $44
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $25
- Church Hill Segway Tour in Richmond: $80
- Discover Downtown Richmond Bike Tour: $125
- Guided Walking Tour of Richmond: $38
- Haunted Capitol Hill Ghost Tour: $30
- Historic Trolley Tour: $38
- Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour in Richmond: $76
- Hollywood Cemetery Tour Richmond Lore and Civil War: $24
- Phantoms of Franklin Ghost Tour: $30
- RVATukTuk Sightseeing Tour of Richmond: $187
- Richmond Downtown Walking Tour: $38
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 dayRichmond -Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Drink Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl: $74
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $74
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
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 Richmond and Ottawa, we can see that Richmond 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 Richmond would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Richmond 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 Richmond Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Richmond or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the sizes of Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Richmond during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Richmond for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Richmond is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Richmond averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Richmond. In the summer, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Richmond gets 305 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 Richmond. Richmond usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Richmond gets 5 inches (128 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 JulyRichmond 78°F (26°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Richmond or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Richmond and Ottawa. The autumn months attract visitors to Richmond because of the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Richmond is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Richmond in October average around 59°F (15°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).
In Richmond, it's very sunny this time of the year. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Richmond gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Richmond usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Richmond gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRichmond 59°F (15°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Richmond or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Richmond as well as Ottawa. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Richmond this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ottawa. It's quite cold in Richmond in the winter. In January, Richmond is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Richmond average around 36°F (2°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Richmond gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Richmond usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Richmond gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRichmond 36°F (2°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Richmond or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Richmond are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Richmond is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Richmond averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Richmond gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Richmond usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Richmond gets 3 inches (75 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 AprilRichmond 58°F (14°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Richmond
| Richmond | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (83 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.