Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga 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: Riga or Ottawa?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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 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 dayRiga €104Ottawa €114
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, 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 Riga and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Ottawa €17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Ottawa €34
Compare Hotels in Riga and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Riga 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Ottawa €6.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $269
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $139
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $132
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $53
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $53
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $490
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 Riga or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Riga 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 dayRiga €33Ottawa €16
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $97
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $139
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $140
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $153
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.Riga €21Ottawa €37
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2 Day Gastronomy Tour In Latgale : $241
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Art Nouveau Walking Tour in Riga: $65
- Baltic Treasures Tour: Hill of Crosses, Rundale & Bauska: $153
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $182
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $22
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 dayRiga €20Ottawa €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $38
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $97
- Riga Wine Tasting Session: $103
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $526
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,341
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 Riga and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa 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 Riga 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 Riga Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Riga 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 Riga 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 Riga or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Riga is cooler than Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 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 JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Riga or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Ottawa. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In October, Riga is generally cooler than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In October, Riga usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Riga or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. Riga is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Riga averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Riga or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Riga is cooler than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
In April, Riga usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 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 AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Riga
| Riga | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.