A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Augustine vs. Ottawa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Augustine or Ottawa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Augustine 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: Saint Augustine or Ottawa?

Saint Augustine

St. Augustine is the oldest European-established settlement in the United States. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed nearby and claimed the land now known as Florida in the name of Spain in 1513. They had originally named the land La Florida, which means "Land of Flowers". The city was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565. Sir Francis Drake and John Davis burnt the city to the ground in 1586 and 1665 respectively, but St. Augustine soon became strong enough to fend off such attacks. Florida was purchased by the United States from Spain in 1819; it seceded during the Civil War, during which St. Augustine was occupied by Union forces.

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 Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Saint Augustine?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Augustine is $159, 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 Saint Augustine and Ottawa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Augustine $86
    Ottawa $18
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Augustine $172
    Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Saint Augustine and Ottawa

Looking for a hotel in Saint Augustine 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.

Hotels in Saint Augustine


Hotels in Ottawa


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: Saint Augustine Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Augustine $39
    Ottawa $7.21

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 Saint Augustine or Ottawa?

Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Saint Augustine 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Saint Augustine $49
    Ottawa $17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Augustine

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Augustine.

  • Feast of Saint Augustine Walking Food Tour: $139

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Augustine $18
    Ottawa $40

Tours and Activities in Saint Augustine

Here are a few actual costs in Saint Augustine for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Arcimoto Electric Vehicle Adventure Rental in St. Augustine: $96
  • 1-Hour Your Studiyo Admission Ticket: $34
  • : Step back in time with pastime private historical tours: $38
  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour of St Augustine's Twisted History: $20
  • Adventure Boat Tours - Ghost Boat - Boo Cruise: $40
  • Adventure Boat Tours - Sunset Water Tour in St. Augustine: $38
  • Adventure Meets History Tour in St Augustine: $89
  • Afterlife Tours- Beyond the Grave Tour: $25
  • Airboat Adventure in Saint Augustine with a Guide: $80
  • America‘s Oldest City: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of St Augustine: $20
  • Bay to City Nights of Lights Tour by Boat and Cart: $150
  • Best of St. Augustine with Scenic Cruise: $193

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Augustine $25
    Ottawa $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Augustine

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Augustine:

  • The Original Haunted Pub Tour: $24
  • Ghosts and Spirits of St Augustine Pub Crawl Tour: $39
  • Toast of St. Augustine Walking Pub Crawl - drinks included: $63

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 Saint Augustine and Ottawa, we can see that Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint Augustine or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Saint Augustine. When comparing the sizes of Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine or Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Augustine as well as Ottawa. Many visitors come to Saint Augustine in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Augustine is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Saint Augustine average around 82°F (28°C), 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 Saint Augustine this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Augustine often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Saint Augustine gets 286 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Saint Augustine receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint Augustine usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Saint Augustine gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint Augustine 82°F (28°C) 
    Ottawa 21°C (71°F)

Should I visit Saint Augustine or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Saint Augustine are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Saint Augustine for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Saint Augustine is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Augustine averages around 70°F (21°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Saint Augustine gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Augustine usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Saint Augustine gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Saint Augustine is June to November.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint Augustine 70°F (21°C) 
    Ottawa 9°C (48°F)

Should I visit Saint Augustine or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Saint Augustine during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Saint Augustine because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. In the winter, Saint Augustine is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Augustine in January average around 53°F (12°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Saint Augustine often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Saint Augustine gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Saint Augustine usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Saint Augustine gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint Augustine 53°F (12°C) 
    Ottawa -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Saint Augustine or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Augustine and Ottawa. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saint Augustine this time of year.

In April, Saint Augustine is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Saint Augustine average around 68°F (20°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In Saint Augustine, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Augustine usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Saint Augustine gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Augustine usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Saint Augustine gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Saint Augustine.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint Augustine 68°F (20°C) 
    Ottawa 6°C (44°F)

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine Ottawa
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) -10°C (14°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Feb 56°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) -9°C (16°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Mar 62°F (17°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) -2°C (28°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Apr 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
May 74°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 13°C (56°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jun 80°F (27°C) 5.7 inches (146 mm) 19°C (65°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 21°C (71°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm) 20°C (68°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Sep 79°F (26°C) 7.1 inches (180 mm) 15°C (59°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Oct 70°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 9°C (48°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Nov 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 2°C (36°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 56°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm) -7°C (20°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)