Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Santa Monica?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Monica or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Monica 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: Santa Monica or Ottawa?
Santa Monica
When it comes to visiting Los Angeles, Santa Monica is high on the must-see-and-do list. Chances are you'll recognize the iconic ferris wheel from Pacific Park in films and TV shows, and nothing beats the relaxed yet bustling vibe of this laid-back city.
Santa Monica is a popular and diverse beach town, cultural hub, fitness venue, shopping district, and neighborhood full of unique and trendy restaurants, all rolled into one. Visited by more than 6 million people a year, it's no wonder you'll always find a crowd there.
So whether you're up for a high-end shopping spree, bicycling down the waterfront, an eclectic food crawl or simply a stroll down the promenade, Santa Monica is sure to have something in store for you.
The weather in Santa Monica is moderate, with average summer highs in the low to mid 70s and winter climate that rests comfortably around the low 50s. Though flip flops and sandals are considered year-round footwear in Los Angeles, bring comfortable walking shoes for browsing galleries, malls, and boutiques. Santa Monica is the perfect place to break out your California-casual wardrobe.
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 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, 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 daySanta Monica $210Ottawa $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Monica is $210, 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 Santa Monica and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Monica $123Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Monica $246Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Santa Monica and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Santa Monica 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: Santa Monica Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Monica $50Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Monica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica to Los Angeles Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Santa Monica to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Deparure Private Transfer: $80
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 Santa Monica or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Santa Monica 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 daySanta Monica $52Ottawa $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Monica
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Monica.
- Flavors of Venice Beach Food Tour: $96
- Los Angeles Premier Dinner Cruise from Marina del Rey: $124
- Marina del Rey Christmas Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $175
- Marina del Rey Father's Day Plated Dinner Cruise: $222
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.Santa Monica $38Ottawa $40
Tours and Activities in Santa Monica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Monica are as follows:
- 15 Passengers Open Ocean/Harbor Cruise Party Boat Marina Del Rey: $129
- 2 Hour Sailing Adventure From Marina Del Rey: $160
- 3-Hour Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Guided Tour : $72
- 4.5 Hour Venice Beach Open Air Van Tour: $65
- 5.5-Hour Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour: $80
- All Day Tour 6.5 Hour : $111
- Bring-Your-Own-Food and Drinks Marina del Rey Boat Tour: $80
- City Tour of Los Angeles from Torrance and El Segundo: $122
- Dolphin Sighting Sunset Tour: $90
- Dolphins Whales and Sea Lion Wildlife Sightseeing Boat Tour: $90
- Explore Malibu's Coast: PCH & Beyond - Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Karaoke Boat Cruise ( Drinks included) LA's best attraction: $149
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 daySanta Monica $21Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Monica
Also in Santa Monica, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Vintage VW Hippie Tour to Malibu with wine tasting: $195
- Vintage VW Hippie Shared Tour to Malibu with Wine Tasting: $199
- Charcuterie Board and Wine Tasting in Marina Bay: $300
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 Santa Monica and Ottawa, we can see that Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Santa Monica during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Santa Monica is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Monica in July average around 70°F (21°C), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Santa Monica gets 0 inches (0 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 JulySanta Monica 70°F (21°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Monica and Ottawa. The shopping scene are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.
In October, Santa Monica is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 67°F (20°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In October, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Monica 67°F (20°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Santa Monica for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Santa Monica is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 57°F (14°C) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Santa Monica usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Monica 57°F (14°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Santa Monica or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Santa Monica are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Santa Monica in the spring for the beaches.
In the spring, Santa Monica is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Monica in April average around 61°F (16°C), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
In April, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 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 AprilSanta Monica 61°F (16°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Santa Monica
| Santa Monica | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 57°F (14°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 58°F (15°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 61°F (16°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 66°F (19°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 70°F (21°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 67°F (20°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 58°F (14°C) | 0.6 inches (15 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.