Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Sydney?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Sydney or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney 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: Sydney or Ottawa?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySydney $278Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $278, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Sydney and Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $104Ottawa $18
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $208Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $15Ottawa $7.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
-
Taxi Ride$13
-
Taxi to Airport$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Try find your better than us!AirportTransfer inSydney APT-HTL SYD: $62
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Sydney HTL-APT (SYD): $62
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $251
- Private Transfer with Meet and Greet: $79
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to and from CBD Hotels: $36
- Sydney's Best Chauffeured Airport Arrival Transfers: $83
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $28
- Sydney International Airport to/from Sydney One Way Transfer: $47
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD Private Transfer: $119
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 Sydney or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa and Sydney 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 daySydney $45Ottawa $17
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
-
Tea$2.64
-
Lunch Special$9.91
-
Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.91
-
Meat Pies$3.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Lights Festival Pizza Cruise Tour in Vivid Sydney: $16
- VIVID Dinner Cruise with Complimentary Drink on Arrival: $36
- Admission to Vivid Dinner Cruise in Sydney : $46
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $50
- Sydney Street Art & Food Tour: $53
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $56
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise (1.5 hour): $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $59
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sydney $32Ottawa $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Theatre Show$30
-
Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
-
Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$126
-
Powerhouse Museum$9.94
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small-Group Sydney's Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Bus Tour: $228
- 2 Hours Sydney Harbour's True Crime Cruise Tour: $36
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Sydney Harbour National Park : $36
- 3 Hours Abba Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $65
- 3 Hr Whale Watching Discovery Cruise in Sydney: $72
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Sydney Guide: $227
- 3.5 Hours Explore Bondi Beach and Sydney Sightseeing Tour: $195
- 4-Hour Freediving Taster Experience at Shelly Beach, Manly: $182
- Afternoon Discovery Cruise on Coral Trekker: $46
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Art Gallery of NSW: State of the Art Gallery Tour: $30
- Art Gallery of NSW: Stories of Art and Place gallery tour: $30
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySydney $15Ottawa $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
-
Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $21
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $30
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $56
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $56
- Beach and Brew - Hike and Brewery (Men and Women): $73
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $76
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $83
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $102
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $122
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Cheese Tasting: $145
- Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney with Lunch and 3 Cellar Door Tastings: $149
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 Sydney and Ottawa, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific and Ottawa is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Ottawa?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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 Sydney or Ottawa?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sydney is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Ottawa has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Sydney or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Ottawa. Many visitors come to Sydney in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Sydney is around the same temperature as Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sydney this time of the year. In the summer, Sydney often gets less sunshine than Ottawain July. Sydney gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Sydney receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sydney usually gets more rain in January than Ottawain July. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySydney 23°C (73°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sydney for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Sydney is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sydney in April average around 19°C (65°F), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F)in October.
Sydney usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Sydney gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Sydney. In April, Sydney usually receives more rain than Ottawain October. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSydney 19°C (65°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Sydney during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Sydney because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. In July, Sydney is generally much warmer than Ottawain January. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 12°C (53°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
It's quite sunny in Sydney. In the winter, Sydney often gets more sunshine than Ottawain January. Sydney gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Sydney usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawain January. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySydney 12°C (53°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Ottawa. The beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Sydney this time of year.
Sydney is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F)in April.
In Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sydney usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Sydney gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Sydney usually receives more rain than Ottawain April. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSydney 18°C (64°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Sydney
| Sydney | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.