Both cities have advantages when deciding between living in Toronto or Ottawa. Ottawa is the Canadian capital and a great place to tour historical monuments. It also has a diverse and multicultural population.
Surrounded by natural beauty, with unpolluted air, land, and water, the city of Ottawa has World-class attractions, including Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River. On the other hand, Toronto is well-known for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, especially the C.N. Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the world.
It also offers a wide variety of attractions and cultures. Compared to Toronto, Ottawa offers far cheaper home prices, at around $680,000, whereas in Toronto, the average cost is approximately $1,140,400. This article will outline everything about living in Toronto or Ottawa, from the public transit, cost of groceries, entertainment, housing, and most significantly, the job opportunities!
Does Ottawa Have Better Job Opportunities than Toronto?
For many years, Ottawa has led the world in the invention of telecommunications and is currently one of North America’s most vibrant and varied innovation centers! Several companies worldwide are drawn to this city by its high concentration of technology expertise, affordable business costs, and high standard of living.
Furthermore, Ottawa is Canada’s Silicon Valley, with a high attention to engineering talent. Here, the federal government is the largest employment sector.
As for Toronto, you will enjoy its robust job market if you have talent. Technology, healthcare, and finance are a few sectors that are always flourishing. The economy of this city is significantly diversified, and it is the global leader in biotechnology and bio-engineering.
In addition, the most highly paid occupations are web developers, H.R. managers, electrical engineers, financial advisors, and healthcare officers. Aside from considering the employment opportunities between Toronto and Ottawa, here are other factors to consider before living in any of these cities!
Population
Toronto is the biggest city of the two, with a population of 2,731,571, and the population of the Greater Toronto Area is 6.4 million. There are 934,243 residents in Ottawa and 1,323,783 in the Ottawa–Gatineau metro area.
Toronto is also the more multicultural of the two cities. It is the most multicultural city in the world, with almost half its population being a country other than Canada. 45% of its residents say their first language is other than English or French.
In Ottawa, the % of people born outside Canada is 23.4%, and 21.3% of the residents report that they speak a language other than English or French at home. The population density in Ottawa is 334 people per square kilometer compared to 4,334 people per square kilometer in Toronto.
This is based on the number of people living in each city and the area of the cities. Ottawa’s land area is 2,778 km², and Toronto’s only 630.21 km². The population’s median age is almost the same in both towns: 36.9 in Toronto and 36.7 in Ottawa.
Also, the percentages of male and female residents are very close, with women at 51.2% and men at 48.8% in Toronto and 52% women and 48% men in Ottawa.
The Buying and Renting Cost
As of November 2023, the average home in Toronto costs $1,082,175. In Ottawa, an average house costs only $633,135 in the same month. So, that’s almost half a million difference between average homes in Toronto and Ottawa.
However, if you want to rent, Ottawa is much cheaper again. On average, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center will cost $1,969 monthly in Ottawa compared to $2,615 in Toronto. A three-bedroom apartment outside the city center costs $2,621 in Ottawa and $3,578 in Toronto.
Utilities, Transport, and Groceries Cost
What’s the comparison between the two cities when considering the cost of monthly utility bills, travel, and food shopping? Residents of Ottawa spend more on their utilities, including electricity, heating, water, and garbage collection than Toronto residents.
On average, utilities will cost $209 monthly in Toronto and $260 monthly in Ottawa for an 85 m² apartment. The average monthly internet cost is also cheaper in Toronto at $75 compared to Ottawa’s $89 monthly.
If you want to travel using public transport, it will cost you more in Toronto, where a single one-way journey costs $3, and a monthly pass without benefits costs $156. In Ottawa, these prices are $3 and $122. There are no significant differences in prices when comparing food items, and while some items are cheaper in Toronto, others are more expensive!
Weather
Being located on Lake Ontario affects Toronto’s weather. It makes its winters warmer and the summers more relaxed than they would be otherwise. The lakeside location also means the summers are humid, making people uncomfortable.
Despite being one of Canada’s warmer winter cities, snow is still on the ground most days between mid-December and mid-March. Sometimes, in the summer, Toronto suffers from fog caused by factories and industrial plants on the Great Lakes.
July is the warmest month in Toronto, with an average maximum temperature of 26°C, and January is the coldest with an average minimum temperature of -7°C. Additionally, two factors make the weather in Ottawa different from that in Toronto. First is the further north, and second is that it’s not a lakeside city.
This results in higher summer temperatures and colder winters. In the winter, Ottawa has snow on the ground for about 120 days per year. The snow is also more profound than in Toronto.
Ottawa also records its highest temperatures in July and has the same average maximum monthly temperature. January is again the coldest month. The minimum temperature is over twice as cold as in Toronto at -15°C.
February is still cold, with the average minimum temperature of -13°C, and the temperature rarely climbs above zero from December until the end of February.
So Which is the Better City for Job Opportunities, Toronto or Ottawa?
It is best to look at the different categories individually to decide.
- Population: For people who prefer a city with more space, Ottawa is the better choice as the population density is about 1/13 of the population density in Toronto. However, if you like living in the world’s most multicultural city and living amidst many people, Toronto will suit you better.
- Buying and renting cost: Ottawa is the more affordable city of the two, especially if you are entering the job market or working in a profession with lower average salaries.
- Cost of utilities, transport, and groceries: This category has no clear winner because of the little price difference.
- Employment opportunities and wages: Toronto has higher average wages in each profession. However, Toronto has a more expensive property market, which evens out what you have left in your pocket at the end of the month.
- Outdoor activities: There are plenty of outdoor activities in each city. However, Ottawa has more parks in the town, which slightly tips the scale in its favor.
- Education: People living in Canada are lucky because it doesn’t matter where you are; you will always get a good education. However, for people looking to enter higher education, Toronto offers more options than Ottawa.
- Going out: Due to the sheer volume of options, from theater to drinking and dancing, Toronto is the best city for nightlife.
- Weather: This is a matter of preference. If you prefer milder winter temperatures, Toronto is better, but if you like the idea of a proper winter, choose Ottawa.
Conclusion
Toronto can offer its residents an eventful everyday life with its bustling nightlife and abundant opportunities. However, Ottawa is the perfect place if you want a calmer and less dense city!
While still providing all the essential advantages of Toronto, such as outdoor activities and services, Ottawa rocks. Considering the job opportunities, Toronto offers more and has higher average salaries in each profession.
Toronto is the better choice if you are not looking to live in any of the cities but are only arguing about the one to visit on vacation. After all, it is the most vibrant of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What job opportunities are there in Toronto and Ottawa?
Both cities have a wide range of job opportunities. In Ottawa, the government is the biggest employer, but there are also plenty of opportunities in tourism and technology. In Toronto, jobs in various fields include business, technology, tourism, and the arts.
What does the cost of living look like in both cities?
Your daily expenses, such as groceries, travel, and household bills, are similar in both cities. However, Ottawa is cheaper for renting or buying a property.
What is the most significant difference between Ottawa and Toronto?
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. The city is smaller than Toronto and offers a slightly less expensive cost of living. One of Ottawa’s most significant advantages is its housing market, which is much cheaper than Toronto’s. Nevertheless, Toronto can hold better job opportunities and diversity.
Which is the bigger city?
Toronto is bigger than Ottawa. Toronto is Canada’s largest and most multicultural city.
