Cost of Living in Ottawa For Students

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Ottawa is the capital of Canada and ranks as the most educated place in the country. The average cost of living in Ottawa is CA$ 1375/month.

Is Ottawa a good place for students to live and study?

As per a new study by HelloSAFE, Ottawa is rated as the most attractive place for students in Canada. It offers a quality of life, academic excellence and good health care. Ottawa is a safe, clean and welcoming city with affordable housing. There are many types of student accommodation available in Ottawa.

Before we list the details of the cost of living in Ottawa, let’s summarize its cost.

Expenses	Cost (Average)
Average Tuition Fees	CA$15,000 – CA$40,000 / Year
Accommodation	CA$700 – CA$1,700 / Month
Transportation	CA$161 / Month

Costs of Tuition Fees

The cost of the tuition fee will depend upon the course you decide to study and its university. The fee for undergraduate and postgraduate will differ again. This is just an average cost given below.

Undergraduate Tuition Fee	Post-Graduate Tuition Fee
CA$15,000 – CA$35,000 / Year	CA$20,000 – CA$40,000 / Year

Student Accommodation Costs

The cost of student accommodation in Ottawa will depend upon the types of housing you choose to stay. For instance, if you choose to stay in an on-site accommodation, it will cost around CA$1000 to CA$2500 per month. While the charges at a homestay will cost CA$ 129/night.

1. Student Housing

Student housing is built to provide accommodation to students in Ottawa. It is a private housing offering spacious rooms, modern amenities and privacy. It can be for single or double sharing rooms.

Most of the accommodations are at a distance of under 3 miles. While the ones outside of the city center are upto 20 miles.

Student Housing	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	CA$972 – CA$784 / Month

2. Private Apartment

Private apartments are available for students who want the rent them alone or share it with friends. The apartments are owned and managed by the landlords. The property listed on our site offers different kinds of rooms as per budget, location, amenities etc.

Apartment	Price
Private	CA$1,570 – CA$1,758 / Month

3. University Hall

It is also called on-site accommodation provided by universities. They offer rooms to students who are studying at a specific university. It is an ideal place for freshers.

University Hall	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	CA$700 – CA$1,500 / Month

Food

If you are a foodie and love to eat food in restaurants, you should know that it is expensive to eat outside. A meal at McDonald’s Meal will cost CA$12, and a pint of beer will cost CA$8. It’s advisable to buy groceries which will cost CA$ 65/week and save money.

Utility Bills

The utility bills in Ottawa will depend upon the place you stay. In most private housing, the utility bills are covered under rent. As for university halls, they differ in their policies, so it’s advisable to please check before you move in. The average cost of utility bills will cost CA$195/ month.

Transportation

Getting around Ottawa is easy with so much public transport around the corner. You can take advantage of the light rail system, buses, taxi services, shared scooters etc. A bus pass will cost CA$125 per month.