Budget · Ottawa · Canada
Ottawa on a budget
What a trip to Ottawa really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ajadams94, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Ottawa is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $80–$130 per person per day on a tight budget, $170–$280 mid-range and $380–$800 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in March–April and November–January.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $80–$130 a day
- Mid-range
- $170–$280 a day
- Luxury
- $380–$800 a day
- Local currency
- CAD
- Free sights
- 9
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $80–$130 | $240–$390 | $400–$650 | $560–$910 |
| Mid-range | $170–$280 | $510–$840 | $850–$1,400 | $1,190–$1,960 |
| Luxury | $380–$800 | $1,140–$2,400 | $1,900–$4,000 | $2,660–$5,600 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Ottawa, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| BeaverTail pastry | about C$8–C$12 |
| Shawarma wrap | about C$10–C$15 |
| Pint of local beer | about C$8–C$10 |
| National museum adult ticket | about C$15–C$25 |
| OC Transpo single fare | about C$4 |
| Mid-range downtown hotel | about C$200–C$320 per night |
| Restaurant dinner, main course | about C$25–C$40 |
Money-saving tips
- Several national museums offer free admission at set times, such as certain evenings; check each museum's website.
- Parliament tours, Rideau Hall tours, the Skateway and the Changing of the Guard are free.
- Remember that 13% HST is added to most prices in Ontario.
- Hotels are pricier on weekdays when Parliament sits and on Canada Day and Winterlude weekends; compare Gatineau hotels.
- Shawarma and Asian restaurants on Somerset Street West are among the best-value meals in town.
Free things to do
- Parliament Hill — The Gothic Revival parliament buildings stand on a bluff above the Ottawa River.
- Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks — Opened in 1832 and listed by UNESCO, the 202 km canal still runs from Ottawa to Kingston.
- Rideau Canal Skateway — In a cold enough winter the canal freezes into a skating rink of about 7.8 km from downtown to Dow's Lake, with skate rentals, heated huts and food stands selling BeaverTails along the way.
- National War Memorial and Confederation Square — The granite arch and bronze figures of The Response stand in Confederation Square, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at their base.
- ByWard Market — One of Canada's oldest public markets, laid out in the 1820s, the ByWard Market has a central building with food vendors and craft stalls and, from spring to autumn, outdoor produce, flower and maple-syrup stands.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica — Ottawa's oldest surviving church, completed in the 19th century, has twin silver spires visible across Lowertown and a vaulted ceiling painted deep blue with gold stars above carved wooden galleries and stained glass.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
Centretown
Elgin and Bank Street restaurants, Victorian houses and the Village
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and culture
Sandy Hill
Victorian mansions, embassies and the University of Ottawa east of the canal
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Little Italy and Chinatown
Preston Street trattorias and Somerset Street West's Asian restaurants
Eating well for less
- BeaverTails — The George Street stand in the ByWard Market and kiosks along the Rideau Canal Skateway in winter.
- Shawarma — Dozens of shawarma shops across the city, especially on Bank Street, Elgin Street and in the suburbs.
- Maple syrup — Brunch restaurants citywide, and producers selling direct at the ByWard Market in spring.
Getting around for less
OC Transpo DayPass
Unlimited travel on OC Transpo buses and the O-Train for one day, useful for a museum-hopping day.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Ottawa cost?
About $850–$1,400 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $400–$650 on a tight budget.
+Is Ottawa expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Several national museums offer free admission at set times, such as certain evenings; check each museum's website.
+How much money do I need per day in Ottawa?
Roughly $80–$130 on a budget and $170–$280 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Ottawa?
Usually in March–April and November–January.