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Montréal vs Ottawa

Canada flagMontréalCanada flagOttawa

Montréal and Ottawa are compared across affordability, safety, healthcare, career, culture and food, and public life. Ottawa has the broader all-round edge, while Montréal leads on affordability. The better fit depends on which of those relocation priorities matters most.

How they compare

AffordabilitySafetyHealthcareCareerCulturePublic life
  • Montréal
  • Ottawa
Affordability
68
67
Safety
79
82
Healthcare
57
65
Career
63
68
Culture & food
72
65
Public life & spaces
63
67
Overall
65
67

Objective 0–100 scores from source-backed CrossBorders data. Green marks the category leader; gold is the overall leader.

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Category by category

Is Montréal or Ottawa cheaper to live in?

Montréal 68Ottawa 67

Montréal has the lower open-market one-bedroom rent on a new lease, at about €702 per month, compared with €958 in Ottawa. Against one typical employee's mean net pay, Montréal is manageable solo at roughly 30%, while Ottawa is manageable solo at roughly 31%.

Is Montréal or Ottawa safer?

Montréal 79Ottawa 82

Ottawa leads narrowly — both rank among the safest large cities in North America, with violent crime rare and calm streets at night in each.

Does Montréal or Ottawa have better healthcare?

Montréal 57Ottawa 65

Ottawa's widest lead. Both run on Canada's public system with low out-of-pocket costs, but Ottawa's English-first system eases access slightly more than Montréal's, where doctor shortages bite just as hard.

Is Montréal or Ottawa better for your career?

Montréal 63Ottawa 68

Ottawa edges it — the federal government gives it steady, low-unemployment work in English, while Montréal's aerospace, gaming and AI scene is real but pays less and requires more French to fully access.

Does Montréal or Ottawa have a better food and culture scene?

Montréal 72Ottawa 65

Montréal leads clearly. Its festival calendar, restaurant scene and nightlife run deep and late, largely in French; Ottawa's national museums punch above its size but nightlife stays sleepy by comparison.

Does Montréal or Ottawa have better public spaces and street life?

Montréal 63Ottawa 67

Montréal edges it. Its Old Port and European-feeling squares are properly walkable and cheap; Ottawa's Rideau Canal and Parliament precinct are tidy and dignified, if quieter.

The verdict

Choose Ottawa for the broader all-round balance, especially if safety matters most. Choose Montréal if affordability matters more. Compare their rent burden and day-to-day strengths before deciding.

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