What’s so great about living in Ottawa Canada? Well, numerous things, like affordable housing and costs of living, high incomes, low crime rates, a strong health system, and so much more. Moving is a big step, whether you do it often or only once in your lifetime. If you’re thinking about moving overseas to Canada’s capital, read up on everything that makes life here so good.
Living in Ottawa: Pros and Cons
There are numerous reasons why moving to Ontario and its capital is a good idea. Still, when we come down to the basics, every person has a personal preference when choosing where they want to spend their life. Before you start packing your belongings, and hire an overseas moving company, take a look at some of the pros and cons of moving here.
Numerous Pros Make the City One of the Best Places to Live in the World
We can’t write down all of the city’s advantages, but here are some reasons why moving to Ottawa is an excellent choice:
- Affordable housing, suited for all lifestyles
- One of the highest incomes in the country
- Low crime rates
- Clean and eco-friendly environment makes it one of the best places to live abroad
- Plenty of things for families and children to do, with various winter sports and outdoor activities
- Highly educated population due to excellent education opportunities in the area
- Close to both the US and Quebec, so keeping in touch with friends after moving will be easy
- Big, spacious outdoor locations ideal for nature lovers and people relocating with dogs
- High-quality healthcare.
As With Every Location, There Are Some Cons
Like with any other place, there are some potential disadvantages when moving abroad here:
- Hot and humid weather during the summer may bother some people
- Cold and relatively long winter
- No subway or city-wide light rail
- Nightlife is not as exciting as when living in Toronto or Montreal
- To get the top government jobs, you’re required to speak both English and French fluently, so you might have to think about all the ways you can break the language barrier.
Is Living in Ottawa Expensive?
Though not the cheapest place to live in Canada, the capital city’s expenses are more than affordable, especially if you compare them to Toronto’s cost of living. The average housing price per square foot is $347 in the center and $216 in the suburbs (according to Numbeo). Renting a one and three-bedroom apartment costs about $1,223 and $2,053 a month in the center. If you’re looking for a place in the suburbs.the same options cost $943 and $1,532 respectively.
What Is the Average Home Price in Ottawa?
According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, Ottawa’s average house price was about $364,000 in April 2020. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation published a special Housing Market Outlook, citing an expected drop in average home value in early 2021. Luckily, it also predicts a market recovery later that year.
Are the City’s Housing Opportunities Good
No matter if you are relocating alone or with family, finding a new home should be the priority. Luckily, there are numerous opportunities to find some great housing in Ottawa neighborhoods. Many areas have excellent public schools and low crime rates, making the city one of the best places to live abroad with family. When looking for a position closer to downtown, check out Beacon Hill North, Westboro, and Nepean. For those who want to be in the suburbs, look up Kanata North, West Carleton-March, and Barrhaven. Get some international moving services when you decide to relocate here.
Plenty of Job Opportunities in the High-Tech Fields
It’s advisable to explore the job possibilities before moving internationally to any country. Luckily there are plenty of good jobs in Canada that will enable you to live comfortably. With 1,800 high-tech companies in the area, the city is sometimes called Silicon Valley North. Some of these companies include Nokia, Blackberry QNX, Calian, General Dynamics Canada, CGI, Corel, Intouch Insight, Synopsys, Shopify, and Solace Systems. By far, the biggest employer in the city, with over 135,000 employees, is the Canadian federal government. Also, around 20,000 people work at the local council, and there are plenty of jobs in education, health services, shops, and tourism.
What Is a Good Salary in Ottawa?
According to the job searching website Neuvoo, a good monthly salary is about $4,178 per month ($50,132 per year). You’ll earn about $18.431 when starting at entry-level positions, while experienced workers make up to $7,120 a month ($85,440 a year.) After you apply all the income taxes (federal, province, Canada’s Pension Plan, and Employment Insurance,) you’ll deduct about $12,419 from the gross income of $50,132, leaving you with a net yearly salary of $37,713 or $3,143 a month. This is why the cost of living in Ottawa is affordable (numbers have been converted from Canadian dollars to USD, with an exchange rate of 0.76 USD per 1 CAD.)
Crime Rates Are Way Lower than Average
Compared to other Canadian cities, Ottawa’s crime rates are low. To measure reported crimes, Canada Police uses a Crime Severity Index. These consider both the crime occurrence and the offense severity, with lower indexes representing lower crime rates. Canada’s average is 75, while Ottawa has a score of 54.9, similar to other bigger cities like Toronto (53.6) and Montreal (58.2), but significantly lower than Winnipeg (119.4,) Edmonton (114.9,) Calgary (88.1,) and Vancouver (84.37.) Furthermore, crime rates appear to be decreasing overall.
Canadian Transportation System Is Great for Cyclists
You figured out how to move abroad, and now it is time to learn how to get around the capital. Note that public transportation is used by over 350,000 people each day. An O-Train takes you across the north and south part of the city, but most people use buses that run east and west on the Transitway. It’s an excellent option for getting to downtown, with a dedicated bus lane in locations where it intersects with the road. The area is also perfect for cyclists, with over 100 miles of cycling paths, and you can even take your bike on a bus or the O-Train. If you’re driving, there are 3,000 free parking spaces. When moving to Canada, it’s recommended you get a vehicle shipping service from an overseas shipping company, unless you’re planning to drive all the way up here.
Experience Some Amazing Things in Canada
Some may wonder, Is living in Ottawa boring? Of course not! There are numerous exciting things to do in Ottawa. If you’re a history buff or an art enthusiast, visit the National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of History, and Parliament Hill. For those who want to learn more about the craft beer scene, Brew Donkey provides bus tours to local breweries with samples included. There are many ways to get involved in sports during summer and winter, some of which are free even. If you’re a fan of ice skating, Rideau Canal is one of the top attractions to explore. Keep in mind that this is one of the friendliest countries in the world so no matter what activities you participate in, there is always a chance to make new friends.
Check Out Some More Popular Attractions in One of the Best Cities in Canada
Who said that you couldn’t have fun in Ottawa? Check out the video below if you want to know more about what to see and experience in the area.
Is Ottawa Ontario a Good Place to Live?
The Canadian capital is undoubtedly one of the best places to live in Ontario. We can agree that affordable housing costs, high income, low crime, excellent healthcare, and fantastic outdoor opportunities leave very little room for doubt when deciding to move here. Just don’t forget to hire an international moving company, as you’ll need their services for shipping overseas. It’s much better that way, with a lot less moving stress involved.
