Essentials
- City
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Population
- Approximately 1,017,000 (City), 1.4 million (Greater Ottawa-Gatineau)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available; Typical 150-1000 Mbps; Average 120 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CAD ≈ 0.74 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.35 CAD; Major banks include TD, RBC, Scotiabank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and very high quality; rated among the best in North America
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Rogers, Telus, Bell, and budget options like Lucky Mobile or Public Mobile
- Banking for Expats
- Simplii Financial, EQ Bank, and Revolut (limited) / Wise for local CAD accounts
- Accommodation
- Modern condos in Centretown, historical homes in Glebe (CAD $1,800 - $3,000/month)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere, even at small food trucks
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, and executive suites like LIV Extended Stay
- Budget Accommodation
- Ottawa Jail Hostel (Saintlo Ottawa Jail), Barefoot Hostel (approx. CAD $45-70/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- ByWard Market and Lower Town for nightlife and proximity to Parliament
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- The Glebe, Westboro, or Hintonburg for a neighborhood feel with cafes and transit
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Ottawa (123 Slater St) - $25 day pass; TCC Canada - $40 day pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bridgehead Coffee (multiple locations, 102 Sparks St), Arlington Five (5 Arlington Ave)
- Networking Events
- Meetup.com groups like 'Ottawa Tech Scene' and 'Ottawa Digital Marketing Group'
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Ottawa and 'Newcomers to Ottawa' Facebook groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (widely used), Lyft, and Blue Line Taxi app
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bird and Neuron electric scooters (seasonal); Velogo bike sharing
- Best Beach Nearby
- Mooney's Bay Park and Beach; Britannia Beach (approx. 15-20 mins from center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Porter Airlines (operating from YOW and YTZ)
- Top International Airline
- Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines
- Highway Access
- The Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 417) bisects the city east-west
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ottawa Train Station (VIA Rail) at 200 Tremblay Rd; Blair and Tunney's Pasture (LRT)
- Public Transport Passes
- OC Transpo 'Presto' cards; $3.75 per ride, $125.50 monthly adult pass
- Regional Travel
- VIA Rail to Montreal (2h) and Toronto (4.5h); Autobus Maheux to Quebec regions
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- The Ottawa Hospital (Civic Campus) and Montfort Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga Ottawa (Centretown/Westboro), Rama Lotus Yoga Centre
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- GoodLife Fitness (Queen St), Movati Athletic, YMCA Taggart Family
- Laundry Services
- Starchild Laundromat (374 Dalhousie St), local 'Wash and Fold' delivery like WeWash
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, SkipTheDishes, DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- BeaverTails (fried dough) at ByWard Market; Ottawa-style thick-crust Pizza
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Green Door (198 Main St), Pure Kitchen (340 Richmond Rd)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Moo Shu Ice Cream (477 Bank St), Mantovani 1946 (Glace/Gelato)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- FreshCo (McArthur), No Frills, and ByWard Market produce stalls
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ca, Indigo.ca, BestBuy.ca
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Voila by Sobeys, Loblaws PC Express
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- ByWard Market (York St/Clarence St), Elgin Street strip
- Local Brewery
- Beyond the Pale Brewing (980 City Centre Ave), Dominion City Brewing Co.
- Wine Bars
- Beckta Dining & Wine, Arlo (340 Somerset St W)
- Street Food Stalls
- The many 'Chip Wagons' (poutine) on Bank St; Korean Corn Dog stands in Centretown
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sansotei Ramen (Japanese), Fairouz Cafe (Middle Eastern), Shawarma Palace
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal (UNESCO World Heritage), Fairmont Château Laurier
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature
- Historical Sites
- Laurier House National Historic Site, Billings Estate
- Religious Sites
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (385 Sussex Dr)
- Annual Events
- Winterlude (February), Canadian Tulip Festival (May), Bluesfest (July)
- Cultural Districts
- Little Italy (Preston St), Chinatown (Somerset St W)
- Theater Venues
- National Arts Centre (NAC), Ottawa Little Theatre
- Local Markets
- Parkdale Market, Ottawa Farmers' Market (Lansdowne Park)
- Music Scene
- House of Targ (pinball and live music), Barrymore's Music Hall
- Street Art
- Technical Wall (Bank & Catherine St), murals in Hintonburg and the Glebe
- Cooking Classes
- C'est Bon Ottawa (ByWard Market), Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa
- Art Galleries
- Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), Wall Space Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Supreme Court of Canada, Library and Archives Canada
- Local Heritage
- Bilingual heritage (English and French), Royal Canadian Mint heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Gatineau Park (15 mins away), Mer Bleue Bog
- National Parks Nearby
- La Mauricie National Park (3.5 hours away), Thousand Islands National Park (1.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Rideau Canal Western Pathway, Ottawa River Pathway (200+ km of trails)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Nepean Point (overlooking the river), Champlain Lookout in Gatineau Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mud Lake (near Britannia), Fletcher Wildlife Garden
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated campfire pits at Wesley Clover Parks (reservation required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Canada Post, Purolator, FedEx, UPS
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobile Klinik (Rideau Centre), Apple Rideau St
- Table Tennis Spots
- Ottawa Table Tennis Club (18 Louisa St)
- Language Classes
- Education Permanente (French), Algonquin College (ESL)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ottawa Public Library Main Branch, Carleton University Library (MacOdrum)
- Community Centers
- Jack Purcell Community Centre, Glebe Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- The Loft Board Game Lounge (14 Waller St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino du Lac-Leamy (Gatineau side), Rideau Carleton Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CAD $9,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CAD $392,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CAD $7,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CAD $280,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CAD $8,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CAD $510,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CAD $6,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CAD $372,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CAD $8,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CAD $640,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CAD $5,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CAD $464,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Combined Federal/Ontario rate approx. 26.5% (12.2% for small businesses)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% standard, often reduced to 15% via treaties
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 53.53% (Combined Federal and Provincial)
- VAT
- 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, FAPI (Foreign Accrual Property Income) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Annual tax based on MPAC assessed value, approx. 1.1% of value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Land Transfer Tax (Ontario) - tiered system; approx. 1.5% - 2% on mid-range homes
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard residency rules apply (183-day rule)