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Ottawa's Most Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re considering moving to Ottawa I’m sure that you have many questions about the city and what it’s like living here. If you are a parent I’m sure you’re equally concerned about your child’s safety and education in a new city! In this post I am going to review some frequently asked questions I get from newcomers who are moving to Ottawa. It can be tough to figure out exactly what living in a new city will be like – I hope this will answer many of your questions! Now let’s get into some of the most common questions people have about living in Ottawa.
Ottawa's Cost of Living
First let’s review the cost of living. Ottawa has become a location in which people from more expensive cities like Toronto or Vancouver are actually flocking to as the cost of living here is much lower. Although lower than some major cities in Canada, Ottawa is still not cheap. Our average home price is just under $750,000 and with inflation the cost of everything in the city has gone up. As Ottawa is cheaper than many other major cities it has become more and more popular as people are realizing their money will go much further here. If you are looking for a more in depth overview of the cost of living I have a whole video on that alone. It’s linked above if you’d like to check it out!
The Real Cost of Living in Ottawa 💸 (the truth)
Ottawa has landed itself as one of the top locations for newcomers in Canada. Toronto and Vancouver are known as very expensive cities and many people are flocking to Ottawa as it is a more affordable city to live in Canada. Now of course as Ottawa has grown and so has the cost of living. In this video I will review what it truly costs to live here. I must say living in Ottawa is not cheap but I will promise it is cheaper than living in Toronto or Vancouver!
Ottawa's Robust Job Market
Many people also wonder what the job market is like here in Ottawa. Ottawa is an interesting city as much of the population actually works for the Government of Canada. You will also find there is a huge tech community here as we have the world’s second largest tech park located right here in our suburb of Kanata. The healthcare industry is big in Ottawa as well – we are home to some major hospitals and research centers. We currently are sitting at a 4.9% unemployment rate – which is historically low. Depending on your level of education and experience there are plenty of jobs in different sectors here in Ottawa
The Weather...
Now you might be curious to know what the weather is like in Ottawa year round. Ottawa is primarily known as an extremely cold and snowy city. Although that is not false – lets review an actual year of weather here. Let’s start with the summer – come May the weather in Ottawa is quite beautiful. We have some pretty hot and humid days here. July and August are two of the hottest months and you can expect many sunny and hot days. The weather cools off by the end of September as we approach fall. Fall is one of my favorite seasons here – it averages around 10 – 15 degrees and is normally sunny – although we will get rainy days. The leaves change from green to orange and brown here from October to November and the city is beautiful during this time! By December we normally have our first snowfall and temperatures will get cooler throughout January and February some days can reach minus 30. I recommend booking a trip south during this time! By March and April things start warming up as we enter spring. You can expect rain and messy streets as the snow melts. Ottawa is a city that does in fact get 4 true seasons which makes it beautiful and unique all year long.
Ottawa's Seasons
The BEST Neighbourhood in Ottawa
One of the main questions I receive is – what is the best neighborhood to live in Ottawa. That is a very complex question as it comes down to what you are looking for! If you have kids and are looking for a quiet lifestyle I would recommend our suburbs here. If you are a young professional I might recommend Downtown or Westboro. Luckily, we have some great neighborhoods here in Ottawa and you really can’t go wrong with many. If you are looking for a neighborhood that for example has great schools, and is safe, or a lively neighborhood with things to do please reach out to me and I can recommend some neighborhoods that will work for you.
Ottawa Suburbs - Your Guide to Neighbourhoods in Ottawa
This is my overview of our suburbs here in Ottawa. If you are moving to Ottawa and have kids or are thinking of starting a family this video is for you! I review main suburbs like Kanata, Barrhaven and Orleans and where they are located here in Ottawa.
What Ottawa is Known for
Now, many people are actually just curious to find out what Ottawa is known for. When you think of Ottawa you might think of the Parliament building of the world famous largest skating rink the Rideau Canal. There’s so much more that Ottawa is known for and this is just a short list:
Ottawa BeaverTails – which are a sweet pastry most commonly available in the winter months that made out of nothing other than sugar and dough despite the name.
The Canadian Tulip festival brings thousands of tourists to Ottawa every spring.
Canada day which falls on July first is a huge celebration that takes over Ottawa’s downtown core.
As you can see Ottawa is known for a lot! Although we can get a rap of being a boring town – there is truly a lot to do here.
That is my overview of the most frequently asked questions people have when moving to Ottawa. I hope you enjoyed following along! If you have any questions about the Ottawa area please do not hesitate to contact me.
Need Help Finding a Home in Ottawa?
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Moving to a new city is exceptionally challenging. I am your resource for all things Ottawa. Finding a home let alone a new neighbourhood is a huge undertaking without any support. Connect with me where I will help guide you through the process in relocating to your new city!
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The Real Cost of Living in Ottawa
If you’re considering moving to Ottawa I’m sure you have many questions about the cost of living here. Although we are not known as an expensive city in Canada – I wouldnt say its cheap to live here! Now of course as Ottawa has grown so has the cost of living. In this video I will review what it truly costs to live here. I must say living in Ottawa is not cheap but I will promise it is cheaper than living in Toronto or Vancouver!
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