Ottawa is a gorgeous place where one can experience celebrations and attractions in a fun and enjoyable way.
This beautiful blend of rural and urban living has unique and vibrant neighborhoods, activities happening all year round, and pristine outdoors just screaming to be explored.
Canada’s capital, Ottawa is located just north of the eastern United States, between Toronto and Montreal. For all you hydro-lovers, it offers rushing water in all its glory in the form of the Ottawa River, the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its many enticing elements include the ByWard Market, Farmers’ Market, the original kiosk of the famous Beaver Tails pastry treat, and legions of cafes, restaurants, urban art centers, and more.
This city is definitely cheaper to live in than Toronto. That’s because of the lower cost of housing – which means saving up to thousands of dollars per year. This means slightly lower utility rates too.
If you take the public transport, it may be lower than in Toronto but the network is not that extensive either. However, if you want to drive, gas and insurance will cost you almost as much.
Food cost is similar to Toronto’s but childcare is comparatively less expensive. If you have more than one child, you will in all probability save a pretty penny in childcare expenses.
In terms of public transport, Ottawa has two city bus systems – OC Transpo and The Société de Transport de l’Outaouais (STO).
Some companies have battery operated personal scooters you can use between the months of April and November, depending on the weather. There are, however, certain restrictions regarding their use, such as age, zones of riding, etc. As these are parked all over the city, you can rent them via an app, and zoom wherever you need to.
Ottawa also has the ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft operating in it. Also, a water taxi plies on the Ottawa River in the summer, shuttling between the Quebec and Ontario sides.
Ottawa sees long and warm summers which stick around for close to four months. July is the hottest month of the year. The sky remains mostly cloudy in this season. Most tourists visit this city between late June and early September.
December is the start of the winter season, which ends around mid-March. January is the coldest month of the year. Most people go snowshoeing, ice skating, and skiing this season. The world’s largest skating rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway, is in downtown Ottawa, free and accessible to all – day and night all through the week.
Ottawa sees a lot of rain, almost throughout the year. July has the most rain while February has the least.
Canada’s capital calls out to many to visit and settle here. But before you decide to move here, do know that it has both advantages and disadvantages. Here they are:
Ottawa houses two among the best universities in the world – the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. This makes it an attractive destination for families.
Ottawa is not a crowded city. In fact, it does not boast of a large population. And as the focus is more on government businesses, while the city life is superb, there is a good dose of countryside living too.
This city is not too expensive to live in. Real estate prices are low here as are most amenities. This kind of affordability is a definitely big draw for those looking to enjoy an excellent lifestyle combined with a rocking cultural scene.
While the unemployment rate is low here, the jobs on offer are mostly related to the government. So, this city’s job market is not very diverse and only certain types of opportunities are on offer here.
Services are offered in Ottawa in both English and French. If you want to look for a job here, you will have to learn both these languages.
Ottawa is not boisterous. Its educational and historical focus means you won’t be able to enjoy too much nightlife and roaring action. However, you can surely enjoy theatre and foods of different types.
If you think Ottawa is where you want to be, we will surely help you reach its shores with the minimum of fuss or discomfort. Contact us today and allow our excellent team of consultants to guide you effortlessly.
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