Ottawa vs. Kingston: Big vs. Small

If you’re looking into post-secondary education but can’t decide between moving to Ottawa or staying around Kingston, we’re here to give you a hand. Both of these cities are awesome in their own way but we think Ottawa has the upper hand. Here are a few things you should consider before making up your mind:

Have fun

We’ve all heard that bigger is better, and Ottawa is here to prove it. It would only take a weekend to cover all the fun things Kingston has to offer. There’s a lot more to Ottawa than that. Ottawa has tons of greenspace you can chill in, but the bars, clubs and pubs are where it’s at. Take a stroll in the ByWard Market, enjoy an artisanal beavertail, a latte or an authentic taco, and a pint.

Clubbing isn’t your thing? That’s cool. Ottawa has loads of other fun stuff to do too. Can we interest you in skating around the canal? How about some downhill skiing? What about a music festival? That’s right. Ottawa has it all. Ranging from hiking around Pink Lake to scoping out the arts scene at the NAC, Ottawa is as well-rounded as they come.

Make bank

Now that you know about all the fun you can have here, you might be wondering where you’ll find the funds to do it all. Don’t sweat it. Ottawa has one of the most attractive job markets in Canada right now. We ranked first on the BMO Capital Markets list thanks to our strong employment growth, low jobless rate, impressive median income, and more. Basically, we’ve got jobs to spare! You can check these stats out here.

Ottawa has a much lower unemployment rate than Kingston. A reassuring 6.4% lower to be exact. We also have a higher average salary than Kingston. How much higher? We’re glad you asked. How does $2,191.68 higher, sound? Make that coin, friend!

Stay safe

Moving away from home can be really scary. We want you to feel safe. That’s why you should come to Ottawa! According to Maclean’s Most Dangerous Places, Kingston is less safe than Ottawa. In contrast, Ottawa was actually ranked as the Top Student City in 2017. The best part? The leading factor was friendliness. Ottawans are really nice people, so we know you’ll fit right in.

Be happy

Moving away is often better than staying home. You’ll have a whole new world to discover, and all new people to befriend! You know absolutely everything about where you’re from. Why not try something a little different—broaden your horizons.

All joking aside, Kingston and Ottawa are super great places to study and live in, you can’t go wrong choosing one over the other. You’re going to have so much fun, and learn so much no matter where you go. Our (incredibly biased) opinion is only here to show you the pros and cons. Whatever you choose, we wish you all the best.

 

Chelsie McHugh is a third-year Advertising and Marketing Communications student. She’s a funny, fiery redhead with a passion for writing.