I love Ottawa. I have not lived there for 11 years but I was born there, lived in the area until I was 5 and then went to University there before moving to the UK in 2001.
I cannot do much in comparison to other cities except Winnipeg and maybe Calgary but with respect to actual cost, it has been too long and things I am sure have changed. From experience and lots of nationwide travel over the decades, I love Ottawa. Fantastic to raise a family, big cosmoplitan city without being overwhelming like Toronto ro Montreal. Great food, great loval arts/music/history. Feels like living ina park. All the majopr museums and stuff, capital of the country and close to nature. The bilingual nature makes you feel so strongly connected to all of Canada too.
I cannot recommend it highly enough. I would be there in an instant, but we need to see where the job takes us more first.