Salary Comparison

AI Engineer Salary:
Toronto vs Ottawa

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Toronto
$98,724
/ year
+7%
difference
Ottawa
$91,916
/ year
Bottom line: Ottawa offers better purchasing power despite Toronto paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Toronto
Ottawa
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$98,724✓ higher
$91,916
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$65,502✓ higher
$60,985
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$148,795✓ higher
$138,534
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$67,132✓ higher
$62,503
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$78,979
$85,107✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.25×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$89,083✓ higher
$82,940
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$202,361✓ higher
$188,406

What if you move from Toronto to Ottawa?

Gross salary change
$6,808
7% decrease
Take-home change
$4,629
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$6,128
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Toronto$98,724
P10: $89,083Median: $98,724P90: $202,361
Ottawa$91,916
P10: $82,940Median: $91,916P90: $188,406

More AI Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a AI Engineer earn more in Toronto or Ottawa?

The median AI Engineer salary in Toronto is CA$134,265/yr compared to CA$125,006/yr in Ottawa. Toronto pays 7% more in gross terms.

▶Is a AI Engineer salary worth more in Toronto or Ottawa after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Toronto salary has the purchasing power of $78,979/yr in a median-cost city, vs $85,107/yr for Ottawa. Ottawa offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a AI Engineer in Toronto vs Ottawa?

After estimated taxes, a AI Engineer in Toronto takes home approximately $67,132/yr, vs $62,503/yr in Ottawa. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.