Salary Comparison

UX Designer Salary:
Toronto vs Ottawa

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

Toronto
$111,399
/ year
+7%
difference
Ottawa
$103,836
/ year
Bottom line: Ottawa offers better purchasing power despite Toronto paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Toronto
Ottawa
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$111,399โœ“ higher
$103,836
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$72,041โœ“ higher
$67,150
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$172,259โœ“ higher
$160,564
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$75,751โœ“ higher
$70,608
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$89,119
$96,144โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.25ร—
1.08ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$97,976โœ“ higher
$91,324
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$234,272โœ“ higher
$218,367

What if you move from Toronto to Ottawa?

Gross salary change
$7,563
7% decrease
Take-home change
$5,143
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$7,025
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Toronto$111,399
P10: $97,976Median: $111,399P90: $234,272
Ottawa$103,836
P10: $91,324Median: $103,836P90: $218,367

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a UX Designer earn more in Toronto or Ottawa?

The median UX Designer salary in Toronto is CA$151,503/yr compared to CA$141,217/yr in Ottawa. Toronto pays 7% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a UX Designer 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 $89,119/yr in a median-cost city, vs $96,144/yr for Ottawa. Ottawa offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a UX Designer in Toronto vs Ottawa?

After estimated taxes, a UX Designer in Toronto takes home approximately $75,751/yr, vs $70,608/yr in Ottawa. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.