The best student housing in Ottawa, compared
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The best student housing in Ottawa, compared

The best student housing in Ottawa depends on your campus. For the University of Ottawa, 1Eleven, Theo Ottawa, 417 Nelson, ALMA ByWard Market and ALMA Sandy Hill are each within about a 10-minute walk of the main campus, and The Annex is uOttawa's own on-campus residence. For Algonquin College, Woodroffe Place in Nepean is the Canadian Student Living building, about 1.8 km from the main campus. None of these buildings is within walking distance of Carleton University; the closest are about a 10-minute drive.

The tables below use the same rents, lease terms and campus times shown on each community page.

Ottawa student housing at a glance

Rent, leases and campus distances

CommunityStarting rentLease lengthsUtilitiesCampus distancesAmenity highlights
1ElevenCSL111 Cooper St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2E3From $780 / month
  • 4 months
  • 8 months
  • 12 months
  • Move in now
Included
  • uOttawa: 5 min walk
  • Carleton: 10 min drive
  • Games room
  • Fitness centre
  • Study lounge
  • On-site laundry
Theo OttawaCSL305 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9E5From $995 / month
  • 4 months
  • 8 months
  • 12 months
  • Move in now
Included
  • uOttawa: 9 min walk
  • Carleton: 12 min drive
  • Penthouse lounge
  • Art studio
  • Games room
  • Study lounge
The AnnexOn campusSet by the operatorSet by the operatorSet by the operator
  • uOttawa: 6 min walk
  • Study spaces
  • Laundry
ALMA ByWard MarketALMA256 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 0G1From $1,550 / month
  • 4 months
  • 8 months
  • 12 months
  • Move in now
Included
  • uOttawa: 8 min walk
  • Carleton: 11 min drive
  • Fitness centre
  • Games room
  • Outdoor patio
  • Co-working & study
ALMA Sandy HillALMA87 Mann Ave, Ottawa, ON K1N 7X6From $1,650 / month
  • 4 months
  • 8 months
  • 12 months
  • Move in now
Included
  • uOttawa: 10 min walk
  • Carleton: 10 min drive
  • Fitness centre
  • Study & work spaces
  • Outdoor patio & BBQ
  • Games room
417 NelsonCSL417 Nelson Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7S6From $1,200 / month
  • 12 months (September)
Extra, $100 a month
  • uOttawa: 9 min walk
  • Carleton: 12 min drive
  • En-suite bathrooms
  • High-speed internet
  • On-site laundry
  • Bike storage
Woodroffe PlaceCSL5 Majestic Drive, Nepean, ON K2G 1C5From $940 / month
  • 4 months
  • 8 months
  • Move in now
Included
  • Algonquin: 6 min drive
  • In-suite laundry
  • High-speed internet
  • Resident events
Campus times are estimates from the straight-line distance between the building and the centre of each main campus: walking time up to about 1.2 km, driving time beyond that. They are the same estimates shown on each community page. uOttawa is the University of Ottawa, Carleton is Carleton University, Algonquin is Algonquin College. Lease lengths are the terms open now.

Amenities by building

Amenity1ElevenTheo OttawaThe AnnexALMA ByWard MarketALMA Sandy Hill417 NelsonWoodroffe Place
Fitness centre✓✓✓✓✓NoNo
Games room✓✓No✓✓NoNo
Study lounge✓✓✓✓✓NoNo
Penthouse loungeNo✓No✓NoNoNo
Art studioNo✓NoNoNoNoNo
Basketball courtNo✓NoNoNoNoNo
Rooftop spaNoNoNo✓NoNoNo
En-suite bathroomsNoNo✓✓✓✓No
In-suite laundryNo✓No✓NoNo✓
On-site laundry✓No✓No✓✓No
Community events✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
A checkmark means the community offers this amenity.

How to choose

Closest to uOttawa

1Eleven, at 111 Cooper St in Centretown, sits just across the Rideau Canal from campus and is about a 5-minute walk from the centre of uOttawa by our estimate. Theo Ottawa (305 Rideau St), ALMA ByWard Market (256 Rideau St) and 417 Nelson (417 Nelson St) are around Rideau Street on the north side of campus, about 8 to 9 minutes away. ALMA Sandy Hill (87 Mann Ave) is in Sandy Hill, near Lees station, about 10 minutes away.

Most amenities

Theo Ottawa lists a penthouse lounge, art studio, basketball court, games room, several study lounges and in-suite laundry. ALMA ByWard Market adds a rooftop spa, golf simulator and co-working rooms, and also rents to working professionals.

Living nearby: neighbourhoods, transit and groceries

Sandy Hill, Rideau Street and the ByWard Market

Sandy Hill runs from Rideau Street south to the Queensway, between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River, and takes in much of uOttawa's campus. Rideau Street forms its northern edge, with the ByWard Market, the city's market district of shops, restaurants and nightlife, just to the north. Theo Ottawa, ALMA ByWard Market, 417 Nelson and ALMA Sandy Hill are all in this area.

Centretown

1Eleven is in Centretown's Golden Triangle, a residential pocket between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal.

Nepean, near Algonquin

Woodroffe Place is in Nepean, south of Algonquin's Woodroffe Avenue campus, in Ottawa's west end.

Getting around

  • O-Train Line 1: uOttawa station and Lees station both serve the University of Ottawa, and Rideau station is at the Rideau Centre.
  • Baseline station: the Transitway bus hub directly across from Algonquin's main campus. The O-Train Line 1 extension to Baseline is under construction.

Groceries

  • Metro Rideau, 255 Rideau St, close to Theo Ottawa, ALMA ByWard Market and 417 Nelson.
  • Farm Boy Rideau, 50 Rideau St, at the Rideau Centre.
  • Farm Boy Metcalfe, 193 Metcalfe St, in Centretown near 1Eleven.
  • Loblaws at College Square, Baseline Road at Woodroffe Avenue, on the north side of Algonquin's campus.

Frequently asked questions

What student housing is closest to the University of Ottawa?

By our estimate, 1Eleven is about a 5-minute walk from the centre of uOttawa's main campus, and The Annex, uOttawa's own residence, about 6 minutes. Theo Ottawa, 417 Nelson, ALMA ByWard Market and ALMA Sandy Hill are 8 to 10 minutes away.

Is there student housing near Algonquin College?

Yes. Woodroffe Place, at 5 Majestic Drive in Nepean, is about 1.8 km from Algonquin's main campus, a short bus or bike ride. Rent is all-inclusive and every suite has its own laundry.

Which Ottawa student residences are all-inclusive?

1Eleven, Theo Ottawa, Woodroffe Place, ALMA ByWard Market and ALMA Sandy Hill include utilities in rent. 417 Nelson charges utilities separately. The Annex is run by uOttawa Housing, which sets its own fees.

Is there student housing near Carleton University?

None of the buildings in this guide is within walking distance of Carleton. 1Eleven and ALMA Sandy Hill are the closest, about a 10-minute drive.

Can I sign a 4-month lease in Ottawa?

Yes. 1Eleven, Theo Ottawa, ALMA ByWard Market and ALMA Sandy Hill offer a 4-month FlexLease for January to April 2027, and Woodroffe Place offers a 4-month term ending August 27, 2027.

How do I book a tour?

Open any community page above and choose Take a tour to book a virtual or on-site tour with that building's leasing team.

For more on student life in the city, read our guide to student living in Ottawa or browse every Ottawa community.