A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Austin vs. Montreal for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Austin or Montreal?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or Montreal, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Austin or Montreal?

Austin

Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.

Montreal

While Quebec City is the political capital of Quebec Province, Montreal is the economic and cultural capital. It's also the second largest city in Canada, with a population of about 1.9 million and 4 million in the metropolitan area. It's the second largest French speaking city in the world behind Paris.

Montreal is a very trendy and vibrant city with an active nightlife and countless activities to enjoy. It's located on an island in the St. Lawrence River and has a humid continental climate. There are four distinct seasons. Summers are warm or hot and humid. Spring and fall are mild and winters are cold and snowy. You can expect about 2 meters of snow every year, but there are also more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Austin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Austin is $142, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $209. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Austin and Montreal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Austin $56
    Montreal $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Austin $112
    Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Austin and Montreal

Looking for a hotel in Austin or Montreal? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Austin


Hotels in Montreal


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Austin Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Austin $47
    Montreal $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Austin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:

  • Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $96
  • Private Transfer Between Airport and Hotels: $80
  • Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Arrival Private Transfer: $48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal

Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 8 Passengers Transfer from or to Montreal Airport YUL to Montreal City Center : $223
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
  • Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $153
  • Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
  • Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
  • Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
  • Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
  • Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
  • Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
  • Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58

Is it cheaper to fly into Austin or Montreal?

Prices for flights to both Montreal and Austin change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Austin $35
    Montreal $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.

  • East Austin Food Tour: $44
  • Devour Downtown Austin Walking Food Tour: $80
  • Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
  • Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
  • Secret Food Tour: $97
  • Austin Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
  • Secret Food Tour of South Congress: $107
  • The Brunch Bus: Food Tour with a Live Band on Board the Bus!: $125

Typical Food Prices in Montreal

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:


  • Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee
    $8.97

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal

For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $50
  • Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $58
  • No Diet Club: Walking food Tour with many tastings: $59
  • Beyond the Market Food Tour by Spade & Palacio: $74
  • Montreal Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $74
  • Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours: $103
  • Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
  • Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $206
  • Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Austin $28
    Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Austin

Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Austin Duck Tour
    $31

Tours and Activities in Austin

Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Austin Glass Bottom Kayak Tour with Olympian: $50
  • Afternoon in Austin Segway Tour: $99
  • Austin Art & Architecture Bicycle Tour: $56
  • Austin Art and Architecture Bicycle Tour: $56
  • Austin Biker Gang E-Bike Tour: $99
  • Austin Boat Tour with Full Sun Shading Available: $84
  • Austin Breakfast Taco Tour: $85
  • Austin E-Bike Brunch Tour : $118
  • Austin E-Bike Foodie Tour : $128
  • Austin Electric Bike Tour: Let it Ride: $70
  • Austin Family Explorer Private Magical Urban Adventure Tour: $232
  • Austin Family Explorer: A Magical Urban Adventure: $452

Typical Entertainment Prices in Montreal

For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Botanical Gardens (family of 4)
    $53

Tours and Activities in Montreal

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
  • Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.49
  • Escape Game and Tour: $8.56
  • APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
  • Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
  • McCord Stewart Museum : Entry Ticket: $15
  • Montreal Zipline Adventure: $15
  • Self-Guided Old Town Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $15
  • Montreal Old Port: Urban Zipline Ticket: $16
  • Making Their Mark: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour: $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Austin $28
    Montreal $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Austin

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:

  • Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl: $12
  • Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
  • Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
  • Downtown Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
  • Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
  • Public Pedal Pub Tour in Austin: $39
  • From Texas Hill Country Brewery & Distillery Shuttle: $65
  • Half-Day Hill Country Brewery and Distillery Shuttle from Austin: $65
  • Private Austin Brewery Tour by Pedicab with All-Inclusive Beer Flight Option: $70
  • 4-Hour Austin Signature Brewery Tour: $100
  • The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band: $125
  • Half-Day Private Texas Hill Country Wine Tour from Austin: $143

Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:


  • Vodka
    $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Montreal

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:

  • Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl: $22
  • Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $42


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Austin and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Austin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Austin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Austin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Montreal would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montreal than you might in Austin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Austin Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Austin or Montreal?

Montreal has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Austin. When comparing the sizes of Austin and Montreal, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Austin or Montreal?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Austin or Montreal in the Summer?

Both Montreal and Austin during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Austin for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Austin is generally a little warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 87°F (30°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Austin. In the summer, Austin often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Austin gets 318 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.

Austin usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Austin 87°F (30°C) 
    Montreal 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit Austin or Montreal in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Austin and Montreal. The autumn months attract visitors to Austin because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Austin is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in Austin averages around 73°F (23°C) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In Austin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Austin usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Austin gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Austin usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montreal. Austin gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Austin 73°F (23°C) 
    Montreal 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Austin or Montreal in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Austin as well as Montreal. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Austin this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Montreal. In the winter, Austin is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in Austin in January average around 51°F (11°C), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Austin often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Austin gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.

Austin usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Austin 51°F (11°C) 
    Montreal -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Austin or Montreal in the Spring?

Both Montreal and Austin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Austin for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, Austin is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 71°F (22°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Austin. Austin usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Austin gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Austin usually receives more rain than Montreal. Austin gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Austin 71°F (22°C) 
    Montreal 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Montreal and Austin

Austin Montreal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 51°F (11°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm) -10°C (14°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 55°F (13°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) -9°C (16°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 63°F (17°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm) -2°C (28°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 71°F (22°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm) 6°C (43°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 77°F (25°C) 4 inches (101 mm) 13°C (55°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 83°F (29°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 18°C (64°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jul 87°F (30°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm) 21°C (69°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Aug 87°F (31°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) 19°C (67°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 82°F (28°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 14°C (58°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Oct 73°F (23°C) 3 inches (77 mm) 8°C (47°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 62°F (17°C) 2 inches (52 mm) 2°C (35°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Dec 54°F (12°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) -7°C (20°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)