Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Montreal? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bern or Montreal?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $252Montreal $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $210. 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 Bern and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $163Montreal $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $326Montreal $264
Compare Hotels in Bern and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Bern 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.
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: Bern Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $34Montreal $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Montreal Cruise Port to Montreal City: $36
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $38
- Private Transfer: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $48
- Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
- Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
- Transfer in private minivan from Montreal City Center to Pierre Elliott Airport: $73
- Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
- One Way Private transfer from Montreal Airport to/ from Montreal: $84
- Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Bern 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
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Food Meals for one dayBern $60Montreal $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $66
Typical Food Prices in Montreal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:
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Tim Hortons breakfast and coffee$9.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $59
- 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
- Mile End Montreal Original Food Tour - by Local Montreal Tours: $89
- Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours: $103
- Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $130
- Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
- Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $207
- Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224
- The 10 Tastings of Montreal Private Walking Food Tour : $298
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Montreal $21
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $633
- Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $598
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $81
- Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $157
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $162
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
- Bern Old City Walking Tour: $464
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $537
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $336
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Botanical Gardens (family of 4)$54
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: $3.23
- Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.54
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.61
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.76
- Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Montreal $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Montreal
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:
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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
- 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 Bern and Montreal, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Montreal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Montreal is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Montreal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montreal 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Montreal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern 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 Bern 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 Bern or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Montreal. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year.
In July, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Montreal. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montreal. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBern 21°C (70°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Bern or Montreal in the Autumn?
Both Montreal and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Bern is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Bern usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Montreal. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Bern or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bern is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Bern or Montreal in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Montreal. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Bern is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Bern usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Montreal. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBern 11°C (52°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Bern
| Bern | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.