Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bilbao or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bilbao and Montreal. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Bilbao or Montreal?
Bilbao
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBilbao €137Montreal €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, while the average daily cost in Montreal is €195. 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 Bilbao and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBilbao €72Montreal €123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBilbao €144Montreal €246
Compare Hotels in Bilbao and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao 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: Bilbao Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bilbao €26Montreal €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Pamplona: $420
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Santander: $318
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to San Sebastian: $318
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to San Sebastian Airport: $291
- Private Transfer from Bilbao to San Sebastian: $268
- Private Transfer from Bilbao city to San Sebastian Airport: $268
- Private Transfer from Bilbao Airport to Santander Port: $253
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Logroño city: $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to Logroño Airport : $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Pamplona city: $230
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Vitoria-Gasteiz: $210
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 Bilbao or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Bilbao 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 dayBilbao €45Montreal €34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bilbao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
- Basque Food Tour with Guide: $86
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $109
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class with Open Bar: $113
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $115
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
- The High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $135
- Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $135
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
- Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $156
- Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $198
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€8.39
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
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bilbao €29Montreal €20
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- PRIVATE San Sebastian and Basque Coast Tour from Bilbao: $290
- Pintxos Tasting in Bilbao Small Group or Private Walking Tour: $81
- Awesome Bilbao – Private Family Walking Tour: $386
- BILBAO-City Highlights Bike Tour: $36
- Basque Coast Tour: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika: $66
- Basque Country 7-Day Guided Tour from Bilbao: $1,152
- Bike tour with Pintxos & Drinks in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao Seaside): $60
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Walking Tour with guide: $286
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Private Walking Tour from Hotel/Center: $281
- Bilbao - Private Historic walking tour: $377
- Bilbao 3-Day Package: Guggenheim, Hotel Stay and Bike Tour: $253
- Bilbao : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $48
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)€50
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: $8.74
- 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 dayBilbao €21Montreal €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Bilbao: $25
- Immersive Evening Spanish Wine Tasting w/ Sommelier: $53
- Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier (close to Guggenheim museum): $54
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $80
- Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $81
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $178
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $188
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Bilbao: $201
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $217
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $241
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $242
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€17
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 Bilbao and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Bilbao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao 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 Bilbao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bilbao 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 Bilbao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bilbao Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao 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 Bilbao 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 Bilbao or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Bilbao during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).
In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 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 JulyBilbao 20°C (68°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Montreal. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Montreal. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 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 OctoberBilbao 16°C (62°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Montreal. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene during these months.
The weather in Montreal can be very cold. Bilbao is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the winter. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 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 JanuaryBilbao 9°C (48°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the activities around the city.
In the spring, Bilbao is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Montreal. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 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 AprilBilbao 12°C (54°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Bilbao
| Bilbao | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 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.