Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Budapest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Budapest or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Montreal can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Budapest or Montreal?
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
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 10-Day Tours from Budapest, The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBudapest $91Montreal $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $91, 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 Budapest and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBudapest $50Montreal $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBudapest $100Montreal $264
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Budapest 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: Budapest Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Budapest $11Montreal $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,603
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,298
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,190
- Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,066
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $936
- Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $710
- From Bucharest: One-way Private Fast Transfer to Budapest: $646
- Budapest-Vienna Private Transfer by Luxury Vehicle: $646
- Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $592
- Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $474
- Budapest-Vienna One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295
- Budapest-Bratislava One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295
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
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
- Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury SUV: $163
- Departure Transfer Montreal to Montreal Airport by Limos or Bus: $153
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
- Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
- Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Budapest 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 dayBudapest $23Montreal $36
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
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
- 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.Budapest $22Montreal $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
- Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
- 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $186
- 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
- 2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour: $57
- 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $39
- 2 Hours Budapest Walking Tour with A Private Guide: $130
- 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $50
- 2-Hour Private Budapest Castle Walking Tour: $127
- 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
- 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
- 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55
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.
- 1 Hour Downtown Montreal Tour: $29
- 2 hour Tour of The Montreal Bagel: $44
- 3 Days 2 Nights Tour in New York: $300
- 3-Hour Scooter Sightseeing in Montreal: $79
- 3Hr Montreal Architecture Bike Tour with regular or E-bikes Beer & wine included: $64
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
- All about Montreal's Murals - Saturday Walking Tour: $24
- Awesome Curling Experience : $82
- Best of Montreal Small Group Tour with River Cruise + Notre Dame: $211
- Beyond the Basilica Walking Tour by Spade & Palacio: $54
- Christmas Walking Tour in Old Montreal: $24
- City tour; afternoon in Montreal: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBudapest $18Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
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
- Guided Bar Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Budapest and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Budapest 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 Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Budapest.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Budapest Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Budapest or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Budapest 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 Budapest or Montreal?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Budapest or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Budapest is around the same temperature as Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Budapest in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).
It's quite sunny in Montreal. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Budapest. Budapest usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal during summer. Budapest gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Budapest usually receives less rain than Montreal. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBudapest 21°C (70°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Montreal in the Autumn?
Both Montreal and Budapest during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
In October, Budapest is generally a little warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around 12°C (53°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the autumn, Budapest often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Budapest gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets less rain in October than Montreal. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBudapest 12°C (53°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Montreal. Many travelers come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montreal can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Budapest. Budapest is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around -1°C (31°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during winter. Budapest gets 61 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Budapest usually receives less rain than Montreal. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBudapest -1°C (31°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Montreal in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Montreal. Many visitors come to Budapest in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Budapest is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Budapest in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Budapest often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal. Budapest gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets less rain in April than Montreal. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBudapest 12°C (53°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Budapest
| Budapest | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.