Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Calgary?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Calgary and Montreal can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Calgary is a authentic, western, and local city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Calgary travel costs.
Montreal is a vibrant, colorful, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food. See Montreal travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Montreal than Calgary, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Calgary is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Montreal is popular for its music, fashion, and cultural activities. It is also home to Notre-Dame Basilica.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Montreal and Calgary. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Montreal is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Montreal are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with world-class museums and historic sites such as Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory, the Biosphere, and the Fine Arts Museum.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calgary. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.
Montreal is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Montreal. There are both local and international restaurants that serve up excellent dishes. Some of the local recipes that you should try include tourtiere (a meat pie), a smoked meat sandwich, and, of course, poutine.
Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.
Montreal is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.
The nightlife in Montreal is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The city's nightlife scene is centered around its live music scene, which is excellent. There are also many bars and clubs, as well as a young population that keep evenings lively.
If you're looking for night time activities Calgary has a few options to choose from. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.
Montreal is an unbeatable place for its live music scene. However, Calgary is not a live music destination.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Montreal The music scene is thriving and world class. One of the most unique aspects of the city's music scene is its impromptu nature. You'll find many talented street performers and you'll likely stumble into many high quality performers. There's also a great indie scene as well as hip hop, classical, jazz, and heavy metal at the many live music venues.
Calgary is not a live music destination.
Montreal is well known for its old town. However, Calgary does not have a historic old town.
Montreal is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Vieux-Montreal is the historic part of the city, and it's filled with cobblestone streets and historic buildings. This is also where you'll find the Old Port, which has a waterfront promenade.
Calgary does not have a historic old town.
Montreal is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.
The abundance of shops in Montreal make it a world-class shopping destination. It's known for its fashion scene and there are many independent and local vendors around town. Bonsecours Market is both historic and fascinating, but also make sure you check out Mont-Royal Avenue, which is the main shopping and dining street in town.
Calgary has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.
Montreal is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Montreal is a very kid-friendly city. Kids and teens will love the many science museums, parks and gardens, and the nearby La Ronde Amusement Park. If your kids are music lovers, there are many talented street performers in the city that will entertain the young and old alike.
Calgary offers lots of family activities. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.
Montreal is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Couples visit Montreal frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city is filled with romance, from the world class music scene to the romantic restaurants and sunset river cruises. If you're in town during the fall months, check out the Botanical Gardens, which come to life with the annual Gardens of Light.
Calgary is a good city for couples to visit. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.
Calgary and Montreal are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Calgary is a good city to visit for backpackers. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.
Plenty of backpackers visit Montreal. There's a decent number of hostels as well as a great nightlife scene and plenty of younger visitors looking to meet other travelers.
Montreal is an unbeatable place for students. However, Calgary is not popular with students.
Montreal is a very popular city for students. It's regularly ranked as one of the top cities in North America for students. There are many students around town, a great nightlife scene, and plenty of opportunities to receive a world-class education.
Calgary is not popular with students.
Montreal is well known for its public transit. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.
Public transit in Montreal can get you to some places easily. There's an efficient and reliable metro and bus system.
While Calgary offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.
Montreal is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.
Montreal is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable, particularly in the areas that are popular with tourists.
Calgary is generally not a very walkable city. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.
For even more information, also check out Is Calgary Worth Visiting? and Is Montreal Worth Visiting?.
In either Calgary or Montreal, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Montreal than Calgary because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Calgary, and 3-5 days is enough time in Montreal.
Families should spend more time in Montreal than Calgary. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Montreal, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Montreal than Calgary. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Montreal that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Montreal than Calgary if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Montreal.
The city of Calgary offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Because Montreal is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
Calgary is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calgary, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Because Montreal is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
Calgary is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Montreal is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Montreal has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
Calgary is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Montreal. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Montreal. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Canada, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Calgary is $168, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $223. 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 Calgary and Montreal in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Calgary 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Calgary 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Montreal:
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Montreal, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montreal.
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Montreal:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montreal:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Calgary and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary 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 Calgary.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Calgary Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Calgary. When comparing the sizes of Calgary 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.