Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Cardiff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cardiff or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff 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: Cardiff or Montreal?
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCardiff £156Montreal £168
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £156, while the average daily cost in Montreal is £168. 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 Cardiff and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Montreal £106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Montreal £212
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff 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: Cardiff Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Montreal £16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $140
- Private Transfer from Mold to Manchester Airport (MAN): $125
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport CWL to Cardiff by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $96
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
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 Cardiff or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Cardiff 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 dayCardiff £44Montreal £29
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£7.22
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.Cardiff £25Montreal £17
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 30 Minute Archery Experience in Llangollen: $19
- 30 Minute Axe Throwing Experience in Llangollen: $19
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- A Silent Disco Adventure in Cardiff: $22
- Canoe Aqueduct tours Llangollen: $76
- Canyoning with Beezra Experiences in South Wales: $89
- Cardiff All in One Walking Tour: $62
- Cardiff Bay Boat Tour: $15
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay: Highlights Private Guided Tour: $188
- Cardiff Bay: Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $38
- Cardiff City Private Guided Walking Tour: $178
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)£43
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 dayCardiff £13Montreal £13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
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£15
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 comparing the travel costs between Cardiff and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Cardiff is in Europe and Montreal is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cardiff Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cardiff. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Cardiff during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
In the summer, Cardiff is cooler than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cardiff in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Montreal averages at about 21°C (69°F).
In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cardiff. In the summer, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 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 JulyCardiff 17°C (63°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Montreal. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Cardiff is generally a little warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 11°C (52°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Cardiff usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cardiff gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Montreal. Cardiff gets 101 mm (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 OctoberCardiff 11°C (52°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Montreal. Many visitors come to Cardiff in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Cardiff can get quite cold in the winter. Cardiff is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 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 JanuaryCardiff 3°C (38°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cardiff for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Cardiff is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cardiff in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
Cardiff usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal during spring. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cardiff usually receives less rain than Montreal. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 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 AprilCardiff 9°C (48°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Cardiff
| Cardiff | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.