Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena 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 Cartagena and Montreal can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or Montreal?
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
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 Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCartagena $48Montreal $210
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, 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 Cartagena and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27Montreal $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54Montreal $264
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.49Montreal $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- 15. Transfer to SANTA MARTA from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $290
- Cartagena to Santa Marta Private Transfer Service: $268
- Cartagena to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $265
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $160
- San Diego to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $157
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $156
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $136
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $125
- Full-Day in Isla del Encanto with Lunch and Transfer to the Pier: $114
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG): Transfer to Cartagena: $109
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
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Luxury Van: $170
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Cartagena 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 dayCartagena $9.82Montreal $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Taste Cartagena Food tour: $40
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $44
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $50
- Cooking Class: Street food & Mojito making: $50
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $58
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Street food tour: $61
- 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63
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.Cartagena $21Montreal $21
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Beach Buggy ATV Adventure Tour CARTAGENA: $135
- Eco cultural Historical Tour beyond Old City! + Pool: $98
- Exciting Beach Buggy ATV Tour in Cartagena : $165
- Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
- Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $39
- Private Beach Tour in Barú and Optional Bird Aviary: $120
- Private Tour & the best coffee of the world in Cartagena (Also for cruisers): $250
- Private city tour: $197
- Shore excursion Accessible sightseeing tour : $250
- Tour around the Rosario Islands 4 islands: $65
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
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 dayCartagena $9.21Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $19
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $72
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 Cartagena and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cartagena is in South America 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 Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Cartagena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cartagena Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cartagena or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena 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 Cartagena or Montreal?
Montreal has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cartagena or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Cartagena during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Cartagena is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cartagena in July average around 29°C (84°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 Cartagena. In the summer, Cartagena often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Cartagena gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Cartagena gets 60 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 JulyCartagena 29°C (84°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Montreal. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In October, Cartagena is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 27°C (81°F), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Cartagena gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cartagena usually receives more rain than Montreal. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 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 OctoberCartagena 27°C (81°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Montreal. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Montreal can get quite cold in the winter. Cartagena is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In the winter, Cartagena often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 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 JanuaryCartagena 27°C (81°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the spring, Cartagena is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cartagena in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Montreal. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 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 AprilCartagena 28°C (82°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Cartagena
| Cartagena | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.