Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Chapel Hill?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chapel Hill or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chapel Hill 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: Chapel Hill or Montreal?
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill is a college town in North Carolina that, together with Raleigh and Durham, makes up the Research Triangle area. The town is 28 miles northwest of Raleigh and 12 miles southwest of Durham. Chapel Hill dates back to 1819 when it was founded to support the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a population of just over 52,000, Chapel Hill has the vibe of a small college town with the amenities of a larger community. It's proximity to both Raleigh and Durham give it an economic boost that provides economic diversity and security.
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 Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChapel Hill $164Montreal $209
The average daily cost (per person) in Chapel Hill is $164, while the average daily cost in Montreal is $209. 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 Chapel Hill and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChapel Hill $95Montreal $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChapel Hill $190Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Chapel Hill and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Chapel Hill 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: Chapel Hill Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chapel Hill $34Montreal $20
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 Chapel Hill or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Chapel Hill 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 dayChapel Hill $49Montreal $36
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$8.97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montreal
For Montreal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class and Tasting Menu with Michelin Chef: $50
- Le Bateau-Mouche À La Carte Menu Dinner Cruise: $58
- 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
- Montréal: 5-Course Dinner Cruise with Music & VIP Option: $160
- Personalized Private Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $206
- Cooking Class in Montreal with a Michelin-Star Trained Chef: $224
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chapel Hill $17Montreal $21
Tours and Activities in Chapel Hill
Here are a few actual costs in Chapel Hill for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 8 Hours Private Crystal Coast Sightseeing in North Carolina: $275
- Carolina History & Haunts Greensboro Historical Ghost Tour: $20
- Chapel Hill Historic Churches Tour: $16
- Chapel Hill, NC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $15
- Coastal Excursion/Sunset Cruise/Sand Dollars/Sea Shells/Horses: $225
- Morning Aerial Adventure Adult Course from Riegelwood: $55
- Raleigh Guided E-Bike Tour: Burgers, Brews, and History too: $107
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Greensboro by Zombie Scavengers: $20
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)$53
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: $3.21
- Montreal self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
- Montréal's Mile End to Outremont: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.49
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.56
- APP Self-Guided Tours Montreal with Audioguide: $8.74
- Montreal Art Center & Museum Audio Guided Tour: $10
- 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
- Making Their Mark: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChapel Hill $40Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Chapel Hill
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chapel Hill:
- Wacky Fayetteville Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
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 Chapel Hill and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Chapel Hill much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chapel Hill would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chapel Hill Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Chapel Hill. When comparing the sizes of Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Chapel Hill during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year.
Chapel Hill is a little warmer than Montreal in the summer. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chapel Hill. In the summer, Chapel Hill often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montreal. Chapel Hill gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually gets more rain in July than Montreal. Chapel Hill gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChapel Hill 79°F (26°C)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Chapel Hill or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chapel Hill and Montreal. Many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Chapel Hill is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chapel Hill in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Montreal averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In Chapel Hill, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Chapel Hill gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Chapel Hill usually receives less rain than Montreal. Chapel Hill gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChapel Hill 61°F (16°C)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Chapel Hill or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Chapel Hill as well as Montreal. Many visitors come to Chapel Hill in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Chapel Hill can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Chapel Hill is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 40°F (5°C), and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Chapel Hill often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Chapel Hill gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Chapel Hill usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. Chapel Hill gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChapel Hill 40°F (5°C)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Chapel Hill or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Chapel Hill are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Chapel Hill is much warmer than Montreal in the spring. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Chapel Hill gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Chapel Hill usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montreal. Chapel Hill gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Montreal receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChapel Hill 60°F (16°C)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Chapel Hill
| Chapel Hill | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | -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.