Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Cincinnati?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cincinnati or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cincinnati 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: Cincinnati or Montreal?
Cincinnati
Located on the north banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati is the third largest city in Ohio having grown from its industrial heritage. It is situated in the southwest part of the state, separated from the Kentucky border by the river. The city is best known for its striking skyline and unique chili.
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 Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours 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 dayCincinnati $183Montreal $209
The average daily cost (per person) in Cincinnati is $183, 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 Cincinnati and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCincinnati $102Montreal $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCincinnati $204Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Cincinnati and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Cincinnati 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: Cincinnati Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cincinnati $25Montreal $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cincinnati
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cincinnati:
- Cincinnati to Cincinnati Airport (CVG) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
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 Cincinnati or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Cincinnati 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 dayCincinnati $55Montreal $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cincinnati
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cincinnati.
- Ohio River Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $61
- Mainstrasse Village Food Tour in Covington KY: $79
- Cincinnati Court Street Food Tour with Vegan Options: $85
- Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour With Findlay Market : $85
- Cincinnati Walking Sightseeing Tour with Pizza and Ice-cream: $120
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.Cincinnati $26Montreal $21
Tours and Activities in Cincinnati
Here are a few actual costs in Cincinnati for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cincinnati Ghosts By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Haunted Cincinnati Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour: $36
- Tour of Historic Wesleyan Cemetery: $20
- 1919: The year that changed baseball tour: $31
- Brewers & Barons Trail Tour: $45
- Built on Beer Tour: $45
- Cellars and Saloons Sunday Brunch Tour in Cincinnati: $75
- Cincinnati Ballparks & Breweries Bus Tour: $69
- Cincinnati Brewing & Distilling Tasting Tour: $59
- Cincinnati Ethnic Food and Culture Tour in Over the Rhine: $85
- Cincinnati Findlay Market Food Walking Tour: $89
- Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game Ticket at Great American Ballpark: $18
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 dayCincinnati $11Montreal $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Cincinnati
Also in Cincinnati, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cincinnati Bar Hunt: Cin-sational Cincinnati Bar Crawl: $12
- Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour in Cincinnati with Beer Tasting: $49
- Craft Brewery 3 Stop Hop: $64
- Cincinnati Original Craft Brewery Small-Group Tour: $68
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 comparing the travel costs between Cincinnati 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. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cincinnati Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cincinnati or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cincinnati. When comparing the sizes of Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Cincinnati during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cincinnati this time of year.
In the summer, Cincinnati is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cincinnati in July average around 79°F (26°C), 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 Cincinnati. In the summer, Cincinnati often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Cincinnati gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Cincinnati usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Montreal. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (90 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 JulyCincinnati 79°F (26°C)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Cincinnati or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cincinnati and Montreal. Many travelers come to Cincinnati for the shopping scene.
In October, Cincinnati is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Cincinnati average around 58°F (15°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Cincinnati usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Cincinnati gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cincinnati usually receives less rain than Montreal. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (56 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 OctoberCincinnati 58°F (15°C)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Cincinnati or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cincinnati as well as Montreal. Many visitors come to Cincinnati in the winter for the museums and the shopping scene.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Cincinnati can get quite cold in the winter. Cincinnati is much warmer than Montreal in the winter. The daily temperature in Cincinnati averages around 31°F (-0°C) in January, and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Cincinnati often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Cincinnati gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Cincinnati usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (57 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 JanuaryCincinnati 31°F (-0°C)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Cincinnati or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Cincinnati are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Cincinnati is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cincinnati in April average around 56°F (14°C), and Montreal averages at about 6°C (43°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cincinnati. Cincinnati usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Cincinnati gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cincinnati usually receives more rain than Montreal. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (89 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 AprilCincinnati 56°F (14°C)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Cincinnati
| Cincinnati | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 31°F (-0°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 46°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 56°F (14°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 74°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 77°F (25°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 71°F (21°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 48°F (9°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 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.