Which place is cheaper, Montpellier or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Montpellier?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Montpellier? 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: Coimbra or Montpellier?
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
Montpellier
Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and also has been the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. Graceful and easy-going, Montpellier is a stylish metropolis with elegant buildings, grand hotels, private mansions, stately boulevards and shady backstreets, and gorgeous white-sand beaches on its doorstep. Unlike many southern towns, Montpellier has no Roman heritage. Instead it was founded in the 10th century by the counts of Toulouse and later became a prosperous trading port as well as a scholarly center - Europe's first medical school was established here in the 12th century. The population swelled in the 1960s when many French settlers left independent Algeria and relocated here, and it's now France's fastest-growing city and one of its most multicultural areas. Students make up over a third of the population, giving it a spirited vibe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Montpellier €118
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Montpellier is €118. 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 Coimbra and Montpellier in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Montpellier €69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Montpellier €138
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Montpellier
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Montpellier? 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: Coimbra Hotel Prices and Montpellier Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Montpellier €26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $147
- Transfer Viseu - Porto: $157
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montpellier
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montpellier:
- Transfer from Sète Port to Marseille Provence Airport MRS: $131
- Transfer Montpellier Airport and Beziers Airport: $49
- Private Transfer from Sète Cruise Port to Marseille city hotels: $131
- Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport Transfer: $64
- Montpellier Private Transfer from Montpellier city centre to Montpellier Airport: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Montpellier?
Prices for flights to both Montpellier and Coimbra 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 dayCoimbra €48Montpellier €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chanfana: Cooking Traditional Portuguese Cuisine Experience: $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montpellier
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montpellier.
- Guided Food Tour With Local Snacks and Wine: $91
- Montpellier Food Tour: $93
- From Pic Saint-Loup Wine and Food Tour: $102
- Cooking workshop: $106
- Private cooking class with specialized chefs Montpellier: $108
- Fusion Food Cooking Class: $428
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Montpellier €12
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.21
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.45
- Coimbra's Historical Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historical Highlights: $6.99
- Tomar: Unveiling the Templar Order with a Self-Guided Tour: $7.62
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.65
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Discover Coimbra's Legacy through a Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Portugal dos Pequenitos entry ticket: $16
Tours and Activities in Montpellier
Here are a few actual costs in Montpellier for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- CityTour and Photo Portraits Souvenirs in Montpellier: $38
- From Half-Day Vineyard & Pic Saint-Loup Tour: $80
- From Wine and Olive Tour: $75
- Highlights of Sète : history, food and wine experience: $174
- Legendary Montpellier, flexible legends and storytelling tour: $16
- Montpellier - Private Historic Walking tour: $428
- Montpellier Private Guided Walking Tour: $307
- Montpellier Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $270
- Montpellier Wine and Oyster Tour: $86
- Half-Day Hiking Tour of Pic Saint Loup & Picnic: $64
- Personalized Day-Tour of the South of France: $1,059
- Photoshoot Experience: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Montpellier €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Portugal: $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Montpellier
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montpellier:
- The Châteaux of Grès de Montpellier & Wine Tasting: $80
- Small-Group Half-Day Châteaux of Montpellier Wine Tour: $84
- Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Wine Tour from Montpellier: $84
- Wine tour in Pic Saint-Loup area: $142
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $155
- Montpellier : half day wine tour in Camargue: $159
- Private Half-Day Languedoc Wine Tour from Sète: $240
- Sète: Private Half–Day Wine Tour: $353
When comparing the travel costs between Coimbra and Montpellier, we can see that Montpellier 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 Europe, 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 Coimbra Expensive? and Is Montpellier Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Montpellier?
Montpellier has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Montpellier, 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 Coimbra or Montpellier?
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 Coimbra or Montpellier in the Summer?
Both Montpellier and Coimbra during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Montpellier because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Coimbra is around the same temperature as Montpellier in the summer. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Montpellier fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Montpellier, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Coimbra. In the summer, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Montpellier. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montpellier receives 351 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Montpellier. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Montpellier 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Montpellier in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Montpellier. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Montpellier this time of year.
In the autumn, Coimbra is a little warmer than Montpellier. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Coimbra in October average around 18°C (65°F), and Montpellier averages at about 15°C (60°F).
Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montpellier during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Montpellier receives 187 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montpellier receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Coimbra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Montpellier. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Montpellier 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Montpellier in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Montpellier. Also, many travelers come to Montpellier for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Coimbra is generally much warmer than Montpellier. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 11°C (51°F), and Montpellier fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Montpellier. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montpellier receives 147 hours of full sun.
Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Montpellier. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Montpellier 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Montpellier in the Spring?
Both Montpellier and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Montpellier in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Coimbra is a little warmer than Montpellier in the spring. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Montpellier fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Montpellier. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montpellier during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Montpellier receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Montpellier. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Montpellier 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Montpellier and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Montpellier | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.