Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cologne or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne 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: Cologne or Montreal?
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
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 Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Montreal €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Montreal is €195. 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 Cologne and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Montreal €123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Montreal €246
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Cologne 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: Cologne Hotel Prices and Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Montreal €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
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 Cologne or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Cologne 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 dayCologne €50Montreal €34
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484
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€8.39
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.Cologne €20Montreal €20
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen City Hall tour (public): $20
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Ancient Echoes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Roman Cologne: $11
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $397
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)€50
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 dayCologne €23Montreal €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
- Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64
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€17
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 Cologne and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Cologne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cologne is in Europe 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 Cologne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cologne 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 Cologne.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cologne Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Cologne 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 Cologne 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 Cologne or Montreal in the Summer?
Both Montreal and Cologne during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
Cologne is around the same temperature as Montreal in the summer. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
In Montreal, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 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 JulyCologne 19°C (66°F)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Montreal in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Montreal. Many travelers come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Cologne is a little warmer than Montreal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cologne in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Montreal averages at about 8°C (47°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cologne usually receives less rain than Montreal. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 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 OctoberCologne 12°C (54°F)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Montreal in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Montreal. Many visitors come to Cologne in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montreal can be very cold during winter. Cologne can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Cologne is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 3°C (37°F), and Montreal fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets less rain in January than Montreal. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JanuaryCologne 3°C (37°F)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Montreal in the Spring?
Both Montreal and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cologne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Cologne is much warmer than Montreal in the spring. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Montreal during spring. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cologne usually receives less rain than Montreal. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 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 AprilCologne 10°C (50°F)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Cologne
| Cologne | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.