Which place is cheaper, Montreal or Columbia River Gorge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Columbia River Gorge or Montreal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Columbia River Gorge or Montreal, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Columbia River Gorge or Montreal?
Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.
The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical 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 dayColumbia River Gorge $179Montreal $209
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia River Gorge is $179, 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 Columbia River Gorge and Montreal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbia River Gorge $89Montreal $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbia River Gorge $178Montreal $262
Compare Hotels in Columbia River Gorge and Montreal
Looking for a hotel in Columbia River Gorge 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: Montreal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbia River Gorge $78Montreal $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montreal
Also for Montreal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Montreal Cruise Port to Montreal City: $36
- Private Transfer: Montreal City Center to Pierre E.T. Airport-YUL: $48
- Le Terminal Cruise Port to Québec Airport YQB Departure Transfer: $57
- Private One-way Montreal Airport Transfer To/From Montreal: $58
- Arrival Transfer from International Airport: $65
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montreal CityCenter- to Montreal Airport (YUL): $67
- Downtown Direct: Montreal's Exclusive Airport Transfer: $79
- Montreal Best Private Transfer services : $82
- Private Transfer: Montreal to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL): $87
- Private Departure Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL: $116
- Montreal Private Transfer to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
- Departure Private Transfer: Montreal to Montreal Airport YUL in Business Car: $117
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia River Gorge or Montreal?
Prices for flights to both Montreal and Columbia River Gorge 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 dayColumbia River Gorge $46Montreal $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.Columbia River Gorge $20Montreal $21
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 dayColumbia River Gorge $12Montreal $16
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 Columbia River Gorge and Montreal, we can see that Montreal is more expensive. And not only is Columbia River Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia River Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbia River Gorge Expensive? and Is Montreal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Columbia River Gorge or Montreal?
Montreal has a larger population, and is about 280 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge or Montreal in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Columbia River Gorge as well as Montreal. Most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Columbia River Gorge is generally around the same temperature as Montreal. Daily temperatures in Columbia River Gorge average around 68°F (20°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montreal. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia River Gorge this time of the year. In the summer, Columbia River Gorge often gets more sunshine than Montreal. Columbia River Gorge gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 276 hours of full sun.
Columbia River Gorge usually gets less rain in July than Montreal. Columbia River Gorge gets 0.7 inches (18 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 JulyColumbia River Gorge 68°F (20°C)Montreal 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Montreal in the Autumn?
Both Montreal and Columbia River Gorge are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Columbia River Gorge is much warmer than Montreal in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbia River Gorge averages around 55°F (13°C) in October, and Montreal fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Columbia River Gorge usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during autumn. Columbia River Gorge gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Columbia River Gorge usually receives less rain than Montreal. Columbia River Gorge gets 2.6 inches (67 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 OctoberColumbia River Gorge 55°F (13°C)Montreal 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Montreal in the Winter?
Both Montreal and Columbia River Gorge during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Montreal. It's quite cold in Columbia River Gorge in the winter. In the winter, Columbia River Gorge is much warmer than Montreal. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbia River Gorge in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Montreal averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Columbia River Gorge often gets less sunshine than Montreal. Columbia River Gorge gets 86 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montreal receives 103 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia River Gorge. Columbia River Gorge usually gets more rain in January than Montreal. Columbia River Gorge gets 5.2 inches (132 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 JanuaryColumbia River Gorge 40°F (4°C)Montreal -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Montreal in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia River Gorge and Montreal. Many travelers come to Columbia River Gorge for the natural beauty.
In April, Columbia River Gorge is generally much warmer than Montreal. Daily temperatures in Columbia River Gorge average around 51°F (11°C), and Montreal fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In Columbia River Gorge, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia River Gorge usually receives more sunshine than Montreal during spring. Columbia River Gorge gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Montreal receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Columbia River Gorge usually receives less rain than Montreal. Columbia River Gorge gets 2.4 inches (61 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 AprilColumbia River Gorge 51°F (11°C)Montreal 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Montreal and Columbia River Gorge
| Columbia River Gorge | Montreal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Feb | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 6°C (43°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) | 18°C (64°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) | 19°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) | 14°C (58°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 8°C (47°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 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.