A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Edmonton vs. Moncton for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Edmonton or Moncton?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Edmonton and Moncton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Moncton

Moncton is a quaint, compact, and cultural city. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Moncton travel costs.

Edmonton and Moncton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Edmonton or Moncton?

You'll generally find more things to do in Edmonton than Moncton. Edmonton is bigger than Moncton, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Edmonton is better known for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping, while Moncton is more popular for its food. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality. Also, Edmonton is famous for the West Edmonton Mall. Moncton is well known for its unique sense of place and its cultural activities.

How is Edmonton different from Moncton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Moncton and Edmonton. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Edmonton or Moncton?

Edmonton is great for its historical sights. Also, Moncton is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Edmonton. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Moncton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The city has a zoo at Magnetic Hill as well as several great museums and historic sites like Fort Beauséjour and the Acadian Museum.

Is the Food Better in Edmonton or Moncton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Moncton is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Moncton offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a range of casual eateries around town as well as wine tasting and a few upscales places. Poutine is the local favorite, but you can also try fried seafood or a local stew.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Edmonton or Moncton Better for Nightlife?

Edmonton is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Moncton is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Edmonton has a few options to choose from. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

Most people don't head to Moncton specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. Many of the local bars and clubs are geared toward a slightly younger crowd.

Is the Shopping Better in Edmonton or Moncton?

Edmonton is great for its shopping areas. Also, Moncton is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Edmonton. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

Moncton is a great destination for shopping. There's a mix of independent shops and larger big box stores. Some of the largest shopping areas include Mapleton Plaza and Wheeler Park Power Centre.

Is Edmonton or Moncton Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Edmonton or Moncton.

Edmonton is a family-friendly place to visit. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Moncton is a family-friendly city. It's a family-friendly town with indoor play spaces and outdoor parks. Highlights for families include a visit to Magnetic Hill Zoo and a stop at Butterfly World and the Boardwalk.

Is Edmonton or Moncton Better for Couples?

Both Edmonton and Moncton are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Moncton makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are some great date night ideas like wine tasting at Magnetic Hill Winery or seeing a show at the theater.

Is Edmonton or Moncton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Edmonton is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Moncton is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Edmonton offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Public transit is generally limited in Moncton. There is a bus system but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Edmonton or Moncton a more walkable city?

Edmonton and Moncton both are notable when exploring on foot.

Edmonton is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

Moncton is a somewhat walkable place. It's relatively compact and dense enough to get around on foot in many parts.

For even more information, also check out Is Edmonton Worth Visiting? and Is Moncton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Moncton or Edmonton?

How long in Edmonton or Moncton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Edmonton or Moncton to fill your time. In our opinion, Edmonton has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Edmonton than Moncton. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Couples should spend more time in Edmonton than Moncton. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Edmonton that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edmonton than Moncton if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Edmonton.

One day in Edmonton or Moncton?

In Edmonton, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The city of Moncton offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Edmonton or Moncton?

In Edmonton, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Edmonton has to offer.

Moncton is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Moncton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Edmonton or Moncton?

Edmonton is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Moncton is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Edmonton or Moncton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Edmonton. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Edmonton. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Moncton is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edmonton and Moncton, we can see that Edmonton is more expensive. And not only is Moncton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Moncton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moncton 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 Edmonton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edmonton than you might in Moncton.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edmonton Expensive? and Is Moncton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Edmonton or Moncton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Moncton. When comparing the sizes of Edmonton and Moncton, 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.